PRESIDENT OBAMA USES THE "D" WORD
By Barbara Deane In his May 28th proclamation of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, President Obama refers to the "D" word: Diversity! "As we honor the LGBT Americans who have given so much to our Nation, let us remember that if one of us is unable to realize full equality, we all fall short of our founding principles. Our Nation draws its strength from our diversity, with each of us contributing to the greater whole. By affirming these rights and values, each American benefits from the further advancement of liberty and justice for all." I appreciate President Obama citing the "strength" of our "diversity," but Obama did more than that in this important quote. As a public leader, Obama reminds us that although we may have different characteristics, we are ALL Americans, and ALL of us contribute to the greatness of our Nation. The President also reminds us that equality is one of our founding principles or values, and if we are going to be true to our values, then equality must be available to EVERY American. The President also brings to our attention that our country is strong because of our diversity and what we, as diverse individuals and groups, offer our Nation. Finally, the President holds us accountable to our highest standards. When we ensure that every American is treated equally -- that is, with respect and dignity -- we all reap the benefit of our standards "of liberty and justice for all!" We think President Obama is meeting the criteria Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., has laid out for civic leaders: "Civic leaders ... must engage in meaningful, informative, and even inspiring dialogue at national, state, and local levels to instill in the American people a deep appreciation of the American Experiment's history and nature, and an awareness of alternatives to it. Our civic leaders must also affirm that, when all is said and done, we must move forward cohesively. The ultimate goal: to equip citizens for informed decision making and -- if the American Experiment is affirmed -- implementation ... They must also emphasize that cautious but real openness to change is essential for success of the American Experiment." If you would like to learn more about the "United States as a Diversity Experiment," read Chapter 2 in the book, Building on the Promise of Diversity: How We Can Move to the Next Level In Our Workplaces, Our Communities, and Our Society, by R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., (Amacom, 2006). To read the President's full proclamation on LGBT June Pride Month, go to:
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