Would you live in a town that was not ethnically diverse? (school, pros and cons)
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Spokane is in my neck of the woods, and it's the most diverse city for hundreds of miles (I live a few hours east of Spokane). Spokane is where we go when we want some city culture. I don't find it dull. However, I don't know anything other than from the media about ethnic diversity unless it pertains to American Indians. I never even met a black person until I went to college. So, I would say that people in Spokane don't know anything different. I don't have an opinion one way or the other because I've never had the opportunity to live in an ethnically diverse area. I'm sure Spokane seems normal, not exclusive, to people from Spokane.
I AM currently temporarily residing in a small southern town outside of Louisville KY and if I've seen one person that wasn't white..he was visiting. Boringggggggggggg! There's more diversity in Louisville (not alot). The KKK has a clubhouse in this town! And gawd forbid some Mexicans are moving in.It frightens the locals. Suspenders,tabacco and Oliver tractors just does not represent culture to me. Yeesh!
Why is it that some people can never seem to understand the difference between 'ethnically diverse community' and 'sketchy neighborhood', they are two different things ... sheesh. I've lived most of my life in very ethnically diverse communities (and wouldn't have it any other way) and it amazes me that people seem to be unable (or unwilling due to personal prejudice) to separate those two things.
Speaking for myself, as a resident of Los Angeles, there's a strong correleation between the two.
A little ethnic diversity is ok as long as it doesn't become a hostile takeover of culture. For example - I live in Toronto, one of the most diverse cities in the whole world, and its AWEFUL. Here's why - people from other cultures (specifically new immigrants) seem to want to keep their own culture rather then adapting to the culture of the country they are residing in. What this has lead to in Toronto are vast areas that are changing their English signage to the foreign language of the dominant culture, entire shopping malls catering to old world ethnic tastes and television and other broadcast media reflecting the views of the countries the people left from. This is particularily troublesome when a lot of their opinions swirl around radical islam or communism.
It's not easy bringing up these topics without seeming racist, but after all this is MY home country and MY culture. THEY should conform because if I were to visit their home country it would be the first thing expected of me. Interestingly enough, in some areas of the Toronto area like Brampton and Markam, native Canadians have become the MINORITY.
Personally, I find the situation in Toronto in the extreme but is a good indicator of what any city can expect to see if they succumb to rampant immigration and don't demand certain cultural provisions by the immigrants.
I know exactly what you mean. Recently we had yet another resident of Los Angeles killed by a illegal alien drunk driver; the victim this time was a Hollywood producer and his son. The root of the problem here is that, in some cultures there's no stigma attached to drunk driving, such as in Mexican culture, and so people bring their inappropriate behaviors here and force us to live with them. In this case two more people have been killed because of "diversity".
I think it's more important to try to surround myself with good, peaceful, accepting people...as stated previously, living in an ethnically diverse area does not mean most folks will be tolerant, and living in an area that is all one race does not mean things will be peaceful.
I grew up in an almost all white area. There were definitely a minority (mostly the older folks) who were very racist, but mostly no one really cared about ethnicity. I now live in a very diverse area, and in my experience it's very tolerant here, people are very open-minded. It's nice.
A little ethnic diversity is ok as long as it doesn't become a hostile takeover of culture. For example - I live in Toronto, one of the most diverse cities in the whole world, and its AWEFUL. Here's why - people from other cultures (specifically new immigrants) seem to want to keep their own culture rather then adapting to the culture of the country they are residing in. What this has lead to in Toronto are vast areas that are changing their English signage to the foreign language of the dominant culture, entire shopping malls catering to old world ethnic tastes and television and other broadcast media reflecting the views of the countries the people left from. This is particularily troublesome when a lot of their opinions swirl around radical islam or communism.
It's not easy bringing up these topics without seeming racist, but after all this is MY home country and MY culture. THEY should conform because if I were to visit their home country it would be the first thing expected of me. Interestingly enough, in some areas of the Toronto area like Brampton and Markam, native Canadians have become the MINORITY.
Personally, I find the situation in Toronto in the extreme but is a good indicator of what any city can expect to see if they succumb to rampant immigration and don't demand certain cultural provisions by the immigrants.
Yup totally agree with you -- I'm American and living in pretty homogeneous Chicago burb now. I don't mind minorities, I like some of the stuff they bring like food and restaurants but its a big takeover even in the downtown building where my grandma lives now. Personally I prefer the country and my native American culture to any diversity of things a city has to offer me. The rapidness of change is very unsettling and I would hate living in a place like DC or Toronto where there has been a huge takeover. If I was Canadian and like you I'd be looking at more traditional kind of places like Ottawa or Northern Ontario. If you want your traditional Canadian culture you're probably not going to find that now in big city. I agree the rate of change is unsettling.
I think it's a definite lifestyle choice - depends on your preferences and what you like to do. Minorities often choose to live together and have their own preferences so can anyone else. I like the country with barbecue restaurants, churches, beautiful landscapes, sense of space, and more traditional American feel. I'm moving to the Deep South. In any case I've never enjoyed the city anyway.
I AM currently temporarily residing in a small southern town outside of Louisville KY and if I've seen one person that wasn't white..he was visiting. Boringggggggggggg! There's more diversity in Louisville (not alot). The KKK has a clubhouse in this town! And gawd forbid some Mexicans are moving in.It frightens the locals. Suspenders,tabacco and Oliver tractors just does not represent culture to me. Yeesh!
I am one state south of you- Drove through Berea (sp?) and Lexington to Louisville 2 yrs ago- when we moved up from Florida.
I guess diversity can encompass the fact that-where I am right now- there is no good Chinese food here- one Indian restaurant (but its a buffet) and basically no food choices other than steakhouses and barbecue. Its alot different than what I am used to. Have to drive to Asheville even to get an Irish or German restaurant!
sunny - you poor thing. I have always taken being about to 'eat around the world' within 5-10 miles of my house, it would be a hard adjustment to have to drive to a different town to get something as mundane as German food
Yesterday as I was walking to the pub to meet my friend for some drinks, I inadvertently walked into a day before Easter Ukrainian custom I know nothing about (my neighborhood has loads of Ukrainian Orthodox churches), I saw a lot of people very dressed up walking down the street with baskets covered in lace or fabric, some were decorated, does anyone know what was happening here? I loved watching everyone talk to each other (even if I didn't understand what they were saying) and walk around with those little baskets, it reminded me why I love living in such a diverse community.
edit: a quick google search indicates that it was a 'basket blessing' tradition, which would make sense being the number of churches that are in my neighborhood.
sunny - you poor thing. I have always taken being about to 'eat around the world' within 5-10 miles of my house, it would be a hard adjustment to have to drive to a different town to get something as mundane as German food
Yesterday as I was walking to the pub to meet my friend for some drinks, I inadvertently walked into a day before Easter Ukrainian custom I know nothing about (my neighborhood has loads of Ukrainian Orthodox churches), I saw a lot of people very dressed up walking down the street with baskets covered in lace or fabric, some were decorated, does anyone know what was happening here? I loved watching everyone talk to each other (even if I didn't understand what they were saying) and walk around with those little baskets, it reminded me why I love living in such a diverse community.
edit: a quick google search indicates that it was a 'basket blessing' tradition, which would make sense being the number of churches that are in my neighborhood.
when I worked in NYC- something was always happening - St Patricks Cathedral; Korean, Irish, Japanese, Thai and Indian restaurants- on two blocks!. I miss that ALOT. Never realized how some places have NONE of these things. I guess its another thing everyone should take into account when they relocate.
sunny
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lol-
nice story- reminds me
