Diversity is a word that is part of our everyday vocabulary. On the positive side we have legitimised it. On the negative side, the overuse of the term results in some people paying lip service to it and glossing over what it actually means in terms of how we act, feel and live. Even worse, diversity has come to be associated with political correctness!
Since what MCIS does demonstrates our commitment to diversity, I asked my co-workers to express ideas they associated with the concept. I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful bouquet of responses I received. First, more than half the staff who were asked, wrote back. Second, people who waxed poetic, were the ones I least expected to. Third and most surprising of all everyone had something original to say. Since I offered to compile their responses in a blog I will make best efforts to do it in a manner that does justice without being repetitive. Before that, I must thank people for their willingness to share some deeply held values in such eloquent language.
Two staff borrowed literary references, both of which are worth sharing
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Freedom and tolerance of all ideas is essential to the discovery of truth, as everyone has a piece of the truth, but no one has the whole truth. Diversity is a reflection of this ideal and the foundation to the success of our modern liberal democracies.
J.S. Mill
Others said it meant variety, difference, multiplicity, acceptance and respect of differences on all the enumerated grounds protected under human rights laws and of joining, enjoying and being inclusive. In a society that promotes diversity, people saw it as the blending of differences, of creating a beautiful whole that is much better than the sum of its parts, where one can be unique without being the odd one out, like a beautiful quilt or tapestry. Yet others, chose to describe the concept in terms of its impact on them or on society as a whole. So diversity as a value provides checks and balances in our political system and allows us to live in a safe and tolerant environment which is positive and endorses our unique values and lifestyle. Another interesting take was on the freedom it provides people to create opportunities and overcome hardship based on their unique perception of their shared environment. I particularly liked the expression of diversity as not meaning “saris, samosas and steel drums” but an openness to accept traditions and the openness to voice our opposition if we disagree. This last thought is an interesting one and reminded me of a CBC interview where Tariq Fatah founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress commented on the "honor killing” murders that took place in Kingston recently. He criticised the social service agencies’ failure to intervene and protect the murdered women due to their misplaced “respect” for what they saw as cultural norms. He pointed out that when we speak out against the mistreatment of women in some communities we are not disrespectful to them but are expressing our outrage over basic human rights violations. In other words, diversity should never be about being politically correct.
