Any conversation about cultural diversity and cultural competence is an invitation to grow, develop and mature in our understanding about people.

The mere mentioning of conversation carries with it the idea of intentional meeting of the minds, sharing concepts and beliefs and looking for common ground.

Why is it easier to accept that people are one gene removed from chimpanzees than to accept that we are connected with all other people living on this planet?

Let’s look at how people enhance that connection with other people on the planet, by talking about cultural competence.

When we talk with each other, we open the doorway to our minds. The experience itself brings growth; we meet someone from another culture, belief or tradition, which can only add to our knowledge base about ourselves.

We develop deeper connections when we communicate with other people not like us; blood and oxygen unites everyone, as does our inner search for meaning and purpose for our lives. We mature when we experience something requiring new thoughts and different ideas; we let go of the old to embrace the new.

Our society has continually been challenged to mature, grow and develop as people require their birthrights of freedom, the pursuit of happiness and liberty for all.

Cultural competence means these opportunities are welcomed in the workplace, as different people bring their heritages, traditions and cultural expressions to the fabric that makes our country.

Our national identity has room for others; our shared identity is not threatened by dialogue, conversations and experiences with different people. Let us continue to expand our experiences with different people, by recalling accurately our national heritage has always added others to our identity as Americans.

James Weathersby

Augusta

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