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HEARING PARENTS IN EVERY LANGUAGE

The September/October issue of Child Care Information Exchange included a Beginnings Workshop section on "Multi-Language Programs."  One of the articles,  "Hearing Parents in Every Language:  An Invitation to ECE Professionals," by Holly Elissa Bruno, shared this observation:

"When I think differences can never be bridged, I remind myself of President Jimmy Carter's negotiating a peace agreement between two arch enemies.  President Carter created a safe, non-judgmental space of wonderment for the leaders of two warring powers, Israel and Egypt, to find common ground.  Anwar Sadat and Menachim Begin carried the scars of centuries of jihad.  Sadat and Begin did not want to be in the same room, and certainly not at the same side of the table.

"Something inspired President Carter to invite each man to talk about his grandchildren.  'Tell us about them, what they are like, what they love, what they want to be,' encouraged Carter.  Slowly the stiffly defended men softened into gentle, beaming grandfathers, with endless stories of delight.  In the end, leaders Sadat and Begin agreed that the world should be a safer, saner place for their grandchildren than it had been for them.  The peace accord was signed.  A humble President Carter added his own cultural history in announcing the accord: 'In my religious heritage, we say blessed are the peacemakers.'

"An ECE professional, by sitting a the 'same side of the table' with a parent from another culture, can be a peacemaker.  By looking together for common ground in how we can serve the children, we may in wonderment find ways to honor the cultures we represent."

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