“The story is told of a construction company which contracted to build a bridge across a major river. The company decided to start building the bridge from both sides of the river. The engineers calculated that the two sections of the bridge, starting from each side of the river, would meet in the exact center of the river where the bridge would be completed by joining the two sections. When the day finally came that the two sections were to be joined, it was discovered that there had been a slight miscalculation by one or the other side and the beams of the two sections did not arrive at the middle of the river at the same place. At least one half of the project had to be abandoned.”
~ told by Homer Noley
The challenges and shortcomings of building this bridge reflect and parallel the difficulties in understanding and interpreting another’s basic worldview and philosophical orientation. Other traditions at times seem to be coming from opposite sides of the river. It is a difficult and sometimes an impossible undertaking to construct a comprehensive “bridge of understanding” from your side of the river to the other; but only after a bridge is in place can you cross and meet the other side. I want to encourage you to actively participate in creating bridges of understanding, to get to know the world around you.
This is my twentieth blog, and my last “official” blog for my AIS class. I want to thank you readers for taking part in my endeavor to create a blog. I hope my blog taught you something or inspired you to learn more about American Indians. You made this blogging experience a happy one through your support and encouragement, thanks.
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