Manifesto For Inclusiveness: Hopes I Hold for My Children

I question! Tunnel vision, exclusivity, and alienation.
Rigid, stand-alone definitions, out of context quotations,
Appearances, stereotypes, and social taxonomy.

I protest! Against categories of existence, and demarcations of influence,
Against your isolation from those with whom you might be perceived to not belong,
(For fear of leaving them in the dark, for we all need light),
Against the systematic and haphazard preclusion of inclusion.

I celebrate! The igniting of imaginations,
The continued evolution of our brains, through challenges and incongruence,
The methodical and incidental discovery and re-discovery of the interconnectedness of the human ways.
The nurture of children, who truly know how to engage and be engaged by the world around them.

I bequeath! To you - my children - empathy, logic, creativity, and innovation!
The strength and daring to care about the Earth's past, present, and future.
You are not to be indifferent and complaisant, but inspired and invigorating, searching and discontent.
You will know failure and success, as you alone define it.

Realize we do better as people, as species,

when we relinquish our proclivity toward seeing ourselves and each other as foregone conclusions, 

and reach out to one another instead.

You will search and find yourselves in both living creatures and inanimate things alike,

weaving yourself into their individual, but collective narratives, 

driving change, bridging chasms, inspiring authenticity, 

procuring the integration of dreams and practicality ... one step at a time.