Editorial

We all carry within us prejudices toward others, especially those most different from us. One corrective to such prejudice is actually meeting those people where they live.

Many Mennonites have lived in other countries, and many more have traveled there. Our colleges encourage the experience of other cultures and learning other languages. This experience has helped shape our views of the world and of God’s work in the world, including God’s desire for peace (shalom) throughout the globe.

Nevertheless, those of us in the United States are affected by our country’s prejudices toward other countries and cultures. Our media often reinforces such prejudice. And our mostly monolingual experience doesn’t help. We all need a dose of humility and a broadening of our perspective.

In these lean economic times, I had the good fortune to experience both this year, thanks to funding from Meetinghouse and the Jordan Tourism Board. I traveled to Paraguay in July to attend and report on Assembly 15 of Mennonite World Conference, then to Jordan Sept. 26-Oct. 3 with 17 other Christian journalists.

My experience in Paraguay enriched me in many ways. Meeting people from all over the world who shared my basic Mennonite beliefs filled me with awe and gratitude. I saw in new ways that people experience God in different ways, depending on the context of their lives.

I also experienced the isolation of not knowing the native language. I’ve studied Spanish and got by on some basic knowledge, but I found out my ability was minimal. I welcomed the gracious patience of others with my limitation. I also felt greater sympathy toward Spanish speakers at our various Mennonite Church USA meetings who must endure English-only sessions.

In Jordan I experienced the gracious hospitality that is a mark of Middle Eastern culture. While I knew almost no Arabic, many of my hosts spoke English well and put up with my ignorance without complaint.

Many among my friends and family said before I left, “Is it safe there?” They—all of us—are inundated with media that focus on “terrorist” activity and equate it with Islamic faith.

Our media fail to report the repeated denunciations by Muslims across the globe of suicide bombers and honor killings. And the actions of Israel, the United States and others are never labeled “terrorist,” though the bombings and killings terrify many people.

Jordan promotes not just tolerance but acceptance of religion, according to Senator Akel Biltaji. While there, I learned much about Islam and never felt judged for being a Christian.

Being in a Muslim country showed me how secular our society is. While not everyone in Jordan is a faithful Muslim, a religious culture pervades life there. There are the calls for prayer broadcast five times each day. People’s speech includes frequent use of “Asalaam ‘Alaykum” (peace be upon you) and “insha’ Allah” (if God wills).

Senator Biltaji emphasized the importance of “peace through tourism:” leaving home for a purpose, earning knowledge, practicing people-to-people diplomacy.

This is a practice we should cultivate. While it is expensive to travel overseas, the benefits of encountering other cultures are great. And we can do this in our own context without great expense. We can visit people in our communities whose experience is different from our own.
Hospitality is another trait we need to cultivate. In Jordan we experienced this in many ways, from the abundant meals to people on the street helping us find our way.

Mennonite Central Committee workers Cindy and Daryl Byler told me a story that illustrates a handicap many Mennonites may have in the area of hospitality. MCC sponsors exchanges between young adults from the United States and the Middle East. At one meeting hosted by Jordanian youth, the U.S. Mennonites complained about the expense the hosts incurred in putting on an event. But in their culture, this is what hospitality means.

Peace comes through meeting others on their turf and learning from them. Peace comes through hospitality and the humility and gratitude we experience from that.