HometownSource Blogs

*The following opinion ran in the Morrison County Record’s March 8, 2009 issue

I’m white, I’m 25, I’m male (both physiologically and psychologically), I’m straight, I’m quite liberal-minded and I’m an agnostic.

Whoa, what a relief. It feels good to get that off my chest so the product of this opinion can be transparently judged. Oh, who am I kidding, it won’t be. I probably made it worse for myself because now the opinions set forth will be considered part of a “secular agenda.”

Anyway, two weeks ago, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said that when it comes to talking about issues of race, we are “essentially, a nation of cowards.” As I understand it – from public criticism, letters to the editor and radio show call-ins – Americans didn’t like Holder’s take on things. Specifically, rural Americans did not like his commentary.

Then you probably won’t like mine.

In my opinion, Holder was both too harsh and far too lenient. The word “coward” has obvious, negative connotations that cannot and should not be applied to the majority of Americans. However, on the flip side, his scope was limited and failed to address the real issue. Holder was focusing solely on issues of race during his speech and ignored other table talk issues of my generation which are still being held hostage, by some, as taboo topics. Race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, gender identity, political views, philosophy, both physical and mental health and sexual orientation – these and more are all diversity issues. The diversity in politics alone is taken for granted.

A black Republican used to be considered an oxymoron, but now the RNC’s new chairman, Michael Steele, is an African-American. A pro-life Democrat is tough for some to grasp, even though local state Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, IS pro-life. A gay Republican is, again, considered an oxymoron, even though Morrison County has one in state Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley.

Heck, there is probably an 80-year-old man who dresses like a woman, votes as a party-line Republican, practices Scientology with his life partner Bob and works at an abortion clinic.

You can take issue with any one, two or three qualities of that man’s life, but don’t judge him by them.

How did we become so diversiphobic (OK, so I made the word up, but you can infer its meaning)?

It’s the complexity of diversity issues that baffles Americans into conversational submission. Rush Limbaugh said it best (I fully intend on never using those words, without severe sarcasm, again), “People are scared to death to talk about….”

Now, Rush isn’t a shining example of how to talk about diversity, because his incendiary rhetoric does not contribute to conversation; its commercial purposes don’t advocate civil discourse. But too many people get over-offended by Rush’s comments (though some can’t be defended), and end the conversation.

Explain to me how we will effectively change the minds of our philosophical opponents by immediately running to the “I’m offended” position.

In writing this, I unfairly assume that my religious status as a non-believer will cloud the argument that there is a need to more openly discuss our nation’s diversity. But if it does, it would prove my point.

If I failed to discuss openly my diversity, I would be contributing to what I perceive to be a problem. Maybe you think there isn’t a problem, that we talk about diversity too much. I know it’s not something that comes up in everyday conversation, but just don’t fall back on the “Why should I care if that doesn’t affect me.”

The complexity of diversity issues isn’t shrinking, and as it grows, it only becomes harder to fully comprehend. So let’s start better understanding it now.

In surveying a classroom full of high school students this past election cycle, a vast majority identified themselves as liberals. In talking with them, they said they couldn’t discuss politics with their parents because they didn’t think alike.

Sad.

The ability, and more importantly the willingness, to effectively discuss diversity issues is what makes this country great.

So let’s do our part. Let’s talk.