Imagine if the only ice cream flavor that was available was plain vanilla.

What if the only music choice was Country?

What if the only meat they sold was chicken (breasts only; no thighs, only white meat)?

How about dining out? You could only frequent restaurants that serve American food. What is American food anyway?

Grocery stores would stock only these types of fruit and vegetables: iceberg lettuce (no mixed greens), white button mushrooms, Idaho Russet potatoes, cauliflower, white corn, parsnips, Jicama, sweet Vidalia onion (I do love those!), honeydew melon, white table grapes, pears, white peaches, and bananas. Oh, and all the white bread you can eat!

Perhaps you go to the package store to buy an adult beverage and they stock only Chardonnay-style wines and Bud Light beer and other beverages that are “Made in America.” All imported beverages are strictly banned.

The only kind of pet you could own would be a pure bred golden retriever. Sorry, no felines, rodents or reptiles; we have enough of those crawling around our big cities!

And for you gardeners and landscapers, in this imaginary world your choices at the nursery and DYI stores would be limited to white roses, snowball bush viburnum, Shasta daisies, Sweet Alyssum (Carpet of Snow), white Hollyhocks, Crape Myrtle trees (white only), white flowering Spirea, and the like (so long as it blooms pure white). If any of these plants or trees produces a deviant color (like red, pink, blue, chocolate, yellow, orange), they would need to be eliminated immediately so as not to disturb the purity of the white garden.

How happy are you now?

Only One Color is Boring, Too

I’ve been reading with much dismay about the most recent mass shootings in the United States, and the growing tide of white nationalism, the vilification of immigrants, the rise of xenophobia (i.e., the fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange), and yes, racism. Let’s call it what it is. And this trend is not just an American one, but seems to be a global movement.

Now, we all have stereotypes and unconscious bias. It’s hard, if not impossible, to get away from it. However, we can and must become more self-aware of our own bias so that we can make better choices on how to behave and how to treat others.  Otherwise we will create a country and a world that is filled with fear, hate, scarcity and cruelty. And I would like to add another negative outcome: Boredom.

Diversity Spices Things Up

When things are all the same, they are boring. Predictable yes, but ultimately boring. The saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life.” I believe this and try to live by it. And I know that diversity is the key to living a vibrant, fulfilling, and peaceful life.

Diversity of thought.

Diversity of ideas.

Diversity of backgrounds.

Diversity of life experiences.

Diversity of friends and neighbors.

Diversity of cuisine and culture.

Diversity of abilities.

Diversity of skin color, eye color, shape, size, gender, identities, sexual preferences, languages, opinions, religious practices, citizenships, origin, economic status, professions, etc.

And of course, diversity of ice cream flavors!

Celebrate Our Differences

We will be a happier, healthier, and more interesting world if and when we learn to embrace, welcome and celebrate our differences.

Like kids do before we teach them how to hate. Let’s teach our children to love, accept and play with other children who are different than they are. Let’s do the same for our adult selves.

Ultimately we belong to ONE RACE – the human race. And we are only as strong as our weakest link.

Let’s stop all the negative energy that goes into excluding and eliminating others from being in our homes and schools, in our communities, workplaces, and countries. Let’s stop all the ugly rhetoric, cruel policies, divisive practices, and horrific violence that weakens us all and jeopardizes our collective future.

Adolph Hitler failed for many reasons, one of which is that white supremacy is a fallacy. There is no one master race. Sameness is weakness and is not sustainable. Mankind has never been just one color, but rather a rainbow of humanity with unlimited potential.

Embrace Diversity and Inclusion as a Way of Life

It’s time to change our thinking and behavior about race. We must have the courage to to stand up and speak out against white nationalism. It’s time that we embrace multiculturalism as the only path forward. Let’s create a culture and a lifestyle that honors diversity and inclusion.

Please join me in welcoming mankind (and womankind) into your life in all of its glorious colors, forms, and origins.

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