Diversity of the Mind is More Important Than Diversity of the Body
One of the main buzz words of the 20-teens has been “Diversity.”
As the benefits of Diversity enter the house of common knowledge, corporations and small businesses alike are all improving efforts to employ a Diverse staff. Huge companies like Starbucks and Sephora are closing their stores and losing business in order to host workshops to educate their employees about diversity and inclusion.
The main push behind promoting diversity is gaining new perspectives in order to enhance customer experiences, problem solving, and more, as it is evident that these assets ultimately make for better business. If we have more minds looking at one situation from several different points of view, we are likely to come up with a better solution than what would’ve been, had we only used one perspective for problem solving.
I 100% agree with the fact that diverse perspectives lead to more cohesive problem solving. Looking at a problem from all angles adds protection from things we might’ve missed because someone else caught it.
How do we ensure that we have several different perspectives so that we can cover all angles? What most companies turn to is demographics.
Let’s make sure we’ve got all different races. We need someone in a hijab, someone black, someone brown, someone gay, and someone transgender.
While it’s a great start to have a staff that looks diverse, it doesn’t ensure diversity of perspective, and it definitely doesn’t promote tolerance and inclusion.
Scratch that — it promotes tolerance. It promotes tolerance of PHYSICAL differences. But what about tolerance of mental differences? And I mean, different different. I mean, Trump supporter different.
Isn’t the whole point of tolerance to be able to cooperate with people who disagree with you, who live differently from you, who have different backgrounds, cultures, mindsets, opinions, values?
The utmost expression of tolerance is showing respect for those you vehemently disagree with.
Yes, even Trump Supporters.
The counterargument for this is typically, “well, if your opinions oppress me, then you don’t deserve my respect!” I’ve even heard people go so far as to say that those who disagree with them aren’t human because they don’t respect their humanity.
The problem with this way of thinking is not only that it proves tolerance isn’t actually as much of a priority as it is made out to be, but it also makes Tolerance extremely subjective.
First of all, in no way am I condoning any type of intolerance or discrimination; however, it is often assumed that if you think one thing you think another thing. Which is exactly the opposite of what tolerance is about! Tolerance is about being open minded and welcoming new ideas — NOT making assumptions.
Assuming that because someone is a Trump supporter automatically means that they hate black people, is intolerance. Assuming that just because someone supports gay marriage means that they should also support transgenders in the military is intolerance. Assuming that just because someone is black automatically means that they’re a liberal democrat, and if they’re not then they’re an Uncle Tom, is intolerance.
Promoting diversity of physicality, such as making sure you have a black person, a Muslim person, a disabled person, and a transgender person while completely disregarding that these people might not have the views you expect is ignorant and only encourages a culture of assumption-making.
The biggest instances of assumptions based on my skin color in my experience have always been from people assuming that because I’m not white, I must be a democrat who hates Trump and White People. None of those things are true because there is simply no hate in my heart — that is no reflection of my political views. I may disagree with this idea or that lifestyle, but I will never intentionally disrespect someone just because of the choices they make for themselves.
Listening to the perspectives of people who disagree with you is the fastest way to expand your mind.
All I know is what’s best for myself.
All you know is what’s best for yourself.
But you don’t have to listen to me.
Have a blessed day.
