In his salon in Paris, Jim sets his dining table on Sunday for the world.
NPR - All Things Considered, January 12, 2009 ·
Inviting The World To Dinner
by Jim Haynes
Care To Come For Dinner?
"Tolerance can lead to respect,and, finally, to love. No one can ever
really understand anyone else, but you can love them or at least
accept them."Every week for the past 30 years, I've hosted a Sunday dinner in my home in Paris.
People, including total strangers, call or e-mail to book a spot. I hold the
salon in my atelier, which used to be a sculpture studio. The first 50
or 60 people who call may come, and twice that many when the weather
is nice and we can overflow into the garden.
Every Sunday a different friend prepares a feast. Last week it was a
philosophy student from Lisbon, and next week a dear friend from
London will cook.
People from all corners of the world come to break bread together, to
meet, to talk, connect and often become friends. All ages,
nationalities, races, professions gather here, and since there is no
organized seating, the opportunity for mingling couldn't be better. I
love the randomness.
I believe in introducing people to people.
I have a good memory, so each week I make a point to remember
everyone's name on the guest list and where they're from and what they
do, so I can introduce them to each other, effortlessly. If I had my
way, I would introduce everyone in the whole world to each other.
People are most important in my life. Many travelers go to see things
like the Tower of London, the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower and
so on. I travel to see friends, even — or especially — those I've
never met.
In the late '80s, I edited a series of guidebooks to nine Eastern
European countries and Russia. There were no sights to see, no shops
or museum to visit; instead, each book contained about 1,000 short
biographies of people who would be willing to welcome travelers in
their cities. Hundreds of friendships evolved from these encounters,
including marriages and babies.
This same can be said for my Sunday salon. At a recent dinner, a
6-year-old girl from Bosnia spent the entire evening glued to an
8-year-old boy from Estonia. Their parents were surprised, and
pleased, by this immediate friendship.
There is always a collection of people from all over the globe. Most
of them speak English, at least as a second language. Recently a
dinner featured a typical mix: a Dutch political cartoonist, a
beautiful painter from Norway, a truck driver from Arizona, a
bookseller from Atlanta, a newspaper editor from Sydney, students from
all over, and traveling retirees.
I have long believed that it is unnecessary to understand others,
individuals or nationalities; one must, at the very least, simply
tolerate others. Tolerance can lead to respect and, finally, to love.
No one can ever really understand anyone else, but you can love them
or at least accept them.
Like Tom Paine, I am a world citizen. All human history is mine. My
roots cover the earth.
I believe we should know each other. After all, our lives are all connected.
OK, now come and dine.
Listen on NPR -
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=99172304&m=99265086Jim Haynes was born in Louisiana, ran a bookstore in Scotland, created
a theater company in London, launched a newspaper in Amsterdam and
taught media studies in Paris. Guests at his Sunday dinners have
included Allen Ginsberg, R. Crumb and Yoko Ono
Visit his website:
http://www.jim-haynes.com/index.htm
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