Every now and then there seems a cultural concept that we’re subtly, societally, seemingly expected to embrace. It’s like one of those unwritten values that we’re each supposed to espouse, and if we don’t, something is arguably wrong, lesser, or disturbingly “off” with us. It’s almost as if when the concept is not unilaterally embraced, superiority of thought and/or looking down on another is actually condoned — if they don’t immediately latch onto that same value.
For example, we now believe in diversity. Diversity is good.
We believe in diversity…
… in the workplace…
… in the classroom…
… in all of academia…
… in college entrance exams…
… in age…
… in gender…
… in race…
… in religion…
… in the Olympics…
… in sports teams…
… in sexual orientation…
… in attraction…
… in life balance…
… in leisure…
… in politics…
… in culture…
… in medicine…
… in music…
… in art…
… in disability…
… in management styles…
… in opinion.
Oh, wait. We have trouble with that last one. But we believe in diversity, yes?
We believe in respecting and valuing the differences of all people…
… and we believe that those differences contribute to our overall good.
But do we believe in the diversity of opinion? … meaning, do we accept the opinion of someone who thinks differently than you and me? … do we then accept the opinion of the person who does not believe in diversity?
If not, then we don’t truly believe in diversity either.
Respectfully,
AR