Wondering about diversity

Recently I watched the movie Wonder. It’s an inspiring and heart-warming movie, based on R.J. Palacio’s award-winning novel of the same name.

It centers on Auggie Pullman, a young boy with a genetic facial difference. As an ordinary kid with an extraordinary appearance, Auggie meets both cruel bullies and good friends as he attends school for the first time.

As I left the cinema, I found myself thinking that “Wonder” truly can happen when we choose kindness over cruelty; when we appreciate everyone for who they are, and embrace their differences.

While the movie centers around a young boy’s school experience, the central tenets and message are just as applicable to the adult world, too. We are all different from some perspectives. We look different, we come from different regions or countries, with different cultures and beliefs. However, we all share common needs: we all want to be understood, respected, appreciated, and valued.

 

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