Is diversity a good thing, or is it better if we all stick with people who have the same values as we do?

Question

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=inDepthNews&storyid=2007-05-01T183252Z_01_N25298747_RTRUKOC_0_US-WALLS.xml&src=rss&rpc=22

The more people are different - the more they seem to fight over those differences...do you agree?

I AM ASKING A QUESTION - NOT stating my beliefs.

Answer 1

People segregate themselves so that shows that they like being with their own kind more than with others who come from a different racial background.
Look at cities,where I live Hayward is mostly blacks,San Jose is mostly Mexicans,Campbell is mostly whites,and Milpitas is almost all Asians.
This is how it was where people originally came from.Everybody according to their Nationality came from a specific part of the world.Diversity didn't exist in the beginning.
I think if people stay in their own Countries with their own kind they will hate eachother for whatever reason instead of hating others for not being the same nationality as they are.
There's a reason why Chinese come from China instead of originally being scattered all over the world and why Germans come from Germany instead of originally comming from various parts of the world.
Because diversity doesn't work.
We don't like or trust others of a different race,culture,religious beliefs and so on.
For example, when my husband and I moved to Los Banos the only Baptist church in the city was an all black congregation.I didn't think anything of it because after all we're all Gods Children.But they didn't think so.No one wanted anything to do with us because we didn't fit in.We're white and their black church didn't want us there.The Reverend even gave a sermon about accepting everyone no matter what differences stand between you and it still didn't help.They wanted only black people in their church and whites need not apply.
That's the reality of it all and if someone doesn't like it they don't have to it's ok.
But as far as I'm concerned I've seen it and experienced it ever since I was in the 4th grade living in Oakland California.
It is acceptable to hate others with a different skin color if your the majority in the crowd and the rest of the crowd your in doesn't like them either.
So no diversity isn't a good thing.
People want to be around others of the same race and same culture and belief system.
I didn't make it this way I'm just stating a fact.
Thats just the way it is.
I just read the article and I think walls and fences are a good thing.If they keep out suicide bombers,rapists,criminals,and people in general who only want to invade then yes they are a good thing.
We need a really strong wall along the Mexico border to prevent further invasions from illegals and criminals who only come here to steal our jobs,commit violent crimes,change our languange and tell us how to change our laws to suit them.
We also need to protect ourselves from disease and parasites which they bring over with them.

Answer 2

Diversity seems to be one of the things that "liberals" get slammed for around here; as if people's political philosophies should be as identical as widgets.

In all honesty, though, Republicans are not as homogeneous as some people would imagine.

Diversity is a wonderful thing; one of the things that make a city like Madison, WI or Rochester, MN so fascinating. Because of Madison's major university and Rochester's Mayo Clinic, you are surrounded by people from all over the world, and the restaurants and shops reflect that diversity, because the market supports it.

Although our delightful little midwestern community is "mostly" Dutch and German, it does have cultural diversity. Everyone seems to get along just fine. We don't have "racially motivated" violence.

Differences are just differences; they are neither good nor bad. It is how we relate to them that makes all the "difference."

But here's the funny thing, RLP:

Look at the past violence in Ireland. The people were basically all the same, ethnically, but chose to murder one another essentially over religious differences, but that really wasn't the central issue.

Look at former Yugoslavia. Ethnic cleansing? On the surface, how could you or I tell the difference between "either side" of the conflict?

It doesn't matter whether we're "alike" or "different," people will manage to find a reason to murder or hate one another.

Example: "lieberal" "contard"

I rest my case.

Answer 3

Its human nature to fight over differences. The best solution is to let them fight it out and eventually get over it. If a school is all white then they would seperate due to some issue other than race ie. religion. If people are all the same race and religion you get something like the salem witch trials, but even they blamed the minorities for that. The more diversity the more things there are to fight about but the more you have to let go of the petty crap so i'd have to say that diversity is a much better thing then hegemony.

Answer 4

I'll just tell you what my experience has been, I can't speak for other people; after coming from another country, another culture, another social class it was difficult for me to like being around something different. I definitely conclude it is much better to stick with the people that think like you, behave like you and value the same things. And believe me, I've tried being very understanding and non-judgemental and I didn't have any preconceived notions, I just started living here and met people and didn't think anything but it didn't work because people did things that to me were wrong and how can you ever feel good or ok about it when you were formed a different way? It's a part of you. And it's hard to live in a lower social class than what I came from because I was used to so much more.

Answer 5

Since the Reagan era people have been sorely divided.
The GOP has been the anti-government "I.me mine" party which is contrary to concepts like citizenship, country/community not to mention "all men are created equal" and other "quaint" sentiments.

To answer your question. You all ride the same roads, work together and live in America. Your kids go to school together and you all live under the same laws and Constitution...so diversity while natural and healthy, has to be coupled with community, country, citizenship and common standards of behavior and mutual respect. Otherwise there is no harmony and happiness.

Answer 6

Sure diversity is VERY GOOD depending upon your defintion of "DIVERSITY".

It is only "normal" (definition?) for people to align themselves with others that share THEIR BELIEFS; good or bad, again by whose defintion?

Diversity ONLY works for people or groups that have open minds and are willing to LEARN new ways of doing things and grow because of that knowledge.

I also believe that it takes a certain amount of intelligence to sort out what is worth learning and what is NOT.

People are different because they are different and that is what helps us grow personally. I have traveled the world, have been the token anglo, spent time in Asia, Europe and Mexico to name a few. Along the way I learned good things and bad and sorted it out as it applied to my personal ethics of conduct.

The differences in people of ALL cultures allow one to inspect themselves and make the appropriate modifications in their behaviour.

I believe that diversity is NOT making flash judgements about a person based upon their color,culture, religion or status in life. I do get annoyed when they try to CRAM it down my throat because they can under the United States Constitution; How DARE THEY!

I also have a MAJOR PROBLEM with the SPECIAL TREATMENT some are given because of something that happened 200 years ago.

I really don't give a RAT's A** if you are the "Flying Purple Eater"! Get an education based upon your QUALIFICATIONS, do it with ETHICS (as we DEFINE them in the US; questionable at times) and make a CONTRIBUTION!

DO NOT pull the race/color card for SPECIAL TREATMENT and just make it happen; the OPPORTUNITY is there to take advantage of for YOUR BENEFIT.

Answer 7

Absolute values are personal and religious usually. WE live in a diverse world and the better we are at accepting that reality the more positive are our relationships. Thank goodness the U.S. has the First Amendment. Too bad other countries' citizens fail to see the value in that.

Answer 8

Depends on your core belief.. and whether you ascribe to the power of THE Prior Good of The Holy Lord God. I don't have any problems with any of my diverse friends fighting over thier many diferenced, but we all continually celebrate that which we have in common.. The Blood Of Jesus.

Answer 9

Not at all

The diversity wars are only a RedsStater phenomena.

Normal Blue people embrace diversity respect people for what and who they are While peacefully maintaining the nuances that make them unique.

In a Blue State a Norwegian farmer can interact with a black man from South Central LA on a intelligent level.

That peace and respect is why we liberals do not understand RedsStater madness.

Go Team Red Go

Answer 10

I don't understand how "diversity" equates with "differing values". Half of my family is of a different race than mine. Their "values" are the same as mine--hard work, honesty, compassion, etc. etc.

I don't honestly believe that people fight over their differences on a daily basis; it seems they only "fight" as a group, or when spurred on by "politicians" or political. racist, or "baiting" statements from others who are trying to get a rise out of them.

Most people in the world, if asked, would say that they just want to raise their children in peace and prosperity. That, to me, is the one value we share with all of humankind.