Open Mind GamesOpen Mind GamesLessons in Tolerance

Session 2

A mind is like a parachute, it works best when open.

DiversityDiversity

• Impact of Labels• Round Robin Story

CultureCulture

• Definition = The deposit of knowledge that has been passed on from generation to generation and that teaches us what is appropriate regarding:

Family, self concept, world view, religion, morality, fairness, justice, food and eating habits, clothing, friendship, gender

roles, communication and language habits, idea of beauty, concept of time, social

organization, rituals, social norms,

conflict resolution.

CultureCulture

You

Family

Personal relationships

Interaction with the Community:

School and work

Study, training, and experience

CultureCulture

Key points:• When people talk about other cultures, they

tend to describe differences, and not the similarities.

• Differences between cultures are generally seen as threatening and are described in negative terms.

• What seems logical, sensible, important, and reasonable to a person in one culture, may seem irrational, stupid, or unimportant to an outsider.

CultureCulture

Key points, continued:• The feelings which people have for their own

culture are often not evident until they encounter another culture.

• It requires experience as well as ongoing study to understand the subtleties of another culture.

• Stereotyping is probably inevitable in the absence of frequent contact or study.

Adapted from Community Board Program (n.d.)

Bias

Individual Acts of Prejudice

Discrimination

Bias-Motivated Violence

Genocide

Pyramid of Hate2005 Anti-Defamation League

Pyramid of Hate

What Would You Do?What Would You Do?

Scenerio 1Scenerio 1 Scenerio 2Scenerio 2 Scenerio 3Scenerio 3

WWYD? - Girl With Speech Disorder Bullied! - YouTube

Stuttering

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNLxjL5BcVc

Gay teen bullied

http://youtu.be/ru1F29vuVKI

Latino Beating

CultureCulture• Human beings create culture.

• Everyone sees the world through culture-colored glasses.

• Our culture determines our values.

• We compare people and events based on our own value systems.

• We all have biases and prejudices.

• One group is not ‘better” or “worse” than another – only different.

CultureCulture• There are no diversity problems if a person

stays within his/her culture.• What is similar is that in every culture:

• People communicate because they want to be understood.

• People respond to respect and disrespect.

• Tolerance for diversity, an open mind, hope, empathy, and patience are necessary for understanding people who are different from you.

Adapted from Community Board Program (n.d.)