Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Here are some sentences for you to complete, are you ready?
All police officers... Like guns? Push people around? Drive fast?
Let us try another.
All people who watch football are... Out of control? Drink alcohol? Get into fights?
All right, one more.
All people with the AIDS disease are... Sad? Dangerous? From Africa?
Voice 2
These ideas are stereotypes. A stereotype is when we think that all people in a group are the same. It is often too simple and too general. Stereotypes can usually be identified by the words “always” or “never”. Stereotypes are dangerous because they define a person or group of people by only one thing. Most people have stereotypes about something or someone.
Voice 1
The best way to destroy stereotypes is to talk with real people. Talk to a police officer about his job. Learn about why a football supporter does what he does. Listen to the story of a person with AIDS.
Voice 2
Today’s Spotlight is on The Living Library. The Living Library is an organization working to fight stereotypes. It creates a space where different people can meet together to talk. And hopefully, build understanding.
Voice 1
A library is a place where people can go to learn about all sorts of things. Most libraries contain books, magazines and newspapers. Some libraries offer computer use and connect people to the Internet. But the Living Library does not offer any of these things. Instead, it offers a different kind of book: a person.
Voice 2
In Living Library events, visitors talk to people instead of reading books. The Living Library calls the people “books” because they can answer questions just like a book can. If you want to learn about refugees, you can sit down with a real refugee and ask him questions about his life. You can hear his story. If you want to know about the life of someone living with AIDS, you can ask her directly.
Voice 1
The Living Library began in Copenhagen, Denmark. The first Living Library event happened at the 2000 Roskilde Festival. There were seventy–five [75] “books” at the event. Even before the official start, people who were the “books” were already talking to one another! The police officer was talking to the spray paint artist. The football supporter was talking with the women’s rights worker. The politician was talking with the youth activist.
Voice 2
Ronni Abergal is one of the people who started the Living Library. He saw that this first event was a success. People were talking to each other – to people they normally would not talk to. So, he travelled to many countries setting up events and presenting the idea to organizations and public authorities. Soon, Living Library events were happening all over Europe.
Voice 1
Living Library events are very low cost, so the program has since been able to spread even more. There have now been Living Library projects in Romania, Iceland, Finland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Australia, and many other places.
Voice 2
Reading a “living book” is unlike any other reading experience you have ever had. People read paper books to gain knowledge and understanding. And people read a living book with the same goals.
Voice 1
The first thing to do is decide what you want to read about. There are many areas to choose from. You could “read” about a female fire fighter, a homeless man, a homosexual, or a hate crime victim. You could talk to a catholic priest, a sky diver, a blind person, or someone who rides a motorcycle. And there are many other choices too.
Voice 2
“Readers” are encouraged to choose a subject on which they may have a stereotype. If someone thinks that all funeral directors are sad people, they may choose to meet with a funeral director. If they think that Jewish people are all rich, they can sit down and talk with a Jew.
Voice 1
Next, readers meet the person who is the book. Together, the reader and book find a quiet place to sit and talk. During this time readers can ask their books any questions they have. People who act as the books are prepared to answer hard, personal questions. This is the reader’s chance to ask exactly what they want to know.
Voice 2
The goal of the Living Library is to reduce stereotypes and encourage people to live together in peace. Stereotypes are damaging because they do not see the whole person, they see only a part. And no one likes to be defined by only one thing. By sharing their stories and answering questions, the books show that they are much more than a stereotype.
Voice 1
For some people, the Living Library may be the first time that they ever talk with someone who fits their stereotype. In this way, what was an issue has become a person. It is easy to hate an issue. It is more difficult to hate a person.
Voice 2
You may be wondering what you can do. If the Living Library comes to your country you can attend and learn more. You may even think about offering yourself as a book that other people may read.
Voice 1
If you do not have the chance to attend an official Living Library event, you can still use the ideas of the Living Library.
Voice 2
The first thing you can do is to identify your own stereotypes. Ask yourself, are there any groups of people that you think, “They always do this thing.” or “They never do that thing.” Or even, “That kind of person... does not like to work, or is stupid, or is not as good as I am.”
Voice 1
You can also try to fight against that stereotype. You can try to sit down with someone who fits your stereotypes. However, you need to be kind to them. Ask them questions and listen carefully to what they have to say. Try to understand them, not change them.
Voice 2
Also, if people have a stereotype about you, about your job, about your country, or your family, you may be willing to tell your story. Your story is full of power. People may disagree with what you believe. They may argue with you about what is right and what is wrong. But they cannot argue with what has happened to you. That is your story. You can be a living book. And your story can make a difference to the people around you.
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