What did we realize from the movie Crash?

Everyone is capable of horrible crimes. Everyone is capable of wonderful acts of humanitarianism. Everyone has good and bad points to their character. If you concentrate on a person’s bad points - then that person, in your opinion, becomes horrible. If you concentrate on a person’s good points - then that person, in your opinion, is wonderful.

It’s Your Choice You can deliberately look for differences in others, think they are bad, and form fears, prejudices, judgments, and negative opinions. This leads to discrimination, pain, mistrust, anger, and a horrible way to live.

It’s Your Choice You can deliberately look for the differences in others, consider them good, and form interests, curiosities, opportunities for learning, enrichment, and chances to better understand the human race. This leads to wisdom, contentment, peace, self-esteem, and an opportunity to better understand the awesome potential of being human.

Crash Each person creates his or her own realities in forming opinions. Let’s look at some examples of how we do this.

What is this to you? Beautiful! Sexy! Adventuresome! Fun! Exciting! Precision engineering! Statement of success! Envy of others!

What is this to you? Impractical Expensive Only carries 2 people Only skinny people will fit! High insurance cost Very small luggage/cargo area Attracts police attention Looks like a male, insecure, sexual statement

What do you see? High adventure! Free spirit! Total freedom! Fun! Girl catcher! Sexy! Symbol of independence Great gas mileage!

What do you see? Dangerous! Impractical! Undesirable person, hoodlum, untrustworthy! Gangs, trouble, vandalism, fear! Loud Noise! Broken bones, injury!

What is this to you? Comfort! Good mileage Carries six people & luggage - versatile Sleek, smooth lines Beautiful Nice misty cloud silver gray in color!

What is this to you? Old lady’s car Boring 4 DR sedan Something you’re dad would drive. Drab color makes it worse Too big and cumbersome! Looks like every other car.

What if this was yours? Magnificent! Sleek, beautiful! The optimum adventure! A lifetime of luxury! True symbol of success! Prestige! Great accomplishment!

What if this was yours? Impractical A waste of money-there are hungry people everywhere! Show off & snobbish Only insecure people need this icon Can’t justify the cost Dangerous toy I’d rather fly commercially, it’s safer!

What do you see? A beautify spot! Pure tranquility! Proof there is a god! An ideal place to retire! Ultimate peace! The world’s best place to meditate! Great trout fishing! Photographers paradise! Camper’s heaven!

What do you see? A place for dangerous bears and mountain lions! Lost, desolate - too far from civilization! No people, no action, no excitement-I’d go crazy! I’d freeze to death! No phones, TV, shopping malls - I'd be boarded! If I’d get hurt, I’d slowly die – no one could help me!

What does this bring to mind? A miracle of nature! God’s micro beauty! The spirit of winter! Teaches us to appreciate the smaller things Pure wonderment! The magic of what we don’t see!

What does this bring to mind? I hate snow! Snow tires, antifreeze for the car! High heating bills! Heart attack shoveling snow! Slush, salt, cold, yuk! Winter colds & sickness!

What do you know about this person? Fashion Model? Movie Star? School teacher? Business owner? Hair dresser? Social worker? Housewife? UN ambassador?

In 1963, Sonia Pierre was born in the poorest and most vulnerable Dominican Republic sugar cane- cutters settlement. Her father died when she was two; her mother was a sugar cane cutter. Dominican children of Haitian descent were denied, education, health services, and basic human rights.

Anti-Haitian feelings fueled violent attacks in Haitian communities resulting in assassinations and massive round ups and expulsions to Haiti, during which families were split and women and children were subject to sexual abuse and violence by military personnel.

At 13 years of age, Sonia was arrested for speaking at a demonstration on behalf of Haitian migrant laborers. In 1983, she founded the Movement of Dominican Women of Haitian Descent and has served as its director for 18 years. Among violence, imprisonment, and threats to her life, Sonia has devoted herself to her people becoming one of the nation’s leading grassroots activists developing educational, labor rights, and health care programs for her people. She won the Robert F. Kennedy Peace Award.

What kind of person is this? Owns a Spanish restaurant? Comedian in South America? Author of children’s books? Native American Indian?

Rigoberta Menchú She lost both her parents, two brothers, a sister-in-law, and three nieces and nephews to the brutal rape, torture, and killing practices of the Guatemalan security forces. She worked as an activist campaigning against human rights violations committed by the Guatemalan armed forces during the country's civil war that lasted from 1960 to She ran for president of Guatemala last year and currently serves as presidential goodwill ambassador for the 1996 peace accords.

Nelson Mandela – 11 th president of South Africa Among opponents of Apartheid in South Africa and internationally, he became a symbol of freedom and equality, while the Apartheid government and nations sympathetic to it condemned him as a communist terrorist. Following his release from prison in 1990, his switch to a policy of reconciliation and negotiation helped lead the transition to multi-racial democracy in South Africa. Since the end of Apartheid, he has been widely praised, even by former opponents. Mandela has received more than one hundred awards over four decades, most notably the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

What can you tell about him? CEO for Oral Robert’s Ministries? CEO for the Peace Corp? Ambassador for Korea to the UN? Freedom fighter for Asian prison camps?

Than Shwe, Burma (Myanmar). Ranked as the 3 rd worst dictator in the world! Burma leads the world in the use of children as soldiers, and the regime is notorious for using forced labor on construction projects and as porters for the army in war zones. Than Shwe's government has continued the persecution of Myanmar's ethnic minorities, such as the Karen and Shan peoples. He launched a campaign of repression against Muslims in Myanmar's north that forced an estimated 250,000 people to flee to Bangladesh as refugees. The long-standing house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize and Than Shweâs most feared opponent, recently was extended for six months. Just to drive near her heavily guarded home is to risk arrest.

What kind of person is this? Founder of the Christian Children's Fund? President of the national PTA? A tortured Nazi prisoner and founder of Amnesty International? A politician supporting children’s rights in Brazil? A well-known and respected animal rights activist?

Ginetta Sagan: Ginetta was tortured, starved, and suffered unspeakable inhumanities when she was captured by the Nazis at age 16. Her parents and other family members were tortured and killed by the Nazis. She escaped with the help of a sympathetic Nazi guard. Instead of being filled with hate, she spent the rest of her life confronting the world’s cruelest dictators negotiating the release of thousands of political prisoners.

She has been personally responsible for the release of political prisoners in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Latin America, and South Africa. 6,000 prisoners in Vietnam have been set free due to Ginetta's unrelenting campaigns. Her life has been threatened hundreds of times. Unafraid, she seeks and achieves the release of thousands of prisoners of conscience. She is never daunted. She formed the West Coast chapter of Amnesty International. She is 4 feet 11 inches in tall.

What kind of person is this? A national youth-group fighter for reduction of poverty working for the United Nations? The leader of UNICEF for the African nations? President of the Boy Scouts of America? An Italian movie star and national heart throb?

Meet Ted Bundy He was the dapper, charming monster who confessed to killing 28 women during a 4-year reign of terror and may have killed as many as 100 before he was jailed and executed.

Want to meet this guy at night in a dark alley?

Bruce Potts Public speaking teacher at University of New Mexico Teaches how not to judge others by their appearance Teaches tolerance and acceptance of others A hero

Diversity Cram’s definition: one’s abilities, interests, talents, experiences, beliefs, customs, culture, points-of-view, rituals, influences, networks, assets, and any beneficial characteristic distinguishing one person from another.

Diversity's Advantage Seek out the differences in others and then celebrate them, for such diversity is the true potpourri of humanity and is enriched with the acquired wisdom of the entire human experience.

Your mind is a very fertile place! Whatever you plant there will grow abundantly…. self-righteousness, prejudice, hate, selfishness, intolerance, greed, fear, or kindness, understanding, acceptance, mercy, patience, or love. The crop you allow to germinate is up to you - it’s your mind; it’s your choice; it’s your life!