Deseret News | Utah grows much more diverse in its makeup

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Utah grows much more diverse in its makeup

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Anonymous | 6:45 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

that sure is saying a lot without saying anything

Cosmo | 7:44 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Big Deal.

thinkingxx | 7:58 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

Comments continue below

I'm Glad | 7:59 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

This is news? | 8:49 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

Anonymous | 8:49 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

anon | 8:55 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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?

Anonymous | 9:03 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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

Mike Mayers | 9:28 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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!

Utah has always been diverse | 9:44 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

Backwards Utah | 9:47 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

Southerner | 10:11 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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!

Dale | 10:19 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

Debbie | 10:54 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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

Mike M. | 11:16 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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?

Anonymous | 11:37 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The #liberal philosophy -
Live and let live.

Ellen | 11:47 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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

Re: anon | 8:55 a.m. | 11:48 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

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.

Oh goody! | 11:59 a.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I'll sleep much better tonight.

Vince | 12:00 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

"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.

agree 6:45 a.m. | 12:05 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I read 3 paragraphs and had no idea what the point of the article was. We're going to have more old people? Shocking! There are more illegal aliens eeeerrr... immigrants here? I had no idea

Diversity for diversity's sake? | 12:13 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Diversity is great, but it is a means to an end, not the be-all end-all. Unity should be the goal.

Just because a certain population consists primarily of a a certain group doesn't mean that this group would be better served to have quotas for certain numbers of people from different groups to come to live in that population JUST to make it diverse.

Mike Mayers and other who think "we" would be better off with less of one culture and more of other cultures simply don't like the Utah culture (whatever that may be?)they say is lacking diversity. The Utah culture that is "so deserving of more diversity" is no less of a culture than any other.

To Vince | 12:16 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Oh please. My immigrant ancestors refused to teach their children to speak their native languages. They spoke broken, heavily accented English to them. Their children didn't look back to the old country, because they taught them that they were Americans now. My great uncle went to Canada to fly for the RAF because the USA was not yet in WWII, and flew missions against Germany until he went down over the English Channel - his parents were German. Nobody was bowing to "imperialist forces" - they broke with the old country when they left and they WANTED it that way.

Yes, we've got some words and phrases that have come down, some recipes, some traditions and habits. Any family has those. What we don't have is divided loyalty. I'm not a German-American, I'm just an American.

JR | 12:16 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Let me see, English is/was the language in Utah - excuses for the illegals refusing English not good - my son has been in Vietnam and Cambodia teaching english to their folks - why can't those south of the border learn? Let me see a couple of years ago they quit printing the only English written paper in Mexico City, they do not try to assimulate. One can keep their culture alive in their homes and family even their language but how convenient when using government assistance etc not to use the dominant language. Ask a police officer the games that are played with "no englis" Diversity is good and can be healthy but come on if I was living in their lands I would have to learn the language to survive and I would have to accept their cultural ways -- goes both ways

Diversity abroad | 12:32 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Most of Europe is enjoying diversity right now too. They have a large and growing muslim population that is asserting more political and religious clout everyday. Traditional Europeon way of life is under assault in ways most of us would never imagine. I can live without that kind of "diversity".
Diversity means little to me as I don't really care where your from or what color your skin happens to be. I care about our collective AMERICAN experience. Hang on to your heritage and be proud, but be proud to be an American first. I would assume that's why you came to America in the first place, to be an American.

Conservative nut job | 12:59 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Things should never change. Our state and diversity should not be any different tomorrow than it is today. We need to stop all change. Everything should always stay the same. I don't want my kids exposed to anything different than what I see and I grew up with. New things, philosophies, cultures, etc. are all bad.
I want Utah to a place that is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Change is bad. Anything that is not what I am is bad. Anything that makes me see the world differently is bad. Anything that makes me more accepting of others is bad. Anything that causes change is bad.

provo girl | 12:59 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

mike m. your views are like sodom and gomorrah...live and let live! Let the world go to pot so you can live your life any way you please! So, protecting our future and those of our children against immoral behavior is "putting our noses where it doesn't belong"? I am choosing to live to protect marriage, and the effect it has on children and society because if we don't help in California, it will continue spreading until it effects society here. I've already been effected by driving downtown to attend a concert that was canceled due to "peaceful rioting" on temple square. You do effect our lives here! Christ's plan was that we live together in righteousness, taking care of one another in love. There is a difference between what he taught ".....go and sin no more" and what you're saying..."it's okay to change the laws, it won't effect anyone!" Well, it does and it will effect society in the end!

Provo girl | 1:23 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Amen to "diversity abroad." It's one thing to be a tourist, another to live here. I've lived in the middle east, and traveled throughout Europe, I expect to have diversity in a state where people want to come to America and raise their families in a safe and wholesome environment. I enjoy hearing the accents of those from a another culture. Our family enjoys diversity, where a "Russian" is part of our numbers. There is much to be learned from each other, and on their part, it is now time to become accustomed to the American way of life, to becoming an American, while still maintaining their "customs and culture". America would not be what it is without immigrants coming across the waters to gain religious freedom. I expect Utah diversity to continue in the future.....

Re:conservitive nut job | 1:27 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

A typical emotional rant for reasons only known to the poster and directed at..everyone?

Diversity at home | 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Diversity abroad, your comments remind me of the European conquest of the Americas. Suddenly there's all these white people forcing the natives onto reservations, telling them they have to adopt a new language, new religion, new way of life, etc. Contrary to your assertion, the vast majority of Utahns' ancestors didn't come to America to be American; they came here to be European in America.

History Lesson 101 | 1:35 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Wasn't "diversity" one of the main causes of the Fall of the Roman Empire?

Sasha Pachev | 1:44 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Utah is more diversity-minded than people think. I am a distance runner. Looking at my training partners - last week I ran with a total of 7 people. One of them is fluent in French, three in Spanish, and one in Russian. So 5 out of 7 were fluent in a foreign language.
It is not uncommon for me to go for a run in Provo, meet a runner I had never met before, start a conversation, and discover that he is fluent in my native language, which is Russian.
One time my wife and I decided to do a little prank on BYU campus. We randomly yelled a Russian name at a passing student to see how he would react. He turned around, greeted us in Russian, and we talked. Turned out he had served a mission in Novosibirsk.
If diversity were to be measured by the ability to interact with another culture Utah would probably be the most diverse state in the nation.

Real benefits or PC posturing? | 1:54 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Okay, we can see that the descendants of the multi-ethnic population which settled Utah as pioneers and into the 20th century are not among the "favored" groups espoused by the diversity industry.

Somehow their turning a vast desert wasteland into a hospitable and productive environment, including agriculture and mining, is insufficient. (Yeah, the greenies don't like that kind of diversity!)

Among those criticizing the "lack" of diversity in Utah, there is an amazing refusal to accept anyone but the officially approved liberal brands of diversity. Apparently thousands of Mormon Missionaries living in foreign countries and knocking on doors (as opposed to yuppie tourist trips) somehow fail to provide approved exposure to different people and cultures.

I am not a native Utahn, but have been around the world and in 49 of the 50 states, so I have seen "diversity." I voluntarily elected to Utah as having the highest moral values, work ethic, acceptance of (non-LDS) outsiders, and patriotic values of any area I had seen.

We do not need to praise and encourage "diversity" which lowers our culture, and different is not always better.

Frankly, "diversity" has become nothing more than political correctness run amok.

Worthless article.

Re; Vince | 1:55 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

They tried that already -- in the Balkans.

As long as the Bosnians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Macedonians, Kosovars, etc. thought of themselves as Yugoslavs, they had peace and prosperity.

When they started "preserving their own cherished traditions" by thinking of themselves as members of a certain ethnic or religious group who happened to live in Yugoslavia that's when the problems started.

viva la difference | 2:42 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Hey, I've got a great idea!
Let's all look alike.
Dress alike.
Talk alike.
Think alike.
Worship alike.
Now, wouldn't that be a grand world?
LOL!

Anonymous | 2:53 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Diversity in Utah?
LOL!

Re: History lesson 101 | 2:55 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Rome did let in a diverse group of people to do their work for them, but they never treated them with respect and as human beings. Rome was a place for Romans and even though they invited in others they abused them and didn't really want them there. They wanted to keep Rome for Romans and so the diverse peoples rebelled against them. By not allowing the diverse people to live freely in their land Rome caused its own collapse.
So keep trying to resist diversity and I'll sit back and watch Utah collapse.

Re: Conservative nut job | 3:00 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

I am hoping this is a sarcastic posting. If the world never moved forward and adapted to the changes taking place, we as a people would still be cavemen or at best like those who lived in the dark ages.
The LDS church has changed and adapted to diverse peoples its entire history. Maybe more diverse people want to come here because this is a great state that has lots of good people.
As a Mormon I see this as an opportunity to interact with these non-Mormons and show them how great of a people we are. Maybe if we are accepting of them being here we can even convert a few of them.
By resisting them coming here they will keep judging Mormons as negative and bad people. We need good PR as a church after Prop 8 and the negativity out there becuase of that issue.

stillinut84651 | 3:02 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Utah, you do not need to feel insecure because the folks next to you are speaking another language.

Would it make you feel any better to know that most folks regardless of the language they are speaking have many of the same concerns that you do....care about their families, wanting to get that special Christmas gift for their children, or even that milk is on sale at the local market. In other words, they are not talking about you.

Maybe you should know that many non English speakers try hard to learn English. They do face a few challenges such as working at low paying jobs and often working more than one job; it's a bit hard to schedule English lessons under those circumstances.

Have a heart, put yourself in their place.

Preserving cherished traditions | 3:14 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The Pennsylvania Dutch have never caused any wars. Nor have the Walloons in Sweden. Yet these groups manage to preserve cherished traditions and identity, while simultaneously identifying as loyal citizens of their respective countries. Many loyal American citizens who are Jewish maintain one or more heritage languages (Yiddish, Hebrew) in addition to a rich cultural tradition. I was privileged to work for three years with native people from the Aleutian Islands, who are among the most patriotic Americans I've ever met; yet these people try hard to preserve a culture and language that white people have long tried to stamp out in the name of (forced) assimilation.

The idea that one cannot identify with foreign-born ancestors or cultivate heritage traditions and simultaneously be a card-carrying, loyal citizen is absolute fallacy. The danger lies not in a strong connection to one's heritage but in the attitude that "you can't have a seat at the table unless you [look/act/speak/dress/etc.] like me."

Re: History 101 | 4:01 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

The main reason for the fall of Rome was an over extented military and they spend too much money on military operations, sound familiar? Actually almost every empire can trace their fall to an over extented military. Britian, Spain, Soviet Union, Persia, on and on. Maybe something to learn from that.

But on diversity. Utah is not diverse, maybe more so than before, but compared to other states it is not that diverse. I grow up in Vegas and now live in Provo, Vegas is a diverse community in terms of race, religion, ethnicity and life styles and Utah has little diversity in any of those areas. But i must say that is not really a bad thing, Utah does just fine without diversity and other communities do just fine with diversity.

re: 3:00 pm posting | 4:15 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

My favorite story of Utah diversity is where just 30 years ago, black men were not deemed worthy enough for their priesthood. Can you imaging that?
The color of one's skin keeps him from worthiness.
After a law suit, somebody had a revelation and voila! Instant diversity in Utah.
Who knows, maybe the State Legislature can join the rest of the U.S. and start acknowledging blacks on Martin Luther King Day.
LOL!

Re: Re: History Lesson 101 | 4:16 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Uh, the Romans didn't "invite" others to come and do their work for them; they conquered, enslaved and forced others to do their work for them. That practice would obviously build up resentment towards the Romans.

What happened in Rome is very different from what is happening today in the United States, where people from all over the world voluntarily, nay eagerly, come here to find a job or safety or freedom because there is none in their native lands.

However, I'm not surprised that someone who advocates modern multiculturalism is incapable of understanding the difference.

Mike M. | 4:50 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Provo Girl, thank you for proving my point of what I called earlier the "tunnel visioned bubble" I am glad you are happy down there in Utah County just living and fighting for what you believe in. By all means, have your opinions, but there is nothing wrong with letting other people live their lives and staying out of their business. Correct me if I am wrong, but Christ didn't just teach go and sin no more, he fought for FREE AGENCY in the pre exhistance. He wanted to let people live their lives and make their own choices, unlike Satan who wanted to make everyone follow his beliefs! Kind of like people trying to make marriage only one way.

Diversity Smersity | 4:51 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

We would all be better off if we drove one kind of car, lived in one kind of house, watched one kind of movies, had 1 channel of T.V., all liked the same kind of food.

Diversity is not all its cracked up to be.

re: Diversity Smerisity | 5:06 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Right on!
Maybe we all can be one person some fine day.

Anonymous | 5:15 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

there is obviously nothing else to do with our time but sit here and gripe at each other instead of feeding clothing our poor.. oh wait that's just the liberals right. yeah let them do it on their own! what are we..... compasionate humans!!!! bah humbug! get a grip people.... there are more important things going on in the world and not just on FOX news

Hello, Gayle!! | 5:36 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Utah growing diverse? Gayle Ruzicka and the Utah Eagle Forum need to lobby the legislature to pass a bill to make this illegal.

Anonymous | 6:26 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

Utah grows diverse?
Thinking alike, dressing alike, worshipping alike is diverse?
LOL!

RJ | 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17, 2008

It's obvious that teh D-News moderator is combing through the comments and cutting out many of those coming from anti-immigration supporters. Is this the new agenda from you folks at the D-news?

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