Guest Author - Lisa Schaffer-Harris

A few days ago, I had to attend a mandatory training on “diversity.” Mauricio Velasquez, president of Diversity Training Group, was our guest speaker. Mr. Velasquez facilitated this session as well as lectured on the topic. He is a first generation American. Mr. Velasquez peppered his presentation with amusing anecdotal stories of his life experience and perspective as a Latino male. He began the session by asking us what are things about us that people often prejudge. At the top of the list was race and gender, two readily identifiable features. Other topic areas that were possible reasons for prejudice were less readily evident, examples included: religion, rank (remember, this is a military hospital I work for), language and others. Mr. Velasquez referred to easily identifiable features with the cliché phrase, “What you see is what you get.” He emphasized that to get to the areas of possible prejudice that are not easy to see, that you would actually have to know something more about that person rather than just what they look like or what is their gender. He talked about the fact that all people want to be treated as individuals, and not lumped together as part of a group and have assumptions made about them based on that group affiliation. It was a refreshing perspective, and one I do not readily encounter outside of the Baha’i community.

In my 20 years + as a Baha’i, the concept of appreciating diversity is one I have found to be elusive outside our unique community. One word that I really hate is “tolerance,” and it is used far too much when people talk about “diversity.” Dictionary.com defines “tolerance” –noun
1. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2. a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3. interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
4. the act or capacity of enduring; endurance:

#4 really encompasses why I do not like the word “tolerance.” “The act or capacity of endurance” implies putting up with someone or something. I do not consider this a viable nor productive approach to diversity. It certainly does not promote unity any way.

Baha’is often use a catch phrase of “Unity in Diversity.” This statement implies much more than “tolerance.” It implies that we can be appreciative of each others differences and see those differences as a strength, rather than just something to “endure” or “tolerate.” The concept of unity is so intrinsic to the Baha’i belief system, and yet repeatedly I see the cultural backgrounds of those who come to this faith not only validated, but also included. Unity does not in anyway imply "sameness."

Baha’u’llah said, “The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”

In the Hidden Words, He also says, “O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory.”

The teachings of Baha’u’llah are the cornerstone of our Faith. At the center of that Faith is Unity, also defined as Oneness. Oneness of God, Oneness of Religion, and the Oneness of Humanity. Racial and gender prejudices, and inequalities are not to be tolerated. Baha’is are actively working to be a part of the solution to this problem, and to offer an alternative viewpoint as well as Baha’u’llah’s healing message to the world.