Diversity and What Makes Us Individuals

Did you ever walk into Barnes and Noble unfocused and just sort of mindlessly begin to browse through the books? Ever deliberately pick up a book because of its cover and begin to examine it? We know nothing about the inside. We are just making assumptions based on the outside cover. Ever size up the book to see how it fits in your hands; large or small, thick or thin? Ever judge the book by its color? People are like books. Ever look at the front cover and begin to make assumptions because of the way the person looks? How many intriguing books have we made eye contact with and immediately judged it based on what we assumed the book was all about and placed it back on the shelf? We have no idea of the treasures that are there before us. Unless a book has been specifically recommended to us, we tend to judge the book by its cover.

First impressions - they are lasting aren’t they? When we walk into a room full of people we immediately begin to size them up, to compare them to ourselves. We note the color of their skin. We consider the size of their body; heavy or thin, short or tall. We compare their physical and mental abilities all within a moment’s notice.

Ever meet someone for the first time and immediately think that you would never get along with them? Ever have the opportunity to get to know them and actually become friends? Ever get the chance to tell them that you assumed all sorts of things about them at first but realized now that you were completely incorrect with your first impressions? We have no idea of the gift of friendship that is before us. Unless a person has specifically been recommended to us, we tend to judge them by their cover.

I believe people want and need to be accepted in every set of circumstances. Whether someone is overweight or underweight, incredible tall or preciously small, brown skinned or white skinned, from Tennessee or Romania. People want to feel acknowledged but at times our own personal assumption of a person keep us from getting to know them on a deeper level.

Let’s consider people with physical, mental and learning disabilities. They have a unique set of medical circumstances that surround them. When we see someone struggling to maneuver about in their wheel chair at the grocery store is our first reaction one of frustration because we have to clear a wider path for them? Or is it making eye contact with them and giving them a smile as you stop and allow them to pass through? No one volunteered to be disabled. It just happened to them at birth or at a later time in their life due to an accident. When we see someone with obvious disabilities what is our first immediate reaction? Is there compassion and empathy that takes place or fear and ignorance?

The character, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mocking Bird said, “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.'

When I first read that sentence as a little girl in 7th grade I was mesmerized by his words. What did he mean by them? How could I ever understand what another person’s life was like? You cannot crawl into someone else’s shoes and truly understand them. Or could you?

We have reality shows for every concept under the sun. Why not consider a reality show that allows individuals from one group to exchange places with a person from another diverse group? Have a group of seeing individuals become visually impaired for a week and go through the day to day activities of not being able to use their vision. Have another group bound to a wheelchair for a week and not have use of their legs. What would the reactions be from the participants? What would the viewers learn? Would they immediately understand what life is like for that individual for whose shoes they are walking in?

Inside this Blog Spot I want to meet diversity head on - yet with compassion and empathy.