I received an email in the middle of my sociology class today from AKM of Mudflats (I know that her name is on record nowadays, but I’m a proud mudpuppy and she will always be referred to on this site as AKM). She was concerned over a comment on her announcement of the True Diversity Dinner, in which I am a cosponsor, co-founder, and will serve as master of ceremonies, and was gracious enough to alert me. Let’s go through it together, shall we?
“It’s sad that you do not understand Diversity, and have chosen to politicize Mayor’s Diversity Month. As Danny Glover noted recently while visiting Anchorage, Diversity is more than cultural, it includes age, religion, gender identity, and diversity of thought. You seem to think that you know what true Diversity is, and those who have different values or ideas don’t. Too bad, your uniformed rant diminishes the Diverse communities of Anchorage.”
The writer of this comment, who identified himself only as “LivesDiversity”, raises a few questions. Luckily, I have a few suggestions as to answers.
First off, Danny Glover also said, during his visit to Anchorage:
“We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us; the community stands on the shoulders of its senior citizens,” Glover said. “We’ll see progress when there is this influential dialogue between young people and seniors — and I would love to see more of that.”
Well, given that Danny Glover fully feels that “legalizing homosexual marriage [is a step] in the right direction, and… consistent with the sense of ‘justice’ the civil rights movement has fostered in America,” [CNSNEWS.COM] how do you think he would receive the Mayor’s refusal to allow the passage of AO-64, and testimony comparing homosexuality to the Nuremberg experiments?
Oh, how fickle quotes can be!
LivesDiversity continues:
“Mayor Sullivan supports and embraces Diversity: I’ve witnessed it many times.”
Right. Kind of like how Max Baucus supports and embraces health care reform. What else you got?
“The $60 ticket cost for the Unity Dinner, and proceeds from the silent auction, support community diversity events through out the year. The funds are managed by United Way as part of Mayor’s Diversity/United Way. So, keep rallying people to come to your event to swill beer and stuff their faces and pat themselves on the back because they know REAL Diversity! Let’s see: support an event that celebrates and promotes Diversity througout the year, or support a self-centered ‘We Know Best’ event.
“Not much of a choice for me. As an original member of the Anchorage Diversity Advisory Commission (appointed by former Mayor Begich who I worked for at City Hall), as an officer of the Anchorage NAACP Branch and former Community Council President of one of the two Anchorage neighborhoods which are less than 50% white, I will be at the Hilton on September 25th, embracing and celebrating Diversity in Anchorage.”
Ouch, my head hurts. First, the issue of the $60 single ticket price.
Anything catch your eye there? Sure, I spent a pretty penny for Lion King tickets, but my wife and I bought the tickets when they first went on sale; we had a chance to save up for it. There was major planning involved. You shouldn’t have to plan six months out to be included in a community outreach event.
And United Way’s involvement in this? They pay for the dinner. We will have representation from United Way at the True Diversity Dinner as well. One of our cosponsors works for United Way. And a formal invitation was sent to the NAACP. This is an open event for all, and by all, I don’t just mean a fraternity of ‘who knows best.’ If anything, I would call it an expanding community of ‘who knows each other.’ And that makes me damned proud to be a part of it.
And the most offensive quote in the entirety of your comments: “So, keep rallying people to come to your event to swill beer and stuff their faces and pat themselves on the back because they know REAL Diversity!”
Please refrain from trying to reduce us to a collection of gluttonous alcoholics. And “Real” diversity? Sir, how do you usually go about the business of moving mountains?
“Kudos to Mayor Sullivan for celebrating and honoring Diversity, while including an event that celebrates our common humanity. After all, genetically we are all 99.9% alike. I guess that make you my brother even if you are uneducated regarding true Diversity.
It’s too bad that you chose to diminish an event which Senator Begich considers one of his greatest accomplishments as Mayor.”
Senator Begich didn’t have anything to do with the “Unity Dinner.” And while we all may be 99.9% alike genetically, there is a vast societal disparity in reference to our incomes and protections.
This uneducated brother is offended by your remarks.
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