by Francisco Cardosa Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist-educator from Recife, Brazil.
Dedicated to Michael Prosser
Crossculturally are we learning to live?
To Global Cross-cultural Dignity what can we give?When aspects of cultures we compare
Do we show them as mutually dignifying pairs?
When aspects of cultures we describe
How wisely do we deal with cultural norms they prescribe?Crossculturally, how will Humankind advance?
By educating every person/community cross-cultural cooperation to enhanceCrossculturally Dignity: when do we seriously violate?
When our culture from other cultures we narrow-mindedly isolateCrossculturally how can the world improve East and West?
When crossculturally dignifying ways we share our bestWhen cross-cultural dignifiers will become?
When all forms of crosscultural humiliation we prevent and overcome
Dignidade Intercultural: Algumas Reflecções Rimadas
por Francisco Cardosa Gomes de Matos, um educador-linguista da paz do Recife, Brasil
Dedicado a Michael Prosser
Interculturalmente aprendemos a viver?
À Dignidade Intercultural Global, o que podemos oferecer?Quando aspectos da cultura comparamos
Como pares multualmente dignificados os mostramos?
Quando aspectos da cultura apresentamos
Com que sabedoria, com as normas culturais prescritas lidamos?Interculturalmente, como irá a Humanidade avançar?
Educando toda a pessoa/comunidade a cooperação intercultural a melhorarInterculturalmente Dignidade: quando é que seriamente violamos?
Quando a nossa cultura das outras culturas mesquinhamente isolamosInterculturalmente, como pode o mundo melhorar Oriente e Ocidente?
Quando o nosso melhor partilharmos de modos dignificados interculturalmenteQuando os dignificadores interculturais se irão tornar?
Quando todas as formas de humiliação intercultural conseguirmos evitar e superar
Reflection by María Alejandra Fumaroni, Argentina:
This poem reflects on cross-cultural dignity from a Latin American writer’s point of view.
How often do you check the time and, meanwhile, the sun is brighter here, the moon is illuminating the sky there? Whereas wars are happening all over the world, we as human beings think about that with sadness…but how often are we concerned about inequities, isolation and discrimination?
When you see the expressions on those faces…Can you imagine how the lack of a sense of belonging feels in the heart?
This poem was originally printed in 2013 by Center for Intercultural Dialogue. Learn more about the author.
The Intercultural Connector team welcomes submissions of original poetry that speaks to the human condition as it relates to concepts of intercultural competence. Please submit your entry using our Blog Submission form or contact María Alejandra Fumaroni at mafumaroni@gmail.com with any questions regarding poetry, prose, or spoken word Blog Submissions.