The strength of America is not her military might, nor her economic power. It’s not that we have better people or a more hospitable climate. All of the above helps a great deal to create an environment where diversity, our greatest strength of all, exists peacefully.
Diversity, in this context, is not just about race or gender; although those are included categories. It’s much broader and harder to define. It’s about cowboys and Indians; Socs and Greasers; blue-collar and white-collar; preppy and grunge; and homophobes and queens just to name a few examples. Our diversity isn’t always perfect, but it’s usually productive, because, sometimes, sadly, conflict leads to progress.
This is why I say we should not embrace diversity, rather we should embrace not embracing diversity; because, to not embrace diversity would mean more conflict and conflict equals progress. This especially holds true in the arena of ideals and ideas, which are also included in our definition of diversity.
If you have a rigid ideal, by all means, do everything in your power to make sure others live up to your ideals. Likewise, if you have an idea, make sure everybody else knows you have the best idea and their idea is stupid. (Note to audience: This will not work if you can’t tell people they have stupid ideas.)
Imposing your ideals and ideas on other people are a sure way to create conflict and, therefore, progress (from here on out to be referred to as "congress." H/T - Nipsy Russell).
Whatever you do tomorrow, please make sure other people know that whatever you’re doing is the right thing and only thing to do. Make them feel bad or inferior – this can only lead to conflict-driven progress.
Go ahead and tell someone they’re fat and you don’t agree with their lifestyle choices. Tell a smoker you hate smokers, or tell a non-smoker he’s a flamer. Call someone you disagree with an idiot. Tell a woman she can’t drive. Tell a man he can’t drive (I’ll bet he takes it the worse of the two).
You cannot name one thing conflict can’t solve. Every time you argue with your husband, wife or significant other, there’s some good that comes from it (sex! assuming no restraining orders). Every time injustice occurs and someone fights back (a good example of conflict), something good happens. Every time you live up to a righteous idea, something good happens. Every time you have a great idea, something good happens.
If only we had enough conflict in this world, everything would be perfect. Thank God we have the secure freedom to discuss, know and act upon our ideals and ideas for progress' sake and to tell people they suck when their ideas and ideals suck.
hink