threatened them. Maybe we heard
something about them that we didn’t
like and made decisions that were
detrimental to them that possibly
disrupted their lives.
It could have been a person with
tattoos and piercings, a gun owner,
someone with different sexual prefer-
ences, like LGBTQ or polyamorous, a
person of a different faith, a psychic
or spiritual leader, someone using
medical marijuana, a policeman, a
politician...the list can go on and on.
As we become less tolerant of our dif-
ferences and more vehement in our
positions, this habit of uninformed
judgment can easily expand to in-
clude entire groups of people, organi-
zations, and issues.
Are we willing to take time to
shift our perspective, our minds and
our understanding? I believe it is
possible to create a more open, com-
municative and thriving community.
As an Airbnb host I see people who
come to Sedona and become awed by
the beauty of its Red Rocks. Perhaps
someday they will become equally
awestruck by a welcoming, under-
standing, compassionate and commu-
nicative culture we have the power to
foster in Sedona.
Now, look at the graphic at the top
of this page and consider how many
people with these challenges you
may shy away from or even ignore?
Would you be open to discovering
something new, interesting, and
maybe even fascinating about them?
That is what the Human Library has
successfully accomplished, one per-
son at a time in 80 countries around
the world, year after year.
As you read the list of labels that
follows, it can give one pause. We can
28 IMAGINE l FALL 2018
ask ourselves: Have I made judgments
about someone with this label? How
solid is that judgement? Based on what?
Has it become an inflexible position?
Could I let go of the label and see that
person as a human being just like me?
Deformed…Amputee...Burn Victim...
Dwarf...Autistic…Extreme Body
Modified…Homeless...Molested.…
.Molester….Ex-con...On Welfare...
Bipolar…Soldier (PTSD)…Teenage
Mother...Brain Damaged…Mentally
Ill...Divorcee…House Husband….
Garbage Collector…Mortician…
Wealthy…Drug Addict...Raggedly
Dressed…Step-Parent…Old Person…
Republican…Democrat…Tea Party…
Skin Color…Jewish...Christian...
Muslim...Sikh…New Age...Prostitute...
Hunter...Slaughterhouse Worker....
The Sedona International City of
Peace is committed to helping dissolve
the walls that separate us. We have
all had moments of labeling or being
labeled. In those moments, perhaps
we wished that someone would
have come to be with us, listen to us,
and remind us we are okay. At this
point in human history, it is time to
face our fears, confront that which
creates unnecessary division, and to
embrace the diversity of our com-
munities, become curious, and create
dialogue and cohesion. Sedona, along
with hundreds of other cities, will be
hosting a Human Library event this
year for that very purpose. Everyone
is encouraged to participate as a Hu-
man Book, a reader, or a volunteer at
a Human Library event near you.
For more information about the Human
Library movement, this video provides a good
overview: https://www.facebook.com/attn/
videos/1714737678561684/
To read about the 2017 Human Library event in
Sedona, visit: http://www.redrocknews.com/
news/88888901-human-interest/65960-hu-
man-books-aim-to-open-minds and humanl.
Margaret Joy Weaver is one of the Founding
Members of Sedona International City of Peace
and currently serves the Board President. She
is also a Founding Member of the Mental
Health Coalition Verde Valley. She served on the
Sedona International Film Festival Board for
10 years and was Board Chair when the Mary
D. Fisher Theater was born. She has an 18-year
old daughter from India, co-parenting with her
Muslim parents as she completes her studies at
Verde Valley School.