STEP 1 : INTERPRET
Diversity Meaning ? In what aspects ? Value How do we value something ? By seeing it as important; appreciating it; wanting to
have more of it; preserving/protecting it More than ever before comparison with the past & even a more distant past Qn about CHANGE What factors transform society ? (refer to Term 1 lecture) Big Ideas linked to this question : Freedom (of speech; of choice) Individuality
Some may argue that we value diversity in the economy more than ever before because we believe (or even expect) that rapidly changing technology can make a wider range of choices possible, thereby continuously improving our lives. Transportation facilitates the transport of goods like
never before to help consumers get what they want. Diversity encourages competitive innovation, which means better products and services for consumers. In addition, we expect greater customisation of products and services to be possible.
EXAMPLES
Internet businesses eBay, Amazon,
Those who are sanguine about diversity may present evidence of human rights progress to show that we value diversity more than ever before.
More rights today More active watchdogs and international organisations Compared to horrific episodes of persecution in Mans
violent history
EXAMPLES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocides_in_history
Today :
HOWEVER, the fact is that even though we value diversity of opinions, lifestyles or cultures more than ever before, our governments today are no less paranoid of diversity than their predecessors.
New threats to national unity or social stability & to the political status quo from within and beyond its borders Leaders past and present all take a variety of actions to keep the opposition in check
EXAMPLES
Racial profiling (or any kind of profiling)
usa.comment
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It is not true to say that we value diversity more than ever before because new technology, especially social media, has given us the means to express our intolerance towards others in an unprecedented way
Hate sites, sites to counter arguments, petitions, groups to champion specific causes Not the same kind of scholarly debates of the past; not the same degree of decorum
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EXAMPLES
Anti-Democrat Crusaders fb page Republicansareadisease.com Petition against Ashley Madison in
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It is also not true to say that we value diversity more than ever before because cultural homogenisation has become more and more pronounced as almost all societies get plugged into the global economy
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EXAMPLES
McDonaldisation in so many
aspects including junk journalism & education esp. MOOC (George Ritzer) Western pop culture
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human rights are resounding in this day and age. While more diversity does exist in this climate of openness, I think it is not true that we actually value all kinds of diversity more than ever before.