Better title, please......
The company I work for recently enacted a new Diversity policy.
There are posters in the breakroom, restrooms and hallways of happy, smiling people of many and varied races, genders and apparent religions, all just gittin’ along in happy, smiling, productive peace ‘n’ harmony. "Our Strengths Lie In Our Differences", "We’re Different, but Stronger"---mottos like that. Goofy and corny. Let’s face it; are you really gonna get along better with people who are, and see things differently than you, or those who see things the same way? But, I digress.
Now, I have to say that the plant was always pretty diverse, from what I know. Blacks and whites working side-by-side, moderately happy, sometimes smiling and, frequently, even productive.
No Asians of any kind, but then, they’re usually only found in the medical field with a "Dr." before their name (but only as long as they have a thick, incomprehensible accent), driving taxis, running convenience stores, or working Tech Support for a computer company (once again, only if they have an incomprehensible accent).
But still, Ebony and Ivory, workin’---if not livin’---in perfect harmony.
Why they needed to do this new thing is really beyond me.
One thing bothers me about the whole drive toward "diversity":
I didn’t think it was politically correct to focus on our differences.
Here, I always thought we were all supposed to be the same; jus’ folks. We’re not supposed to see each other as different, or in terms of races or genders or faiths---jus’ plain ole folks, gittin’ along.
After all, if I spent all my energy focusing on peoples’ differences in race, gender or faith, wouldn’t that make me a hater? A---gasp---RACIST? Racism is the antithesis of Diversity, isn’t it?
Isn’t it?
So then, which is it? How can we be diverse, highlighting our differences, drawing strength and wisdom from those differences, and yet still not be haters and racists, too? I mean, you can’t have it both ways.
Can you?