It's All About Diversity
Diversity--it's a big buzz word these days. All people are urged to accept anyone and everyone, no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, social status, physical ability or appearance, values, national origin, or political beliefs. I am sure that I have left some things off of this list, but you get the idea.
I have no problem with diversity. Jesus implores all of us to love our neighbors as ourselves, so it's hard to argue that any people should be treated poorly just because they are different than we are.
There is only one issue: I've noticed that numerous, vocal people in our American society want everyone to champion every single cause listed above, with no room for individual, diverse beliefs. To put it more plainly, some people insist that we agree with every possible belief, value, or identity, regardless of our personal convictions about right and wrong.
Newsflash: Even though I may disagree with you about something you consider to be essential, I can be nice to you, and even love you. Sometimes, we just have to respectfully agree to disagree.
These days, many people talk as if acceptance of diversity, or the lack of it, is something new. Since the beginning of time, people have struggled to accept one another. Even Cain and Abel were enough different from each other that they couldn't get along. Eventually, Cain killed his brother, and lied about it, claiming he was not his brother's keeper. (See Genesis 4:8.)
I am going to assert that the world was much more diverse in the mid-twentieth century, and anytime before that, than it is now. The media explosion has served to homogenize our world views, and those of anyone who has ever used the internet or watched TV.
Before TV anouncers and actors began to model "correct," unaccented speech, our country's regional dialects used to be much more pronounced than they are now. TV and the internet influence everything: fashion, morals and values, home design, our perceived need for "stuff," our overall contentment, even which jobs are the most and least prestigious. Instant access to worldwide news gives us a false sense of security--and often, insecurity.
When I was younger, regional dialects and slang made life much more interesting. Fewer women wore the latest fashions, except for special occasions; instead, many wore and rewore their clothes until they wore out. Very few kids had their hair cut at a salon. Instead, we had to suffer with bangs that were too short, and hair that was cut bluntly, at home, rather than styled. More kids wore homemade clothes and hand-me-downs. People didn't worry much about out-of-date home decor; comfort and function were much more important than appearance. In rural America, new people were welcomed to the community, regardless of differences--until they were found to be unreliable or immoral, or criminal by nature and behavior. As long as people worked hard and "carried their own weight," without disrupting others' lives, they were accepted.
Sometimes, people were shunned because they smelled bad, or because they wore the same clothes day after day. In my experience, people were marginalized more often because of their alcoholism, mental illness, or disabilities, rather than their ethnic origin or skin color.
Some things have changed for the better in recent years. Nowadays, many schools have showers and clothing banks for kids who may not get what they need at home. Communities have numerous social programs available for people who struggle with alcoholism or addiction of any kind. People with disablilties are more visible and generally more accepted now, because they are mainstreamed into everyday life. Women have more opportunities than ever before.
People will never be totally accepting of others, because we are naturally averse to change. We like things to stay the same, and we don't like other people telling us that we have to change to be like them. And, of course, we are all inherently sinful people who tend to go along with the crowd, prone to act before we think.
Still, there is that whole "love your neighbor as yourself" thing. Where diversity is concerned, it all boils down to this: just be nice!
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Before TV anouncers and actors began to model "correct," unaccented speech, our country's regional dialects used to be much more pronounced than they are now. TV and the internet influence everything: fashion, morals and values, home design, our perceived need for "stuff," our overall contentment, even which jobs are the most and least prestigious. Instant access to worldwide news gives us a false sense of security--and often, insecurity.
When I was younger, regional dialects and slang made life much more interesting. Fewer women wore the latest fashions, except for special occasions; instead, many wore and rewore their clothes until they wore out. Very few kids had their hair cut at a salon. Instead, we had to suffer with bangs that were too short, and hair that was cut bluntly, at home, rather than styled. More kids wore homemade clothes and hand-me-downs. People didn't worry much about out-of-date home decor; comfort and function were much more important than appearance. In rural America, new people were welcomed to the community, regardless of differences--until they were found to be unreliable or immoral, or criminal by nature and behavior. As long as people worked hard and "carried their own weight," without disrupting others' lives, they were accepted.
Sometimes, people were shunned because they smelled bad, or because they wore the same clothes day after day. In my experience, people were marginalized more often because of their alcoholism, mental illness, or disabilities, rather than their ethnic origin or skin color.
Some things have changed for the better in recent years. Nowadays, many schools have showers and clothing banks for kids who may not get what they need at home. Communities have numerous social programs available for people who struggle with alcoholism or addiction of any kind. People with disablilties are more visible and generally more accepted now, because they are mainstreamed into everyday life. Women have more opportunities than ever before.
People will never be totally accepting of others, because we are naturally averse to change. We like things to stay the same, and we don't like other people telling us that we have to change to be like them. And, of course, we are all inherently sinful people who tend to go along with the crowd, prone to act before we think.
Still, there is that whole "love your neighbor as yourself" thing. Where diversity is concerned, it all boils down to this: just be nice!
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Comments
Post a Comment