A Mulitcolored Canvas of Diversity

Watching the recent presidential inauguration ceremonies I was struck by the images of the spectators in the vast crowed assembled along the Mall in front of the White House. I saw a beautiful canvas of diversity that really moved me. In this vast sea every kind of human had assembled to rejoice in the swearing in of a man who embraces the value of diversity and who supports the ideals of equality.

As the camera roamed the faces I saw many skin colors, hair styles, dress styles. Some faces were young, some old. Some folks had tattoos and some folks wore suits. In all there was the common hope that this president would continue to advance the cause of equality, however slow that advance might prove to be. This president would not just seek to please the privileged few but would fight for the little guy. I want to believe this, and I do believe it,  though I know that some of my friends will call me naive.

I wondered how the crowd might look different for a different swearing in, that of Mitt Romney. I doubt there would have been the same diverse palate. I imagine many would have been home wondering how such a person might represent them at the table. I would have been home. I would not have been watching the proceedings though.

But that did not happen and my hope in the process was renewed. In Obama's speech he included references to the value of all citizens, especially citizens whose voice may be weaker than their neighbor's voice. For the first time ever in an inauguration speech he included LGBT people in his broad and sweeping vision for a better, more humane society. In many ways for me he described a society that I want to believe is possible in spite of the difficulties along the way.

Standing in line at the local Earth Fare I watched the faces passing by. In varied ways people were expressing their own individuality, living life in their own colorful ways. It was beautiful to see such diversity and to watch how beautifully everyone flowed together along their way. There was a certain tangible joy in the faces I saw. What would it be like to live in a world where people were afraid to live their lives in their own unique ways? What joy would there be in such a colorless world where everyone conformed to narrow expectations about what was acceptable?

We all benefit from great diversity, though some have a hard time accepting the value of people who are different from them. There is a certain resistance to being forced to conform to a label. The fact is we are all human and as such have similar needs, but we are all driven to live our own unique lives with authenticity. And we want to be valued in that pursuit. There is much to unite us in a common quest for full equality including the desire to be treated with dignity, to be free to pursue happiness, to love and be loved without fear.  Everyone can get behind those ideals. It is simple really. Ask yourself how you want to be treated. Then treat others in that way.

Richard Blanco One Today

Richard Blanco was chosen to read the inauguration poem for Barac Obama. The choice of Richard is very meaningful to me personally as he represents so much of what it means to be American; to live in America. Richard was born in Cuba to working class parents, raised in Spain, and then finally immigrated with his parents to the United States. As such he is a visible reminder that society is evolving inexorably toward acceptance of a greater diversity, toward the ideals enshrined in the Constitution of equality for all. As Obama says in his speech,

“We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths — that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall."

We are still on that journey of course. But choosing Richard to read his poetry is a sure sign that we are still moving in the right direction.

As Richard approaches the podium, he takes a moment to look out. Eventually the camera will show us what he sees, a sea of humanity stretching off into the distance and toward the Washington Monument. This is a moment he will never forget. He stands before America, a humble man born into humble circumstances. A man who was not provided the advantages of money or class to arrive where he stands. Just a simple man who writes beautiful and evocative poetry which has a way of uniting so many diverse people under the same sky.  And yes, let us not forget. A gay man!