The Sunnyvale Sun

Letters & Opinions

Letters

We're all
multi-cultural,
aren't we?

Diversity is a word that has corporations running to hire individuals of color, race, ethnicity, country of origin, bald, left-handed etc. to "integrate" into schools, unions, communities and work places. One is supposed to recognize differences and involve diverse individuals into some sort of action.

Robert Putnam, a Harvard Don who wrote "Bowling Alone,'' announced in his study of ethnic diversity on communities that there is a downside. People in diverse communities do not seem to want to have much to do with each other. According to his study, people withdraw, give less to charity, work less on communal projects, register to vote less often, agitate for social reform more, and have little faith that they can make a difference. Sometimes these groups have been turned into a political and social hammer to compel compliance. Of course, in communities of like people, people get more involved in helping each other, have more in common and are socially active.

Any Sunnyvale resident can apply to a commission. Any Sunnyvale senior can join the Senior Center. One builds relationships by becoming active. Any Sunnyvale resident can speak up at our council meetings to our diverse council. The local high school welcomes parents to express their views.

So do we really want another group [Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee] looking over our shoulders?

There is a "vulgarism" about this and I believe that the birth of this group is unfortunate. After all, we are all "multi-cultural.''

Micki Falk

Chickadee Court