 Tough
economic times can divide groups of people struggling to get their hands on the
same resources.
But
Rep. Vinny deMacedo, R-Plymouth, a Cape Verdian American christened Viriato Manuel
Pereira de Macedo, noted that tough times also unite and should be seen as an
opportunity to help your neighbor and to embrace differences. As a political leader,
deMacedo said he’s seen first-hand the power of generosity and compassion.
America
will ever be the land of opportunity for all who pursue it, he added, thanks to
the efforts of those who embrace diversity.
DeMacedo
was among a number of speakers who opened Plymouth’s No Place for Hate Committee’s
Diversity Day celebrations Sunday with a message of hope and courage for the future. “I
am honored to be a part of these proceedings,” the Rev. Dr. Peter Gomes said
as he took the stage. “No such thing occurred to me in my youth here.” Not
only has he contributed to Plymouth’s diversity, Gomes laughingly noted,
he exemplifies it. “You could say I am diversity in our town,”
he added, smiling. “But nearly everybody in Plymouth is an example in some
form or other of diversity. Everyone is singular and unique. Everyone has been
the beneficiary of someone who came before us.” Later that afternoon,
the Potentials Unlimited Performance Troop, comprised of performers with and without
disabilities, danced and sang to co-founder Keith James’ original songs about
diversity and overcoming adversity. A dancer in a wheelchair took center stage
during several songs, gracefully and deftly moving to the music. The Greater
Boston Chinese Cultural Center players and dancers wowed the audience, as they
danced to eastern melodies and beats while using fans and brightly colored scarves
to accent their moves. Musicians from the Center played traditional instruments
that conjured up an ancient culture spanning thousands of years and more than
80 dynasties. Of particular interest was a group of boys who performed an
elaborate yo-yo dance, using original, large-scale models of these toys, which
were invented in China around 1,000 BC. The boys tossed the yo-yos back and forth
to one another on strings, looping them around their heads, throwing and catching
them effortlessly. The day capped off with UMass Dartmouth’s Kekeli
African Music & Dance Ensemble’s spectacular performance, which featured
hypnotic and primal drumming that brought the crowd to its feet. No Place
for Hate Committee Chairman Dr. Barry Meltzer beamed into the sunlight, no doubt
relieved that the event had gone off without a hitch and only a risk of rain.
Committee member and Diversity Day Planning Committee Chairman Doug Hagen seemed
equally elated at the positive response to the event. The Pilgrims and the
Wampanoags depended upon one another to survive back in 1620 when a lack of resources
threatened their lives, Gomes noted. It was through acceptance, understanding
and love that this alliance, their friendship, was able to thrive. It was America’s
first lesson in the importance of diversity, he said, and must still be taught
today. He commended Plymouth’s No Place for Hate Committee for taking
up that torch. “I would like to think Plymouth is too busy a town to
hate,” Gomes added. | 
