This picture, which I took in Istanbul two years ago, has resurfaced on Facebook — and reminded me of something very important.
When we travel, we notice the differences in the way of life of people in other countries. But we also notice the things that we have in common.
An interest in football has led a cafe owner in Turkey to name his establishment after an English Premier League Club. There, for an English person, for all the differences in culture is something familiar and relatable.
It’s a small point, but one worth remembering, not just when we travel but when we think about foreign places and foreign people.
It’s our shared humanity that keeps us together, and sets us apart. We should never lose sight of the fact that there are, overwhelmingly, people of good will in all parts of the world.
And, yes, even football can be devisive. But if you’re a fan of the game, you have at least one thing in common with people you will never meet.
And if you dig deeper, you’ll find that — with exceptions, who are very much in the minority — we share so much and differ on so little.
