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gungadin09 -> RE: The changing face of America (3/28/2011 4:13:00 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Aylee
Non-functional differences like race, language, age, sex, culture and even whether someone is homosexual. Ya know, those things that people want to celebrate.
***Bueno, pues, yo celebro la diversidad. Sin embargo, entiendo que hay algunos momentos en que causa problemas. Por ejemplo, mi mama ensenaba ESL en la escuela primaria, y habia una vez que, dentro de una clase sola, sus estudiantes hablaban 13 distintas idiomas. Es facil entender que esta cosa la causo problemas. Claro que no es posible ensenar en 13 idiomas a la vez. No es posible dar una prueba en 13 idiomas. Suele dificil hablar con los padres de los estudiantes que no hablan ingles. Etc. Estos problemas son el *precio* de la diversidad.***
Having said that, i can't imagine that the price for diversity is not worth paying. i guess when You say the "functions" of diversity You're *not* referring to the fact that it teaches compassion, open mindedness, teaches new things about others and ourselves, or the fact that it's downright interesting and fun, or even necessary for democracy. i guess You're not counting *those* reasons as "functional", although i think You should. They are not nothing. They are not nothing. But if *those* aren't really "functional" reasons for diversity, then what are?
Well, here are some:
Language diversity:
Having to learn Spanish improved my English usage, because the language mechanics i had been using unconsciously in English had to be consciously learned and applied in Spanish. In other words, learning Spanish made my English stronger. i'm learning about phonetics from Japanese and Chinese. My sister, the musician, was able to pick up Hmong (or was it Lao?) pretty easily, because of her tone training. My point is, learning one thing crosses over into another.
Racial and Cultural diversity:
How about the trade we do with other countries? Or simply the diplomatic relations that we have with other countries? Do You think that our country's own racial and cultural diversity doesn't have a profound effect on how other countries perceive us; how willing they are to trade? how willing they are to maintain diplomatic relations? How willing they are to listen to anything we say?
Sexual Diversity:
Working in the restaurant industry where there is such a clear division of labor that occurs, mostly, along gender lines, has showed me the kind of problems that can occur where there is lack of diversity. For example:
Because of the gender breakdown, the front of the house (service staff) often functions with a very different mindset and communication style than the back (kitchen). The difference can be partially attributed to the different nature of the two jobs, but also needs to be attributed to gender-- the fact that the front of the house is (usually!) primarily female and the back of the house is (usually!) primarily male.
This segregation of the two sexes often results in a rift between the front of the house and the back. It's that kind of rift that i was often called upon to fix, back when i was working in restaurants, being the one woman in the kitchen. The fact that i was there, and was *unlike* everyone else around me, gave me a unique perspective, that i could use for diplomacy.
Age Diversity
i know this one. i worked in a coffeehouse once where the crew was composed of people of various ages, from 18 to over 60. Personally, all the little high school kids on staff made me squirley. But some customers really liked them (especially the ones who were litle high school kids themselves). The again some of them liked us more, you know, "mature" folks. The point is that each of us had our own sort of fan base, and we were able to appeal to a wide variety of customers. That would *not* have been true if we had all been the same age.
Aylee, i see Your point. i can see how diversity is sometimes an incumbrance. But what i see much more is how it is an advantage, both functionally, and in terms of making us better people. i'm happy to celebrate all the things on Your list.
pam
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