Images of respectful cultures

Different images have been offered for cultures that include and embrace multiple cultures - melting pot and salad bowl are two of the more popular. Eboo Patel, prominent advocate for inter-faith dialogue recently offered the potluck as another model. He says, "Potlucks respect diverse identities by enthusiastically welcoming the gifts of the people who gather. They facilitate relationships between people by creating a space for eating and socializing and surprise connections. And they cultivate in people the importance of not just the individual parts and the connections between them, but the health of the whole. Everybody benefits from a clean kitchen, enough dishes and cutlery, and a safe and open place to eat and socialize. When it comes to a potluck, these are the structures of the common good. Everybody plays a role in the upkeep."

The potluck image captures the essence of the holding place, the mutual contributions, and the actions that create and sustain respect and affirmation. Wouldn't it be incredible if our institutions could cultivate this kind of active commitment among our students, staff, and faculty?