Question About Diversity...

Government, educational and corporate organizations endless recite mindless platitudes about
"diversity," yet rarely ask serious questions about the nature of diversity.

A question that comes to mind is:

Are all cultures equal in creating and sustaining a diverse society?

Because of the unparalleled peace, prosperity and tolerance that American culture encourages (relative to other cultures), the United States has been a magnet for diverse peoples.

On the other hand, with very few exceptions, nations dominated by Islamic culture have steadily become less diverse. Or more precisely, the general intolerance and lack of opportunity that characterize most areas dominated by Islamic culture has encouraged an exodus of non-Moslem minorities.

At the turn of the century Asia Minor and Eastern Thrace (which constitute the core of modern Turkey) was at least 25% Christian and Jewish, but through violence and harassment, the Armenians, Assyrians, Greeks and Jewish presence was all but erased and now Turkey is over 99% Moslem. The same exodus of non-Moslems can be seen in Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Palestinian territories and even Lebanon. And the government of Turkey has exerted great efforts to eliminate diversity among Moslems by suppressing the identities of Turkey's numerous Moslem minorities like Kurds, Arabs, Laz, Hemshin, etc.

And as the Moslem population of India has increase since the partition, the Hindu population of Pakistan and Bangladesh has plummeted.

And many diverse nations, such as Lebanon have been characterized by constant conflict.

So, paradoxically the champions of diversity should be most committed to affirming the western and American cultural foundation that allows for a peaceful, prosperous co-existence of individuals of diverse cultures. And equally they should be concerned that by simultaneously increasing diversity and de-emphasizing assimilation we may be paradoxically limiting our capacity to maintain a diverse nation. This phenomena is being seen in parts of Europe in which attacks against Jews, Gays and secular women, by Moslems is on the rise.