Reflective Essay: Diversity In The United States

Looking at me you might wonder what I could possibly understand about diversity – middle class white male, college educated, married with two children, a boy and a girl. These broad generalizations describe me, but they do not define me; just as similar ones about others are equally uninformative. They note apparent features while failing to capture inherent uniqueness. To me, diversity encompasses respect and acceptance, concepts defined by actions taken to recognize and understand individuality, not simple toleration of obvious differences. Although I do not write articles or participate in protests demanding change, I quietly respect the dignity of individuals and value their perspectives. My service in the United States Army has profoundly shaped my attitudes and guided my actions supporting these beliefs.
Although I experienced diversity growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, it had little meaning since groups rarely interacted, as typically happens. However, when I became an Army officer I joined one of the most successfully integrated organizations in the United States. The first unit I led consisted of over thirty members representing the full spectrum of ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. This multiethnic conglomeration immediately challenged me to critically examine personal views shaped by my limited background. I wrongly assumed that a standards-based group focused on accomplishing an assigned mission would see the path to success similarly and contribute