Posted on 01/08/2002 3:28:07 PM PST by FormerLib
Diversity --
We have, what I fondly refer to as, a "rainbow" family. My husband is of German/Dutch descent. I am a Puerto-Rican/Hungarian. My first child is pure Russian as far as we can tell, and my second child has the blood of the mighty African flowing through her small veins. My second and third children are genetically ours & as such may qualify for the genus of being total "mutts." We are diversified. We are as different as night and day in many ways.
However, and herein lies the 'political' controversy, we will not -- nor will we ever -- allow our children to tear one another down (and thus destroy the structure and foundation of this family) by any one of them deciding that their individual right to be "different" supercedes in ANY way their autonomy as a member of the Davis family. I explained it to my 11-yr-old just this past week in this way: He was teasing & driving his 6-yr-old sister into a frenzy when I demanded (not requested) that he stop immediately. He was taken aback by my attitude -- after all, he was just having fun, right? -- as it really ticked me off to see him wield his "freedoms" against someone less able to compete with his methods of annoyance. I explained my attitude -- WE ARE A FAMILY. First and foremost, we are a family. This family must be a safe haven for each of it's members or we have failed in our quest to BE a family. This will be a SAFE haven for the members of this family until the day that every one of us no longer exists. I told him that even if there are only two of us left, that those two MUST be able to turn to one another for acceptance and love and safety no matter what because the rest of the world will not be that for them. I told him that he should treat his sister with respect and affection. That he could choose to tease her and have his fun until his "fun" turned into something that violates her sense of safety within this family. That he could also choose to continue in diverse behaviors (beyond the point of her signs of discomfort) under the knowledge that we, as his parents, would no doubt intervene on behalf of the unity of this family with swift and unmistakenly firm measures.
I asked him if he understood what I was talking about & he said that he did. I then asked him if he'd like to make it right with his sister (she had been crying quietly beside him all this time), and when he turned to her to apologize he teared up and took her into his arms and held her for a few moments. I think he "got" it. I think he REALLY got it. They ended up laughing and acting obnoxiously affectionate until I asked them to go and play somewhere else!
I wish that my parents had done that with me and my brothers because, with the exception of my dear friend and brother Steve, I do not feel that my family is a safe haven for me in some ways. I love them & have a blast when I'm with them, but there is not a distinct feeling of unity and emotional safety amongst us. Sibling conflict in my childhood was often handled in a self-governing way. For instance, if one of my brothers flattened me for wearing his jeans & Mom was informed of the altercation, she'd usually answer with something like, "Well, you probably deserved it. You guys work this out." Families don't work out very peaceably when the children are expected to work out their conflicts all on their own...that's what parents are for. Yes, it IS.
In order for individuals to be truly "free," there MUST be a set standard of morally governing guidelines for each to judge their own (and others') actions by. Otherwise there is chaos and anarchy. Anarchy has never been a basis for peace...check your history books, folks.
I now climb onto this handy-dandy soapbox that just happens to be sitting here beside me.
This nation was not, as the political pundits SO love to repeat ad-nauseum, founded on diversity. WHAT???!!! You say. Of COURSE it was!!!, you respond. No, it was not. It was founded by a group of men and women who unanimously and militantly chose to defy their king and his religious fanatacism. A group of people who believed that whomever would choose to worship their God and Father the way that the Bible declares is the freedom of every man, woman, and child -- in spirit and in truth; face to face with Christ Himself -- should be able to do so at will and without dire repercussions from an over-controlling entity of a king. They left. They came to this continent. They fought and suffered and died and overcame much all in the name of religious freedom. Thus was established our country. They were united in their cause...NOT diversified. We are the UNITED States of America...not the Diversified States of America.
Diversity absent of moral compass or patriotic guidelines fractures and weakens. When someone comes into THIS country (for education, citizenship, freedom, money, whatever) they are making a choice to become a part of this "family." This "family" USED to know what it was...what it believed in...what it stood for. Now we have people who cry "Foul!" if their religious and ethnic "rights" (that originated in THEIR country of birth, not THIS country) aren't respected, honored, and revered the way that they'd like them to be. That is not American. Americans used to know what they were & who their family members are. Any more, you can't be sure about anything because of diversity defenders. I won't even go into the implications of dual-language schools being fought about...Hey, you came HERE...you made the choice to be American...LEARN ENGLISH, for cryin' out loud. If you want to be one of us, BECOME one of us and welcome!
Misguided diversity does not unite. It divides. Go figure, same first syllable there.
BE AMERICAN. Stop defending the rights of the very people who would destroy us, what we stand for, and what so very many innocent people have fought and died to defend. The moment a person -- ANY person -- desecrates an American icon (the flag, for instance) is the same moment that they turn their back on their American "rights." The moment a person attempts to find refuge under the American constitution for heinous acts (fighting with the Taliban against Americans, perhaps?!) perpetrated against the very people that that constitution was written to protect, that person's freedoms of expression have superceded any decent means of protection for his choices and freedoms. He has, in essence, declaired himself an enemy of this country...not a protected citizen.
On that note, isn't it tragic that it took the deaths of over 5,000 people for this nation to remember, for a few weeks (it's already fading, sad to say), that we are "One Nation, Under God, Indivisible...?" We were a united front for a short while, but it is becoming evident that -- in the name of diversity & free choice -- some are once again arguing for the rights of the very individuals who would choose to destroy Americans and this awesome country that our founding fathers established...Individuals who carry out their destruction all under the banner of purely American liberties: "Freedom of speech, freedom of religion." It's beyond sad. It's tragic travesty.
Hugs, as always... ED
It's a bit of a rant but with enough good points that I thought that I should share it.
Wonder if she's a Freeper?
Preaching to the choir here, but our strength is in spite of our diversity; our strength is in the fact (or potential) that while we are a diverse nation, we hold to basic beliefs and principles (enumerated by our Founding Fathers) which provide a great unity in our diversity.
History has shown that placing one's loyalty on one's ethnic identity is a formula for chaos and conflict. It's fine to honor one's forefathers, wherever one may have come from, and I find experiencing different cultures (particularly their foods!) to be enriching. But let's be clear where our allegiance lies: It lies in the values and the principles of freedom that were laid down at our founding. Allegiance to anything else threatens to tear the nation apart.
Was the child adopted? Otherwise how does the German/Dutch/Puerto-Rican/Hungarian DNA combination make him/her a pure Russian? I doubt that any Russian could admit that they are "pure Russian."
Clearly, the first child must be adopted.
I doubt that any Russian could admit that they are "pure Russian."
You must not know many Russians! Yes, they are all quite aware of how much their blood has been mixed as the result of countless invasions, but that is of no consequence to them. Americans may want to hypenate themselves into ridiculousness, but the Russian want no part of it.
Has anyone explained this to Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton?
I've ranted for 30 years about this "hyphenated-American bull-sh!t. It's pathetic. When I fill out a census form it asks me my ethnic background. I check off the following: German-English-Welsh.
When I get to the part that asks about my religion, I fill in the "other" space: G-E-W. Even though I'm a Christian Presbyterian.
A long time friend of mine (University of Denver room-mate) fills out the form as a "Reformed Ritual Cannibalist."
Those individuals are making money by the truckload as a result of the chaos that they sow! Yeah, they know the costs they are inflicting on others but they just don't give a #&$%!
E Pluribus Unum.
That just about says it all, doesn't it?
There is strength in our Diverse Roots.
Just about every country / race in the world has contributed to the American Populace and, in turn, to America's status as the greatest nation on Earth.
But I agree, our True Strength is our American Unity.
While we are waving the flag, and criticizing those that would burn it, let's not forget that as the parent corrects the child, and insures it's proper behaviour, We the People, must occasionally correct the nation's government.
And, maybe remind them that WE are "family"
The moment a person attempts to find refuge under the American constitution for heinous acts (fighting with the Taliban against Americans, perhaps?!) perpetrated against the very people that that constitution was written to protect, that person's freedoms of expression have superceded any decent means of protection for his choices and freedoms. He has, in essence, declaired himself an enemy of this country...not a protected citizen.
Here, here! Excellent comments. Thanks for the flag, DeSoto. Good to see you!
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