Play Yahtzee to Create a More Inclusive World
October 15, 2011
Playing Yahtzee can help bring people together, breaking down physical and emotional borders and promoting fairness, equality and justice. The game is inclusive, encourages teamwork and collaboration, builds bridges between different cultures, teaches empathy and can challenge biases and preconceptions. By playing Yahtzee with a group of diverse individuals, players can foster mutual understanding, respect and appreciation, leading to a more just and equitable world. Yahtzee has the potential to change the world and all it takes is for players to start rolling the dice.
My dear friend Rick McCallister and I recently took a road trip through the U.S. Midwest to promote our book, "The Yahtzee Manifesto." Our journey was a great success, and we had a fantastic time exploring the beautiful countryside and meeting many wonderful people. Along the way, we noticed that the states seemed to melt into one another, and we realized that there was a lot of homogeneity in modern American culture. This led us to the conclusion that the borders between states were originally drawn haphazardly, which has a profound impact on American democracy.
We realized that if we want to revive the true spirit of representative government, we need to start by redrawing state borders so that the true interests of the represented are always at the forefront of politics. The modern capitalist society has distorted representative democracy in many ways, one of which is gerrymandering of political districts, which distorts their shapes and makes them nearly unrecognizable from the original concepts of James Madison and Pericles. Our idea was to create a state of Appalachia (or perhaps three: Upper, Middle, and Lower) that encompasses this distinct geographic area and its culturally-unique people, carving bits and pieces of existing states to create a state where representation would be more natural and fair. We could continue to divide current states and reshape them with more logical borders all across the country.
Of course, resolving the issue of borders on a global scale will not happen overnight. But the World Yahtzee Revolution will attend to this in due time, once the global network of hierarchy and oppression has been removed. The fact is, borders of all kinds can be detrimental if they are not administered with due diligence, and this is where the game of Yahtzee comes in. Yahtzee is not just a fun and entertaining game, but it has the power to break down boundaries both physical and emotional, creating a more just, equitable world.
Change the World with Yahtzee
Playing Yahtzee can help bring people together, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or any other differences. The game requires players to communicate and collaborate with each other, creating a sense of community and friendship. Through playing Yahtzee, people can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for each other, which can lead to more positive and respectful relationships and improved mental health generally.
Be the change you want to see in the world by picking up a handful of dice with joy in your heart. Yahtzee players can use the game to metaphorically redraw borders and create a more just and equitable world. Here are just some of the ways you can use Yahtzee to break down barriers in human societies:
- Promote inclusivity: Yahtzee is a game that can be played by people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. By playing with people who may have different experiences and perspectives, Yahtzee can help break down physical and emotional borders and promote inclusivity.
- Encourage teamwork and collaboration: Yahtzee is a game that requires teamwork and collaboration between players. By working together to achieve common goals, Yahtzee can help players to break down individualistic attitudes and promote a more cooperative mindset.
- Build bridges: Yahtzee is a game that can be played by people from different countries and cultures. By playing with people from other parts of the world, Yahtzee can help to break down cultural borders and build bridges between different communities.
- Teach empathy: Yahtzee is a game that requires players to take turns, share resources, and understand each other's needs. By learning to understand and empathize with others during the game, Yahtzee can help players to develop a more compassionate and empathetic mindset.
- Break down class barriers: Yahtzee is a game that can be played by people from different social and economic classes. By playing with people who may have different experiences and circumstances, Yahtzee can help to break down class barriers and promote greater understanding and equality.
- Advocate for fairness: Yahtzee is a game that requires players to follow rules and make decisions based on fairness. By playing Yahtzee, players can develop an understanding of what fairness means and how it can be applied to other aspects of life.
- Foster community: Yahtzee is a game that can be played with friends and family, or with strangers in a community setting. By playing Yahtzee, players can build relationships, foster community, and break down the emotional and physical borders that can divide people.
Redraw Borders - or Just Smash Them
Whether you prefer to play Yahtzee with friends and family, or use the game to build bridges with people from other communities, the game has the power to redraw borders – by breaking down barriers and bringing people together. By playing Yahtzee, individuals can challenge their own biases, prejudices, and preconceptions. Through the act of rolling dice, and making decisions based on the outcome, Yahtzee can help players let go of their beliefs, and embrace new perspectives.
Yahtzee also has the power to break down physical and emotional barriers, creating a more just and equitable world in the process. By playing Yahtzee with a group of diverse individuals, players can foster mutual understanding, respect, and appreciation. Coming together in peace to play Yahtzee, players work towards a world where all individuals are valued, respected, and treated equally.
Yahtzee has the potential to change the world, and all it takes is for players to start rolling the dice. So, the next time you break out your Yahtzee set, remember that you are not playing a game, but you are helping to redefine and reshape boundaries in order to promote fairness, equality, and justice in the world. Whether you are breaking down physical borders or emotional barriers, Yahtzee can be a tool for positive change. By playing the game with a mind towards inclusiveness and collaboration, you can make a real impact on the world around you. So, embrace the spirit of the World Yahtzee Revolution and use the game as a means of creating a better, more equitable world for all.
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