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star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:00 PM

:eek: I have an odd question. I work in a very diverse work environment. We even have classes on celebrating diversity. These classes have started to make me look at the world around me. What I see, I don't like. I see that in our efforts to make other minority groups feel included, we are hiding our own identity. Take Christmas for example. We no longer can say "Merry Christmas". We have to say "Happy Holidays". It has come to the point that any holiday with a Christian origin is considered forbidden. I am terribly concerned with this. How can we teach tolerance, if we do not expect tolerance on other's parts? At what point do we tell the minority to stop nitpicking and sit down and shut up? What are your thoughts?:confused:

nicespringgirl · Sep 19, 2007, 06:05 PM

What type of minority are your co workers? How much percent?

In my working environment, we act like a team, no one is left out. Everyone is treated as an individual, no minority tries to nipick and call for anything.

It's a surprise that your company is doing that... it is a little bit overdue.

PS. We have a few minorities and I'd say 90% are white in my company.

I never feel I am a minority I don't think your coworkers should create a gap either!

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:11 PM

25%... Mainly Muslim Bosnian. 70 % Christian white 5% Other

GlindaofOz · Sep 19, 2007, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by nicespringgirl

What type of minority are your co workers?

In my working environment, we act like a team, no one is left out. Everyone is treated as an individual, no minority tries to nipick and call for anything.

It's a surprise that your company is doing that...it is a lil bit overdue.

You would be surprised at the lengths some companies take to insure a tolerant and diverse environment. Its goofy.

I personally feel that people are too sensitive. Its not about leaving anyone out. If you don't celebrate Christmas no one is forcing you to the same goes for Hanukkah & Kwanzaa. It's a personal choice. Plus a holiday like Christmas is so commercialized that it hardly holds much Christianity. My best friend is Jewish and when she and I moved in together after college she went BONKERS at Christmas time. It looked like Santas Village exploded in our apartment. She physically stopped me from taking down our Christmas tree (it stayed up into March).

She was so stoked to experience Christmas in all its glory - which to her was the tree and decorations.

I think as long as people are open minded and recognize that not everyone celebrates the same holidays or shares the same beliefs the I don't think it matters. I still call my Christmas cookies Christmas cookies when I bring them to work.

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:15 PM

I don't mind honoring diversity, but I think in the quest to do so... we are ignoring who we are. I love learning about other cultures, but on the flip side... allow me the courtesy to celebrate what I believe without complaining.

nicespringgirl · Sep 19, 2007, 06:15 PM

Yes, I dislike minorities who take things personally.

Our company has very few minority so it's not a big deal and I never felt left out. We learn from each other. I really like all of them.:)

If you treat people the way you want to be treated, everything will be fine!

I have been surrounded by mostly caucasions since I came to this country, I think it's my responsibility to adjust myselves to the new environment.

Your company has exceeded their responsibility on diversity issues.

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:19 PM

I wish more people felt that way in my company.

GlindaofOz · Sep 19, 2007, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by star3114

I don't mind honoring diversity, but I think in the quest to do so....we are ignoring who we are. I love learning about other cultures, but on the flip side...allow me the courtesy to celebrate what I believe without complaining.

I agree with you completely. I don't think its fair to ask others to suppress who they are in the process.

GlindaofOz · Sep 19, 2007, 06:23 PM

nicespringgirl -

You are truly an exception. However I imagine it has more to do with your easygoing personality more then anything else.

IMO I would think that people would feel singled out in regards to all of the diversity. That was one thing I loved about working in finance no one cared, there was no diversity training or anything like that. You came as you were and if you were smart no one cared if you celebrated a day where a large insect act babies as long as you "brought it" at work

nicespringgirl · Sep 19, 2007, 06:23 PM

And I don't understand why colleges in this country recruit more African Americans than any other ethnic?

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:25 PM

We even tried to celebrate the Irish heritage by having a St. Patrick's Day event with green punch and shamrock cookies. There were 3 people that just about put a stop to the whole thing because of St. Patrick's Day religious background.

GlindaofOz · Sep 19, 2007, 06:26 PM

Oh please. That holiday is so far removed from any religiousness its all about drinking green beer and wearing a giant leprechaun hat.

nicespringgirl · Sep 19, 2007, 06:28 PM

The smart workers are not going to create any personal/sensitive topic problems... I am afraid that your co workers are either close minded or not very smart with interaction. They might be taking advantage of your management who are in favour of them too much!

You know those promoted are ones who are everyone's favourite? Who is going to like them if they keep doing that!
I guess they don't know that?

cal823 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:29 PM

christmas is just a comercial thing now, it lost most of its christian meaning. May as well rename it x-mas, because it don't have much christ in it no more sadly.
diversity has been a issue here in australia for many years, our government went through a myriad of policies to do with how to treat other cultures, from a "you can come in, but you gotta become like us" policy, to a "come in, we want your differences!" policy.
I reckon differences should be celebrated, no tip toed around, and all people should not be judged by their nationality or culture, just by their good traits.
nicespring is right, no one should take their differences personally, or get offended over small things, it makes for an uncomfortable environment for everyone, where people can't relax.

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:30 PM

I don't understand that either, but it is probably due to guilt. The history with the slaves has a lot to do with it. But we have also treated Native Americans horribly, but they aren't recruited like that. Heck, Irish Americans were left to do the dirty jobs in the 1800s and early 1900s. Do we owe then something too? At what point do we stop acting like we are guilty of something that we aren't? I don't have slave, my ancestors didn't have slaves. We didn't mistreat native americans either. Where does it stop and everybody is glad for what they have and stops acting like they are owed something? You want it? You work for it. That was the motto I was raised with.

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:34 PM

Trust me, I don't want everyone to be the same. I like different people. However, if you are going to live in a country some things are a given. You are going to have to learn how to speak their language and you have to respect the native dwellers. This is true no matter which country you move to. I wouldn't move to France and expect everyone to speak my language all of the time for my accord. I also wouldn't expect the people in France to forgo their long standing traditions because it offended me. This whole thing just pisses me off.

star3114 · Sep 19, 2007, 06:35 PM

Pardon my outburst. A very sensitive topic with me.

GlindaofOz · Sep 19, 2007, 06:48 PM

Star I agree with you. When we become too accommodating we run the risk of losing who we are

star3114 · Sep 20, 2007, 05:59 PM

You know I live in a part of the country in which we have reservations... as in the ones Native Americans live on. I am an educated person, I know about the retarded treaties that say "as long as the rivers run, your decendents will be taken care of." This is just stupid. I have had personal experience in which people that live on these reservations will get a job and work just long enough until their next month's check comes and then the whole lot of them will quit. Next month it is the same cycle, but the business put up with it because they need to fill the positions that were left in the month prior. They will also rack up credit card bills and other debt and then move back on the reservation to evade those debts. They are immune to just about anything there. I realize that different cultures have different work ethics, but at what point do we say you need to pay for what you have. New houses are built and families move in and trash the homes. They strip the copper plumming and sell it for booze. Has anyone ever had the privilege of visiting one of these glorious places? Not all reservations are like this. Ones that have casinos or other economic windfalls usually don't display this... but very few of them have these windfalls. I am just so frustrated with the whole thing. How do I explain to my 8 year old why mommy has to go to work everyday, while others sit on their butts waiting for a check in the mail just because of their heritage? What are your thoughts?

GlindaofOz · Sep 20, 2007, 06:04 PM

I don't know if it has much to be with heritage but there are some people out there who believe that it is their right to not work and sponge off the system. Its sad and pathetic. All you have to tell your son is that you would rather be a productive member of society and contribute something to the world everyday then sit at home taking other peoples money to live. By him seeing you go to work everyday and do your best he will mimic your work ethic as he gets older.