Jack’s Winning Words 1/10/07
“If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” (JFK) Have you noticed the diversity in your community…religious, ethnic, political, economic, and racial? Personally, I like diversity. I wonder if the Native Americans liked it. What’s your take on this? ;-) Jack

FROM GOOD DEBT JON: For all the Lovey-Dove sentiments in the media and popular culture scientists have proven over and over again conclusively; people are most comfortable with people that are similar to them.
Diversity for diversity’s sake is code in the work place and education for this is going to cost more. For example: We need diversity and a director of diversity. Instead of forgetting the differences we have race pimps exacerbating the differences for profit and press.
We are teaching our children to Balkanize our nation with politically correct drivel and racial counting and numbering at schools and colleges. After the strife of the 60’s (which I did see a bit of) to integrate our schools, in Columbus we now have an Afro-Centric school, fully funded by tax payers. This is progress?
Apparently, many racial groups don’t really care about integration, but about special treatment. We have gone from demand for equal treatment to demand for special treatment.
I HAVE A DREAM…that one day people will pursue diversity by ignoring it; that a man would be judged by his words and ideas—not the political bias that feeds his inborn need for something for nothing. So long as we embrace the differences instead of the similarities the problem will continue to expand.

CLARIFICATION FROM JON: I think you misunderstood my rant. It is not against diversity but against the hypocritcal stance that government can cure the problem.

MORE FROM JON: I have a very dear-to-me friend that is Muslim and he knows more about the Bible than most of my Baptist friends. My perception is Catholics know less Bible than most other persuasions.
As far as those of different political persuasions that is harder. I met a fellow in Los Angeles at a book conference that is as far left as I am far right (though everyone thinks they are moderate) we have great conversations and enjoy each others company. We considered writing a book called "From Left to Right," in it we would debate the 10 big right v left issues, such as abortion, taxation, states rights, etc. Since he presents himself so well and I respect him, I learn from his point of view. We have neither one converted the other, but we have discovered that we have more in common than we have apart.

FROM SH IN MI: My husband and I are friends with some Presbyterians here and we belong to a small group called Sojourners with these same people. Anyway we meet once a month to discuss justice and faith issues, etc. At one of the meetings they presented a video which demonstrated scientifically the value of diversity in our world. It seems if you have a field of all one thing, it is very, very vulnerable to failure when any adversity of the weather or soil or anything happens. But if the field contains diversity, there is huge chance that there will be success in food, etc., growing in it to benefit humankind. Evidently the potato famine in Ireland (that caused so many people to have to immigrate) was the result of the Irish concentrating on only one type of potato instead of growing all the kinds of potatoes they had traditionally cultivated. If I remember it correctly, the video showed two plots of land over time to demonstrate that one did get pretty raggedly looking, whereas the other one was sturdy and fertile-looking all through. I myself believe in diversity and fight for diversity. Always appreciate that your quotes come from such a diverse peoples.

FROM ID: I love diversity. The only thing stopping people from embracing diversity is insecurity. If people had enough faith to be able to hold on to their convictions while allowing others to hold on to their own, even though they are different, we could learn a lot from one another instead of fearing one another.
I am sure the Native Americans were ok with it until the pioneers found themselves uncomfortable with a lifestyle that they interpreted as a threat to their own, and then decided to eliminate what they feared. This fear thing, driven by insecurity, is a terrible prohibitor to JFK's vision.

FROM ML IN IL: you would like to walk the streets of grayslake. it has become a more colorful place. still has a long way to go, but the gates have been opened. i hope it continues to remain unlocked.
...as for the native americans, i am sure that their thoughts on diversity changed radically when the "white man" came and helped themselves to this "unclaimed land".
i guess we must be mindful to look past tomorrow when we pre-determine the consequences of our actions.

FROM REV JD IN MN: I GREW UP IN THE BRONX WITH MUCH DIVERSITY, BUT WOULD NOT WANT TO LIVE IN A SYSTEM IN WHICH ONE GROUP DECIDED WHAT WAS GOOD FOR THE REST.

FOLLOW UP FROM JD: MY DAYS IN THE BRONX WERE A FAR CRY FROM THE TWIN CITIES. THERE WAS A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF JEWISH PERSONS,IN FACT MY HIGH SCHOOL WAS 70% JEWISH. BELIEVE ME EDUCATION WAS A PRIORITY AND MY HIGH SCHOOL OFFERED 6 LANGUAGES. WE HAD FEW BLACKS AND I NEVER KNEW A MUSLIM. WE HAD GERMANS, ITALIANS, POLES, IRISH AND A FEW SCANDINAVIANS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN A YANKEE FAN, AND WAS THE ONLY KID IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ROOTED FOR THE N.Y. GIANTS.

FROM THE PHARMACIST IN FL: I agree with you, we need diverse opinions on many subjects. I thanked a black lady for electioneering for a black man. She asked why and my reply was,"We need every ethnic group in our community to be represented in government, it is important for everyone to be heard, especially minority groups."