Thoughts on Diversity

So, I haven't posted in a while, but Tom challenged me to post, so who am I not to repond to a challenge right? Thanks Tom for kicking my butt so that it actually gets me motivated to post.

So, of course working in student affairs, the idea of diversity is a constant issue. It is woven into the fabric of every day life, and one of the most single important words in higher education, aside from the word "academics". Yet if you ask 100 people to difine diversity, you would probably get 100 different answers. How can such an important concept be so difficult to define? and more importantly, how can it be so hard to get everyone on the same page? Could this be because of the very nature of diversity and it's ramifications that allow us to be different, and thus, our differences are expressed through the many visions and philosophies to be diverse and unique? Hold that thought.

Today, I was riding in the car with my friend Will, and he was playing Jay-Z in the car. Now, I am not sure if you listen to Jay-Z but I would say he is one of those superstar rappers that is the godfather of rap, and has changed so much of music and the way the urban population expresses theirself in creative ways in the channel of music. But the one thing that bothers me in the music is the amount of the "N" word that is being used in the lyrics. Yes, I understand that whole "taking the word back" movement, and "owning the word" issue. I also understand that he is an African American rapper, and he is somewhat entitled to being able to use the word. I suppose it is the similar issue as gay people being able to use the "F" word, or even women being able to use the "C" word. But still, it bothers me about the use of these words no matter who is using them. The "N" word has been such a powerful word, and there is so much hate attached to the idea. There has been so much education and societal pressures to get that word out of racist's minds and ignorant people's vacabulary in order to discribe African American people. With all this education and great changes towards a better world, is it right that now the African American people use this very word to call themselves that? Similarly is it right for Gay people to call each other the "F" word? Is it right to have filters on some words that some people can use it around certain situations, and others can't use it?

So, here is that idea of differences comes in. I guess everyone is different and everyone is entitled to an opinion, but is there ever a right answer to this? Really is there such a think when it comes to truth when it comes to this? Or even more so, is there ever an absolute truth or anything? O.K. I am going to save that classic philosophy debate till my next post. But anyway, can diversity really be as undefineable as a psychologist's paint blurbs? But the trick is, I suppose everyone does see something in those paint blurbs, some see butter flies, some see childhood toys, others see something much more imaginative. By that same token, we I need to stop worrying about what other people define diversity as, and let people celebrate their own idea of diversity? Does that make me, indeed, a more diverse person?

There is the classic story about the thousands starfish on the beach all washed up in the middle of the night waiting for their certain death in the morning when the sun comes up and they dry up. A young man walking down the beach is picking one by one up and throwing them back into the water. Another older man says, young man, why do you even bother there are thousands of starfish, you won't be able to save them...the young man looks down and picks up another starfish and throws it into the sea and says, "maybe so, but I made a difference in that one"

I guess I need to start concentrating on saving a starfish one at a time. I can't change society on people's views on diversity and focusing on how imperfect the word is. But I can focus on making a difference in one person's life as a time, and focusing on what's good in this word and how I want to live my life.

O.K. So, I got on a really high soap box this time. I guess since I haven't posted in a while, it made me want to preach... This should be a good enough reason alone that I need to post more often...

See you soon!