For over thirty years, we have worked on communication and behavior with children and adults in diverse settings and cultures. Our work led us to understand that when we see our sameness as human beings as more fundamental than our diversity, we can make relationships of equal value a reality. Then, diversity adds richness to our lives, rather than conflict. Our deepest longing transcends our wish to be loved and valued by others. It includes our loving and valuing ourselves and our loving and valuing others. Many others have stated this from the knowledge of their hearts.
Relationships of equal value involve honoring ourselves, others, and our issues, how we are within ourselves, how we are between ourselves and others, how we are in a group, between or among groups or nations, and how we can open a door to go beyond anything we have experienced.
If I am not for myself, who will be?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?
(Hillel the Elder, likely 30 BCE to 10 CE)