Generational Lessons on Diversity

Diversity is a topic that takes some explanation; children, those raised in colorblind schools with special needs kids mainstreamed alongside them, may not immediately understand the bigger generational issues that the word and concept of diversity conjure.

Diversity is, as I've heard it defined, anything or anybody that is different than you. For me, that's anybody who's not white, Catholic, a woman, a mom, someone who works at home, people who were born in 1970, etc. The not me.

I've noted in recent weeks those in generations before mine who still openly display intolerance for others who are different. It's tolerated by others, particularly when our parents' or grandparents' generational groups utter slurs we wouldn't dream of using ourselves. We don't because, somewhere along the line we realized, even though those raising us used these terms, they were not terms we wanted to add to our vocabularies. We heard them though; we know what they are. Once in awhile I will be exposed to a new epithet. I am always shocked at its use, feel naive and upset (often I don't immediately understand it so there's a combination of confusion, ignorance and dismay that describes my reaction.) I don't want to hear any new names for "the others;" I have far too many in the back of my head as it is.

There are names, of course, for what I am: breeder, cracker, redneck, hoosier . . . and so many more I won't utter or share. You know them too and like me, bury them in a subconscious that won't use them. Or maybe you do, freely and joyfully intermingle slurs and epithets throughout your colorful language, devil may care, he had so many names, too.

It's an unconscious effort on my part. I'm devoted to sensitivity. For others who haven't grasped the importance, who do not understand the concept, I wonder if they're passing along these words, the language of a lack of diversity, a lack of cultural, gender, racial, religious and other understanding, to their children, the ones who only look at one anther and see people.