Diversity

I was just reading over many items on the edchange.org website.

They have one thing really correct, there is a problem in Social Justice, and I have done what I can to fight positively for Social Justice. (If you are going to read the next part please read all the way though).

The other odd thing is the guilt that is trying to be given to people. By American standards, my family income for the last few years has been in the bottom 20% (bottom 14% last year, 2005, according to Turbo Tax).

Am I mad that people are making 10,000% more than me and then some, No. Should I be? No. This country has striven to give equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. This is shown on the question they asked about social justice quiz of income differential when comparing salary vs. total salary package. Does everyone have equal opportunity, not yet, but it is getting better.

When I look around and see what I have: two cars, a color TV, clothes to wear, a house that is warm, and at least $20 to spend, I have more than the vast majority of the world. (For the record I gave this quiz to all my students - 65% receive free or reduced lunch and 50% hispanic in the school: not one student, not ONE single student of 95 said that they did not have any of these - everyone, except me, had two televisions, every single family had at least two cars with exception of a one single mom who has one car, all other single parents had more then one)

In America, we have virtually eliminated hunger and true poverty. I would rather be in poverty in America (and I am by income) then anywhere else in the world.

Are there huge income gaps? Of course and as long as people are given the freedom to choose what they will do, there will be. This is part of what makes America great and free and prosperous. America is still the land of plenty and there is plenty for all who will take from her trees and work for what they want. Is it more difficult today then 100 years, yes, and it will be more difficult in the future.

Lastly, I find it interesting how the concept of civil rights has changed over the last 30 years. It was an issue of separation, leave us alone (Malcolm X, Nation of Islam, Black Panthers, Indian Rights, et al) and let us be, we will solve our own problems. Today it is: you have to solve the problems for us.

Am I against diversity. Of course not. I like how edchange.org makes sure that they point out the paternalism problems in America; "Black History Month" as the only time to study black history, having section on women in science, or asians in medicine unit. All these need to woven into the larger fabric of the material covered. Should we exclude covering something because a person is a certain something? Of course not.

Likewise, should a person be excluded because of racial or ethnic or some other difference. Of course not. Why? "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (people) are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." When we exclude 'the others' for any reason then we clearly deny their unalienable Rights.

Part of the social justice problem is self-inflected with the separation of certain peoples of this thing. Can we be fair and elevate a woman in science to the level of scientist without gender of racial identity. Can we make a better world where we are judged by the content of the character with an reasonable equal opportunity to succeed. I think that we can and as teacher I am on the front line.

I will relinquish the soapbox.