I'm a "student leader" at my community college. I deal with various members of the student body on a regular basis. Therefore, I must present myself in a professional, friendly manner. I must treat everyone equal, regardless of their race, sex, disability, sexual preference, etc. I have no problem with this. When you come to me, you're coming to me as a student, prospective student and/or parent. You have questions, in hopes that I have the answers. I will do everything in my power to answer your questions, even if it means directing you to someone else.
What's been bothering me is how they stress "diversity". I feel as though they want us to label everyone we come in contact with, just to acknowledge that "though we are different, we are the same." I get it. I do. I've been ALL about uniqueness and diversity for years. I am not one of those white girls that will say to their friend of a different race "I don't see you as...because I don't see color." I also won't say to my friends of a different sexual pursuasion, "I don't see you as...because I don't care."
I do see color; I do care if my friends are gay, straight, bi, trans, etc. I see it and care and acknowledge it. But, I don't define by them, unless they use it as definers. My best friend is Native American. When I introduce her, or refer to her, it's "this is my best friend, Sally", not "this is my best friend, Native American Sally". Makes her sound like some limited edition doll. Nor do I refer to, or introduce, my friend, Nate, as "my gay friend, Nate." If he wants you to know he's gay, he'll let you know.
I realize there are LOTS more catagories to place people in regarding various prejudices. I just don't agree with labeling and catagorizing. People are people, that's it. Yes, we're all different in our own ways; some way more than others. But, unless they make it know that they want to be defined by those differences, we shouldn't assume that's what they want. I know I wouldn't want someone to automatically define me as "that fat, Pagan white chick." There's a lot more to me than that.
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