photo by Brenno K. Russo

In the globalized world that we live in today, diversity is a matter that is vivid all around us. From the place we come from, through what we believe in, to the colour of our eyes. We just have to look around to see that humans are diverse. People are different. People think differently.
What should one do with all these differences? I see, in the world, three major ways of approach to what is different from yourself. First, opposing to it, because we are so proud of our own self, that everything that does not align with the way we think is just wrong. We, then, close ourselves to diversity, to other perspectives, sitting in our own blue little bubble, building invisible concrete walls around us and the ones alike, not wanting to be disturbed by the contradiction. Second, imposing on it, influencing the different on your own will and power. Transforming the “wrong” into the “right”. Fighting for your own values, and inflicting on others. Because we have to fight for what we stand. Third, embracing it, opening to what’s different. Putting yourself down on second level, and opening up to the other. Adopting the alien approach and forgetting about your own.
These real and extreme approaches result on prejudices, conflicts and loss of identity.
The issue of diversity isn’t easy. Living in a world that is connecting all different parts of the globe through a rapid network of information, makes the power of influences a reality. “Diversity is hard” says Carl Mossfeldt, Executive Vice President of Tällberg Foundation and Host of the Rework The World Summit during it’s opening session. Indeed, it is. And it is real and it is what brings beauty into the world. The world is diverse, and therefore it is beautiful. It is the blue that makes the yellow special. And it is the yellow that makes the blue peculiar.
It is difficult to throw yourself in the unknown. But if we want to prepare ourselves to the “new” that is ready to emerge, we have to start on the most simple level. The mindset of how a human sees the other. “Other” means different. Not like you. Can we see the beauty of a possibility?
As a young person, starting to explore and interact in this complex reality, I dare to ask: Why not create a new approach? How can you preserve diversity on a world of dying traditions? How to sparkle curiosity from people to an apparently “strange” truth? Is the balance between these extremes a possibility? I need to believe it is. It has to start with the individual. The shift of consciousness is going to start from every single one of us. Can we, like a tree, stand firm on or own roots and open our embracing branches to all different directions? I dare to think that openness and tradition can indeed work together. Proud of your own roots, curios about the different and open-minded about an exchange between both. Roots and perspectives. An individual needs to be proud of his own roots, to have a ground to stand. It also needs openness towards the different, to gain the amazing quality of perspectives to come to understand that “For every truth, the exact opposite is as true”.
Like a hand, in which each finger is different from another, thumb, index, middle, ring and little. They have different qualities and different perspectives on life. Imagine if they came together, met as unique individuals, holding their tradition, curios about each other and very happy about a conversation between themselves. Each person has something to say, it’s just about how we accept another point of view with a smile. You don’t need to agree to respect another point of view. I believe everyone knows something you don’t know. All of us had different personal experiences throughout life. Can all this diversity come together, like in a folding of hands, into an unity for sharing and learning? An unity with different perspectives. More colourful and powerful than ever. I open my eyes and I see Diversity. I open my heart and I feel Unity. Let’s put it together and create an open will out of an Unity through Diversity.

Brenno K. Russo

Brenno Russo
http://twitter.com/representyouth
brennorusso@gmail.com