I am often reminded of the final scene of this 1980s cult movie. After a Saturday spent in detention with spiteful, cruel and stereotypical judgments, the students come to realize at the end of the day that no one should be subjected to a "label". We aren't just brains, athletes, princesses, basket cases or criminals. We are individuals trying to find our place in the world and to be accepted for who we are.
For whatever reason, as I conclude my visit to Israel and finish up a week of celebrating all this country has to offer, scenes from "The Breakfast Club" keep ruminating through my mind. I am somewhat embarrassed by the simplicity of the comparison. Perhaps that is because until I experienced the challenges within Israel through my own eyes, and not through the media, did I get a true appreciation of what it must be like to be labeled. The labels here are not just a teenage phase, lasting only a few minutes of our lifetime. They are a part of everyday life.
Israel is a country filled with people who wear their labels with both pride and fear. From afar, they may be labeled as Israelis, Jews, Palestinians, Christians, and Muslims. They are segregated by borders, laws, and traditions; yet when you get to know them as individuals, they are anything but labels. At their core, they are the same as most humans; caring, honest, gracious, and loving people who pray every day for a world of peace and reconciliation.
If only removing some labels could solve the problems...I am not so naive to believe so, but I know that I leave this country with a greater appreciation for the people and take with me a daily reminder of how fortunate I really am.
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