Progenies of Adam are of one family. For, in their inception, are of one seed (Persian Poet: Saadï Shïrãzï - circa 13th century).

This week, the United Nations General Assembly is meeting in New York. Leaders of the world nations are there making their pleas, concerns, and wishes known to everyone else. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the number one issue on their agenda is healthcare and the disparity of its delivery. It is obvious that race and nationality play a big role in this disparity.

As the refugee crisis moves and mixes races everywhere, the question of how to deal with it becomes evermore acute. However, with population increasing at the present rate, the human race will become heterogeneous no matter what the obstacles. So branding, segregating, or isolating them or ourselves will matter not! The sooner we get a grasp of this reality, the better the outcome will be. To achieve that, takes work and requires tolerance and acceptance.

Actor, Morgan Freeman, was asked in an interview on how we should deal with the problem of race? "To start with", he said, "you can stop calling me a black man."
In one of his performances, comedian, Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias, said: "People always call me fat Mexican. It wasn't till I was performing in Arabia, that I was called an American."

German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, addressing the UN General Assembly in New York last week, said: "In blaming others, we have to remember that when we point a finger at others, the other fingers of our hand are pointing back at ourselves".

We are all children of the creator. Our race, color, or ethnicity is irrelevant. Not until we appreciate this fact will we be totally free.

When I was a little boy
My family owned a big bookstore
In it we had lots of books
For all generations and age groups,
Some took us far away
Others into the brain's passageway
Books that told a silly story
And those that taught us history.
There were picture books and magazines
Almanacs, newspapers and quarterlies

The bookstore, a first of its kind
A big surprise for people to have it at hand
Skepticism abounded, and many asked
"People are illiterate, why a bookstore?"
"People are illiterate, so a bookstore!"
Was the answer with a smile.
At the start they just passed us by
Stretching their neck as they looked inside
Then stopped and looked, curiously attracted
Finally took a step inside, wide-eyed and fascinated
Walking around the many isles
Wondering eyes and curious minds
"you can read them, if you like."
"I don't know how." They said back.
"It's OK, hold it in your hand
and with you, the book will have a chat."

In their hands they held a book,
Felt its weight, sense and power too.
Cautiously they looked inside,
Saw the words along each other's side
So clean and orderly they were
Page after page, book after book, shelf after shelf.
With a sigh, they began to leave.
"I wish I could read," said one with grief.
"Oh, but you can, do not fret."
"There are only 32 letters in the alphabet."
"All these books are made of those letters. You can bet!"

So it was that more people came. Young and old, ladies and men.
Teachers came-by and made connections.
Classes started, masses trained. Reading became a trend and then.
No one passed the store again.
The bookstore developed into a home
For seekers of knowledge and wisdom.
Much developed in that store
As was seen in their happy stare,
All because they were shown the way
And kept their uncertainty at bay.

In medicine, too, knowledge comes to us in many ways. Rewards and happiness of our service appear when we treat people, not their malady. For their sake, not their money. Then at night we don't have to wonder; am I wealthy, am I poor, am I happy, can't be sure.
With feeling our patient's pain and hurting, to correctly stop their suffering,
We gain the satisfaction of being a true physician, a healer.

As chaos seems to overwhelm the world, many young people are stepping forward to save the day for themselves, humanity and the world. People like Malala Yousafzai, of Afghanistan, Greta Thunberg, of Sweden, Milou Albrecht, of Australia, and others who are fighting for our environmental changes and global warming. And young geniuses like Caleb Anderson, an African-American 13-year-old who just started as a sophomore at Georgia Tech, studying aerospace engineering.

In medicine too, we have the likes of:
Balamurali Krishna Ambati MD, who was the world’s youngest doctor at the age of 17.
Riana Helmi MD, of Indonesia, age 19.
Iqbal-Al-Assaad MD, of Palestine, age 20.
Ola Hadaya of Syria. After earning her MD degree, she entered OBGYN residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at age 21.
Sho Yano MD, he earned a PhD and an MD from the University of Chicago by the age of 21
Dr. Arpan Doshi of Indian-origin who became UK's youngest doctor at age 21.
Heenal Raichura MD, also of Great Britain. She completed her medical degree at 22 years old.
Serennah Harding DO, of Kansas, USA, graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee, Georgia at the age of 22.

And many others. Most of these wonderful people got their recognition and education in western countries.  But obviously there are many more like them all around the world.  Given the same opportunity and recognition, they will fill universities everywhere.  New technologies are available - right now - to give everyone of them the needed chance.  We only need to breakdown the outdated and protectionist barriers.

As Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer said in a recent in-depth interview about the diversity of our great nation [and indeed the world], it is up to our young people, our high school students, who must take responsibility for improving it.

And that should give us all great hope for the future of tomorrow!
 

Of smoky skies and flooded land
Such is the destiny at hand

For all, who wonder of our faith
Of today, tomorrow, and life's prospect

For what awaits us is uncertain
Yet here it is, a future to ascertain

From the natural world and man
In hope of a better life and chance

Healthcare providers are on the frontline of this war on uncertainty. For no matter what turmoil, society, politics, pandemics, wars, man's instinctive desires and selfishness create, to our tabernacles of healthcare, the effected come for solace.