When I was a bit younger I asked a whole lot of people a question, as an experiment. I asked friends and family to list what groups or qualities they affiliate themselves with. Some described themselves by their race, their gender, their ethnicity, their religion or their citizenship. A few described themselves by their hobbies (sports fan, violin player) and a few by their personal qualities (ambitious, introverted).

Not one person of the twenty or so people I asked described themselves as a human being.

I guess I knew that beforehand, but at the time I wasn't sure. I grew up a kind of introverted first generation asian american who didn't especially relate to a particular culture, religion or citizenry, so the knowledge that my blood is basically the same as everyone else's always has been the basis of whatever kinship I share with others. I don't think this is generally the case, however. I think most people describe themselves first as Christian, or Black, or American, or Female, or whatnaught. Then, layered on top of this is a culture that places enormous weight in the value of diversity. Diversity is good. Differences make us stronger. Different is better. We are defined by our unique qualities. We must celebrate our differences. Blah blah blah.

So basically, I'm supposed to identify myself with certain generally exclusive groups, then I'm supposed to be proud of why the qualities of my group are wonderful and worthy of pride and celebration.

It's a really, really small step from that to denigration of qualities different from my own.

And therefore we have political, sovereign, religious and ethnic wars pretty much 24/7/365 all fought by people who are basically the same (human beings; homo sapiens; generally two arms, two legs, a head and a torso, basically the same DNA) but are so hyperaware of their diversity and differences, and so intensely proud of and confident in their own, that they will be willing to kill for the sake of their affiliations.

Sometimes, when I think of this, I find myself feeling down and wondering why it is that "sameness" or "homogeniety" has such a bad rap. Maybe, just maybe, it's good to be similar. Perhaps we don't spend enough time contemplating what we have in common. Maybe when we look at others, we should visualize the underlying tissue or bones and how we're similar in that respect. Or how we all hunger when we don't have food, or are drawn to communicate, or enjoy a good rest after hard work.

Or maybe I'm wrong - perhaps humanity instinctively needs to be different from itself, and is genetically preoccupied with differentiation to the exclusion of all else, so that no matter how much we have in common we'll each always yearn to be different from everyone else. If so, and if that competitiveness that we call Diversity is just, well, human nature, then are we doomed to tension and conflict forever?

Just some random thoughts. Time to drive the S!

 

"Dear Doomed to Tension and Conflict Forever:"

Yep!

But that doesn't mean dig a fall-out shelter either.

I've thought about what you've said often enough on my own, as I'm sure most of us who look past our noses do. My theory is that is comes down to: "What's in it for me?" (A good salesman learns this right away.)

We are all a bit self centered. And we want it to be "about me" at those times. And how can it be "about me" when it includes a billion or two people? The key is to celebrate diversity. It's really odd, but the more you accept diversity, the more you become like everyone else, the more unique your are. Weird.

So have solice that tomorrow the sun will rise and humanity will manage.

VTY: BB

 

Where do you draw the line? We share 98% of our DNA with apes too...

Do we call ourselves kin to the Orangutangs?

In the end, I think that we will always look for things that are different between us (humans), it's how we react to those differences that makes the true statement.

 

This is a great topic. I remember as a 12 year old watching a new TV show called Star Trek. The premise was humans, from a united planet earth, in a federation with other species, travelling the universe in search of other life.

I know, we all take the premise of the show for granted now, but the vision really struck me back in those cold-war, racially tense '60s. There it was right in front of me, Russians, Chinese, Blacks, Whites and Aliens, all working together, solving problems, forming friendships, falling in love. And in every episode there was some little comment about the racial or ethnic heritage of one of the members of the crew.

It all left me with a sense of hope that in the future we would all finally see eachother as humans and work and live together. I grew older, John Lennon sang Imagine, civil rights seemed to be lighting the way to the future.

To many, it may seem that the celebration of diversity is a step backward, but I agree with melesniak when he says the more we celebrate the diversity, the more we become the same. I guess we just need to take the time to understand eachother...and then wait about another 100 years or so. But don't worry. We're getting there.

 

I've often thought that, if only people would stop labeling the 'First XXXX Mayor, the 'First XXXXX astronaut', the First whatever, then we'd have evidence of progress in people accepting people for what they are, not where they came from or what group they belong to. People who are proud of a person who achieves something based on the fact that the person is from the same race is still racism - the belief that race matters, for good or for bad. It's two sides of the same coin. (Race is not the only category that works this way, of course). I call it tribalism, with all the negative connotations that the word brings. I've worked hard to to treat people as the individuals that they deserve to be recognized as, not by groups that they may belong to, by genetics or upbringing.

Thinking it's great that 'your people' accomplished something really is just a very tiny step away feelings of superiority to those 'other people'. Not a 21st century way of looking at things. I would like to think we've grown past that.

JonasM

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Legal Bill
To many, it may seem that the celebration of diversity is a step backward, but I agree with melesniak when he says the more we celebrate the diversity, the more we become the same.

 

I am very different than you and I am very much the same as you, and I am grateful for both of those qualities.

 

No 2 snowflakes are the same I've been told. That's individuality to the max. And yet, they all work collectively together to keep my S parked in the garage. As the individual unique snowflakes fall, little do they know, that road salt awaits them. "Resistence is futile...they will be assimiliated".

Sorry, just trying to add some humor to a GREAT topic.

 

I didn't want to get involved in this, but based on Jonas' remarks I couldn't restrain myself .

To be honest Jonas, I think you

 

Yea....you know how those NASCAR fans are.....


Great post vroom, you oughta work on that PPD though