Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Dr. Charles Drew 
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Miguel Estrada Thomas Sowell: Diversity
One of the phrases I've heard used by those in academia and even in the media is the phrase is "There is strength in diversity." That statement in and of itself is false. One could make the case that you could learn from people who come from all backgrounds and walks of life. That part is true. However, diversity in and of itself isn't what has made America a strong and great country. Diversity can be a detriment to a country. Take a trip to Iraq and witness the ethnic and cultural divisions between the Kurds, Shiites, and the Sunnis. Are they living in harmony due to their diversity? No. Take a trip to Eastern Europe and visit some of the Balkanized countries in those regions. They're torn apart. Why? Because there's no unity amongst the races. What is special about a multiracial country that possesses no unity? There is none. There has to be a unifying factor or some type of common ground that binds different races together in a country. America's greatness isn't because of its diversity. America's greatness is due to the element that binds people of diverse backgrounds together. I've mentioned numerous times there are two things that's made America great over the 235 years of its existence. The first thing is the Judeo Christian foundation that placed this country on a solid footing. This country was built on preaching. We've had people who loved God that immigrated to this country so they could have a place to worship the Lord. Our Founding Fathers, while many weren't individually Christians, had a great respect for the Christian traditions in our society. They recognized that a nation that forgot God couldn't endure long. The second thing that built this country was the entrepreneurial spirit surrounding this country. Millions of immigrants would come to our shores to search for better opportunities for themselves and their families. They didn't mind hard work. They believed in the Protestant work ethic that if you didn't work you shouldn't eat. There was a time in generations past that Americans didn't believe it was the responsibility of the federal government to take care of them. They believed if they were to survive, they would have to labor for their bread. That mindset is what molded the character of generations of Americans.
Today as America has celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we need to remember the words of the late Dr. King where he said that it's not the color of a person's skin but the content of the person's character that counts. That statement is so very true. Even though Dr. King is not my hero, he couldn't have been more right when he made that statement. America's greatness doesn't like in multiculturalism or multiracial diversity. It lies in the fact that we are Americans and that America has been a beacon of liberty and hope throughout the ages. Over the last few decades, America has become more of a polarized nation due to charges of racism leveled against whites by so-called civil rights activists Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Also the media, Congress, and the President of the United States have played a major role in dividing America by playing the race card. Why do I say that? Because our politicians are always pandering to minorities all the time. If minorities are Americans, then what's the need for our elected elite to pander to them? They know they need to rely upon the minority vote to remain in power. I'm thankful for the diverse races that are represented in America today. However, multiracial diversity alone isn't what's great about America. It's the common thread that binds all Americans together regardless of race is what makes America special. How can diverse groups of people live in harmony with one another if there's no common ground? Common ground is essential. I wrote a post back on July 7, 2009 entitled, "Let's Be Clear--No Common Ground." I was emphasizing that unless there's agreement between various groups of people, then there's no common ground. In order for there to be a bond amongst people of diverse backgrounds, there has to be agreement on certain key issues. There has to be an element that bonds people of diverse backgrounds together. There's no way to escape that.
One of the wrongest things that some in the evangelical community try to do is to place an emphasis upon racial representation within the body of Christ. When it comes to the church, the emphasis should be on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying church. It's God's business to add to the church. There's nothing special about a multiracial church if there's no common ground amongst the laity, regardless of race. Am I opposed to a multiracial church? No. But we shouldn't possess the same attitude as the government does and be preoccupied with racial representation. The key should be the new birth. What makes a church unique is members who are truly born again and have common ground when it comes to scripture and worship regardless of race. If you have a church where the nucleus of people love God and have a desire to worship and serve Him, then that church can live in harmony even if its multiracial. However, a church isn't special due to its racial composition. It's special because it's built upon the solid rock. I believe Christians of diverse races can have Biblical fellowship together if they're born again. The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends all races and creeds. It's the new birth that binds a congregation together, regardless of their race or creed. It's not diversity.
I know some of the statements I made won't bode well with some people, but racial diversity alone doesn't make America a great country, like the media and our politicians would like for us to believe. It's the common thread that binds diverse groups of people together that makes America great. Our strength is in the element that binds diverse groups of people together, not our diversity. Without that common thread, then America could become another Balkanized country. There has to be something that unifies people of diverse backgrounds together if America is to live in harmony. Otherwise, our differences could separate us.
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