The Challenge of Diversity

When America was founded, it was established on freedom and equality for all people, at first religious freedom, but eventually freedom of speech, press, petition, and more. In time, America began to be known as a “melting pot” of cultures as more and more people came because they wanted this freedom; the more people who came though, the more problems America had. There were too many cultural discrepancies between people, and ultimately America, the country based on freedom and equality, faced challenges concerning diversity.

So, why do we need diversity? As America grows, the differences in cultures among individuals become colossal. People are becoming closed-minded about others who are disparate from themselves, which creates tautness and naiveté about other cultures. “For all societies at all times have their particular blind spots, groups within their culture and also groups abroad that are especially likely to be dealt with ignorance and obtusely” (Nussbaum). Since we live in a nation that is always growing and will always have diversity, we need to become more conscious about others. If we solely live life only coming in contact with those who are similar to us, no one will benefit. But “if we have more contact with people of other ethnic and racial backgrounds (or at least more contact in the right circumstances), we will begin to trust one another more” (Putnam 141). We need to become more socially engaged with those who are dissimilar from us so that we can become cognizant of other cultures around us.

Becoming acquainted with other cultures is more than just coming into contact with others though, we need to assent them and recognize where they are coming from so that we can strengthen our communities. ...

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