Diversity itself has many different faces

Simply Sleight, by Kari Sleight

Life is a journey in which the decisions we make every day form our present and influence our future. I never could have imagined the choice I made, as a 16-year-old, to terminate my employment at a fast-food restaurant would lead me to a position as publisher of a newspaper in Alaska, but that decision ultimately played a major role in where I am today. As I was walking out the door, the restaurant manager made a remark something to the effect that other businesses wouldn't be as willing as he was to hire obnoxious 16-year-olds. His remark angered me to the point that when I walked out, I promptly marched across the street to our local newspaper office, found they had a part-time opening in their advertising department for afternoons and weekends, and was hired on the spot. Thus, began my newspaper career.

Many of us can look back and identify major events in our life that could have altered who we are and what we do if we had chosen a different path.

I've sometimes wondered what my life would be like today if I had made alternate choices, but have found it impossible to imagine. The only certainty is that I wouldn't be the same person I am today.

Our life experiences and choices we make along the way shape, to a large extent, who we are today. Of course, the environment we were raised in -- our family, friends and religious beliefs -- have a significant role in who we become, too. It's what makes us unique, diverse.

Diversity seems to be a buzzword of late. In fact, the topic has come up in several recent conversations I've had. I've discovered through these conversations that diversity seems to have different meanings to different people. Most associate diversity with ethnicity, others with religion and culture. One individual doesn't believe the Mat-Su Borough has much diversity, while another thinks we have an abundance of diversity. The dictionary defines diversity as "1. a variety of something such as opinion, color, or style; 2. ethnic variety, as well as socioeconomic and gender variety, in a group, society, or institution; 3. discrepancy, or a difference from what is normal or expected." Basically, diversity is simply differences. Using the dictionary definition, the Mat-Su Borough is definitely a diverse community.

I doubt anyone could argue the point that this community has a widely diverse opinion on a multiplicity of topics. I've heard the saying many times over the years that the day you can get two Alaskans to agree on something will be the day hell freezes over. While I don't believe this statement is exactly true, it is a strong assessment on the diversity of our population.

Few people would admit they believe diversity to be a bad idea, yet there seems to be an inordinate amount of people who chastise others for expressing an opinion that is different from their own beliefs. We see it in the pages of our newspaper, especially during political campaigns, utility elections, and planning or zoning issues. We often get angry calls from people wanting to know why we would ever print such letters from people who obviously don't know what they're talking about. The answer to that question is because we believe that every person has the right to express their opinion on any matter, at any time, on issues that are important to them, whether the newspaper staff agrees with them or not. The only reasons we will not print letters submitted for publication is if they are clearly libelous or in extreme bad taste. There isn't enough room in this column to explain the definition of libel and the extreme bad taste is a judgment call we make internally.

The point that I think sometimes gets lost, is that it is one person's opinion. You may not agree with it, but you should respect it. They are entitled to that opinion, just as you are entitled to yours. Because a person's opinion on an issue differs from yours, it doesn't make them wrong, it doesn't mean they are satanic or insane. It only makes them different.

And that's what makes this community and nation a great place to live.

To know that we are entitled to our own opinions, to our own beliefs and to live the way we choose to live as long as we don't infringe upon the rights of others or harm them in the process. Instead of getting angry with someone who offers a differing view or accusing them of some evil plot, we should embrace that diversity and be thankful we live in a nation that allows us the freedom to openly express our views and beliefs. Not everyone is as fortunate.

Kari Sleight is the publisher of the Frontiersman.