Living Library

As you can probably tell by now, I get a lot of interesting links through various sources at work. And this one intrigues me so much that it deserves a more extensive commentary.

I absolutely love the Living Library concept. Go ahead and read the article too, but the idea is that a library sets up a program in which library patrons can check out a person for a half-hour conversation just like they would check out a book. The people represent various stereotypes, in this case like Ex Gang Member, Muslim, Social Worker, and Gay Man.

Now, our cultural buzzword "diversity" irritates me. It focuses on how different we all are, not on the commonalities that make us human. If we were really able to love our fellow human beings, there would be no reason to "celebrate diversity," because the differences between us wouldn't matter. Celebrating difference only drives wedges between people--it dehumanizes the "other" and turns a person into an exotic stereotype. In essence, "diversity" is a word we use to hide how prejudiced we all are by applauding ourselves for "tolerating" difference--from a safe distance. "Tolerance" is one thing--friendship and love are another entirely.

The Living Library project tears down barriers for the brave souls who volunteer and those who check them out. By having a half-hour conversation with someone about whom one has a handful of preconceived notions, one can get to know them as an individual rather than a stereotype. In the U.S., I think it would be a bucket of water to a culture thirsty for meaningful relationships in a confrontation-phobic atmosphere.

So all in all, I love the idea. The only questions I would have are . . . how do you catalog a person, and where does the bar code go?