Diversity .....

In American we live and work with others who have vastly different skills, intelligence, and educational levels, plus the American citizen may speak many languages, not just one, or maybe barely can master verbal and written communication at all. They may even be autistic, disabled, too young or too old, and many other differences. Unlike more homogenous countries, America is probably one of the most diverse of all, hence the need to advocate the diversity tolerance and acceptance of those whose strengths may be your weaknesses ... or vice versa.

I think that we should strive to develop skills and proficiency in our countries chosen language, English, but we should not expect others to have the same proficiency as our own nor should we judge them via those self centered standards projecting onto others. An English major probably is going to know more about the English language than a mathematics major. A highly educated high brow should not feel that he is better than the one whose life circumstances chose other priorities in life. The need to elevate one's self esteem by rudely pointing out the deficiencies of another merely indicates snobbery, false sense of superiority, and a need for improved understanding of the other, to accept them for who they are and not who you expect them to be. How very rude to address another's weaknesses rather than perceive their innate value and rightful place in life. You may condemn immorality, dishonesty, violence, and other sins, but you may not condemn a person for being their self with acquired personal attributes and expressions uniquely their own as well as their imperfections.

“We must strive to remind ourselves of this great possibility. Instead of  allowing diversity of race and culture to become a limiting factor in human exchange and development, we must refocus our understanding, discern in such diversity the potential for mutual enrichment, and realize that it is the interchange between great traditions of human spirituality that offers the best prospect for the persistence of the human spirit itself. For too long such diversity has been treated as threat rather than gift. And too often that threat has been expressed in racial contempt and conflict, in exclusion, discrimination and intolerance. “ (The source of the quote above is on a page in the United Nations web site .... http://www.un.org/WCAR/e-kit/vision.htm )