"Together" Chapter 3

Chapter 3

USDE Training Application

Mandy Ryan, San Francisco, California, USA

Attached: Allies of All Minds - “San Francisco Action Plan” (parts I solely wrote are highlighted in purple, parts I contributed to are highlighted in orange)

Diversity. Social theorists have discussed the importance of this word for many years. Of course, we should strive for increased diversity in public (and many private, although safe spaces for marginalized people should also be provided) spaces in terms of gender identity, “race”/ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, economic means, and many other demographics. However, praising ourselves for just hosting people with different skin colors or different types of sexual relationships in the same room is insufficient for social justice and social change.

Diversity’s shortcomings include the possibility of it being implemented without inclusion and, most importantly, the possibility of movements striving for diversity to become fragmented instead of intersectional.

Diversity simply means getting a seat at the table. Inclusion means actually getting a chance to speak. The rise of “woke” capitalism has, for example, allowed marginalized people to be seen more often in advertising and media. However, they have been tokenized (not fully included), as they rarely have starring roles (especially if these roles do not constantly emphasize their marginalization). And as they have had their votes suppressed and their lives stolen away by senseless discrimination and gun violence, the “woke” capitalists do nothing. In all spheres, privileged people should always be aware of not taking up too much space, and should foster inclusive environments so marginalized people can say what they truly think.

This point segways into the concept of intersectionality, in which members of different marginalized groups band together to become stronger and more resilient in resisting structural domination and oppression by people in power. People who are members of multiple marginalized groups are very often bridge-makers regarding intersectionality: for example, I introduced the concept to other radical activists in my Allies of All Minds social justice organization as an atheist, young, queer women. People in intersectional movements should always check their privilege, and white, Western voices should never dominate. The voices of black non-Western trans women should be elevated in these movements, as they face the most structural domination and oppression in society.

USDE Training Application

Ryan Zandoza, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Attached: “Personal Relationships or Public Actions: Which Should We Judge” - Written with the help of the Clark Philosophy Department for SURJ (the Scholarly Undergraduate Research Journal)

To me, “diversity” is a term that encompasses so many concepts that it is sometimes hard to get my brain around it. And yet, I still believe that striving for increased discussion and action relating to diversity is something that Americans should hold dear.

Diversity, of course, means the promotion of both de facto and de jure equality for marginalized people around the world. As an undocumented Latino immigrant helped by a deferred action program, I have benefitted greatly from organizations such as my college and church that celebrate diversity. These organizations have given me the confidence and the voice to succeed in school, spirituality, and other activities, and to reach out of my comfort zone. It is an unfortunate reality that so many people feel as though they cannot express themselves freely because of marginalization: I will strive in life to promote free, positive expression.

Diversity, however, relates to so much more than just demographic characteristics you fill in on the census or other survey; in our current political climate of identity politics (which has led to some very positive moments), these other meanings of diversity are often, unfortunately, ignored. There is diversity of opinion, which indeed includes clearly horrible, dangerous ideas, but also ingenious ideas that could lead us to new, bright skills in technological skill and social harmony that shed the current partisan gridlock and exhaustion. There is diversity of interest, in music, in visual art, in sport, in drama, in profession, which may occasionally lead to an awkward glance across the dinner table, but also to the cultural richness of society that sparks our most cherished memories and connections.

And there is biodiversity, which includes nonhuman animals as well as ourselves, and also other biotic components of our world. Ecosystem sustainability, for humans as well as nonhumans, is vital for true human progress. Changes in nature-society relations, which preserve the vibrance, hope, symbiosis, ebullience, and cyclic rebirth of life, are needed, but must be promoted as an opportunity for renewal and progress, not a process in which much must be given up.

USDE Training Application

Kevin Rizzo, Venice, Veneto, Italy

Attached: “Determinants of Aging in a Group of 50 Senior Citizens from Northern Italy: A Comprehensive Review” - from the Physiology of Aging class at the University of Bologna - the parts that I solely wrote are highlighted in bright blue, while the parts I contributed to are in dark blue

Due to the shortness of this essay, I will be focusing on the importance of neurological and age-related diversity. I do not mean to discredit the important work of promoting diversity in the conventional ways in regards to gender, immigration status, and ethnicity, which I hope to help in the future.

Neurodiversity is a relatively new term, replacing the less politically-correct term of “mental disability”. I have mixed feelings about this change in terminology as a person with anxiety, which change depending on how I feel. On the one hand, when in the middle of an unneeded worry, fuss, or outburst, I wonder why in the world would I want to describe my condition in any sort of positive way. On the other hand, when my condition gives me the skills to know my limits in a socially awkward or intense situation, or when it allows me to have a deep cry and feel deep spiritual connection with others, I realize that it is a part of me both positive and different. So although I wish I never have to experience its negative effects again, I will say that my anxiety makes me neurodiverse. But enough about me: Why is neurodiversity important? Well, a variety of perspectives are needed to craft innovative solutions to pressing issues, including perspectives relating to our neural makeups or ways of thinking. Also, neurodiverse individuals make up a large portion of the population, and society is not always structured to our needs. For example, in liberal circles such as my own, doom narratives regarding climate change and indifference to the proliferation of ever-increasing mass violence in mass media abound: as a highly sensitive person, I have critiques of the average neurotypical person’s view of these phenomena, despite agreeing that climate change is a problem and media violence doesn’t usually directly cause real violence. Also, as a Catholic opposed to abortion, I find it severly troubling that very neurodiverse individuals are prime victims of this discriminatory practice against our most vulnerable.

Ageism and age-related diversity are different than other prejudices and diversities because there is not one clearly-defined privileged group and one clearly-defined disadvantaged group. Generally, the very young and the very old are the most disadvantaged in human society, however this is not universally true. You could say that the “middle-aged” are privileged in society, but any rigid definition of “middle-aged” is arbitrary (or will differ with different evidence), whether it is 25-55 years old or 10-70 years old.

I have already stated my opposition to abortion, but there are less controversial reasons why the very young are disadvantaged by society. Some utilitarian philosophers think that babies and toddlers are of less worth than adolescents and adults, despite their potential to become adolescents in only a few years. Babies and toddlers suffer among the highest death rates in low-income countries from communicable diseases, today’s generation of them will be at the front lines of massive global change, and they are among the most vulnerable to exploitation, despite being our most precious. They literally embody the future of humanity.

The very old are disadvantaged because they are blamed en-mass for societal problems relating to ideology. They are similarly disregarded by some utilitarians if they have dementia, they are vulnerable to disease and personal injury, and they are vulnerable to exploitation despite holding the most life experience and wisdom. The very old are also at risk from neglect if they do not have a social support system, whether from family, friends, religious institutions, or governments, and chances of neglect of them rise, without sufficient action, as their proportion of the population rises with the demographic transition: this problem is especially apparent in Japan, Eastern Europe, and my country, Italy, which have low birth rates and large populations of elderly people.

USDE Training Application

Khayone Anderson, Lubanzi Zangwa, William Dube, and Junior Qadi, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Attached: Khayone’s “The Quantum Mechanics of Daily Life”, Lubanzi’s “Rousseau: His Promises and His Shortcomings”, William’s “Is Realism in International Relations Realistic”, and Junior’s “The History of 52 Drum Fills.mp3” - all produced for classes taken at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

Promotion of diversity regarding demographic traits is crucially important for making a society a better representation of all its people when it makes decisions. As citizens of a nation that fell unto the brutal regime of racial segregation, Apartheid, for 46 years, we know well how bigotry and neglect can prevent progress. But our country came through, and despite its many flaws, fostered an environment in which we received the support we needed despite our humble, adversity-filled upbringings to make it to college.

Diversity is also a vital characteristic of healthy polities and economies, despite the unfortunate fact that some people who support diversity of races/ethnicities, genders, and sexualities do not support diversity of political views and economic actors.

In terms of politics, let us use another example from South Africa. Our ruling party has been a left-wing party ever since Apartheid ended. And this makes sense, as left-wing parties are in general more open and accepting of individual social liberation and racial equality. And under this party’s rule, some legitimate progress on social rights has been made. However, our country’s cozying-up to the left-wing has led to several national funds for wasteful spending on personal luxuries, holding back our country’s progress and fueling political turmoil. Some members of the ruling party downplay causes of black-on-white individual racism, riling up angry black voters who have legitimately faced systemic racism: therefore, these party elites have used victims of racism as political pawns instead of seeking true racial integration. And despite the ruling party claiming to speak for the average voter, economic inequality has remained staggeringly high. We need a more open democracy, in which corruption can be put in check and new solutions can be found, as even the main opposition party in South Africa diverts little from standard thinking. The ruling party remains in power because of the memory of its commendable success in ending Apartheid, but political reform and change in some people’s mindsets through free and open debate will be needed to bring a more varied and successful democracy to this country.

In terms of economics, diversity means a variety of firms, for profit and non-profit, that compete in order to enhance technological progress and invent new ways to improve people’s everyday lives. It is true that many modern businesses see profit as the end-all-be-all, but this is not true for many companies and most individual employees. However, If we rid our society of a competitive market, there will be no incentive to innovate in a timely, productive fashion, and progress will be slowed. A better way forward for business relations with the average person is possible, but requires both decreased constraints from government on innovation, as well as a change of mindset by businesses to take the health of their workers and the environment seriously. This better way does require that businesses are prevented from becoming too big to fail, as ownership loses touch with the business mission and can afford to slow innovation at this point.

One final note: diversity with segregation will not work. During Apartheid, many black South Africans resided in Bantustans, political units in which they had slight autonomy but were separated from whites. Although some black South Africans found some opportunity in these areas, most were constrained because the segregated system severely limited most of the connections required for the good life.

USDE Training Application

Alim Zhang, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Attached: “How to Engineer a Green Grid.mp4”

Diversity in types of knowledge is vital. Currently in the Western World, too much weight is placed on subjective social knowledge of customs, values, norms, and relationships. Objective, empirical, clearly quantifiable knowledge relating to the “cold hard facts' of performance and efficiency in situations must be given more weight for society to progress.

Many Western commentators stress the need for racial diversity and inclusion as a settled conclusion that is so clear that no evidence for it is needed. Perhaps more of their detractors, who often spew hatred and disunity, would be convinced of this need if they provided the available data that shows that people of different races have the same average capabilities. Also, many Wetern commentators stress the need for cultural inclusion, while their detractors stress the need for cultural homogeneity. But these same commentators often fail to cite evidence from repeatable scientific studies that shows that their preferred type of cultural makeup produces results that would be universally desired by all societies, such as life satisfaction and health.

By discussing my homeland of China, I provide the hypothesis (this needs to be backed up by more data, but at least I am stating this out front) that fairly culturally homogeneous nations will, in the long run, produce better universally desired results.

China is currently a fairly culturally homogeneous nation (although ethic minorities are rightly given recognition), and is having much empirical success regarding health, life expectancy, GDP, educational attainment, and middle-class jobs, while the heterogeneous societies of the West continue to struggle with social disorder and relative economic stagnation. The obsession of many Europeans and Americans with cultural diversity increased through mass immigration has led to this disorder, while here in China only people with Chinese heritage, highly-skilled workers, and people highly loyal to China are allowed to permanently immigrate. This type of policy allows the Chinese homeland to continue developing with stability, but the PRC does not leave people from other nations behind. China’s trade and infrastructure programs seem to help the economic and social prospects of countries in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and Latin America overall. These programs are a breath of fresh air because these regions have long been plagued by Western colonialism, imperialism, and proxy wars that depressed and destroyed livelihoods. These new Chinese programs aren’t perfect: the jobs of the Kazakh workers were not ideal and the progress in construction was slow at the Khorgos Gateway Belt and Road Initiative project I once worked at. But technological advancement and governmental cooperation will lead to the success of projects like these led by China and other nations. The endless thought battles in Western universities are largely distractions from reality. Thoughtful reflection is sometimes needed, but experimentation, calculation, and decisions are most crucial.

A focus on day by day, month by month, year by year practical working of situations, fostered by strong management and leadership and strong devotion to rational calculations of the best outcomes, is what has led to 800 million Chinese people being led out of poverty. It is what has led to more knowledge and more opportunity for millions of families who once thought the best they could have was a meager farmer’s life or a life in city slums, while the American middle class is hurting due to mismanagement and kleptocracy. It is what has led to needed progress on environmentally-friendly infrastructure; the social quagmire in the USA and some parts of Europe has stalled similar progress. It is what I prided myself in daily as a China Unicom engineer, and it is the attitude I will bring to a USDE that sorely needs it. It is diversity in the knowledge/action matrix.