Diversity vs Division

A melting pot, a nation of immigrants, a diversive country. These are just some of the terms used for years to describe the United States. This is what has made it great.

Oh yes, there has always been some form of segregation. China town, the Irish, Italian, Jewish and black neighborhoods. In sociology, an ethnic enclave is a geographic area with high ethnic concentration, characteristic cultural identity, and economic activity. But for the most part, this has not been forced, it is the result of new immigrants feeling comfortable in a strange but welcoming land.

Now, one cannot read or watch the news without a story based on being prejudiced. A man shot by law enforcement for being different. A law enforcement officer shot just for wearing a uniform. A woman wearing a head covering being told she is not welcomed in a store. A man with distinct Muslim sounding name being looked at as suspect. Someone with a Hispanic name associated with drug-dealers.

It seems, at times, we no longer view our diversity as our strength. Many years ago the term WASP was used to describe the majority here. WASP, an acronym for White Anglo Saxon Protestant. Today, I don't recall hearing that term. Maybe its not politically correct. A term I loath by the way.

As long as our leaders continue to foster these ideas for their own agendas our diversity will remain fractured by divisiveness. In the past months I recall seeing stories on the news about "Black Lives Matter" and "White Lives Matter". What if we just agreed that "All Lives Matter."

In combat, our men and women don't care who is next to them. They will always "have their back." When someone is wounded  or is in surgery the color of the blood is the same. There is no difference. We need to join together for our own common good. To reach the potential of greatness we all aspire to achieve.

The United States is a great nation. Our citizens make it great not our politicians. It is great because of our work force, because of our teachers, our military, our health care workers. It is great because of the diversity not the division.