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S.E. Wood Divided we fall I just heard the government-sponsored radio
commercial for the umpteenth time, which ends with the admonition,
"Our strength lies in our diversity." Well, let's think
about it. Diversity certainly has its benefits. I love Mexican
food, Italian food, even a little Japanese sushi, every now and
then. French vocalist Edith Piaf has long been one of my favorites.
But that has nothing to do with our nation's strength. Strength comes from unity, not diversity.
"United we stand!" Or "One nation, under God!"
Remember? That comes from our Pledge of Allegiance, now prohibited
in many of our tax-supported schools for fear of "offending"
some of our more diverse students. Same thing with "The
Star-Spangled Banner" - our national anthem! There was a time when we were just Americans.
If asked, and if we knew, we would respond that our ancestors
came from Germany, or Italy or Poland, or somewhere. But we were
Americans first, and rarely felt that any other identification
was necessary. Now we have Irish-Americans, and African-Americans
and Japanese-Americans, etc., etc. Always with the name of the
country of origin preceding the name of the country whose liberties
and other benefits they now enjoy. Our devotion to diversity prevents us from
praying publicly to the God identified in our nation's founding
documents, whose mercies we implore at the opening of each legislative
session, and whose name is imprinted on each and every piece
of American currency. It requires us to issue driver's licenses
to those who cannot read our traffic signs. It permits our representatives
to be elected by those who cannot even read the names on the
ballot. It sponsors legislation that encourages immigration from
countries on the current CIA list of nations that sponsor international
terrorism. Even those of us who were born here, whose
parents were born here, whose grandparents and great-grandparents
were born here, cannot call ourselves "native" Americans.
That identity belongs to yet another diverse group. Tell you what. I will consider believing that our strength lies in our diversity when I see a bumper sticker that says "Allah Bless America!" · · · |