An african-american, a jew, a gay guy, a muslim, and an Iranian walk into a bar

[The Straight Story]

They sit down and have some drinks. Order some food.

They sit there for about 2 hours chatting and laughing, along with several other people - a transsexual, a christian, jehovah's witness, a hippie, and an atheist.

So...what is the joke?

There is none. These are people I have worked with the last 4 years. And we have been out together like this before after work.

Think about that. Some years back in this country that would not have been possible. Hell, some years ago it would have been illegal - and at the very least someone would have gotten hurt.

Progress does not happen over night. But it does happen when we keep working on it. Day in and out.

These are people I have known and cared about since I started with my job. And we think nothing of hanging out together.

Ignorance can be beaten.

Thanks to all who have stood up over the years and fought the good fight. I work with a very diverse group of people (though some have transferred to other areas at work, we still talk and see each other).

I would not trade the diversity I have with these people for anything - and those that want a lilly white males club have no idea what they are missing.

[peacetalksforall]

1. Thanks for posting. Beautiful! Same here. Honor differences.

Find the 'same-ness-es'.

[WritersBlock]

2. What a wonderful place to work that must be.

You and your colleagues are an inspiration!

[The Straight Story]

8. It is an awesome place to work

A big company and it values diversity. I have worked around a lot of wonderful people from all walks of life, and it has been eye-opening.

[brer cat]

3. Progress has happened in progressive communities

and among liberal people. It will happen even among conservatives when they realize they have been left off the boat.

Thanks for posting, and I hope all is well with you!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. SS, I have to tell you this really hits home with me today...

I picked up an old copy (Winter 2004) of the Southern Poverty law center's Intelligence report last week. This issue focuses on the KKK and other RW hate groups. I've been sick to my stomach... only able to read a page or two at a time before putting it down.

Thank you for re-enforcing my feelings. Diversity is a wonderous thing. :)

[madokie]

24. To the believer who forgot, its what makes our country great

Well before g'orge came along that is.

[Syncronaut Seven]

31. Wrong place

Thread gremlins.

[Tyo]

5. That's the coolist story I've heard in a long time

And it's no joke. thanks

[Straight Shooter]

6. When I lived in Houston, a lily-white co-worker made a very bigoted remark.

She said she hated what Houston was turning into (she was a native Texan). She said she walked down the street and it was, quote, "like the fucking United Nations out there."

My jaw damn near dropped to the floor. This woman was decrying the very thing that I found so fascinating about Houston, that you could go out onto the street and see so many cultures in the modes of dress and hairstyles, so many different shades of skin, hear all those intriguing languages.

I left Houston, too much crime and I really need to live among the mountains and the forested land, but now that I'm back in a small lily-white town, I still miss the diversity that a large city offers.

=====================

Very nice post, Straight Story. :thumbsup:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. I just moved from Portland to a Metro suburb less than 15 miles away...

and I feel the same.


Frickin Tigard is too lily white for me. :(

[Syncronaut Seven]

32. Tigard ain't so bad.

Of course I live in prestigious Lake Oswego! (500' from Tigard)

Howdy neighbor! :hi:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

33. well hello!

:hi:

Have you considered joining us at our monthly meet-ups? The more, the merrier!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=174x4445

[Catherine Vincent]

29. That is what I like about Houston too. Diversity.

It's too bad you had to leave. Houston need more liberals like you. :hi:

[Straight Shooter]

35. But ...... I love the mountains.

:hi:

[Catherine Vincent]

41. Yes. I don't blame you. Mountains are beautiful.

Definitely none of that here in the flatlands. lol! Once you drive out of Houston it does get hilly but nothing like beautiful mountains, especially if they're covered with snow.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Cool, happy all holidays secular, regilous, et al

for all you and your friends

[killbotfactory]

10. You're lucky.

If more people could experience this kind of pure honest diversity this country would be a much better place to live in.

[Swamp Rat]

11. Sounds like a typical night out to me.

It's always been like that here in New Orleans. ;)

[buddysmellgood]

43. That is mother beautiful!

[Ilsa]

12. That is so cool! Bless you and your friends for seeing past

stereotypes and labels and getting to know each other well enough to say "Friend."

[Hatalles]

13. This is a wonderful post.

Thank you so much for posting this. :hug:

[dhill926]

14. yep, way cool...

moved recently from Indy to LA and just love it. 15 minutes in the grocery store reveals more diversity than 15 years in Indy. Indy is ok and getting better, but LA is truly a 21st Century city. Be who and what you want...

[emlev]

15. Thank you.

[Lisa0825]

16. "I would not trade the diversity I have with these people for anything"

What a beautiful statement!!! I can't say that my circle of friends is as diverse as yours, but that is not intentional. I can honestly say that the more diversity I experience, the richer I feel. From the time I was a young adult, out on my own for the first time, I developed an attraction for people of other cultures or experiences. Life is SO MUCH more interesting when you have people around you who are different from you. Too much similarity is simply boring!

[leftofthedial]

17. what are you?

a liberal?

[DarkTirade]

18. If everyone was the same

the world would be damn boring.

[buddysmellgood]

44. Yes, and I think what happens is that as people become more uniform, those with power

find more refined reasons to discriminate. Once they are done with the gays, they will go after the left handers.

[demnan]

19. That's what I like about Northern Virginia too

My friends: a Jew, a Buddist, a Mormon, a Hindu, a Baptist, a lapsed Catholic, a Unitarian and I'm agnostic. Viva la difference!

[AspenRose]

38. That's what I LOVED about being in NoVA

I thought being near Santa Fe, raised in San Antonio and having spent a year in Houston, I'd already seen and experienced 'diversity.' I truly hadn't until I spent a summer in NoVa. It was awesome. :thumbsup:

[huskerlaw]

20. Sounds like Los Angeles

I'll join the many people who have commented on loving the opportunity to live in a place that has diversity. I moved to LA a year ago from Nebraska. Saw more diversity in 10 minutes than I had in my entire life.

Turns out, that's one of the things I love most about this city. Of course there are still issues, but for the most part people live, work, and play without thinking about the color or nationality of the people that they interact with. I LOVE it.

And I've learned *so* much.

[goclark]

22. That is why I love Los Angeles too

It is not unusual at all to have a variety of friends from various groups.

I grow each day from the experience and the joy of learning about new traditions and ways to work in harmony to build a better world.

[connecticut yankee]

21. I've always felt that way

I've had friends from many different backgrounds all my life and I've felt that they've enriched my life immeasurably.

I know many people (particularly my own family) who only want to be with "their own kind." Not only are they incredibly boring, but I believe they miss out on so much.

Thank you for sharing your story.

[TacticalPeek]

23. K & R

:kick:

[elehhhhna]

25. That there's some gooood writin' ss.

k&r

[Dystopian]

26. Sometimes it's best not to go with first impressions.....

Although I try not to miss your posts, when I first saw this, I was in a somber mood...not in the mindset for a joke. Live and learn....I should have known better. Fortunately, I came back to find yet another beautiful and inspirational piece.
Thank you ...


peace~

[treestar]

27. It is the best thing about the US

For all the differences, there is very little actual violent conflict.

Look at those fighting abroad, and they have less difference than we do here.

Also interesting is that when people come here from abroad, they can talk to the "enemy" without getting violent. For example, they used to have teens from Northern Ireland come and spend two weeks in the US in some program - forget what it was called - but just being physically here, they could talk.

[Catherine Vincent]

28. That's a great story. No wonder your user name is "the straight story" lol!

Thanks!

[HuffleClaw]

30. hear! hear!

when we celebrate our differences we become more human.

[The Deacon]

34. What's The Value Of Diversity?

What's the value of America?

[Ex Lion Tamer]

36. But . . . wait . . .

who screws the light bulb in?

[volstork]

37. K&R

Vive la difference!

[UncleSepp]

39. Cheers and beers to you and your friends :-)

This sounds like one of my parties, only without the ex-neo-nazis. People can be cured of bad ideas :-)

[Lisa]

40. I went to my favorite sushi place yesterday ...

The owner and I were the only East Asians in there. All the other tables were occupied by a variety of people -- of aboriginal, European, or subcontinent ancestry -- calling for more tea, or more salmon sashimi. Including a group of local cops, all in uniform, eating tempura and yam rolls with chopsticks! So much for the "donut shop" stereotype.

The other week, when the media were covering the Michael Richards comedy club incident, the CNN people were interviewing an African-American comic. He and the white female anchor were flirting back and forth outrageously -- you could tell by his eyes that he knew (and she probably did as well) that within living memory, that could have gotten him killed and the station burned down. I admit that I started crying, right in front of the TV, so happy that at least some things have changed. Thanks in no small part to the civil rights marches, and to the millions of individuals who stood up and said that they would hang out with whomever they chose, regardless of ethnic origin.

As you put it so clearly, TSS: "Progress does not happen over night. But it does happen when we keep working on it. Day in and out."

[buddysmellgood]

42. and they see a republican chain-smoking at the bar. So the the fundamentalist

hippie walks up to him and says...

---------------------
Just pulling your chain. :evilgrin:

Great post.

[Tinksrival]

45. Ha! My son has a similar story.

He's an athiest white boy and his co-workers are a Catholic Hispanic, Russian Jew, African American woman, and they work for a Muslim. My son never gave it a second thought till I asked about it.

[fujiyama]

46. A few weeks ago

I had a Catholic, a non religious white guy, a black Muslim, a Muslim Arab, a guy from Taiwan, and another from mainland China, as well as a Fillipina girl (the white guy's g/f) at my house during a World Series game....Oh and I was born in India....

And you know what? It didn't feel the least bit weird...

In the end we were all a bit upset though that the Tigers lost....