Can You Love Without Understanding?: Reflection 14

In 2019, the romantic perception of love is represented in many ways. Love seems to have less limitations than ever before. In the age of interracial and diverse dating people are loving without fear of social ramifications. Also, the public shaming of things that were once deemed to be unconventional or taboo is not condemned by mainstream western progressiveness. However, people still tend to have an unhealthy relationship with the  concept and handling of “other”. This is because societal and cultural norms often determine what is and isn’t within one's normal parameters of understanding. While waiting for our Thanksgiving meal to be completed, I sat with a few distant family members who were exchanging deep thoughts concerning the culture of PWI (Predominately White Institutions) and the impact is has on the “others”. One important point I heard mentioned was the fact that it is easy for environments like these to simply “tolerate” the presence of minority students rather than fully embracing them for the sake of diversity. Just tolerating an individual or a group of people inhibits true inclusivity; therefore pointing to the fact that true love requires understanding depending on the degree of love. 

Love has many levels, which waver depending on the context. For example, the love a man show’s for his wife differs from the gesture of love shown to a street child when he decides to buy them a meal.  In the case of the love shown towards the “other”, the level of love needed to coexist with true inclusivity this cannot be achieved without truly making an effort to understand the complexity of the other. Simply tolerating the existence of another human can be done in an atmosphere of hate because tolerance also has its levels. Just because someone tolerates someone does not mean they respect the individual. When true love is being shown, then similarities and differences are celebrated in many forms. This can be shown through the acknowledging of the other’s beliefs, uniqueness, and customs. This leads me to wonder how the U.S can manage to provide an environment for all that doesn’t just tolerate the “other”?