The Skin You Live In was written to promote the concept of acceptance, rather than tolerance, which only sees diversity as an obligation, not as an opportunity. Poetry/verse was employed to enhance readability, and to enhance the desire for multiple readings. Verse also promotes memory retention by the child listener. The book reads with the playfulness of a nursery rhyme. Focus is not on references to historical disparagement, violations, injustices and atrocities. Such references engage the subjective frame of reference of the individual reader, rather than provide a more objective frame of reference serviceable to any reader. Furthermore, such references often trigger the negative emotions of victimization, compassion fatigue and guilt resentment. These emotions always impede the constructive dialogue required for acceptance, because they immediately establish mental postures of opposition and blame, rather than of compatibility and trust. Acceptance is about recognition, acknowledgement and affirmation. It is the gift given we all receive, when see our differences as the splendid variety of what it means to be human..."...like flowers in the fields that make wonderful views".
