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26
32
Diverse communities are weak Diverse communities are strong
Debate Score:58
Arguments:33
Total Votes:74
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 Diverse communities are weak (16)
 
 Diverse communities are strong (17)

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Does diversity weaken communities?

 

 We are all constantly told about the wonders of diversity and multiculturalism by our politicians and preachers and teachers. What is your personal view from objectively viewing society? Are you witnessing the virtues of a diverse community or are you seeing conflict and agitation arise as a result of diversity? I am having a difficult time identifying the benefits of diversity but I easily spot the many problems it creates.

Diverse communities are weak

Side Score: 26
VS.

Diverse communities are strong

Side Score: 32
4 points

I grew up about 10 miles north of Mexico. 98% of the population was Mexican-American. I had good friends, but I tended not to connect with most people just cuz of cultural differences. You'd be surprised how many idioms and little references don't translate at all. Take a rich white person and stick them in a black ghetto and they're probably only going to understand like 60% of what's going on.

I would say that diversity is good for individuals. It can give you new perspectives. You can better understand humanity by seeing similarities and differences between cultures.

But people are by nature averse to outsiders. They like to hang around people similar to themselves. Diversity just tends to lead to smaller, voluntarily segregated communities. Go to any diverse area and you'll see Asians mostly hanging out with Asians, blacks with blacks, etc.

That said, it's unfair to discriminate against people based on nothing more than their race. Community harmony is no excuse for bigotry.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
brycer2012(1002) Disputed
4 points

Those aren't good examples. Neither of the communities that you spoke about were diverse. One had 98% Mexican-Americans, and the other was 1 white person in a community of blacks.

Side: Diverse communities are strong
jessald(1915) Disputed
2 points

I wasn't trying to say those communities were diverse. Those example were meant to point out the communication problems that arise between people from different cultures.

Go to any college campus to see the voluntarily segregated communities I described.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
2 points

Logically, a community is strengthened by like minded persons and weakened by those on the fringe. This is why Totalitarian states would go so far to stomp out neigh-sayers.

If you're talking solely about racial diversity, then more context would be needed.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
casper3912(1581) Disputed
1 point

specialization is what allows for a community to function; diversity of skills, jobs, etc are essential to a community.

Totalitarian states tend to fall apart for a reason, the inability to express various philosophies which various groups in the state tend to hold creates resentment against the state, it also allows for faults of one philosophy to not be countered by others.

Side: Diverse communities are strong
ryuukyuzo(641) Disputed
1 point

Having different jobs in a community is not equivalent to ideological diversity. Different professions are necessary for society, but ideological diversity is not. Any diversity in ideology is directly antagonistic to state values. Differences in profession are not opposed to each other in that way, so it's not a factor.

Totalitarian states tend to collapse for economic reasons, not ideological reasons. The greatest strength of totalitarian states is their ideological unity.

Side: Diverse communities are weak

It looks like this argument is being favored by folks that think in terms of their personal programming, I simply wish to speak in present terms. I do not offer dreams of what could be. I simply ask people to become aware of the way racial and cultural differences are NOW. If there is ever to be any solution, it will occur in the NOW and not at some far off, imagined point in the future. I predict that white people will become a minority in the near future. You can claim that you are fine with that, but I bet you won't like the results in the long run. I dare any white liberal to walk a few blocks in any predominantly black city.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
casper3912(1581) Disputed
1 point

Done it, a friend of mine lived in a predominately black neighbor hood, my ex's sister's boyfriend was black, as is her current. I Also drive through little Mexico and sit around a bunch of Indians 5 days a week and my lab partner is from hong kong. 4 nights a week I work in a diverse group as well,well there I regularly talk to a black man and a women of Indonesian heritage. One owns a business well the other has her MBA, and I'm more or less a "red".

If I walk through a predominately black neighborhood and find I don't like it, it doesn't have to do with the pigmentation of the inhabitants.

Fact of the matter is, Diversity makes us stronger NOW. The different cultures and backgrounds from the various groups and people Mention above have had a profound impact. For example at work we're not all asking for the same days off because we all want to go to the geek convention because were not all geeks, resulting in most of the workers not being upset that they were unable to attend and thus not under-performing; resulting in a stronger work community.

Side: Diverse communities are strong

Well, here's a big fat scientific study done by a liberal Harvard professor that proves diversity weakens civic life. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/05/the_downside_of_diversity/

If you are too lazy to read it, watch this video.

The downside of diversity.
Side: Diverse communities are weak
1 point

diversity doesnt necesarily weaken communities, but it seems that capitalism does. in fact, thats one of the first things they taught me in sociology class.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
2 points

Diversity is not the cause of conflict. People or groups who do not accept or tolerate diversity can cause conflict between demograpghics. This is akin to stating that skin color is the cause of racism; the prejudice arose after the introduction of a difference, but it need not necessarily be that way. Diversity can certainly exist in the absence of conflict.

Communities composed of multiple ethnicities and cultures are perfectly capable of operating peacefully if no one is contrary to that goal. A diverse well of knowledge, backgrounds, and skills is better than a limited one. I am having trouble actually envisioning a situation in which diversity itself (not just the conflict that results from it) would be handicap. Maybe you can give an example.

Side: Diverse communities are strong
1 point

Despite what people say in order to be perceived as politically correct, most people do no react well to diversity. People are naturally attracted to the company of those like themselves. If this is untrue then why do people separate themselves racially and culturally at every given opportunity (for instance, school lunchrooms)? Diversity IS the cause of conflict if the natural human reaction to it is a negative one, and I think it obviously is. Expecting people to embrace those that are different from themselves is expecting them to go against human nature. You say that diversity can exist in the absence of conflict, but can you name a diverse community or nation that does not have conflict between it's differing races or cultures? I would like to see an example of a harmonious, multicultural society.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
zombee(1026) Disputed
3 points

Despite what people say in order to be perceived as politically correct, most people do no react well to diversity. People are naturally attracted to the company of those like themselves. If this is untrue then why do people separate themselves racially and culturally at every given opportunity (for instance, school lunchrooms)?

I am not trying to contest that people often react poorly to diversity. I am contesting that people simply must react poorly to diversity. I believe that a refusal to accept or understand other demographics is the product of environment rather than genetics; it is learned rather than innate.

And in regard to the comment about people being attracted to those most like themselves, this is true but subjective. We are all humans and our differences are vastly overshadowed by our similarities.

Diversity IS the cause of conflict if the natural human reaction to it is a negative one, and I think it obviously is. Expecting people to embrace those that are different from themselves is expecting them to go against human nature.

As I stated, I believe an adverse reaction to diversity is learned after birth. However, I recognize that evidence may be contradictory on this issue. So, even if it is instinctual, humans are not slaves to their instincts; if we recognize that a behavior is counterproductive or harmful to others, we have the intelligence and self-control to identify and amend bad behavior, especially if we are taught to do so from a young age.

You say that diversity can exist in the absence of conflict, but can you name a diverse community or nation that does not have conflict between it's differing races or cultures? I would like to see an example of a harmonious, multicultural society.

I never claimed that intolerance towards diversity is an uncommon thing. Just because it is common does not mean it is inherent.

I posited that diversity will strengthen a community as long as no one in the community is contrary to the goal of coexistence. The larger a community is, the more likely it is that that community includes individuals who are hostile towards other demographics. Thus, a community large enough to be known to both of us is unlikely to meet these requirements. However, I think it is becoming increasingly unlikely that you will be able to locate a completely homogeneous community or nation and the strength, success, and peacableness of all these diverse populations varies immensely.

I have been a part of many groups that were both diverse and harmonious. Most notably, I currently live in an apartment complex with a substantial Indian population, and I lived and intended elementary school in a neighborhood split evenly pretty between Islamic and Christian families. Less notably, I often work on group projects in college with people from different demographics. I realize that anecdotal evidence is not a strong support for an argument, but I do think that many of my experiences are reasonably common and I would hazard a guess that you have been a part of a functional group, at least once, composed of diverse demographics.

Side: Diverse communities are strong

why do people separate themselves racially and culturally at every given opportunity (for instance, school lunchrooms)?

I'm not disagreeing with you, but could it be that we are afraid of what will happen? If you have always grown up around a group of people and one day meet up with another group, you will judge the new group by stereotypes that you've always heard.

Side: Diverse communities are weak
2 points

If you really think about it the words "diverse" and "community" have a sort of oxymoronic relationship. One speaks to differences, and the other to commonalities.

The lead question is just plain old illogical. It amounts to asking: "wouldn't we be better off if we were all exactly the same?"

But to answer anyway...

In some ways diversity works against community, in some ways community is strengthened by diversity.

I think it's real good if people sit there and ponder "Where should I draw the boundaries of community?" Sure many people are still so narrow minded that ethnicity plays an over-sized part in how they define community but I think (hope) they're becoming a smaller and smaller minority.

Side: Diverse communities are strong
2 points

I think (hope) they're becoming a smaller and smaller minority.

Oh, so you can opress them? Hmm? ;)

(I get your point, I'm just being a dick =p)

Side: Diverse communities are strong
1 point

A diverse community is a fertile ground for genetic mixup. The greater the diversity, the more likely that prosperous offspring are born.

Side: Diverse communities are strong
1 point

Diversity makes the community stronger. Homogeneous groups are boring and same old. It is always interesting to know about new people & culture. More news ideas, new way of thinking and doing things. Lot of learning opportunity. It makes the human being mature, flexible and comfortable with anybody in any situations.

Side: Diverse communities are strong

There can be unity through diversity. A community that practices diversity is inclusive of all.

Side: Diverse communities are strong
0 points

what i think diverse communities unite a group of people and it may help a particular group of to fight for getting their rights

Side: Diverse communities are strong