Cultural Diversity

In the spirit of the holiday season, the following paragraphs will attempt to construct a “Christmas tree.” However, it will not be a “Christmas tree” in the traditional sense. For this tree, the stand, or base, will be the environment in which we grew up. Its branches will be our life experiences. We will adorn this tree with the lessons we have learned. The lights, which flicker on and off, will represent those individuals who come in and out of our lives attempting to spread negativity. Hopefully, we can enlighten them. If not, at least they do not snuff out the grandeur of our tree for very long. And, finally, the star on top will equal the conclusions we draw based on all of the above. We will call this tree “cultural diversity.” The challenge is to prove why every home should have one of their very own. Let us take a walk through the “Tree Farm” of life to explore this issue further so we can discover what is “cultural diversity” and determine why it is worth the effort of picking out one of these “trees,” bringing it home, and setting it up.
We will start with the base of the tree—the environment in which we grow up. According to Marya Axner, author of the book The Community Leadership Project Curriculum, “‘Culture’ refers to a group or community which shares common experiences that shape the way its members understand the world. It includes groups that we are born into, such as race, national origin, gender, class, or religion. It can also include a group we join or become part of. For example, it is possible to acquire a new culture by moving to a new country or region, by a change in our economic status, or by becoming disabled (Axner).” Ms. Axner’s definition is broad but important because it indicates we all fall into at least one of these categories. But, why is it necessary for us to realize this? The Diversity Affairs department of Fort Hays State University provides an answer “...even with our various...differences—we all aspire to many of the same things: security, well-being, acceptance, individualism... (Diversity Affairs).” Human beings tend to fear the unknown. Therefore, if we can acknowledge these shared differences, we may be inspired to use this newly discovered “common ground” to explore the differences in others rather than fear or avoid them.
Now, let us check the branches—our life experiences. Growing up, there were few opportunities enabling me to associate with people requiring special needs. Many years later, my stepmother gave birth to my little brother, who was later diagnosed with autism. The thought of having to live with someone so dissimilar was frightening for me because of my inexperience, but the situation was unavoidable. We were bound together by blood. After opening that door of my psyche, which had been kept closed for so long, something beautiful revealed itself on the other side. My brother was closer to my stepmother than any other person he came into contact with. Why was this? She spent more time with him than anybody else did. She was his blanket when the world became too cold, his nightlight when his room was too dark, and his security guard when his environment seemed too scary. In short, his mother was to him what my mother was to me. Although we communicated differently, we both craved the same thing—love. Because of this, that door in the back of my mind remains open. He was no longer “different;” he was my brother. This lesson became one of many ornaments adorning my “Christmas tree.”
Now, let us examine the lights, which are flickering on and off. In an article for The Boston Globe, Michael Jonas addressed a study conducted by Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam, which indicated a possible downside to diversity. Mr. Putnam’s findings suggested people in more diverse communities tend to "distrust their neighbors…expect the worst from their community and its leaders…and…huddle unhappily in front of the television (Jonas)." This might reinforce prejudices and cause some people to recoil in fear and keep their doors closed. But, what about the wounded warriors returning from war, who have to deal with being confined to a wheel chair or adjust to using prosthetic limbs? What about the son or daughter having to accept their homosexuality? Circumstances dragged them into a new culture they neither asked to visit nor prepared for in advance. Why is this important? We may think we can avoid dealing with different cultures by not leaving our neighborhoods, but what happens when those different cultures move in with us? Will we keep that proverbial door shut or open it up to possibly meet some amazing people? Furthermore, in the same article, Michael Jonas mentions “…In high-skill workplace settings…the different ways of thinking among people from different cultures can be a boon (Jonas).” American history appears to prove this to be true. Albert Einstein emigrated to America from Germany bringing with him his Theory of General Relativity. Madeleine Albright left Czechoslovakia and taught American women they, too, could grow up to be a Secretary of State. Song writer Irving Berlin moved from Russia to the United States and inspired us all to sing “God Bless America” and caused everyone to dream of a “White Christmas.”
On that note, let us examine our “Christmas tree.” Our childhood constructed a sturdy base. We discovered we could all be considered “different” to others regardless of how “normal” we may seem to ourselves. Our life experiences helped create sturdy branches that can hold ornaments well. These experiences may have forced us to confront diversity by it moving in with us similar to an unwanted houseguest or by evicting us from “normalcy” causing us to live in a new culture ourselves. The number of ornaments is based on the amount of lessons we have learned. Hopefully, we opened the “closed door” of our mind and gave the strangers living on the other side a chance instead of letting our fears chase us under the covers. If so, our lights should be shining bright enough for the neighbors to see. Now, it is time to place the star on top. Historical figures such as Albert Einstein, Madeleine Albright, and Irving Berling are knocking at the door proving our diversity as a nation truly does make us stronger. This should motivate all of us to set up our “Christmas trees” not only for the holiday season but for every season.

Works Cited
Axner, Marya. "Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities." 2 January 2010. Community Tool Box. Document. 22 November 2013. <http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culture-and-diversity/main>.Diversity Affairs. Fort Hays State University. 2009-2013. Article. 22 November 2013. <http://www.fhsu.edu/diversity-affairs/what- is-diversity/>.Jonas, Michael. "The Downside of Diversity." The Boston Globe 5 August 2007. Article. 22 November 2013. <http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/05/the_downside_of_diversity/?page=full>.