Twenty White Mice and One Grey Mouse
There were twenty little white mice in Mr. Mouse’s classroom. Everything was going well, and it was a nice class. Everyone treated each other with respect. They respected each other because they all felt equal after all, they were all white, so they felt the same. Then one day, a new mouse joined the class. He wasn’t white, he was grey. This grey mouse did everything differently. Suddenly, things started going wrong in the classroom, and it wasn’t such a nice place anymore. The white mice thought the grey mouse was disrespectful and didn’t accept that he acted differently. They believed they were normal and respectful to each other, and that the grey mouse should just adapt. But the grey mouse didn’t. The white mice got angry and demanded that Mr. Mouse remove the grey mouse from the class.
They said he was disrespectful, refused to fit in, and didn’t show respect to the others. “No,” said Mr. Mouse. “ I brought the grey mouse into your class specifically to teach you more about respect. Real respect is about understanding and accepting each other’s differences. When there were only white mice in class, it was easy to be respectful. But when I introduced someone different, that’s when the real challenge began. If I remove the grey mouse now, you’ll never learn what true respect means. He is the most important mouse in the class because through him, you will learn what respect really is. Discrimination grows from fear, fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of different opinions. Don’t be afraid of differences. You can stay white, but you can’t expect him to become a white mouse too! On the outside we may look different white, grey, brown, or spotted but we’re all mice. We all feel things differently. We all think differently. That’s what makes each mouse unique and special. Listen to others’ opinions. You don’t have to change your own but you can. If you learn to respect him, you’ll see that he’ll give you respect in return. You must give respect to receive it.”
Food for thought
- Is it easier to show respect to those who are just like you?
- What does real respect look like when someone thinks, looks, or acts differently?
- Can you listen to another opinion without needing to agree?
- Are you open to changing your views when faced with new perspectives?
- Respect isn't about making others like you it's about understanding them as they are.
True respect begins where comfort ends.
Differences don’t divide us fear does. Choose curiosity over judgment. Give respect to grow it.
