Homogeneity and Diversity: One and The Same!

Dear Fellow Earthlings,

When I walked into my first grade class in September of 1954 I entered the world for the first time. Until that moment, my father had been controlling my life completely. He decided what I ate, when I ate, how much I ate. He also decided that -- for whatever reason -- I did not need friends. So when I walked into Mrs. Rachel Tchirner's first grade class, I was a blank slate. Mrs. Tchirner somehow saw through to the soul of that little dark haired boy who was now in her class. She knew that I had not been allowed a life. And, methodically, respectfully, she gave me one. She never once scolded me. Nor did she praise me. Rather, she taught me. She taught me to go out during our "recess" periods and join the other children. Also, she made sure that I acquired social skills such as confidence and laughing at jokes -- and to forego kissing girls, for that could "spread germs". Under Mrs. Tchirner's steady, kind, stimulating guidance, I gained self-confidence and learned to trust other people. The huge difference between my home life and my school life instilled in me a love for learning -- and, eventually, for teaching. Whenever we sang, "Tramp, tramp, tramp, hear the feet of many children, 30 million ready today, We learn together, we work together, the good old American way", my little heart beat proudly -- for I was learning to love my country -- and to respect the idea that other countries had their own social and religious norms. Just as I felt then, I have to say that if we have countries, then the major diversity should show up when we travel. Having too much diversity in a single country will tear at the national fabric of a nation

just as much as having too little diversity does. No single country can represent the richness of all the diversity on Earth. We should keep it that way. Just ask the Seneca people! And, also, just ask me: When I walked into a store in Collinsville, Illinois I had patronized as a child only to be asked by the employees (all of the same ethnic group) sitting on its counter (which is rude, according to what I, as an American, have always been taught) "Where do you come from"? in heavily accented non-American English -- and then to be told "No you didn't"! when I told them that I had grown

up in the nearby town of Caseyville, Illinois is not merely insulting. It is a slap in the face to much of what

America stands for! Steve Walker Earthsaver and Jingles Creator

© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.