I seek to be a tolerant, patient and nonjudgmental
person. My heart is usually in the right place, but I sometimes rush to express
things before thinking about them through the perspective of others. My wife is
encouraging and guiding me to grow in this area. I am grateful for her patience
and wisdom.
Last week I stumbled when trying to
express my desire to be part of a world in which diversity is celebrated. My
intentions were good, but my communication was bad (ironic that I am a
communications professional). In the process, I hurt people I love who are kind
to me and my family. My heart is heavy with remorse. I have asked forgiveness,
but I know scars take time to heal and that trust must be rebuilt.
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| I must also learn to celebrate diversity in terms of everyone's individual life experience, generation and worldview. |
In New York City (where I work and spend
much time) I am constantly exposed to diversity. It is part of the landscape
everywhere in the city. On the subway, I love to observe diversity in race,
culture and language. In a way, the subway represents an equalizer. Rich, poor
and middle class people of all ages, races and religions exist together in the
same place for a little while. In those moments, all are somehow more equal.
The mindset I get in New York City does
not directly translate to my home state of Texas. People in Texas are
beautiful, thoughtful, kind and generous. Texans celebrate independence and self-dependence
in a way that is uniquely wonderful. But Texans have a worldview that is quite different
than that of New Yorkers. In Texas, I live in Austin. And people in Austin have
a much different worldview than people anywhere else in Texas. Austinites
embrace diversity to the point of celebration. “Keep Austin Weird” is in fact the
theme of the city.
The combination of living in Austin,
working in New York City and being raised in Southern California has
contributed to my worldview that embraces diversity and is socially
progressive. Yet, I often overlook the fact that mine is but one view. To truly
celebrate diversity I must not only do so in relation to race, culture,
religion, language and sexual orientation – I must also learn to celebrate
diversity in terms of everyone’s individual life experience, generation and worldview.
This is an important lesson I learned this week.
When I make mistakes interacting with
others, I try to focus inward. The last few days, I’ve thought about my life. I’ve
thought about times when my son told me that things I said or did were
inappropriate or insensitive. I’ve remembered my father telling me about his
childhood. He shared some of the phrases people used commonly back in the 1940s
that would today be completely inappropriate. I thought about phrases I’ve used
in my life that were totally inappropriate, considering when I stopped using
them and if I was still in fact using some.
This inward thinking has led me to
realize that we are all to some extent racist or at the least insensitive to
others. None of us are completely right or wrong on the issue of diversity. We
are each progressing through phases of perceptions, understanding and tolerance.
In my quest to celebrate diversity in America, I now have a greater desire to
personally listen more to people of other races and cultures.
Over the last few days, I took time to
sit down with a few people and ask about their unique life experiences. I met a
saxophonist from the Bronx who loves jazz so much that he adjusts his entire
life to play it as often as possible. His music and stories touched my heart
and soul. A cabbie from Brooklyn who happens to be Muslim told me about being
born in Macon, Georgia, moving to with his family to New York City and
encouraging his children to embrace being different. Their stories have
enriched my life and broadened my worldview.
To enjoy these stories and celebrate diversity,
all we have to do is ask.
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