Enough with the diversity! (interviews, stats, independent, crime rates)
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It has become increasingly popular to speak of racial and ethnic diversity as a civic strength. From multicultural festivals to pronouncements from political leaders, the message is the same: our differences make us stronger.
But a massive new study, based on detailed interviews of nearly 30,000 people across America, has concluded just the opposite. Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam -- famous for "Bowling Alone," his 2000 book on declining civic engagement -- has found that the greater the diversity in a community, the fewer people vote and the less they volunteer, the less they give to charity and work on community projects. In the most diverse communities, neighbors trust one another about half as much as they do in the most homogenous settings. The study, the largest ever on civic engagement in America, found that virtually all measures of civic health are lower in more diverse settings.
So my question is, why do people use the word diversity as one of the top 5 defining adjectives when describing a city's strengths.
Mostly they are cowering at the hands of the media which loves to throw the "D" word around and make people or communities feel guilty if they don't embrace their way of thinking and lifestyle. Thus, in order not to be labeled as an undesirable by the all powerful mainstream media they cave into the pressure and start using it themselves.
I should also add that while these people that want us to have a "diverse look" to our society they most certainly don't encourage diverse and/or independent thoughts and actions. Sad...
It actually makes sense because most "culturally" diverse areas are also transient areas with residents share little in common, often with an awkward mix of economic groups as well. People tend to share SOME similarities when they form any sense of community, whether it would be race or simply socioeconomic or education status. I don't say that to sound like an elitist, but I do believe "diversity is our strength" comes from actually WANTING to form civic pride in an area that doesn't have it, but human nature means that usually wont happen, although there are many exceptions.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WILWRadio
I should also add that while these people that want us to have a "diverse look" to our society they most certainly don't encourage diverse and/or independent thoughts and actions. Sad...
Well said. Diversity is great, but it doesn't work with such a blind, naive view of it and what it actually means.
It actually makes sense because most "culturally" diverse areas are also transient areas with residents share little in common, often with an awkward mix of economic groups as well. People tend to share SOME similarities when they form any sense of community, whether it would be race or simply socioeconomic or education status. I don't say that to sound like an elitist, but I do believe "diversity is our strength" comes from actually WANTING to form civic pride in an area that doesn't have it, but human nature means that usually wont happen, although there are many exceptions.
Well said. Diversity is great, but it doesn't work with such a blind, naive view of it and what it actually means.
Right on. They want diversity for appearances sake only but with no substance. I willingly rub elbows with anyone regardless of their background if they share similar hobbies and interests and can provide thought provoking discussions on a variety of issues. Sharing and embracing differing ideas is what truly creates a diverse environment...
The much-maligned non-socioeconomically-diverse suburbs often also reduce one's risk exposure to crime...
Similarly, ability to drive own car everywhere (esp to homes/offices/shops far from poor areas/homeless) w/no need for mass transit also reduces one's risk exposure to crime....
Let's not forget many members of media choose to live in low-rent urban settings and commute via mass transit....and then attempt to scare less astute members of public w/various irrelevant crime stats....
Many choose to live/work in their own bubbles, often defined by socio-economics....the elegance of American suburban mobility and the ability to leave high COL, low QOL regions for more efficient, high QOL urban/suburban regions...
Right on. They want diversity for appearances sake only but with no substance. I willingly rub elbows with anyone regardless of their background if they share similar hobbies and interests and can provide thought provoking discussions on a variety of issues. Sharing and embracing differing ideas is what truly creates a diverse environment...
No. Seriously, a lot of us like living among people from different backgrounds from whom we learn different perspectives. We like being able to frequent restaurants that offer cuisines from elsewhere in the world. We like exposing our childrent to people from different backgrounds in order to give them a better-informed view of the world. What is it about diversity that makes it so hard for some of you to understand?
And yes, to answer some of the coded speak on this thread, although I'm a liberal living in a diverse urban neighborhood, I do have politically conservative friends as well. See? Diversity in all forms.
Why, because you can go down the street and get a falafel? Is that really more important than strong, safe neighborhoods? Yes, diverse neighborhoods also tend to have higher crime rates.
I'm not arguing against diversity. I happen to live in an extremely diverse neighborhood. I just wonder whether the whole diversity thing is a result of white people's self hate and guilt. It really is only white people who cherish the concept.
Regardless of what you see on TV, I think more people are fleeing diversity than are trying to find it. "Diverse" in my area means it will be a ghetto in five more years.
Richest American Cities
(Population over 250,000)RankCityMedian household income, 20041San Jose, CA$71,7652Anchorage, AK$61,5653San Francisco, CA$60,0314Virginia Beach, VA$55,7815San Diego, CA$51,3826Anaheim, CA$49,6227Raleigh, NC$47,8788Seattle, WA$46,6509Washington, DC$46,57410Honolulu, HI$46,50011Oakland, CA$46,19012Charlotte, NC$46,08213Boston, MA$45,89214Arlington, TX$45,71215Austin, TX$45,50816Colorado Springs, CO$45,38817Riverside, CA$44,86618Las Vegas, NV$44,73719Aurora, CO$44,48020Minneapolis, MN$44,116
With topics like this, no wonder the rest of the world hates us.
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