Where are we at with Diversity, Health and Inclusion?

I'm fresh off a continuing ed seminar on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion honing in on Health Equity.   I thought I was walking into a lecture style class, but was pleasantly surprised to find a very interactive format.  While ticking the boxes of intellectual and social stimulation for me, it also provoked much thinking on how these issues are faring in our own community, state and country as well.

We are living in such divisive times where many leaders have completely abandoned a quality of real leadership, i.e. behaving in ways to create and promote unity amongst its citizens. 

Different groups have been pitted against one another, whether that be based on race, political persuasions or other  identifying traits or characteristics that one group holds over another with a bias and judgement of "inferior" or "wrong".

We discussed and knocked around the concepts of the dominant narrative and discussed how deeply held narratives- the stories that are perpetuated among people sometimes generationally, that cast people in boxes based on judgements, or based on globalizing  personal experiences, that cause others to believe that which may not be true, and  how that keeps the divide and discourse perpetuating.

We are all different... in so many ways both visibly and not visibly.  While we are hard wired to want to "belong to the pack"; be with people who look, talk and think like we do, humans are more highly evolved animals than those below us on the food chain.  

We no longer have to be limited to just associating with those that are "just like us" to survive,  when we have the ability for higher cognitive thinking ( critical thinking) as well as the ability to be curious about those that are not "just like us."

When I see the abuse, condemnation, bias and treatment of some humans toward other humans for reasons of differences that are not understood, cared about, or met with any assemblance of kindness or curiosity, my heart is grieved in ways I can't describe. Inhumane treatment of certain groups of people is unimaginable and should not be tolerated.

I imagine a world - our world- our community- our country- where we stop being spoon fed lies and distortions about others who are different from us.   A world in which differences are met with curiosity, with community, and with basic kindness.  A world where we stop globalizing the bad things that happen to us at the hand of one person ( not blame or cast judgement on their whole race, ethnicity or gender etc.) 

A world that embraces the diversity and strengths that people who are different from us contribute. 

We can learn so much from those that are of a different gender - which may be different from the black and white box you may have gender placed in - male or female only.  People have a wide range of expression for who they are and where they may be in their gender or sexual orientation. Can we be curious about that rather than judgmental and fearful?  Might we stop attacking and move to caring- reminding ourselves we all have more similarities than differences?

Judging, condemning and treating people of different races or ethnicities unjustly, unkindly is abhorrent to me and goes completely against morals, values and just human decency.

And there of course is a spiritual and for some, religious element to this as well. 

Jesus offers the ultimate example of how to treat people so those of you reading that claim to be Christian in your faith or religion, may I ask, how are you showing the love of Jesus to others you encounter who are wildly different from you?  How are you supporting other humans that are different from you?  How do you treat people who are poor, immigrants striving to escape violence in their own countries, or strive for a better life?  How do you treat the prostitute and the tax collector?  Are you the first to cast stones to those you have put in your box with the label of sinner? ( the Jesus I know tells me that "he who is without sin can cast the first stone...)

What about your own box?  Have you looked in there lately?  The bible tells us to remove the log out of our own eyes before trying to remove the speck out of someone else's...

How do you treat people who look different from you?  How about the friends that you discover are separated or divorcing over abuse, adultery or addiction?  Do you take sides?  Ignore one person or avoid them both?  How do you extend the hand of Jesus then?  

What about those people who are wealthy?  Do you treat them differently? Do you consider that some obtain their wealthy status by unethical means, and /or harming others?  Does that change anything for you?  Or do you don them with automatic respect and label them "successful?"

Ultimately, we can list many ways we can question our own biases, judgements, and conclusions that cause us to see some people one way, and others negatively.

With that said, until we restore common decency, humility and curiosity, I don't see this changing much.

Until we THINK AND ACT  like an extension of Jesus, even when we are fearful, confused, disagree, or don't understand, I don't see this changing much...

Until we realize our own triggers, pay attention to all of our family of origin history, stories and conditioning and begin to question what was/ is real, beneficial and in alignment with humility and decency, I don't see this changing much.

If this blog is hitting too close to home... yes, I confess that is its intention.   Because living well is  a personal, family, community, and societal  matter.

Because when one of us is being harmed, under resourced, judged and condemned in society because of how they look, act, dress, or their skin color, we are all affected in some way. 

I imagine a world that grows exponentially each day, because we have learned to love ourself and others more deeply, care for one another more intentionally, and extend the hand of peace and acceptance to all we meet. ( and by the way this does not mean we agree- we often won't agree with the opinions or perspectives of others- it does mean we can choose to love and accept them in spite of that).

When we can offer compassion and kindness - even to those who we don't understand, especially those who are different from us, we are acting like Jesus.  Isn't that what your faith or religion calls you to do?

That is Community. That is Unity.  That is Inclusion. That is the way to creating Peace on Earth and not just as something we read on nice greeting cards at Christmas.

How about you? Ready to question your stories, thoughts, biases and perceptions?  Start today and continue the journey of asking yourself and those closest to you, how you can begin to think and act with humility, kindness, and contribute more love to your community.

Let's Thrive All Together!