One of the reasons why I talk about worldview so much is very personal: my worldview is somewhat different from most of yours. It’s probably that difference which has made me sensitive to the importance of the topic. Recently, however, I have been struck by a paradox: it is precisely the purveyors of diversity that are most blind to its importance. Instead of promoting diversity in that which makes us most human: the way we think, they focus on its most trivial manifestations: songs and dance, habits of speech and dress, food. (I know, these things can be great art, and are worthy of study in their own right – but they’re not the essence of diversity, and even they suffer when stripped of their cultural context.) Skin color.
The worst offenders are those who look for root causes. It’s an odd thing; they apparently champion the diverse, yet invariably they recognize no root causes other than the ones dear to their own worldview. It’s as if underneath the funny clothes and food is one universal worldview. We’re all the same. All other worldviews are transformed into the one true worldview: their own.
Needless to say, the truth is otherwise – and much more interesting.
Posted by David Boxenhorn at August 9, 2004 02:17 PMIn essence, it is a difference between appearance, and substance. As long as everything appears on the surface to be diverse, it must be, don't look behind the curtain.
It is kind of like Saddam holding an election in pre-war Iraq and receiving 100% of the vote. The appearance was what he thought was needed, but the subtance was utterly lacking.
Posted by: John at August 10, 2004 01:58 PM Permalink