In the light of recent events, Donald J Trump, who has recently been elected as the president of the United States , has issued a ban on six different Muslim majority countries-Iraq, Syria,Iran,Libya,Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. He strives for a vision of America that is much more narrowly defined in racial identity centered around the white American race-a belief born out of distrust of all things foreign including cultures and ethnicities different from his own. He sees it as both economic protectionism and a security response to terrorism. Unfortunately ,shutting the door on those of different ethnicities, could end up stripping America of the very ideals that make it a powerful modern democracy built on freedom, tolerance and equality.However, America is not alone on taking such a path. Many other countries are to a greater or lesser degree.
This raises one question - Is diversity really possible in today's world? Or are we better off in our own little cultures?
To begin with, one has to admit that there could be a few advantages to such a world. A world following similar cultures and cultural practices would evoke a certain discipline that would not be present in a world with differing cultural views . People would be more alike, and therefore,there would be less conflict as there will no longer be the need to accomodate the needs of different religions.Furthermore, there would be more equity in the world as there is no less differences to discriminate against.Even communication will be easier, since there would be no language barriers, and no need to explain particular cultural concepts.In essence ,people would be able to get though their lives sticking to a particular routine, making an average day much more efficient.
However , a world like this does not provide that sense of excitement that forces us to get out of our comfort zone. If everyone was equal, the world would be a much worse place. There would be no diversity in society and there would be nothing to outline our personality.We would have nobody to aspire to be, as everybody would be just the same,nor would we have inspiration that drives us forward. Our world today is interesting precisely because it allows all types of people to live together in harmony, everybody celebrating both their own , and other people's cultures. Diversity creates a difference in perspective, so that everybody can offer something new to add to the world, generating new ideas and soutions,leading to the progress of us as a species.
The way each person think is different and that is what makes us special. By not taking advantage of those who can offer the world that difference in perspective ,we are only contributing to the reversal of modernisation.
Shruti Cotra ,Newstead Wood School
