I'm dating myself, and I've reached an age where I probably should be carbon-dating myself, when I mention The Last Whole Earth Catalog (Access to Tools). It was, before the Internet and Google existed, as close as possible to being an internet of things as a book could ever hope to be.
Most people remember it, if for nothing else, than its cover of Earth, a photo taken by one of the astronauts from Apollo 8 who walked on the moon, called Earthrise. I've always felt it was the most eloquent proof that the farther out in space we go, the more alike we look.
I mention all of that because a Norwich Native Son, (technically he was born down the road in New London), John-Manuel Andriote, whose writings span medicine, music, and children's literature, once noted in the pages of a column he used to author in his hometown newspaper, The Bulletin, if America is a melting pot, then Norwich is a saucepan.
I love John's simile. It's both truthful, true and absolutely nails it in terms of describing our city. Norwich is a terrific example of Robert Palmer's Every Kinda People. Thanks to efforts by Global City Norwich and the outreach on behalf of our children by the Norwich Public Schools, there are many ways each of us can help celebrate all of us and in the end, for my money, that's what a community is and should aspire to be.
This Monday, September 9, the abstraction and the reality meet again at Chelsea Parade beginning at five in the afternoon, rain or shine (so let your smile be your umbrella) as the the Rotary Clubs of Norwich (Sunrise- Noontime-RCC) hosts Celebrate Cultural Diversity.
It's an annual celebration of the too-many-to-mention cultures that we have here in Norwich and the surrounding towns. The goal is to increase awareness of our region's cultural diversity and to highlight and spotlight the area’s many available multicultural resources.
In our current politically charged atmosphere where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, DEI, are too often depicted as some sinister and subversive 'threat to our way of life' (your mileage on 'way of life' may vary, btw), the celebration is an affirmation of what we already know, or should, about one another.
Yes, we are different, and quite often very different, and yet, despite those differences, what we share and why is so much larger and more important than what separates us.
When you come, you'll learn there is no inside because there is no outside. Leave the idea of 'us or them,' at the corner of Washington Street because at Chelsea Parade it's just 'we.' You'll be mingling with the Pluribus that complements the E and Unum.
Admission is free and there will be at least two metric tons (by my reckoning) of family-friendly entertainment for all. Have my sense of direction (People tell me where to go all the time and still I get lost)? Easy-Peasy. Chelsea Parade is across from the Norwich Free Academy.
The Food Tasting tickets are $10 per person and will be in high demand as things kick off at 5 pm with a scrumptious sampling of ethnic foods to enjoy, all from local area restaurants (some of which you'll discover perhaps for the first time), and you'll swing and sway to music from the many places around the world our Norwich neighbors call home. Bring the family, as children under six years of age eat FREE.
As the afternoon becomes evening, there's the seriously important business of presenting the Lottie B. Scott Diversity Award and a Community Diversity Award to the resident and an organization, respectively, who helped promote peace and understanding across our city.
It's an opportunity to meet friends you never knew you had and in these times who among us couldn't do with a few more friends, right here where we all live?
See you there.
-bill kenny
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