Skip to comments.
HELP - Explain it to me like I'm a 3rd grader - What is it that's good about "diversity."
Self
Posted on 01/21/2003 9:51:06 AM PST by Positive
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-113 last
To: A Vast RightWing Conspirator
Let's see....you say that diversity can only be achieved by force...I grew up in a town where there were Russian Jews, WASPS, Catholics, Italians, Irish, Puerto Ricans, Chinese, Greeks, gays, straights, athletes, disabled, geniuses, idiots, tall people, midgets....I don't remember the force part...did I miss something?
101
posted on
01/21/2003 3:12:07 PM PST
by
wtc911
To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
The early farmers with large cotton fields needed diversity then but now they have machines to pick their cotton
102
posted on
01/21/2003 3:18:43 PM PST
by
Mr. Bob
To: NYDave
I know Astoria. It's a mostly Greek-East European place even though there may be Chinese/Korean infiltrators and it may turn all-Asian in 10 years, the same way BedStuy turned non-White, and large sections of Bay Ridge have seen the Italians moving elsewhere, being rplaced by Asians. And... it's quite ugly (boy aren't I happy I no longer have to ride the diverse New York subways)
I you are a New Yorker you should know exactly who lives where - Jews in Park Slope, Blaks in Harlem and... guess who in the 'Spanish' Harlem.
So... let's be serious and don't B.S. New York is NOT 'diverse', it's only a very large collection of Ghettos. And, whatever 'diversity' is achieved, it is being done clearly BY FORCE, as in the case of Yonkers, where the whites there were forced by a judge to build cheap housing for the opressed minority in the midst of their until then quiet but 'non diverse' little town.
To: Positive
Bump
104
posted on
01/21/2003 3:48:17 PM PST
by
Fiddlstix
(Tag Line Service Center: FREE Tag Line with Every Monthly Donation to FR. Get Yours. Inquire Within)
To: wtc911
Look, if you believe that people love to socialize with 'diverse' strangers rather than 'their own', fine. Try to believe it 'very, very strongly', perhaps you will find that all it takes is to replace reality with your favorite illusion. But, I believe that that this was not the initial topic of this thread. Someone simply asked why is 'diversity' desirable. Is it? And if yes, then... why?
Incidentally, you could say (I wouldn't) that I am in a 'diverse' family myself. My wife grew up approx. 12 time zones from here and we are VERY happily married. But, you know what? Diversity played ABSOLUTELY NO ROLE in our decision to marry. 'Diversity' is a political/propagandistic concept, several times removed from lives that real people live. Normal people don't speak/think/act in terms of diversity. Professional ideologues and a-moral, power-hungry politicians do.
To: A Vast RightWing Conspirator
What I meant to say was that 'Astoria' was quite ugly. Dirty, dark, depressing. I don't understand why people leave there. They may be 'forced' to be there by something. Perhpas they simply can't afford to go elsewhere.
And, Astoria is mostly a 'rental' place. I believe 'diversity', to the extend that it exists in Astoria, it IS enforced upon the 'rent controlled' landlords by the city of New York. ISN'T IT? (psst.... I caught you here)
To: A Vast RightWing Conspirator
Still didn't tell me how we were "forced" into getting along. Or, how the creole culture in New Orleans was "forced" into being. My point is force is not what makes this cultural mixing happen. Proximity, familiarity and a basic sense that there are more important things to worry about are all that's needed.
107
posted on
01/21/2003 4:06:29 PM PST
by
wtc911
To: Positive
Here's my take. I think that there are two different ideas of diversity out there, which need to be distinguished.
The U of M and its liberal institutional cohorts mean that there should be a diversity of groups represented on campus, in the "correct" proportions. In other words, it's another way to describe racial quotas. And insofar as different groups are taken to represent different "cultures," it's a code word for multiculturalism, as many posters have pointed out.
I think that the administration means something quite different by "diversity." The brief criticizes UM for ignoring "background, academic performance, life experience, or overall contribution to the educational diversity of the student body" and supports "the requirement that all applicants be treated as individuals, not merely as members of a racial group."
This leads me to think that the Administration is talking about individual diversity: "It's a good thing if a student body includes individuals with many different kinds of life-experience." That is a defensible position, I think, on commonsense grounds. You do learn things you wouldn't otherwise know by discussing ideas or history or works of literature and art with people who have seen and done what you have not.
For example, since her name has been mentioned on this thread, a lot of whitebread liberals could learn something by listening to Condi Rice on gun control. This is not "because she's black" but because she had the experience of growing up in a community for which private gun ownership was crucial in defending the community from violence with which law enforcement was colluding.
Of course, being black had a lot to do with why she had that experience, but her contribution would not be a matter of "representing a group." She would bring a valuable "diversity" to such a discussion because she is a thoughtful and articulate individual who has seen the gun issue from a perspective which few of the Million Moms could imagine.
What this shows is that ethnic background is often a reason why individuals have significant experiences, but it does not follow that ethnic diversity pursued for its own sake will lead to individual diversity. On the other hand, it means that if you aim at individual diversity in a colorblind fashion, you will almost inevitably pick up ethnic diversity along the way.
The two most positive conservative articles I have seen on the Administration brief, by James Taranto and Bruce Fein, both argue that the brief describes racial diversity illegitimate as a goal in itself, and insists that race-neutral means towards individual diversity are available in abundance. I haven't had a chance to read the brief, but these two articles are an interesting counterweight to the scorn coming from other quarters.
To: Southern Federalist
Thanks, read the two opinion pieces also. I found that part of the discussion a little obscure for my little mind.
On the other hand I agree so consistently with Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Clarence Thomas and Dinesh DeSouza each of whose skin bag is considerably darker than mine, that someone could say that there no diversity in that hypothetical group of five, save complexion.
To: Positive
HELP - Explain it to me like I'm a 3rd grader - What is it that's good about "diversity."Ummmm...Maybe knowledge is good? Maybe someone else has a better way of doing things? Maybe you can teach them a better way of doing things.
Of course, there are advantages to living under a rock too.
To: Positive
Think Charlie says it as good as anyone------
Point three: There is no virtue in diversity. A casual look at the world will tell anybody but an idiot that those countries with homogenous or nearly homogenous populations are stable, while those countries with diverse populations tend to be unstable. Which is more stable, Sweden or the Balkans? The Balkans are a perfect example of diversity in action. Diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds have produced some of the bitterest and bloodiest conflicts in Europe. Our own diversity has been the source of many conflicts - often bloody, and not a few based on race. The truth is that the human race is tribal. Tribes compete and often feud. The British built an empire playing one tribe against another. Only when the people of different tribes can unite with some higher set of ideals and ideas that override their tribal differences can there be peace and strength. In short, we ought to be constantly preaching assimilation, not diversity. Diversity will kill us; assimilation will make us strong.
To: Richard Kimball
There's nothing wrong with diversity and it produces stronger societies when it occurs naturally. Texas food is a great example. People live as they wish, as long as they respect the rights of others to do likewise, and the curiosity of others for different cultures leads to cultural exchange.You are entirely correct,and I fully agree.I was thinking(and rather narrowly I admit)how much the Gov't interferes in my life. Having travelled to a fair number of countries (for work and play),that certainly opened up my eyes to how interestingly different (and similar) various cultures are.
112
posted on
01/22/2003 1:56:39 PM PST
by
Pagey
(Hillary Rotten is a Smug , Holier-Than-Thou Socialist)
To: Positive
Heres a list of why I love diversity!
1) A wider variety of restaurants.
2)
3)
4)
113
posted on
01/22/2003 2:03:06 PM PST
by
Barnacle
(Navigating the treacherous waters of a liberal culture)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-113 last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson