Cultural Diversity with a Sense of Belonging

D.W.Kadete.
Cultural diversity is the nature and beauty of mankind. Our origin and our heritage are what bind us as humanity.

We belong where we feel free and culturally attached. Our world is a diverse bond of cultures. 
Belongingness


Sense of belonging.

"When I was four years old they tried to test my IQ, they showed me this picture of three oranges and a pear. They asked me which one is different and does not belong: They taught me different was wrong."  Anni DiFranco


Our World is in different multicultural societies, belonging to certain traditions that define who we are as people and the world.

"Traditions are our roots and a profile of who we are as individuals and who we are as a family. They are our roots, which give us stability and a sense of belonging-they ground us". Lidia Bastianich

Humanity has roots, and abandoning its roots is a costly mistake the price is natural.

Acknowledging and respecting cultural diversity is important because, the roots which are strongly embedded in our daily lives are the source of love, humility, respect, peace, morality, and generosity.

Belonging means being a part of something, the systems are marginalization agents because their legacies don't offer inclusivity to all global cultures, since the formation of our nation's and global social systems.

The threat of our systems at all levels that inspire humanity to abandon its roots is clear.

The global systems divide humanity and remind them of the ugly past of human history where the formation of group identities around common culture as a result of relocation, oppression, and modernization associated with minority populations is also apparently clear.

Reformation and restructuring of the systems is a proper way to go to a better future when inclusivity of all people and respect for all cultures will be achieved.

Cultural revivals and addressing the conditions of socio-economic deprivation, prejudice, and lack of opportunities. Bridging gaps among cultures and healing the past is an important step toward the prosperity of humanity.

An alarming sign that reminds us, that we have a lot to do for our future as humanity.

While Humanity has many problems to take care of already.Problems such as hunger, diseases, ignorance, poverty, etc. Man-made problems cost nations to spend much on conflicts and war causing the situation to get even worse.

Racism, tribalism, prejudice, xenophobia, segregation, sexism, and terrorism are not only troubles but diseases that infect our societies enhanced by turning the blind eye to issues that matter the most.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".Martin Luther King Jr

Issues such as equal rights and Justice, equality, dignity, respect for humanity, etc.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment to destiny. Whatever affects one affects all indirectly". Martin Luther King Jr

And it does good for us when we come together during hard times like natural disasters, and pandemics, and also during good times such as sports events, and seasonal holidays including religious holidays.

The incompetence of entrusted individuals and poor policies contribute to the problems which are inspired and enforced by evil systems. They lead to endless suffering for the people.

The idea of multiculturalism is a kind of policy for responding to cultural diversity in which categorically this diversity comes in five aspects based on language, location/territory, conceptual and racial differences.

1. Linguistic diversity due to migration and nationalism.

2. National minority populations.

3. Distinct territory location.

Aspects in 1 to 3 are conceptual differences.

4. Races.

5. Physical characteristics for example eye color, skin color, hair color and texture, bone/jaw structure, nose structure, height, etc.

"I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of minority rights belonging to the few remaining Earth stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle". Marilyn Monroe  

It's a shame and sad to claim the descent of the most superior being while regarding and treating your brothers as lesser beings.


People all over the world have the same sense of belonging, we belong to humanity.

Despite those differences fore mentioned, we all like any other form of life feel pain, anger, sadness, and happiness. We all eat, drink, work and fall asleep, and bear fruits (children).

We all share the same Sunshine, sky, natural disasters, water cycle, and global climatic conditions.

 We all live under the same sun, moon, and stars. We breathe life and death like any other living organism. We grieve and suffer.

"Belonging has been a fundamental driver of mankind". Brian Chesky

We all share dreams of hope, peace, prosperity, and love as well as self-actualization.

"There are certain things that are fundamental to human fulfillment. The essence of these needs is captured in the phrase ("to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy"). The need to live is our physical need for such things as food, clothing, shelter, economical well-being, and health.
The need to love is our social need to relate to other people, to belong, to love, and be loved. The need to learn is our mental need to develop and grow. And the need to leave a legacy is our spiritual need to have a sense of meaning, purpose, personal congruence and contribution". Stephen.R.Covey

Despite those life facts we tend to feel, and claim nobility ignoring the call of nature, the alarm that binds us together.

"The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong to be alienated from this community is to become destitute in all that makes us humans. To damage this community is to diminish our existence." Thomas Berry

We are related, we depend on each other, we can't move alone, we need people, we need to work as a team, We need each other.

We need our families, parents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, community, society, nation, and the world and they need us too in good and bad times.

"My father was a man of great charity towards the poor, and sick, and also for servants; So much so, that he never could be persuaded to keep slaves, for he pitied them so much; and a slave belonging to one of his brothers being once in his house, was treated by him with as much tenderness as his children". Saint Teresa of Avila

"We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race". Koffi Annan


With pride driven by ego, we act to belong somewhere else and we know and care so little whatsoever.
Bob Marley once sang;
"You see Men sailing on their ego trip, 
Blast off on their spaceship,
Millions of miles from reality,
no care for you no cares for me".
In the song "So Much Trouble in The World"
Our bodies it's where we belong, you belong to yourself, extending that sense of belonging to the family, society, nation, continent, the world, humanity, and the universe.
In that sense, our belonging is infinite since space and time have no end.

"The wonderful thing that happened to me when I was in space was this feeling of belonging to the entire universe". Mae Jemison

A sense of belonging had impacted our lives positively and negatively.

1. Division.

When the sense of belonging is narrowed
we tend to develop hate which divides people into lines of nations, races, cultures, ethnicity, regions, religions, and so on.

As a result, we kill each other, and we destroy the Earth's nature that allows us to exist as a species and even that small sense of belonging. We destroy our roots as mankind.
     
"We don't need bombs and guns to destroy, to bring peace, just get together, love one another, bring that peace, that joy, that strength of presence of each other in the home. And we will be able to overcome all the evil that is in the world". Mother Teresa


It's natural to have diversity, but this diversity has been miss used as a tool to inflict wounds and pain on one another.

Being blinded by greed, pride, nationalism, ethnicity, religion, etc, we forget that we are one with nature and the cosmos.

 Nature is in oneness and harmony unless it's provoked. Our roots are one unless we destroy them.

"My home is a place of warmth and love.No one should be denied a home".Gail Porter

2. Unity.

Unity widens the sense of belonging and strengthens it.
Sense of belonging when enhanced cultivates trust and mutuality.

We come together under the same course of life, sharing, cherishing, and eventually, the seed of peace, love, humility, hospitality, and prosperity germinates and grows even stronger.

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home, wherever I find myself".Maya Angelou

Eventually the Earth it's where our world calls home, it's where, each form of life, each one of us belongs."We have a responsibility to look after our planet, it's our home." The Dalai Lama

The problems we have as the world should bring us together to end them as humans.

We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope".Martin Luther King Jr

Be your brother's keeper, lift your brother don't put him down.

    


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