Agunias - Embracing Cultural Diversity

 Embracing Cultural Diversity; A Way for Us to Connect Each Country's Uniqueness to the World

     In a world filled with lots of people from diverse backgrounds, communication is important because, without effective communication, diversity becomes divided. For centuries, from ancient times to modern times, communication has played a crucial role in a society's success. Fostering cultural diversity is essential in creating a harmonious society and safe environment for everyone. By embracing and celebrating the traditions, languages, and perspectives that different cultures bring, we promote mutual understanding and respect. Cultural diversity not only enhances creativity and innovation but also strengthens social cohesion and resilience. Encouraging an environment where diverse cultures can thrive helps break down prejudices, fosters empathy, and builds a foundation for peaceful coexistence. Fostering cultural diversity is about recognizing the value that every individual and group brings to the global community, enriching our shared human experience.

     In 2021, my family and I went to New York and lived there for nearly 6 months. We went there during the summer season and returned to the Philippines in the winter season. I was fascinated by the culture there because it had so much difference compared to here in our country, the Philippines. During our time there I learned many new things and interacted with people from diverse backgrounds, thus, every one of them had different cultures and beliefs, however, we were united by the common language which is English. Through this language, every individual can communicate their opinion, express themselves, and connect. It is also important for us to note that in order for a community to strive, everyone must respect one’s culture and not be racist or stereotyping others because this could lead to conflicts.

     Fostering cultural diversity is important in today's globalized world because through this we can achieve a harmonious community and encourage mutual understanding among people with diverse backgrounds. Some companies or workplaces have employees of different ethnicities which could help the workplace to strive because it increases creativity, promotes innovation, multiplies perspectives, and leads to better cultural sensitivity. Being open-minded and respecting one’s diverse background and culture is important to attain peace. Although diversity is being practiced, there is still a barrier, no matter how much we are trying to promote diversity, there are still some people who have Ethnocentrism, meaning, they think their culture is superior to others. They stereotype people with different backgrounds, for example, Black people are stereotyped as violent and people who are Middle Eastern are terrorists, which could result in conflicts.

     We went to New York during the time COVID-19 was at its peak and at that time, many Asians were being violated because they believed that we caused the pandemic. It was reported in the news that Asians were being harassed. I felt worried because all my life I never experienced racism that way. As a matter of fact, my family and I were scared to go out because we were scared that we might get violated. At that time I was confused because why would someone do such a thing, why would they let their anger out on people who are asians when we aren't even the cause of the pandemic. According to my research, the root cause of racism is Ethnocentrism, I realized that these racist people are close-minded and, it is not our fault that we are who we are. Racism can violate one’s human rights, thus, their actions should not justify what harm they caused to others whether mentally, emotionally, or physically.

     Educational Institutions can improve and foster cultural diversity by collaborating with other countries to experience their culture and traditions. A great example of this is cultural exchange or exchange of students of the chosen country. At the University of San Jose-Recoletos, there are cultural exchange programs that allow the students to interact with foreigners. This exchange leads to mutual understanding, breaking down stereotypes, building bridges of friendship, and promoting respect between cultures. According to drexel.edu.com, fostering inclusion and multicultural awareness in education benefits all students by encouraging acceptance and helping them succeed in a diverse world. A culturally responsive teaching approach prepares students to thrive in an increasingly diverse society. Therefore, it is crucial for us to remember that as diversity continues to grow, it's crucial to prepare students to adapt and embrace differences. 

     The root of cultural prejudice is biases, stereotyping, and ignorance, these could manifest inequality and inclusive communities. I haven’t directly experienced cultural prejudice but based on my observation, cultural prejudice usually happens anytime and anywhere but it is more abundant in other countries compared to the Philippines. We must actively promote inclusivity for the issue to be addressed so that many people would be educated that racism is not okay and that it could affect one’s personal growth in a way that hinders them or makes them insecure throughout their lives. We can spread awareness and knowledge about the importance of being culturally diverse by advocating through social media. The United Nations was established in 1945 to prevent future global conflicts, its main objective is to maintain peace within the nations and security, we need to celebrate the United Nations every October 24th to remind every individual that we are all the same and that we must treat everyone with respect and equally. 

     In conclusion, fostering cultural diversity is crucial for building a harmonious and inclusive society, especially in today's globalized world. By embracing the traditions, languages, and perspectives of various cultures, we can promote mutual respect and understanding. However, as seen in instances of racism and cultural prejudice, there is still much work to be done to combat ignorance and ethnocentrism. Educational institutions, workplaces, and individuals all play vital roles in breaking down stereotypes and fostering an environment of inclusivity. Through awareness, education, and open-mindedness, we can create communities where it diverse and exclusive to everyone, and where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive promoting cultural diversity is about creating a more equitable, peaceful world where all cultures are valued and respected. Communication is important in promoting diversity because it everyone to understand one another, fosters mutual respect, and helps break down barriers between people from different backgrounds. It enables people to connect, learn from one another, and work together to create a more inclusive and harmonious society. We must be philosophical in our everyday lives to promote inclusivity and most especially for our society to flourish.