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You do not need to be an expert in natural sciences to understand that biodiversity is essential for the preservation of life on earth. Diversity makes nature smart and rich. Likewise you could easily argue that cultural diversity may well be vital for the long-term survival of the civilized world. To further understand this assertion, we have to dissect its meaning.
Thus, we can start by saying that culture, from the Latin root colere (to inhabit, to cultivate, or to honor) is an ability possessed by humans alone to assign meaning to the events and things that go around them, with a significance that goes beyond the senses, with a gist that justifies quotidian practices on every social group. As per diversity, we have to say that throughout history society has continuously aligned itself producing cities, nations, and empires; based on the self-sustaining association of people from different locations, languages, traditions, deities, clothing, food, in two words: different cultures.
Today is not different than before, cultures are in the move, triggered by economic migrations and global commerce. But a new challenge is brewing faster where nations pursue an open society. That is, where society allows its members considerable freedom. This challenge is to coexist in peace and also to make such interactive diversity productive and innovative at all levels in society.
True is, there is not going back in the actual interaction of cultures and the way we manage its permutations could become the pitfall of our near future. We cannot deny the ‘stranger danger’ mindset in our culture and the natural reflex to impose the dominant culture on others. That is why this is a challenge that we need to overcome for our own good.
The secret perhaps resides on knowing how to make all this diversity available at our fingertips, translating it into a shared multiplicity of ideas and knowledge that attack common problems and generate commonwealth. Maybe the key is to go as a community through an epiphany where we feel the need of a true melting pot, not only a mixed salad. Possibly we will need to jump from the color-blind society to the unified light spectrum society, where differences are acknowledged and wanted.
To live and thrive in a cultural diverse society would be a symptom of an advance civilization in the making. Because culture is accumulated history refined in symbols for you enjoy them, to prosper as a human being and to celebrate what is enriching for the individual in the group.
But for any social change, the action of the masses is decisive on the outcome, ruling my conviction that my personal effort will determine the tipping point of a future multicultural family, neighborhood, community, and society.
Therefore, today I rejoice on the cultural diversity around me. I celebrate the multiplicity of dance, music, food, dress, oral tradition, and all other exotic customs that enhance my life as a global citizen in an open society that embraces a diversity of cultures, to complement rather than uniform the life of the ever learning social been.
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Writer Profile
Cardenas
An Ecuadorian & US citizen, who has worked with community based organizations all his life.
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Comments
ok but.. katie | Jun 23rd, 2007
I read the first few sentences of your artical, and I realize instantly your all happy about the cultural diversity.
Thats nice, really. But then I read how its mandatory we have diversity on earth or we'd not survive?
Ok, this is such a bitter sweet situation. Sure, biodiversity is great. But as much as we learn and evolve off of each other, we are ruined by each other at the same time. Its called racism, enthnocintrism. We destroy people, because of our egos, we ruin lives because we're not satisfied with ours. America invades Iran, because they think that some of Iran's citezens terroist attacked us, they kill thousands of people. So then they invade Iraq, I believe because of the oil supply, they kill more citezens.
Life is deffinetly not all happy, and cheerful and a walk down the rainbow. Cultural diversity can mean so much. Racial groups (blacks, whites, asians etc.), Identies within Cultures (homosexuals, bisexuals etc.), Status within Cultures (presidents, police, homeless etc.).
So what is your solution when you hear in the news that another California Man was beat and killed because he voiced his sexual identity. Or when you hear about Genocide in Darfur.
There is lots of equal liberty in this world. Im sorry, your article is really well written, and good to read on a bad day- but we need to stop covering up the truth and being so nieve, and realize that even though we're in great diverse movement through out our countries, there is still so much more work to do before we start to brag.
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