#PopeInPhilly Thoughts

I love learning about other cultures. It began when I was in 5th grade (Hamilton) and had a classmate who was of Asian decent. In middle school, I was privileged to be acquainted with children from many backgrounds. My lessons in cultural competence didn't come through formal lessons, but in the friendships I formed in middle school (Masterman Middle) and in high school (Bodine High).

Ever since, I've enjoyed learning about people of other backgrounds and persuasions.

I've traveld to England and France ('97), Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Switzerland ('02) and Canada (I forget the year, lol, smh).

I recently renewed my Passport and have plans to travel to Jamaica next March.

The Pope is in the United States. Even though I'm not Catholic, I do not have to be in order to recognize the historical significance of his visit to the United States and in particular, my hometown of Philadelphia. I also don't have to be Catholic to sit, watch, and learn something about a religious culture different from my own.

I've been watching the coverage in the weeks leading up to this and am doing so as I type and am learning quite a bit.

Switching gears a bit...

Admittedly, I was one of the critics about how Philadelphia was preparing for this event. The attack was not intended for the Pope or on the Catholic Church, but more on the irony of this city that included long walks for the feeble, the whisking away of the homeless, and how many very small businesses (taxi drivers, vendors, small cafes) would lose out on significant weekend money to make ends meet, all in the name of the Pope who is considered the people's Pope.