Cultural Diversity in the Workplace

As I think about the diversity that exists in my workplace, I think about the difference in religion, political views and in marriage. Religion is a topic that I always try to avoid because it is the one thing that can be argumentative. We all believe that our religion or faith is the best. I am a Baptist. When I moved to another city I was skeptical about the churches that are here. I would drive 2 1/2 hours every Sunday there and back so I could go to my home church.  After a while it became tiresome and the gas prices didn’t help either. Some of my colleagues invited me to visit their church. I found some of them to be boring, scary, and too long. When they invited me back I didn’t want to tell them the true reason why I didn’t want to go anymore. They would give me bible verses to read and try to explain why I was reluctant to go back. I found that it is better for me to listen and not comment when they are talking about their church. I don’t feel it is appropriate to argue over God’s word. I am respectful to their beliefs, but I don’t try to force my beliefs on them. I do invite them to our service, not because I think it is better but because I feel they need to be in some church. It doesn’t matter if it is mine or someone else’s church. As a child I can remember my mother slamming the door in the faces of the Jehovah Witnesses that would come by on Saturdays. I can’t say that I remember any coming to my home since I have moved here. If they do, I pray that I receive them in a better fashion than my mother did.

This election year has been one full of surprises. When President Obama was re-elected I have seen some of my colleagues show me who they truly are. They have made sarcastic comments about the next four years and him as a person. These are people who claim to be Christians. I have seen pictures lying around with him looking like Dumbo. No one knows who drew them or how they got there. We are not allowed to express our political views in the workplace by wearing clothing, buttons or stickers. I am an African-American woman, but that is not the reason why I voted the way I did. I feel that every one should be given a second chance. I have discussed the election with my colleagues and we both have exchanged our thoughts on it. It is important that we stand up for what we feel is the right thing even if our views are different. We have to be mindful of the things that we say and do so that no one will be offended. We can all talk about our views as mature adults, but when we see the conversation taking a turn for the worse we need to move on. I will not apologize for how I feel, but I will not criticize someone because their views are different.

I still consider myself a newly wed. I have only been married for two years. I was in a previous relationship for 10 years. Now I ask myself “Why?” Those are 10 years that I wasted, but it was a lesson learned. My friend has been with her boyfriend for 18 years. They live together and share all the expenses. I have often asked her why aren’t they married yet. She said, “It is not me. It is him.” She really wants to be married. When I decided that marriage was going to be one of my issues I decided to ask him the same question. His response was, “Why should I buy the whole cow when I can get the milk for free.” I wanted to knock him to the floor. Both of them have two different views about marriage. I tried to use myself as an example. I have kept myself out of their affairs because when you try to help it always seems to backfire. I direct them to other people who are qualified to answer their questions. I love her and I want so badly to tell her that he is never going to marry her. Not because I don’t like him, but because I have been there.