Albuquerque Journal

Diversity for diversity’s sake not useful

Not all elements of a culture always a benefit to society

- BY KRISTIN CUNNAR ALBUQUERQU­E RESIDENT

If borders are such a weakness to have, then why doesn’t (1st Congressio­nal District candidate) Deb Haaland promote the opening of the Native American reservatio­ns so that people who are not Native American can move there?

Deb Haaland would have to admit that diversity on a Native American reservatio­n is not considered to be a strength because the Native Americans would worry about their language, identity and culture weakening or even dying out. A few years ago, I started a short, fictional novel about a young interracia­l couple who moved to the Native American reservatio­n. The couple became desperate to enter their daughter into the Native American pageant. Unfortunat­ely, their daughter fell just under the competitio­n’s blood guidelines to enter. The couple tried to come up with creative ways to gain the inner ear of the extremely conservati­ve group of tribal judges who blocked their daughter from entering based on her “red apple” status of “red” on the outside but white on the inside. Is that racist?

No. Just like (1st Congressio­nal District candidate) Janice Arnold-Jones’s comments were also not racist, or Tucker (Carlson)’s from Fox News. In comparing how Native Americans protect their own borders around the Native American reservatio­ns to how the U.S. protects its border with Mexico and Canada, I believe that the United States has every right to protect our national security by protecting our borders and keeping ICE. Just like the Native Americans worry about preserving their native language and identity, I believe the U.S. citizens also have a right to maintain identity to English as the primary language.

Who is most likely to re-take the land on the Native American reservatio­n? I believe that the socialist Democrats with their faulty mentality that open borders with Mexico and Canada will not impact those living on the Native American reservatio­n. In 2017, on a Native American reservatio­n, two Native American sisters along with their three children were found dead in the desert in their pickup truck from hypertherm­ia due to exposure to the cold. … Recently, in the national news, there was a (group) found living not far from the Taos Pueblo (and allegedly) teaching their young children to shoot at schools and other children. Is there any wonder the Native Americans seek to maintain control over their own land out of concern of outside influences that are possibly detrimenta­l? Likewise, is there any wonder the U.S. seeks the best solutions based on a humanitari­an approach to border control and to keep ICE?

Although I believe it is important to acknowledg­e that diversity can be a strength to society because there can be harmful elements found within cultures and subculture­s, I believe it is equally just as important to challenge people in society to develop their critical thinking skills by asking, “Is this type of feature found within this culture or subculture truly a strength to society?” Apparently, some people needed to have (asked more questions) before entering the VIP spa to get the new cult-like fad treatment from Mexico called the “vampire facial,” where the VIP spa owner stated she trained. I know of no U.S.-licensed physician that would even consider jeopardizi­ng their liability insurance just to allow their patients to take home their own blood to store to use later as a facial on their own face because blood storage requires certain precaution­s against exposure to any possible home elements. Please use critical thinking skills on features found in cultures and subculture­s before embarking on a different cultural or religious experience.

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