Diversity

One of the most commonly heard mantras today is:
"Diversity is what makes our nation great."

Some colleges and universities have whole departments to advance this idea.

Well, our nation indeed has benefited from diversity in our population. The various heritages and cultures making up the United States of America add to our vitality and strength. Having a nation of different races, religions, languages, and cultures is a wonderful thing.

However, what makes our nation great is not diversity. What makes our nation great is our unique American Culture that provides an umbrella over all the subcultures found here. Ours is a culture based on Judeo-Christian values, a common language, and a unique constitution and representative-democracy form of government guaranteeing our freedoms that has no equal in world history.

Diversity is a result rather than a cause of our greatness.

I can think of other nations that are very diverse. The old Soviet Union comes to mind. The Soviet Union was very diverse with many cultures, religions, languages and races. But lacking the freedoms and way of life we enjoy, it was not a place where I would choose to live. Nor can I think of any other "diverse" nation that would be preferable to ours.

When diversity becomes a way to divide us then it becomes undesirable. In order for the United States to continue to be a strong and great nation, we must celebrate our diversity but not worship diversity for its own sake. We do need to remember those things that truly make our nation great: our common American culture, a common language, our form of government and our freedoms. We should think of ourselves as Americans and not merely millions of people of different colors and backgrounds who happen to occupy the same geographical area.

Those of us who understand, value, and appreciate these concepts also understand the need to preserve our American Culture. The rate of immigration into our nation must be controlled in such a way as to allow for proper assimilation. To live here and to be an American citizen is a privilege; it is not an absolute right of everyone on the planet who might want to come here.
America is a unique place. Our way of life is a blessing from God and is worth preserving.