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Beneath The Surface, Americans Are Ambivalent About Diversity
Beneath The Surface, Americans Are Ambivalent About Diversity
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Originally Posted by From The Article
These findings are especially striking because of how quickly and completely the value of diversity seemed to take hold in the last two decades.
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Originally Posted by From The Article
In their study, based on a national survey of more than 2,000 respondents conducted in 2003, they found that fewer than 5 percent considered diversity mostly a weakness in American life. Forty-three percent said it was mostly a source of strength, and 50 percent replied that it was equally a source of strength and weakness.
But that doesn't tell the whole story. The authors note that in school and on the job, Americans are taught to value difference, and know by now that a positive reaction to diversity is the "culturally acceptable'' answer. Thus even those with strong misgivings may ritually observe that diversity can be a strength.
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I'm not sure that the idea of diversity being a strength truly took hold. Apparently what took hold was the realization that questioning whether diversity is beneficial was hazardous to one's social well-being.
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Originally Posted by From The Article
He emerged convinced diversity was the culprit. But he believes that growing diversity is inevitable and ultimately desirable. He thinks America has to undertake more vigorous efforts to assimilate immigrant communities — more English language instruction, more playgrounds, community centers and schools, and greater financial help for communities bearing the greatest burden of health care, education and other costs.
"What needs to be done is broadening the notion of 'we,''' Putnam said.
He says he is confident this will happen, given the assimilation of the last great wave, at the turn of the 20th century. But as critics have noted, that blending was accomplished over 40 years of very low levels of immigration. Despite the current rancor over illegals, there is little indication that current high levels of immigration will ebb soon.
Ultimately, America has no choice but to contend with diversity, and while Putnam wasn't happy with his findings, he says it is important to confront them.
"People like me who are in favor of a more diverse society don't do ourselves any favor by denying that building a diverse society is a difficult task,'' he said.
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If Putnam's study has convinced him that all these supposedly negative effects are caused by diversity, how did he reach the conclusion that diversity is "ultimately desirable"?
I also find it odd that he advocates more vigorous efforts to assimilate immigrant communities. The more people assimilate, the less different they will be. If diversity is a strength, wouldn't he want immigrants to stay as different from native-born Americans as possible?
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"I am certain that nothing has done so much to destroy the safeguards of individual freedom as the striving after this mirage of social justice." - Friedrich Hayek
Last edited by Telluride; 07-11-2007 at 05:28 PM..
Reason: Typo in the thread title. My bad.
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