Prejudiced, hatred, biased, narrow-mindedness, 
racist, judgmental, opinionated! I either heard those words or they crossed my mind as I watched a movie last night that moved me.
The movie – “Paper Clips” has been on my radar for several years and certainly was on my watch list but as is often the case, I hadn’t gotten around to it. Last night however, I had the chance to view this movie where middle-schoolers and their teachers reminded me to keep my eyes even more wide open and realize I should continue, more than ever, to love and accept all people. All it took to do it was them reminding me once again of the atrocities of the holocaust!
Somehow, in my generation and certainly in those before me, it has been accepted behavior that:
- “if they aren’t like us, there is something wrong with them!”
- “If they don’t agree with us, they are wrong!”
- “if they look different than us, poor them! We are better than they are!”
Bless the teachers of the small urban Whitwell Middle School in tiny Whitwell, Tennessee – about 20 miles NW of Chattanooga. They decided the prior generational teaching wasn’t appropriate and they were going to make a hands-on difference for their 8th grade students to see the real and true picture albeit risky in spots. The results – a joyous and tearful ending and a basis to continue with open-mindedness not only in small Whitwell but around t
he world for those who will listen.
I suggest you don’t do as I did. Find this 2004 released jewel from Miramax Pictures, sit back and marvel at what some courageous small town folks did and are doing to make a difference. It will make a difference in you too!
http://youtu.be/xGnhilD9yGg
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