E PLURIBUS UNUM: DIVERSITY WITH A DIFFERENCE
Editor-
I agree wholly with Doug Beazer’s observation: “It is unfortunate that some students at USU have not yet learned the importance of diversity.” (Oct. 15, “Diversity Will Diffuse Hate.”) But that is where our agreement on diversity ends. Indeed, he continued, “Diversity is not a buzzword, but the keyword.” What a striking slogan to get our minds off the real issue at hand, the fact that diversity on its own-as an ultimate condition-does not really answer society’s problems. In fact, Beazer’s own logic shows how much we students have not yet learned about diversity: his reasoning actually disagrees with the very thing he was trying to prove-how hate can be absolved by a focus on diversity.
The word diversity, by derivation, contains three parts: 1) the prefix di-, meaning twice, double, or two; 2) the word verse, derived from the Latin verto, to turn; and 3) the suffix -ity, derived from the Latin -itas, state or quality. Thus, diversity, by definition means “the state or quality of turning to two”, implying a dichotomy of groups, ideas, people, etc., which leads to a condition of opposition, contradiction, and division.
We need look no further than Beazer’s own examples to illustrate this contradictory state. He stated: “Men like Hitler, Stalin, and … the Klu Klux Klan murdered men and women in mass to purge the world of the unusual.” This begs the question: Why did they feel the need to “purge the world of the unusual?” The answer: Because they were so focused on the differences, the diversity, of the world, that difference and opposition was all they saw. This diversity fueled pride, which in turn fueled hatred and jealousy. They were in essence saying, “Because you are different than me, I am better than you. Therefore, you are no good to me or you are a threat to me; therefore, I hate you.” Notice the self-imposed hierarchy of being, illogically implied in this way of thinking: those with the desired attributes place themselves at the top of the “food chain,” while everyone and everything else is below them, fit to be disposed of at the leisure of the “top dwellers.” Thus, diversity did not ultimately serve to diffuse hate; it simply provoked it
So, what does this mean for us students at Utah State University? Beazer brought the battle to our front door when he said: “From what I have read in The Statesman, not much has changed in 50 years. I realize some students may say there is a difference between hating people because they’re of a certain race, and hating people because of their sexuality. However, hatred is the same.” Does it mean we should focus our minds, efforts, programs, and policies on catering to the increasing diversity on campus and risk a local Hitler, Stalin, or KKK rising to power? I think not. Rather, it means we should, as the derivation of the word university suggests, turn our minds toward one, and seek to permeate the ideal of unity and harmony throughout our lives, our education, our community, and our nation. Only then can we each fully realize the power of e pluribus unum-from many one-all viewing our diverse natures in light of our similarities and with an attitude of tolerance and love. And if, in the process of civilized discourse, we must open our mouths to defend this, let us only do so after we have opened our hearts and our minds.
Tyler Chadwick757-1823