Diversity

The college in which I am employed recently had a discussion amongst the staff about the Institutional Value, Diversity. The discussion of Diversity amongst the college professionals was surprising to me. Culture was identified on more than one occasion as customs, values, traditions. On the other hand diversity in this situation was discussed simply in terms of surface culture. One individual addressed the differences between individual culture and cultural differences, but otherwise many references to diversity simply revolved around ethnicity. Family culture was also mentioned as a difference that is not often taken into account in Higher Education settings, this including the way children have been raised and the roles they play in their family culture. It was stated and seemed to be a general consensus that differences should be accented, not as a means to stereotype, but as a way to gather information and learn from one another. The idea of assimilation and viewing individuals as either a fruit salad or a fondue pot was also mentioned. The fruit salad requires many different kinds of fruit and when all mixed together each still maintains they uniqueness, but collaborate to make a delicious salad. On the other hand different ingredients are also used to make fondue, but over time they all blend and melt together no longer uniquely identifiable, but still delicious.

 I am including a link to a video by Jane Elliott that was done in the 1970s in a classroom to discuss stereotyping, but also to show how teachers and authority can influence the perception of children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bWlTZZN3DY

Fleeing the country and all I could take was...

When thinking of what three items I would take if I had to leave my country it was extremely difficult. It is probably really easy to over think this question. What is necessary, what can I not live without, what matters the most to me? I believe I am going to cheat just as little. For one item I am including all five of my children's baby books. These books include photos since their birth, stories, crafts, every little tidbit of information as their mom I never want to forget. The next item I would take is a cement buffalo. The buffalo is the size of small child's shoe box. It is painted, and looks like a buffalo laying on the grass. It is pretty heavy considering it is made out of cement. All of my grandparents died when I was very young, and this buffalo was my grandmothers, so no matter how old or ugly it is, I still have it sitting in my bedroom by dresser. The third item I would take would be a picture of my husband and I on our wedding day. We were married in the Catholic church and again on the beach in Mexico. The picture is of us on the beach in our wedding attire.I believe my explanation of these three items would be that I value family and my relationships the most. I believe that this is how I define myself. These items represent what is most important to me; love, happiness, family and those relationships. If I were told upon arrival I could only take one item instead of all three I would be devastated, however, my family would still be with me and I believe that the memories will still be with my and new memories can be made. For me hands down the item I would take would be my children's baby books. While I make the books to remember and reflect upon, which is for me. Ultimately they are gifts for them when they are older to keep and remember as well. I feel this is how I can teach them part of their culture, traditions, and self -identification.  While doing this exercise I realized that as we have examined surface culture, dominant culture, and family culture the most important to me is family culture. While I would miss many things about the United States, nothing came to mind that I couldn't live without that reflect dominant culture of the United States or surface culture. Looking back I could have taken a flag or a religions symbol, but those things didn't even come to mind until after the fact.