This is probably the single easiest question in the world to me when it comes to job interviews. However, I realize there are many who do not feel the same. Personally, I feel they are the first who should be shoved in the deep end of the Crayola box of life.
I would love nothing more than watching someone like my uncle be in a position where they would have to kiss the ass of an LGBT, another race, religion or basically someone so opposite to themselves they find their very existence offensive in some way. I truly believe it would be an enriching experience if they put being a dick about it on hold.
I will also admit, even difficult and challenging people, no matter what their background, certainly are “yet another interesting color to add to the crayola box of life” as I would call it. You may not like the shade, you might not use it often, but you’re still kind of glad its there.
The coworker I bonded with most at my last place was from India. Where he was reserved, quiet, contemplative, and armed with an eidetic memory; I was rambunctious sarcasm, high speed flurry of activity and the memory of a goldfish. I knew almost nothing about Hindu, Ganesh, Bollywood, the 26 official languages, the relationship between Pakistani and Indian culture, especially the importance of cricket and the many tossed TV’s that hit the street when opposing teams were winning.
But I certainly learned. I’m still learning.
From me, he learned about Office Space… and a lot of revoltingly inappropriate humor. But I made him laugh.
My last workplace was foreign-owned and due to their generally xenophobic ways, it was intensely difficult not to walk away with a severe dislike of their entire culture as well. Prior to it, I had no opinion about it. I and many of us from outside their country, were treated like second-class citizens. They felt no need to hide any of it. The bulk of management was hand-picked and shipped in from their country, all while getting tax breaks for creating domestic jobs for minimum wage.
I really have no interest in working for a company owned by THAT country again in the near future. It’s hard to believe that when immersed in a new culture, I would find nothing but a disdain of it. I’m a mish mosh of American mutt and well aware there is nothing pure about me to adopt any sort of elitist attitude, and I’m glad for it. I guess that is the risk when being introduced to something new though. I really hope it fades over time. I dislike that about myself more than I could ever dislike the country really. Sometimes one or few can sour the perception of the whole batch.
Ultimately, I firmly believe that being exposed to different peoples, cultures, religions or lack thereof opens our minds to understanding new views and ways of being. That is never a negative thing to encourage. It can be terrifying, but not negative. Whenever there is a new thought that destroys a worldview, it can be crippling. But if you take it for the value of the new information, something to incorporate, it can be seen as enriching one’s life to new worldviews and possibilities. It gives us growth.
I dis a lot on Trump. I think he’s a geriatric fucktard and basically a pedophile (sorry, when you’re old enough to parent it, you don’t fuck it). I also think he’s sinking into dementia and not worth my concern.
However, I do understand that both political parties in the US want to see a better country. They at least agree that its still rather shitty currently and should change. The differences are all sunk in how that should happen and what to do. What changes to make and what will be best for everyone, because “everyone” should be the ultimate concern. Right?
We need to understand the plight of the mother who has to work three jobs so her children can go to a terrible school and lack parental supervision.
We need to understand the mother who chooses not to be one so she is not put in that position.
We need to understand the plight of the immigrant looking for improvement to their life, hard-working, but put in a cage and called trash by the country they wish to adopt.
We need to understand the black man who has been held in prison for being black since segregation and the ones who continue to put there for the same since its fall.
We need to understand the old and the sick, when there is no one left to look out for them.
We need to understand the homeless: the veterans whose country cannot or will not care for them, those cast to the streets instead of getting the mental care essential to their survival; those fallen on hard times with no recourse to prevent or avoid it.
We need to understand others, as it might someday it might be us who needs to be understood.
idioglossia: the blog 