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Utah grows much more diverse in its makeup

that sure is saying a lot without saying anything

Big Deal.

One has to wonder with the recent economic downturn, if the rapid trend toward diversity slowdown. Preliminary data show that since jobs have evaporated many latinos have returned to their country of origin.

I'm glad to see racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity coming to this state. As we open our hearts to get to know other people who are different on a personal level and on a state level, we enrich our own lives and better understand world views. I heard a statistic yesterday that less than 10% of Americans have a passport. That means few can travel outside the U.S., which is sad. But as the demographics change, all have that rich opportunity to learn about someone different than they and perhaps erase a predjudice.

I grew up in a large city out of the state, went to a high school with much diversity. I've also been blessed to do some traveling outside the country. These experiences have enriched my life.

How unfortunate that some Utahns have not already had the blessing to live among a diverse population (Salt Lake City, Price, Ogden, Brigham City, etc) where we are never afraid of new people.

Where most Utahns see diversity as meaning "race", it should actually refer to the true dividers among our population: religion, age, economic status, educatopm. type of job.

Utah more diverse?
Who knows maybe someday the Utah State Legislators might join the rest of the United States and celebrate black people on Martin Luther King Day.
But I wouldn't hold my breath.

117 lanuages plus English spoken in the schools????? Maybe it is time we stood up and had a National language. English would be good don't ya think?

One race.
One language.
One religion.
One world order.
These people are truly insane.

I thank God that this wonderful state is finally getting out of it's tunnel visioned bubble and seeing what a wonderful, diverse world we live in. It is so nice to see that we can coexist with people of all races, ages, and nationalities. It's time Utahn's stop thinking that everyone here are white, straight, mormons! This is a beautiful amazing state and I am proud to be a native Utahn! I am just not very proud of the hatred and bigotry I see and hear from my fellow Utahns! Bring on the diversity, lets live as one human race!

Ever since the arrival of the pioneers the state has been home to peoples from all over the world. During the early 1900's dozens of languages were spoken in the mining camps of Utah.

However, according to the Diversity Gestapo this doesn't count as "diversity" because the majority of those Serb, Japanese, Finnish, Mexican, and Greek miners all learned English and became Americans.

Diversity is only good when the immigrants reject American values and culture and refuse to assimilate.

I've lived in the Northeast and Southwest and visited every other state with the exception of Alaska. I've also traveled abroad extensively. And guess what? In general, I have found Utahans to be more tolerant and open to others.

I agree with Mike Mayers that we need to co-exist and bring on diversity. However, I disagree that Utah is significantly behind the rest of the country in terms of attitudes of co-existing.

I live in the Deep South. That sentence alone already brings a picture in your mind of bigotry , ignorance and racism. This stereotype is there. But anyone who visits Atlanta will see how diverse we are. There are ignorant racists here just like anywhere else. There are also some of the finest universities, medical facilities and people of every faith and culture. My point is this. Utah may evoke a stereotype of white, Mormon and intolerance. I have been to Utah. I have friends in Utah. You have a beautiful state ! If you seek out only the stereotypes, you will find them there. I found Utahns, in general to be friendly, eager to please and yet having values that are very conservative. That should not be considered a negative. You are not Massachusetts or Vermont. Neither is the South. I think Utah is just now coming into its own after years of "isolationist" thinking. Be proud. The natural beauty of your state lends itself to healthy minded people open to new ideas. Merry Christmas Utahns!

Isn't it interesting that Mike brings up bigotry with his bigoted views? Just like these Prop 8 Nazis that are bashing the LDS church and showing just how tolerant they are...what an oxymoron.

The world will a sad place once the baby boomer's meet their maker.

Please Dale, enlighten me on how my comments are bigotry? I am not saying all Utahn's are this way, but we can clearly see, especially with prop 8, how certain members of this state shoved their noses into the people of Californias' business. The people who supported prop 8 showed just how some people of this state try to push their views and religon upon other people who do not feel the same. You can have your opionions, but when you try to push them on others, I see that as bigotry. The only reason for this is fear and mis understanding. Can't we all just get along and live our lives and let others live theres? Wasn't that Christ's plan in the beginning?

The #liberal philosophy -
Live and let live.

When I first came to Utah (small town) I was not accepted, I was active LDS, White and spoke english but I was not of their blood - no incest in my family

We already have a national language; immigrants and non-immigrants alike recognize that. All the kids who speak those 117 languages also speak English to some degree. Some are 100% fluent; some, like my brother's bilingual children, are natural-born US citizens with US citizen parents. Almost every child who has been in the system for three or four years is quite conversant in English.

Adult immigrants tend to have a harder time learning English than their children, for reasons you can't fully appreciate unless you've tried moving to a foreign country as an adult and picking up the local language while trying to make a living doing long hours of menial labor. Passing a law declaring a national language does nothing to help these people, it is just a way to make them feel more out of place.

The social dynamic of our country is enough to propel most immigrants to learn English to the best of their ability. If you want to help them improve their language skills, do so not by passing laws but by inviting some of them over for dinner on a regular basis.

I'll sleep much better tonight.

"Diversity is only good when the immigrants reject American values and culture and refuse to assimilate"

Old assimilationist ideas go back to the 19th and 20th centuries when imperialist forces went out and tried to "make other people like us."

Instead of assimilating people into "the American way of life" they should be educated about the American way of life, but preserve their own cherished traditions --- nothing wrong with that.