In a primarily white community, people often neglect the fact that life looks different for minorities. The amount of privilege in the 417 area sometimes overshadows the issues that the outnumbered face. We are fortunate to live in a community where there are opportunities, neighborly support and other advantages. Still, it is important to recognize that not everyone living in this community receives the same treatment.
In fact, there are many who receive poor treatment from others simply because of their differences. This is a major problem especially because differences and diversity is what makes each individual unique, which is something to be valued.
Diversity is not just about race. It is an umbrella term for race, differences in opinions, morals, talents, backgrounds, religions, language, disabilities––invisible or not––and much more. Diversity is having variety. Celebrating different languages (see page 7) and backgrounds (see page 8) as well as everything else that makes up our world’s variety promotes diversity.
What diversity is not, is a means for debate. Unfortunately in this area as well as many others of the largely white and conservative demographic, diversity has become somewhat of a “buzzword” that has sparked polarity. We have gone back in time in terms of accepting diversity.
Accepting diversity isn’t just about reposting something about it on social media, or simply saying that you accept it. True inclusion comes from action.
How many of you high school students reading this can say that you stood up for someone whose interests were being made fun of because they maybe aren’t the “typical” interests of students around them? How many of you invited the kid that gets whispered about behind their backs for being “weird” to sit with you? How many of you have ever seen someone made fun of on social media and didn’t say anything?
Staying stagnant in these instances creates the idea that inaction is OK, which by extension fosters more exclusion. However, while some people can probably say they work towards accepting differences, it takes everyone working towards this goal for true inclusion.
Accepting others for who they are regardless of who you are, can be a difficult thing. Putting yourself out there to go against the grain and think critically about actively pursuing true diversity may be a challenge. But don’t let that be an excuse to exclude people and alienate others who are unlike yourself.
We all need to hold ourselves accountable and actively work towards true acceptance of diversity with each passing day. Sometimes we will fail, and it is OK to give ourselves grace. But then we need to get back up and try again, because every person has a purpose, and deserves to be treated as such. You may not be able to 100 percent change the world, but you can change the square footage of the path you follow.
The editorial board is comprised of Maddie McCrea, Deliliah Neff, Laurel Latimer and Chloe Fischer.