Continued lack of acceptance of cultural diversity is a critical problem for our society – we cannot take our country to the next level if we are not able to overcome this issue. My personal story provides a perspective on the devastating impact that bullying can have, especially when it is based on non-acceptance of cultural differences. This country was built upon the concept of freedom and the concept of diverse population, with people bringing in different skills and backgrounds from various countries around the world. It is our responsibility to dismantle any cultural barriers and channel all our strengths in the right direction.
In one of my presentations I try to focus on the following topics of discussion:
- Are we truly accepting of cultural differences?
- We certainly demonstrate our “acceptance” outwardly, but there are reasons to believe that we still don’t accept it whole-heartedly
- Have we really made any significant progress over the last 50 years?
- Yes, we have made a lot of progress, but there are enough examples to demonstrate that there is a long way to go
- Are we moving in the right direction – are we truly becoming a melting pot?
- There are reasons to believe that we might not be moving in the right direction – our course needs correction.
- How critical is it for us to become more effective in this area?
- This is our strength and we must cultivate it appropriately. We must turn this around in the right direction.
- What is the role of today’s youth as we move towards the future?
- They must understand this issue and act accordingly, since they are the future leaders of our country.