C
change leader
Guest
Being different is the essence of humanity. Therefore it should never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to being different is to respect it. There in lies a fundamental principal to peace: respect for diversity. We are all different yet want the same things for each other: to be respected by others. We should respect everyone that is different from ourselves and respect their beliefs, traditions, values and opinions. In some ways, all these things put together makes us unique in who we are. Therefore we need to embrace our differences and uniqueness.
This is my own experience with diversity. I grew up in a small community in Southern Texas where everyone interacted with one another regardless of our ethnic background. The community where I lived was of individuals that came from Spanish backgrounds. I came from a mixed background. I have a mexican mother and my father is black. Half of our family and heritage is Mexican and my life has been spent in the sole care of my mexican mother.
There were many times when I would have conversations with individuals who could speak Spanish, and they would hear me speak the language and they would comment on how I could speak Spanish really well. As we knew how to speak the same language, we already knew that there was something in common. I always assumed that anyone who spoke Spanish were of Mexican heritage. This is where I admit that I was wrong. I began to learn about the diversity of the Spanish heritage and learned that it is not only people of Mexican background who know the language, but so many other nationalities as well. As I became more and more curious of the backgrounds of people who spoke the language I know, I began asking people where they were from. I would always go eat at this Spanish restaurant called “Cinco De Mayo”, with my family. One day, there was this family sitting right next to us and I overheard the woman speaking Spanish so I automatically assumed she was from Mexico. But because I am so inquisitive about learning where people are from, I turned around and asked her where she was from. As it turned out she was from Honduras.
This experience helped broaden my perspective about the diversity among individuals of Latino heritage. I later learned that there are many individuals that speak Spanish but where they come from is different. Places such as Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Cuba, Panama, and Dominican Republican are where the Spanish language is most commonly used. Each place is familiar with the same language but our values, traditions, music and food are different. We all just want to live in peace with each other and be respected for our differences and be accepted by others. I believe that we all can get along with each other as long as we are willing to have an open mind in learning new things about people different from ourselves. However the world would be a more accepting place for everyone if we all came together and accept our differences. We all have something in us that wants to be seen by others and we should be open to the idea of sharing our lives with others. Our individuality and the person we are inside is what makes each and everyone of us interesting and diverse in our unique ways.
This is my own experience with diversity. I grew up in a small community in Southern Texas where everyone interacted with one another regardless of our ethnic background. The community where I lived was of individuals that came from Spanish backgrounds. I came from a mixed background. I have a mexican mother and my father is black. Half of our family and heritage is Mexican and my life has been spent in the sole care of my mexican mother.
There were many times when I would have conversations with individuals who could speak Spanish, and they would hear me speak the language and they would comment on how I could speak Spanish really well. As we knew how to speak the same language, we already knew that there was something in common. I always assumed that anyone who spoke Spanish were of Mexican heritage. This is where I admit that I was wrong. I began to learn about the diversity of the Spanish heritage and learned that it is not only people of Mexican background who know the language, but so many other nationalities as well. As I became more and more curious of the backgrounds of people who spoke the language I know, I began asking people where they were from. I would always go eat at this Spanish restaurant called “Cinco De Mayo”, with my family. One day, there was this family sitting right next to us and I overheard the woman speaking Spanish so I automatically assumed she was from Mexico. But because I am so inquisitive about learning where people are from, I turned around and asked her where she was from. As it turned out she was from Honduras.
This experience helped broaden my perspective about the diversity among individuals of Latino heritage. I later learned that there are many individuals that speak Spanish but where they come from is different. Places such as Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Cuba, Panama, and Dominican Republican are where the Spanish language is most commonly used. Each place is familiar with the same language but our values, traditions, music and food are different. We all just want to live in peace with each other and be respected for our differences and be accepted by others. I believe that we all can get along with each other as long as we are willing to have an open mind in learning new things about people different from ourselves. However the world would be a more accepting place for everyone if we all came together and accept our differences. We all have something in us that wants to be seen by others and we should be open to the idea of sharing our lives with others. Our individuality and the person we are inside is what makes each and everyone of us interesting and diverse in our unique ways.