Prospectives on Diversity and Culture.

I chose to interview my immediate family for this posting; my mother, my father and my sister. 

First are my sister Jolene's definitions:

Culture:  It is everything that is involved in and surrounds each individual persons make-up.

Diversity:  People who are different and alike, short or tall, black or white, Mexican or Irish; however, you choose to look at it.

Second was my Father, Dave:

Culture:  He thinks of it as the way of living based on environment and beliefs at a certain point and time. And, there are thousands of them for a person and in general.

Diversity:  Is multiple choices; for life, different classes, people, or status.  "Different cultures are derived from diversity."

And then my mother Cheryl:

Culture:  Its what our every day life is.  Your beliefs and what make us go day by day; family, how we were raised, future out-looks, etc.

Diversity:  The capability of us as human beings being able to accept each other and the differences in each other.

The responses of my families were profound and quite insightful!!  I was greatly impressed and proud of each of their answers.  Their definitions align similarly with mine in that, they all basically spoke of how culture and diversity are individualized, then conceptualized within the family, environment and community which then returns full circle to impact the individual. 

My sister and I also discussed the increased, and great usage, of politically correct terms and terminology in our world.  We agreed that sometimes the utilization of these terms is separating us even further and causing more delineation between individuals.  For example; I am white.  I do not assimilate with, nor do I like, being called a European American yet, political correctness and terminology has ascertained that that is how I now must describe myself.  At what point are these terms to much?

My family's definitions of culture and diversity were very impressive to me.  In particular, it made me think of the different generations responses to the definitions and how I did not expect their answers.  I was most impressed by my parents deep definitions, especially coming from two individuals from the 'baby boom' era who have also lived their entire lives in small communities, with the same people and very little diversity in culture and people for years!  I guess I expected their answers to be as "generic" as mine was.  Yet, they were able to describe culture and diversity in ways that brought the terms full circle for all of us.

As always, I am amazingly proud and thankful for my family!