Three Reasons To Embrace Diversity

We often get tangled up talking about diversity. Most of us, myself included, spend a lot of our time with people like us. So it’s hard to talk about unfamiliar things. It’s uncomfortable. To help myself get out of my comfort zone, I spent some time thinking about why diversity matters. Here’s what I’ve got so far: Diversity is inevitable; it is interesting; and it is necessary for society.

It’s Inevitable

Change happens in nature. Even when things start of the same, variations, some random and some not, creep in. So if you’re hanging on to the way things are, or worse were, you’re in for a heavy dose of disappointment. You will lose.

It’s Interesting

A rainbow is more interesting than a gray sky. A neighborhood developed house by house is more interesting than a subdivision of tract homes. Diversity captures our imaginations and opens our minds to new perspectives if we let it in.

It’s Necessary

Our brains notice and are skeptical of difference. Difference can be dangerous–just ask the chameleon. Or difference can mean opportunity. But when we have a broader definition of “we,” we do better. Social technologies like rituals, religions, nations, and flags allow us to expand who “we” means beyond our tribal instincts. These have served us well. But we need to go farther. Mettā bhāvanā practice might be a good place to start.

This is obviously not meant to be an exhaustive list. Just a few thoughts that occurred to me this morning. Interested in hearing yours.