But no society is devoid of its problems or its prejudices. We are taught by the flawed at a young age to emulate their behavior and ascend to adulthood. Good citizens of society, we are called. But we must retrospectively assess our views and thoughts to find if in these thoughts lay an element that will tear the fabric we all help to build. We have lost sight of our true course and we must correct our path. For this reason, I offer the Multicultural Manifesto. We all make up this society, and in this society we must live in harmony with one another to insure the fabric we all are a part remains strong and firm.

To insure this harmony is perpetuated and strengthened, we must gauge the pursuit of diversity to the needs of society. Movements for movement's sake are neither effective nor beneficial. The way toward harmony and union is not through mistimed movements or antagonistic pleas for attention on issues which affect race. These attempts to galvanize a populist response will have the reverse effect. When one places themselves within a group with an ideology, they make a party which separates itself from those who have not committed to the cause.

For this reason it is peculiar that groups form to achieve diversity within society when in reality they are putting themselves outside the society they wish ready access. This statement is not to say that movements are not beneficial nor warranted under the right circumstances; however, there is a manifest difference in the struggles of the Multicultural Crusaders and the misinformed minority which has arisen here on this campus. The very reason Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson and others were successful was because they timed their movement with the precise conditions necessary for its success.

The progression of the movement was overt and those involved were informed of the goals and mission of the organization they had consented to. It is to those previous organizations of Multicultural Crusaders that the current diversity movement should turn. Furthermore, there was an actual need for the movement then. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality manifestly pertained to sources of power, and for this reason, those individuals who resisted the movement resisted so strongly.

The current diversity movement lacks this element, and for (Continued Pg 9) this reason it will ultimately fail. There is no power lost in any interaction between students on this campus that is not evident in other places in the country, yet the individuals involved in this movement seem to be under the impression that a great cause has arisen and that Sewanee is not diverse.

I vehemently disagree with this sentiment. Sewanee is diverse, but Sewanee like everywhere else in the world, rests in reality. We cannot escape the society we belong to, and within this society, people group themselves with those they feel most comfortable with. We can not posit a policy to gerrymander different races and cultures together in order to bring about diversity. This is a false multiculturalism, one that is devoid of any substance other than political correctness and symbolism. True Multiculturalism arises when different cultures approach each other on an individual basis out a desire for cooperation. This interaction is symbiotic. The mutual convergence of the two is a metaphoric melting pot that no one can deny represents the tenants of our society.

This multiculturalism is the pure form that should be espoused. It should be embraced and cherished. We must understand that the days of de jure segregation have long come and gone. Yes, society is still segregated but on a de facto basis. However, this segregation is not rooted in anything concrete. It is in the minds of our society. We all segregate ourselves on a de facto basis: Football players with Football players; theatre majors with theatre majors; sororities with sororities and frats with frats. These segregations are not based on hate, they are based on preference, and to deny someone the right to choose who they associate with, is to deny them freedom. We must not confuse choice for prejudice, and we must not believe imposing our culture over someone else's is diverse. The introduction of a cultural suffices the require of achieving diversity because it is ultimately up to the individual to discern whether he will participate in that culture or go another route. This is his choice, so let him have it.

Because de facto segregation is rooted in the abstract, it must be combated in the abstract, one person at a time. Individuals change minds through actions and relationships, not ill-timed movements. The diversity movement must see this and focus their attention elsewhere. It is in the concrete that movements can function and in this concrete realm lies recruitment and professor appointments. It is in these elements of our campus that diversity movements may make a change and it is where they must focus. On this we will speak later...

Finally, I find it hard to believe the proponents of this false diversity when they themselves segregate by race and culture. Why have you not decided to venture into the fray of open society? Why do you only fraternize with your own kind and look down on those who have ventured forth, calling them names such as: "uncle tom, white, uppity..." The leaders of the movement must exemplify their goal as to be a beacon for those to follow. Practice what you preach my dear friends and leave us who do to our gospels. Thus, this movement will fail unless this manifesto is followed.

END