Perspectives

Relative Intelligence

Ever stop to wonder why we sometimes think that non-English speaking people are less intelligent than we are?  I was speaking to a friend a few weeks ago about this subject.  He has observed that many people think that when when someone does not understand English we sometimes tend to view them in a less positive light.  Here is a question to ponder:  If you were to move to Russia today, would you be less intelligent?  The same applies to immigrants.  We should realize that in fact the challenge is communication, not intellect and we should not confuse the two.  There is an equivalent for almost every English word in our vocabulary so the issue is translation.  Do non-English-speaking people become progressively intelligent as they increase their command of the English language?  I doubt it but our perception of them certainly changes.  Be mindful of what you think, because it can certainly result in action and cause harm to others.

Ilan Smith

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A True Common Ground

I was having a discussion today about diversity with a business colleague and we both agreed that food is a common factor among all human beings.  She explained that if you really think about it food ingredients do not vary widely among cultures.  The way they are prepared is what differs.  I had not given this much thought before but it made sense.  This goes to show that if we take the time to look for things we have in common with other cultures we will find that we have more in common than we think.  There are many ways to look at the same thing, but that does not change what is being examined.  Focusing on similarities can open up new worlds for us all and food offers a great way to start!

Ilan Smith

Visit our web site at: www.oakleyassociates.com

Find a Starting Point

Many of us get caught up in noticing the differences among us that we fail to realize how much we do have in common with each other.  I would even venture to say that there is more commonality across different cultural and ethnic groups than there are within the groups.  Humans have some common concerns:  food, shelter, clothing, protection, family, education, relationships and the list goes on.  We may view them differently but they are still the same issues.  Finding something in common is the first step towards gaining a better understanding of other cultures.  You may be surprised to find out that you have a lot more in common than you think.

Ilan Smith

Visit our web site at: www.oakleyassociates.com

Mixing it up

Many people who attend diversity training come to there thinking that they may be accused of something because of their views.  The important thing to remember about diversity training is that is intended to allow people to express their views in a comfortable environment.  That environment allows for finding a common ground.  We all have something in common and can find it if we take the opportunity to do so.

Ilan Smith

Visit our website at www.oakleyassociates.com