On diversity (living in, moving to, areas)

[fiasco]

I know this will get locked and I'll likely get reprimanded, but I can't let that thread end the way it did with out making a couple of final points:

- I want to make it clear that I don't pass judgment on people, or at least I try not to. I really believe that each and every one of us, whether white, or black, or Asian, or Mexican, or anything, has at least a tiny bit of that feeling of only wanting to be around our kind. That's just human nature, and that's fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to associate with people who are just like you.

The trouble that occurs, though, is that oftentimes - and we see this not only with race/culture but with religion as well - if you do not step outside of your "lack of diversity bubble," it is very very easy to create habits of discrimination and prejudice. I'm not saying this happens to 100% of people, but it happens quite a bit. This is why many people feel uncomfortable living in Idaho and Utah who are not LDS, because some people who have never experienced anything besides living next to and around Mormons their whole life don't know what it's like to have anything different. And when confronted with something that's different from us (ie, diversity), our human instinct is to treat it with fear. And fear manifests itself in many different ways, many of which are not good.

So, I'm not criticizing those who wish to live in an area where there are mostly people who are like you. That's why NYC has a Chinatown. That's why the Mormons moved from the East and settled in Utah. But I do not accept the concept of being annoyed and upset when people who are different move into the areas in which we live. They have every right to do so. This is a free country where anyone can live where they want to. The only point I was trying to make was that if you don't like the diversity in your area, the solution should not be to try and discourage people from moving to your area or to complain about it, but to either learn to live with and embrace the diversity or move to an area more to your liking. That's all. This is a free country where people are allowed to live where they want to live regardless of race. So, to be blunt, if you don't like diversity, you're more than welcome to go find somewhere that's less diverse. That's all. Which is, I guess, the point of the OP.

So, good. Now we've come full circle.

[Sage of Sagle]

No problem. Your point was made. But this is getting locked since it will otherwise up another discussion on race/ethnicity and get moved to the P&OC forum. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt feelings on the issue.