Before moving to La Grande I interviewed in a small town in rural Arkansas. Over dinner on the first night we somehow got onto the topic of where I grew up. I shared how I felt I was fortunate to grow up in the United States, Mexico and Germany, which led to questions about what I liked and how the United States compared. When one person asked what I liked best about the United States, I responded that one of the things the United States has going for it is the diversity of its people.

Originally from Michigan, my family lived for a while in Mexico. While in Mexico, we traveled extensively in the Southwest United States and experienced the unique blend of Native American, Mexican American and white culture. In the Midwest, I went to school with and learned from people who had immigrated from the Middle East and African Americans from heavily segregated cities. The time I lived in Germany could not compare or compete in terms of opportunities to interact and learn from people of different backgrounds. It is the diversity of our cultures and peoples that makes our country great.

I believe societal diversity is reflected in the Grande Ronde Valley and has a positive impact on our community. Take, for example, the farmers market in La Grande. The market provides an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to interact regularly, while increasing the quality of life in our community.

While predominately a white population, La Grande also has a degree of racial and ethnic diversity. Some of the programming done by Eastern Oregon University and other organizations attest to this, positively contributing to the overall community. Annual events such as the EOU Indian Arts Festival and Powwow, the celebrations of Pacific Islander culture, Dia de Los Muertos and even the Union County Fair provide opportunities to learn and partake in a variety of cultural traditions. These events help increase cultural awareness but also provide an opportunity for others to travel to La Grande, supporting our small businesses as they learn more about our respect for diverse cultures in our community.

This discussion of societal and cultural diversity doesn’t touch upon the other forms of diversity that also exist in our community along the lines of gender, social class, sexuality, ability, age and family formations. We are also politically diverse, which this column attests to.

While the range of diversity is a positive for our community, when group differences are weaponized we all suffer. It is very easy to slip into an either/or mindset when talking about group differences. People will typically cast the groups they belong to in a positive light. They see the groups they do not belong to as negative and homogeneous, according to social studies. These “out groups” can be seen as scapegoats for problems, and any differences as a deficit.

When people then act on these beliefs they end up unfairly treating people different from themselves. When such beliefs and practices are embedded in a variety of institutions they can become very hard to challenge. This helps create large disparities in opportunities and resources between groups.

At this time where political, cultural and racial/ethnic differences are being used to drive wedges between people in the United States, it is useful to recall the value of diversity and what it brings to our personal relationships and our communities. I believe it is important to appreciate people for who they are, while recognizing the positive impact of diversity in our community, Oregon and the United States.