Cultural Diversity. Great concept. But what if some cultures do not wish to diversity??

It is bandied about all over the place. Diversity. Ok. I have absolutely nothing against the concept of people mixing, I champion ‘live & let live’. Tolerance. All good.

But there is also a saying: when you’re in Rome, act like the Romans!

There is nothing wrong with cultural diversity, but any culture would be lost, if not retained in its local setting at the very least. How would one learn to act like the romans do in Rome, if the roman culture is nowhere to be seen?

This has nothing to do with right or wrong. Some folk would like to retain their culture. And while they are happy to learn from and mingle with other cultures, they still would like to retain and maintain what they see as their own culture. Complicated? It shouldn’t be. And we shouldn’t find it so impossible to explain. Here’s an example: Britain is what it is today, because of the way of life of the Brits. England, within Britain, May wish to retain English culture and it is not some fixed set of rules written down in a book. But for example, preference for clean, unlittered streets, the use of the English language etc.

Cultural diversity: what is it? I am not sure I know, and I am no expert on the topic. But what it should not be, is an attempt to forcibly dilute or impose. Some aspects of cultures could be conflicting. The local culture should take credence; people moving in to live in England can of course bring their own cultures, but when those cultures conflict with the local norm, they should try to learn and blend in with the local culture. It is what integration is all about. If not conducive, people should seek other countries to relocate to, if they do wish to emigrate from their own countries. None of this should be controversial.

The forceful imposition of other cultures is what leads to crisis.

There is nothing wrong in learning and adapting to the existing, local cultures where ever we go, and respecting it, sticking with it. We can all of course introduce our own, but we shouldn’t try to impose. As a Brit, when I have worked and lived in other countries e.g. Canada, I retained my own British culture within me, but went along with their local culture and found that in most instances, there were similarities (perhaps easy enough, given Canada is part of the commonwealth), but when I have travelled through Asia, Africa and other parts of Europe, I have applied that same principle: learn, adopt and blend in.

A very straightforward comparison is to look at a company. Companies have a culture. When they employ staff, the new employee will need to learn and adhere to the company culture. If the employee doesn’t fit in or doesn’t like the company’s culture, they go and find another job and move to that company right?
Companies hire diverse employees, and benefit from their diverse ideas and incorporate those diverse ideas that fit well with the company’s culture and objectives right?
It should be no different for countries. You go in, learn the culture, fit in and do as should be done. It doesn’t mean you lose or forget your culture, simply means you don’t go in and expect to impose your culture. You learn theirs and fit in. If you don’t like it, move to some other place whose culture you prefer.