So when I had Diversity training at USC back before the Fall semester it seriously lulled me to tears. Even if I hadn't literally just jumped off a plane from Tokyo, I think I would have still surrended to the mind numbing "Game Show" tactic used to try and teach Resident Mentors how to respect each others differences. What ensued was a lot of chuckles, snoring or right out disrespect for the people willing to share their stories. I stand guilty as charged.
However, today, it was different. There was no game show. There was no laughing. There was a big black screen telling us all the things that we didn't want to see or heard or think about. Every slander and prejudice the human race has ever managed to concoct was flashing before my eyes. Then the testimonies started. One by one, our fellow residents and staff began to tell their stories, each one a tear jerker.
They were telling us the same stories as last semester but what had changed? All of a sudden the atmosphere left no room for laughing. Background, Race, Religion, Gender, Orientation, Age, Size. All of these things matter. We're humans. We love to classify things. We're always trying to sort things: black or white; tall or short; rich or poor; fat or skinny; gay or straight; Christian or Muslim. Why is that? Why can't we celebrate one another's differences and discover our own similarities? I mean can we start with the basic fact that we're all human beings? I don't know, maybe that's too big of a conclusion to make.
I'm not perfect. I'm going to slip up and same something offensive by accident. It's bound to happen. But I hope someone will call me out on it because I will always own up to it. It's not a perfect world, but that shouldn't stop us from trying to make it the best we can. I learned so much today and I'm very thankful for the opportunity.
2010 was a great year for progress, let's hope that this year is even better.
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