If you really look around, diversity is everywhere. When have you attended an event where diversity was not present?
This thought came to me as I attended two memorial services recently: one for my neighbor, an inspiring Federal Way High School teacher and mentor, and another for one of my closest friend’s brother.
My neighbor’s memorial service was held at Decatur High School, where he and his wife first met and which they both attended. As I looked around the standing-room-only attendance in the school’s gym, I marveled at how many people took the time to honor such a highly regarded teacher that worked for our school district.
As his Christian church pastor began his tribute to his late friend and colleague, a word that I have written about in my past columns surfaced – diversity.
He mentioned how much diversity was in the room and how many lives were touched by the teacher’s attention to the children of Decatur. As that word was spoken, I looked around the room to see what he was talking about. In doing so, I found out that what he stated was exactly what we see every day: the diversity of the crowd and how powerful one man’s work can be to bring a community together to celebrate the differences in all of us.
You see, my neighbor never cared about the color of a kid’s skin or what religious background they had. He treated all of his students with the same courtesy and respect, and in doing so he gained the respect of the many students and parents with which he interacted each and every day.
The pastor reminded all those present to celebrate life and to celebrate our differences. Sitting in a large gathering place like a gymnasium with many, many different people of color and ethnic backgrounds there to celebrate the life of someone that we all regarded as an outstanding and phenomenal instructor was an awesome feeling. Clearly, diversity was at work in the gym that Saturday afternoon.
I have a very good friend at work that I call “my brother from another mother.” I know that many of you have heard that saying before and that some of you might even have someone in your life that you consider to be in the same company. His brother tragically died, and my family and I attended the funeral service.
If you can recall from my first column, I grew up in Seattle in the heart of the Central District. My friend’s brother’s funeral service was located four blocks from where I used to live. It was like an old homecoming for me as I giddily told my children of the different buildings and streets that I once roamed as a kid. Like all teenage children, I could tell that they were patiently humoring me as I reminisced about my childhood.
The funeral was held at a Baptist church. I have never attended services at a Baptist church, myself raised as a Catholic, so I really didn’t know what type of service that I and my family were in store for. If anyone has attended any type of services in a Baptist, let alone an African-American Baptist church, then you know how much different a service of that type would be compared to a Catholic Church service.
As I sat in the church during the opening of the funeral, I could not help noticing who was in attendance. I scanned the room and it hit me: During the last service that I attended I was reminded of the diversity in the room. In looking around the church that afternoon, I again saw diversity. Caucasian, Latino, Asian, African-American, full-blooded, half, mixed, young, old; it didn’t matter. Just like the last service. We were all there to celebrate the life of someone that, once again, profoundly influenced other lives.
In both instances, diversity played a major role in shaping futures. Both men didn’t care what background you hailed from. They treated those around them with dignity and respect. They both were equal-opportunity givers and takers. There was no discrimination levied toward those they taught or those they served.
Although very much different in how they worship, both the Catholic and Baptist churches have many things in common. But there seems to be a definite theme – the diversity of attendees that worship in their hallowed houses. They bring together those from all walks of life.
Time and again we are reminded of what diversity brings to our lives. You can choose to ignore what you see every day or you can embrace what lives in and around us; what surrounds our everyday lives. One thing is certain, and that is the power of diversity and the influences it bestows on all of us. It is a constant. Take it in, look beyond the obvious, practice it, and let it enlighten and enrich your lives. That’s what both men had in common – the acceptance of diversity and how it shaped their lives.
I’ve asked this before in one form or another in my earlier columns, but I’ll ask again: How do you use diversity in your life?
Gregory Baruso has lived in Federal Way for 15 years and has been a member of the city’s Diversity Commission for eight years and is currently serving as chair.
