Is anyone else tired of dealing with the misinterpretation of the word "diversity?"?

Question

I am so tired of people construing the word "diversity" to mean that nobody can do anything because we might offend somebody else.

Diversity means that we should all be able to think and practice what we believe, NOT that we should all stop thinking and practicing what we believe to avoid hurting another person's feelings. We should all be welcome to other people sharing and living their lives differently than ours.

If I want to put a nativity scene on my desk at Christmas time, I should be able to in my extremely "diverse" place of employment. Instead they use the word "diverse" to mean that nobody can show any sign of religious beliefs because it might offend somebody else.

(Just an example)

The more and more our society tries to diversify everything, the more and more many of us are forced to withold our beliefs... so as not to offend a minority (whatever demographic that might be.)

Answer 1

I couldn't agree more!

It's almost like we are expected to put aside everything this country was founded on to avoid potentially hurting the feelings of everyone that has come here since, such that the majority are now treated like the minority in some sort of idiotic twist to balance it all out.

People may not like it, and they don't have to follow it, but we are a nation founded on the idea of Christianity.  We set up separation of Church and State as a means to allow each to function independent of one another's influence, but that doesn't mean we aren't inherently a Christian nation.  We are a Christian nation; just one that welcomes all other religions.

"Welcoming" other does not mean we should have to set aside our ideals to avoid potential offense.  If they are offended at the idea of a Christian nation, they should choose another country to go to.

Our country is, and always has been, a melting pot.  That's part of what made us great.  But OUR beliefs should always be part of what's melting in there.  For anyone to expect us to put aside our Judeo-Christian values and beliefs is the height of idiocy.

---------------------

To the guy above me, I don't think mocking anyone's religion should be appropriate, especially in the workplace.  Basically your (and my) rights end where the next person's begins.  

I do think in the workplace any display of religion should be something that can be contained in that person's workspace so that it doesn't distract their co-workers, so a 10' high gigantic nativity would be inappropriate, just as another person chanting at the top of their lungs would be.

I love the guy's answer below me, and if I had a boss (thankfully I am my own) who told me I couldn't have a picture of my wife in a bathing suit at my desk, especially when you had to enter my workspace to see it, I believe I would find another place to work.  Sounds a bit like a facist to me.

Answer 2

Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.

Answer 3

Well diversity means different. Some uses of the word is just diverse.

Answer 4

Um...Well, this IS America. Around here, if you're different, you get shot. It's just that simple. Hope that helps, lol.

Nah, I'm jk. Hey, I'm black, and I don't care!

Answer 5

You are absolutely right. there should be no sacred cows. everybody should be free to follow their own customs and practices without fear of authority. However are you prepared  for me as an atheist to mock your nativity scene ? (i wouldnt ! each to their own - but you get the point). Will you be offended by the muslim at the next desk praying openly 3 times ?If you are ok with these - well and good. if not - this is exactly the problem, you merely want diversity for your own beliefs. In an ideal society with openness and tolerance of other peoples beliefs none of this would be a problem, but until such an enlightened time I think it's best if these practices are kept out of  workplaces in the interest of fairness if nothing else.

Answer 6

You are very insightful, and right about what you believe.

I'm 53, and I remember being taught in grade school that America was the "melting pot" of the world. We didn't call it "diversity." This country was known as a place where people of all cultures and nationalities could come and try to make a life for themselves.

And back in the days when the cities were jammed full of immigrants, you would have neighborhoods of different nationalities overlapping with one another. Some might look at this is a kind of voluntary segregation, but when you come from a foreign land and don't speak the language well, living in familiar surroundings makes life easier. But, over time, immigrants has kids, and those kids became assimilated into American society, while still having a connection to their ancestral homes. My Italian immigrant grandparents had five daughters here in America, and they were raised to be Americans first.

For a long time, the mix of cultures in America meant the opportunity to see a mix of traditions and beliefs. You mentioned the Nativity scene: you would see a variety of decorations in neighborhoods during the holidays, and no one got offended.

What I believe happened is that somewhere along the way, the terminology was hijacked by the people who believe that we need for force the "acceptance of differences" on everyone, while at the same time, doing the contradictory act of forcing people NOT doing anything that would offend.

For example: I practice diversity if I "accept" the fact that a certain co-worker happens to be g*y. I might not approve of the g*y lifestyle, but that doesn't mean I don't like the specific person (a common concept among most straight people, I would guess). But, the "diversity" police say, that to practice "diversity," I have to not only like the person but "be accepting" the lifestyle, even if it's against my particular beliefs.

Now, I accept the notion that someone should not be harassed for their lifestyle or beliefs. To each his own. But that doesn't mean I have to *like* or even *accept* what someone does.

Now, here's the contradiction: suppose I decided to put that Nativity scene on my desk at work. When someone complains about the display of my religious beliefs, are they not properly practicing "diversity"? Their beliefs may be different from mine, but doesn't the whole "diversity" concept mean I can celebrate that event in the way I see fit without fear of retribution?

No, that's not how it works. I would be called into some manager's office (or the "Office of the Director of Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Prevention of Sexual Harassment"...someone, someplace, must have such a title) and be chided for putting that Nativity scene up, because it might be deemed "offensive" by someone who's Jewish or celebrates Kwanza or some Pagan Winter Soltice rite.

I also believe this "diversity sensitivity" is an extension of the movement to prevent sexual harassment. Look, I was raised to respect all people, and not to treat women as s*x objects. That meant not speaking to women (or men, for that matter) crudely or in a way that might offend. This was always common sense to me...manners, which my Mom taught me.

Unfortunately, some men (and women) are pigs and act like it. There was a time when women in the workplace didn't have the positions of power and authority many do now, so they were frequently treated badly by their male employers.

I have no issues with stopping that kind of sexual harassment. What I do take issue with is the hyper-sensitivity of people regarding my personal life. I had a good friend who was married to a very attractive woman. They went on vacation one year and he photographed her in a bikini on the beach. When he returned, he framed that photo and placed it on his desk where he could see it. The photo faced away from the entrance to his office, so to see it, you had to walk around to his side of the desk. It wasn't on "display" for anyone else.

A few days after he brought it in, someone filed a sexual harassment complaint with his company. He had no female secretary, and he worked with a few women indirectly, but none that would be so familiar that they'd be snooping around in his office. The company wouldn't say who filed the complaint, because it wasn't about him physically touching or verbally abusing anyone. This was one of the nicest guys you'd every meet, who had a pretty wife who he wanted to look at from time to time. And some over-sensitive clod spoiled this for him.

That kind of hyper-sensitivity has now spilled it's way into the "diversity" movement. So, you can thank the feminists, I guess.

I've leaned that I'm just going to do and say what I want, when I want and when appropriate. I won't go out of my way to offend or harass anyone (again, Mom and Dad taught me manners and common sense - I just want to be a nice guy that people like, OK?) and I don't have a racist bone in my body. But I express my opinions how and when I want, and if it offends anyone, that's not my problem.