In response to the second question: with more diversity
often comes more discrimination. Discrimination is treating different things (or
people) differently. It often takes the form of dislike/hatred and
superiority. Diversity is difference.
An example of this
prevalent right now in North Carolina (and other states I'm sure) is the discussion in a
few school districts of re-drawing the lines for which neighborhoods feed into which
schools. What is being said is that they are trying to increase diversity by drawing
from a variety of different socio-economic neighborhoods. One of the reasons given is
to raise the average test scores of each school (as low socio-economics is statistically
linked to lower test scores). What is not being directly said, but certainly implied,
is that the "rich white" schools don't want the integration. It is the mostly white
parents of the upper class neighborhoods who are most opposed to
redistricting.
It is a wonderful thing when increased
diversity is met by open-mindedness and tolerance. Too often however, increased
diversity only brings out the worst in homogenous cultures.
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