Reader comments
Utah diversity has increased since 2000

Let's look forward to the day when no single race is a majority!

Diversity is great if it also includes assimilation to the language, Constitution and customs of the country you CHOOSE to live in. My grandma came from Mexico. Her parents made the kids learn english because as they said "We are Americans now".

Perlich's statement that "nationally the growth of the Hispanic population is being driven by natural increase rather than immigration" is almost laughable.

Our newfound "diversity" is a result of a failed immigration policy due to a governor and legislature who choose to ignore U.S. immigration law and even encourage illegals to come her by giving them drivers licenses.

How can no single race be a majority? Are we going to control births or something?

Diversity is a great strength of the US and now Utah if we continue the effort of civil rights so that this great mosaic works in harmony with itself. This creates a market place of ideas of vastly different perspectives, where the fittest ideas in each area bubble to the top. The Unites States didn't become the greatest nation just because.

I'll only celebrate diversity if it leads to a more cohesive society with common goals and values. If, however, "diversity" leads to increased fragmentation in our community and individuals becoming estrangement from a sense of a greater good, I wouldn't be wishing for it too soon.

How wonderful it will be when the whole concept of race will be looked upon as some oddity of a distant past.

Like the pseudoscience of phrenology, (the idea that personality traits of an individual could be determined by evaluating the slight irregularities of their skull) the notion that someone's personality or character is somehow related to the shade (the so-called "color" difference is due only to variations in the shade of the color of the same skin pigment, “melanin”, found in everyone) of a person's skin or the shape of their eyes or nose, or texture of their hair is complete and utter nonsense.

It will truly be a wonderful day when that simple fact will be better recognized by everyone. Then, perhaps, we can concentrate on treating each person as the unique, individual they are. Just one more fellow human being.

For those inevitable few (like the people in this article who feel compelled to track the relative numbers of “minorities”) who insist on trying to politicize categorical differences, we could each be considered a minority of one.

I was raised outside of Utah in an older part of another city larger than Salt Lake. My high school was one of ethnic and religious diversity--Jewish, Oriental and African American individuals were part of the mix. As a Mormon, I was very much in the minority there.

I am very thankful for having that experience. In a diverse neighborhood or school opportunities exist to break down stereotypes through shared experiences. These experience allow respect and mutual bonding to occur. I found we had more similarities than differences. This experience was one of the best educational experiences in my life.

Diversity is a very healthy thing. Yes, we have to face our own predjudices, but that is very good. What did I learn? I experienced and celebrated Jewish traditions in December along with the traditional Christmas celebrations. I knew good people of the Ba'hai faith. I learned of the Quaker's belief in pacifism from my friend.

I saw that my black friend had a home life like my own, with educated parents that were responsible and caring.

I learned the value strong family traditions, restraint, and hard work from an Chinese friend.

I'm glad Utah is becomeing more diverse.

"Failure to develop more effective strategies to curb unlawful immigration has blurred distinctions between legal and illegal immigrants."
Barbara Jordan, Chairman of the US Commission on Immigration Reform, August 3, 1994.
I want to personally thank Washington for creating this mess of hostility and racial/ethnic tension.
Despite all of this, congress and both presidential candidates keep pushing amnesty down our throats.
It ISN'T bigotry, folks. It is America waking up to the problem created by anchor baby citizenship, loose enforcement of immigration laws, and chain migration policies.
Our sovereignty is being sold out to big business, labor unions, and very obnoxious Latino activist groups.
We are simply defending our right to define America on our own.

re celebration... | 6:34 a.m.

The problems of diversity you speak of exist only when civil rights and fairness for all citizens are ignored. If we in America will hold fast to our civil rights laws and culture and even improve, we have nothing to fear from diversity and everything to gain from it

As long as we worry about people's race diversity will always be a source of contention.

Until we can look at people and just see people we will continue to be split.

i love this idea about diversity! as long as they are all members of the only true church!

Diversity, like many things, is a double edged sword. People often enjoy the different while at the same time seeking safety is the same. When liberals think of diversity they think about different ethnic restaurants dotting the landscape. However, they never mention blood running in the street when different groups cannot get along and start warring with each other. Americans better insist that ALL groups of people assimilate into American, yes American, culture and values. Otherwise, we may disintegrate into a nation of warring tribes sometime in the future.

Diversity is destroying the American way of life as I have enjoyed over my 71 years. In many areas of the country, including SLC, bilingual broadcast, signs, publications, etc., are accepted and encouraged. (Have you tried to find instructions of purchases in English, lately). We are a nation of two, and with Muslims flooding in, we will have a third nation within our U.S.of A. Our culture can not long survive the onlaught of population explosion of Hispanics by illegals who come here to have their babies, and taxpayers (law makers) who are stupid enough to encourage it by paying hospital bills, education, and paying for an explosion of crime. Why not one language, one citizenry, and one country, with enforcement of immigration laws and the death penalty for murderers and hard drug peddlers. With the liberal bleeding hearts running congress, our local towns and cities (SLC a good example) I fear for the future of this great country.

Diversity is Great Resource | 6:30 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

"Diversity is a great strength of the US and now Utah if we continue the effort of civil rights so that this great mosaic works in harmony with itself. This creates a market place of ideas of vastly different perspectives, where the fittest ideas in each area bubble to the top."

What diversity creates is increased ethnic rancor.

I second the comments by my fellow veteran!

Phantom Panther | 8:41 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Very good post, Panther.

You hit the nail squarely on the head when you said: "Americans better insist that ALL groups of people assimilate into American, yes American, culture and values. Otherwise, we may disintegrate into a nation of warring tribes sometime in the future."

Ethnic groups in America will never assimilate into one culture. Blacks have been at it for over 100 years and still we have racial rancor flareups. Look across history for evidence. Seldom do religious or ethic differences co-exist peaceably. Look at today's middle east where there are Sunnis, Shias, Kurds, etc., trying to live more or less together. These people have been warring among themselves for centuries and I see no sign of change.

RE "Diversity Is A Good Thing", I also was raised outside of SLC in a highschool of diverce cultures. Only, my experience was totally different then yours. I was in highschool when Martin Luther King was killed and kids in my school were getting beaten up just because of the color of skin (blacks beating whites, whites beating blacks and the other minorities taking sides). It got so bad that they brought in FBI men with rifles who would walk the halls and finally had to shut the school down completely. It is a beautiful picture - but the reality sometimes is a whole different picture. I would love to see this happen - but, reality teaches me that some people will alway be prejudice (I do mean in ALL cultures) and when push comes to shove will fight for the color of the skin that they themselves have.

The more diverse we get, the more divided society becomes unfortunately.

Diversity for diversity's sake is no good at all.

Nobody is challenging the fact that exposure to a wider range of cultures/lifestyles than ones own will foster learning and hopefully respect.

I have a problem when diversity is PRESCRIBED as the solution to perceived problems. Generally, these calls for diversity come from those who simply don't like/agree with the values/culture of one segment.