Deseret News | Reader comments: Utah diversity has increased since 2000

Reader comments
Utah diversity has increased since 2000

Celebrate Diversity! | 12:58 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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

Assimilation Also | 4:21 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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".

Utah Resident | 5:21 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

Comments continue below

What? | 6:09 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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

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. The Unites States didn't become the greatest nation just because.

Premature celebration... | 6:34 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

samhill | 7:10 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

Diversity is a good thing! | 7:13 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

One Vote | 7:18 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

"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.

Diversity Problems need not be | 7:23 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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

DH | 7:45 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

pimpin | 8:35 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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

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

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.

A Vietnam Veteran | 9:02 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

wrz | 10:16 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

KoreanVet | 10:26 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I second the comments by my fellow veteran!

wrz | 10:33 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

JanSan | 10:53 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

Anonymous | 10:59 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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

Pedro | 11:03 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

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.

Kudos and No-Doze | 11:12 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Diversity is a good thing! | 7:13 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Outstanding post. Education/exposure is the only way to see past the blinders that most Utahns wear.

A Vietnam Veteran | 9:02 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Wake up man. You're old enough to know better, yet you have blinders of a sufficient weight that you can't possibly have your head up and see how limited your view is. Why don't you have a young Hispanic person read those instructions for you, or have a refugee from suffocatingly cramped camps in Africa explain how much wide open space we have in Utah, or have any immigrant tell you about the shrinking reverence for America because of the actions of "one of us", GWB - you might learn a few things as you fade into your sad, bitter sunset.

Different | 11:16 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008

It is very interesting to see the diversity in journalism between the Tribï¿½s version of this story and the D-News version.

GO DIVERSITY | 12:07 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Have you forgott that you grandparents came from ANOTHER COUNTRY!!!
This country is rich because the diversity, diversity is a open window to the world, ggod for business, education, freedom and a better life for many!!!
When LDS pioneers came here, "THIS" was Mexico!!! so please dont talk about making difference about beig white or black or latino or european, because thi is a country made and for inmigrants!!!
So please dont make the difference, because I think that we can help each other for a bright future!!!
Division cause racism, hate and we dont need that!!!

Jose III | 12:29 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Kudos and No-Doze | 11:12 a.m. Aug. 7, 2008:

"Why don't you have a young Hispanic person read those instructions for you..."

Why? Because this is America, not Spain or Mexico.

"...or have a refugee from suffocatingly cramped camps in Africa explain how much wide open space we have in Utah...

Perhaps the refugee can also explain how they got in that cramped camp condition.

"...or have any immigrant tell you about the shrinking reverence for America because of the actions of "one of us", GWB..."

We don't need reverence if it means being flooded by those who want to move in on top of us destroying our way of life in the process.

Rico J | 12:48 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I can't believe what people are saying about diversity, that we should all speak the same language and we need to buy into American culture. What is American culture? Everyone is from somewhere else here. My family is from Puerto Rico, we are American citizens, we speak spanish, we have our own rich culture. My wife is Mexican, she is here legally, she has her culture, we shouldn't have to change. Its possible to live with and respect other cultures and other religions, people need to stop being so narrow minded. Whether you like it or not Latinos, and other races are going to keep coming and they are going to keep their cultures. In this state I think the bigger problem is a lot of people don't accept people of different religions. Diversity is going to keep happening, welcome to the 21st century.

Diversity judgement | 12:58 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Sorry to break it to you folks but not all cultures are created equally. Some are better (yes, BETTER) than others.

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION BELOW TRUTHFULLY, and therein lies the truth:

You are flying in an airplane above the earth. You are FORCED to parachute out of the plane, with no passport. You have a choice of bailing out over the following locals - Beijing, Tehran, Bombay, Lagos (Nigeria), Riyadh, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, or Anytown USA.

Which one is it gonna be???

CiCi | 1:02 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

This is nothing more that the repeating of the Trojan Horse story. We accept it as a gift not realizing the danger until it is too late!

Some of us see it and some of us turn a blind eye for the self benefits it promises.

Hoosier Daddy | 1:15 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

I'm writing from Cuernavaca, Mexico, a city where many of our summers are spent.

The comment "We are Americans now," is so typical of the attitudes of US citizens who think that America refers only to the USA.

Mexicans, Canadians, and all citizens of North, Central, and South America all think of themselves as Americans, too. Let's do away with the arrogance!

Kudos and No-Doze 2 | 1:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

to Jose III.

Listen to someone else's story because you might learn something!

Corrected - because YOU clearly WOULD learn something.

But it seems pretty likely that YOU won't.

Also a Veteran | 1:56 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

To the other veterans who have responded, I am ashamed that you claim to love America. America was founded by people coming here for a better life! Let us go back to the original people and everyone else must leave. You go back to your ancestor's country and I to mine!
It is so easy to blame everyone else for your problems. You have learned that from your leaders!!
Too bad!

DKB | 2:09 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

As long as we talk about "majority" and "minority" in regards to race, segregation, discrimination, and racism will exist.

Give it up people! Dr. King said it best. "Not judged on the color of skin, but upon the content of character"

Let's just forget about race and focus on more imporant things...like gas prices!!

Focusing on race keeps us all not equal.

anon | 2:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Diversity is a great thing, but I wish more Latinos would be willing to learn English. It would be beneficial for everyone.

Anonymous | 11:50 p.m. Aug. 7, 2008

Seal the borders and stop this maddness. Diversity is perversity.

Anonymous | 11:02 p.m. Aug. 12, 2008

This editorial, which seems to be preaching middle management LDS dogma on illegal immigration, is poorly written. I would be in the DesNews best interests to hire better editorial writers.

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