10 Ways To Look At A Diversity Issue
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on May 18, 2012
A couple of weeks ago President Obama came around to say that he now fully embraced the idea of gay people being allowed to marry. For someone like me, I wondered what took so long.
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For all the people I meet who think that I'm somewhat closed minded based on the few things they know about me, none of them have ever wondered why I might be so open minded on so many things when it comes to people.
I hate saying this but a majority of white people think I'm so open to other people because I'm black. Truth be told, if statistics are correct black people are more conservative in beliefs about others than white people are. That is, if statistics are to be believed, because except for very few things I don't personally see that as the truth.
With that said, it has nothing to do with whether I'm black or not. What is has to do is reality and personal impact. There are few things that I look at when it comes to people and, if it doesn't impact me, have a lot to say about it. When it comes to children or people ruining their lives, I might be a bit more vocal. Overall though, I have my list of 10 ways to look at a diversity issue, which at this point I really don't need, to determine whether it's something I should concern myself with or not:
1. Will I ever have to deal with the issue personally?
2. Will their right to do whatever negatively impact me?
3. Will their right to do whatever hurt the world?
4. Is what they do indicative of a negative pattern of thinking?
5. Is what they do or what they are harmful to children?
6. Is there a problem of general morality, not religious morality, that I'm uncomfortable with?
7. If you looked at them are they noticeably different than someone else, and does it matter?
8. Does what they believe or do mean they don't deserve a change to live among the rest of us in peace?
9. Do the rights they're asking for themselves compare to what black people were fighting for in the past?
10. If I disagree can I turn away easily, go home, close the door, turn the TV or radio off, and have my life be pretty nice and secure?
That's pretty much it, and I think it covers pretty much everything that I can think of. Who do I abhor, and how does it fit my list? I don't like racists, people who abuse children, people who abuse pretty much anyone else, bullies, thieves, killers... I think that's enough.
I pity those who abuse themselves but I don't hate them. I don't care what race someone is; don't care what religion they follow; don't care what they wear; don't care how much money they make; don't care how many piercings or tattoos they have; don't care about their disability.
I care about their politics only to the extent of what they might have to say that impacts me; that's fair. Actually, I guess I can apply that to religion as well.
Outside of that... let people live how they live and do what they do. Make the world fair for everyone to be able to live the life they want as long as they're not hurting anyone else. This is a tough standard because people who do drugs don't believe they're hurting anyone else; at some point they all do.
Anything else... leave each other alone.
About gay marriege, Mitch I can’t say that I am for this or against this. However my personal opinion is that this is wrong as it overwrite every law of nature, but on the other hand you are right, let the people live the way they want.
Actually Carl, that’s not quite true. There are many species that have the same kind of behavior. There are other species that don’t actually have male and female as a separate entity as well.
Right, that’s true and actually there are many examples in the history. However, I personally believe that this is some kind of disorder which science doesn’t have an explanation. Forget about the single cell organism. My point is different, about 50 years ago schizophrenia was told to be triggered only by environmental issues, but currently it is known that 50% of the cases are genetic and those people lack some protein. I don’t mean that those marriages are wrong, but this open other questions as those couples also want to adopt and raise kids. I think that there are other issues that are currently more important – education system, health care, finaces, everything is crashing and politics need to concentrate on those before move to something that radical.
Carl, you can go back thousands of years in history and you’ll see that homosexuality has always been around. If it’s genetic it’s always been there. Either way, who really cares?
Hi Mitch,
I think the biggest problem with people accepting others’ differences is they aren’t able to separate what they don’t like or agree with from those things that will negatively impact them.
There are a lot of things that I don’t like personally, but I could really care less if society allows others to do those things. I agree that certain boundaries have to be set to keep those things from impeding on the lives of others, such as the drug issue you mentioned.
In my opinion life would be much simpler if everyone stopped trying to regulate everyone else from doing things they don’t like.
Have a great week!
~Barry
Thanks Barry, and I totally agree with you. I have fewer things I don’t like, but I feel that it’s not up to me to tolerate or decide how anyone lives if it doesn’t impact my life.
Those are heart searching questions that once answered, we will appreciate our differences.
Live and let live pretty much sums up my position and for all the reasons you outlined.
If truth be told the only area that I’m unsure on is adoption for same sex couples – my feeling is that kids need a Mum and a Dad as they’re growing up and I don’t feel in a position to say unequivocally that that is hogwash and that two Dads or two Mums would be the same if not better.
That said, many kids grow up with awful parents, it’s very hard to know what the right thing is here.
Roz, I have no problem with same sex couples adopting a child. In the U.S., there are lots of children that never get adopted by anyone. I think it’s better that they be with a family than in an orphanage; trust me on this one.
Hi Mitch,
I believe there is joy in diversity and that we are all far more alike that we are different when you strip everything away. We all bleed red when if comes down to it.
Why we can’t just celebrate those differences instead of demanding that we fit into someone’s narrow definition of “normal” mystifies me.
I’m gay but that’s not the totality of how I define myself. I enjoyed a loving relationship for 30 years until this year when my partner passed away suddenly.
I continue to be mystified how that life we led could have possibly contributed to the breakdown and destruction of the institution of marriage as many contend.
The large majority of people accept me as I am and I am grateful for that…and for those who don’t…that is their right.
This big old planet has more pressing problems than worrying about what your neighbor is doing or how the color of their skin is effecting your quality of like.
Nick
Nick, I’m with you. I’ve never quite understood why those who literally have nothing to fear from those of us who don’t conform to their idea of “normal” hate us so much and can’t live and let live. There often seems not to even be a chance to talk to each other about the issues either and that’s not good. You mentioned being gay but when you looked at the past political season, using “Muslim” as a negative code word by one party totally smacks of racism and impeding religious freedom, yet they can’t see it. Maybe one day all eyes will be opened to the fact that it’s not the diversity of people that determines who’s good or bad, but their actions and hearts.