See photos from the event!http://www.flickr.com/photos/romyfredrica/sets/72157604254835423/ 

by Rob Howard
Contributing Writer

Every spring, the Respect Diversity Foundation kicks off its Respect Diversity Symbol Exhibit with an awards program. Every spring, I attend. On Tuesday of this week, the Seventh Annual program was held at the Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum.

There are a few short speeches, but the stars of the show are the hundreds of children from kindergarten through 12th grade, who have worked on the exhibits promoting diversity; their teachers, who have nurtured their interest in this critically important topic; and their parents who have supported the program through the years. Over the past seven years, the symbol competition has reached over 140,000 children, teachers, and parents.

Through the symbols they have created, the poems they have composed, and the music they perform at the program, they show us that there is hope for a more accepting world. And after dealing with the frenzy of responding to Rep. Sally Kern’s remarks for the last three weeks, I really needed a ‘shot’ of hope!

I grew up in the fifties, when black people had to drink from different water fountains, ride at the back of the bus, attend different schools, and live in different parts of town. Gay people? Nobody even talked about that. I had to ask my mother what ‘queer’ meant after a bully pushed me up against a locker and called me Queer.

So I’ve seen a lot over the years of how far we have come. From black people being beaten in the streets, to a black man running for President. From not talking about people who were ‘like that,’ to having LGBT Pride festivals and parades, and a constant discussion of our rights.

We’ve come so far-and have so far to go. The thought that a law maker could question my right to participate in the political process, could say I am worse than a terrorist, could think that some religions ‘are better than others’ chills me.

So it is great to be able to see the kids perform and win awards for their efforts to foster diversity in our world, and to wander among the exhibits seeing both the talent, and the passion that has gone into designing them.

The closing song of the program was performed by Manyawi! World Music Ensemble from Monroe Elementary School in Norman. It included new words to the song "Imagine."

"Imagine if we all pledged to use words in a nice way," and "Imagine where we can walk in someone else’s shoes and see the beauty of diversity."

Part of the winning exhibit in the 9 through 12 grade entries, called "Whirled Peace" from Putnam City Academy, is a ribbon. On the ribbon it says "Think before you speak and watch what you say to people. Words do hurt."

I am thrilled that kids ‘get it.’ Maybe they can teach adults a thing or two.

Rob Howard is the Executive Director of the Cimarron Alliance Foundation. The opinions expressed in his column are entirely his, and do not represent either the views of Cimarron, or the organization.