To the Editor:
On Monday night, the Vanderbilt community took a stand against prejudice. In response to an event, publicized as an anti-immigration speech and hosted by Vanderbilt’s Youth for Western Civilization, students, faculty, staff and members of the Nashville community came out in a peaceful protest against intolerance. Regardless of the intentions of the event’s sponsors, Bay Buchanan’s speech rejected diversity and multiculturalism. Hiding within words of caution of Mexico’s instability were feelings of intolerance and ignorance. Ignorance is just as harmful to building a united and strong community as intolerance. Vanderbilt University should firmly support the celebration of diversity on its campus.
As the current economic crisis shows, the world is more interconnected today than ever. Globalization has opened our borders, not only to an influx of people of different cultures, but also to a variety of products, ideas, and religions. To succeed in this multicultural world, we need to develop respect for and appreciation of different peoples, cultures, and religions. In spite of our differences, we all make up *humankind.* By focusing on the bonds that unite us, instead of the barriers that separate us, we can strengthen our community and learn to appreciate our own culture.
This protest could not have come at a better time. This month, the Multicultural Leadership Council has been hosting Multicultural Awareness Month, the Vanderbilt Lambda Association has just concluded its PRIDE week and next week is Community Vanderbilt’s Don’t Hate, Appreciate Week. The multitude of diversity awareness events taking place at Vanderbilt allows us to have the unique opportunity to learn about each other. I would like to personally invite each member of our community to attend the upcoming events in March and April. Sharing these experiences with others will help us to learn not only about each other, but also about ourselves. Through greater appreciation for each other, we can come together to find solutions to our problems and ensure a more promising future.
Chinmayee Tambe
Multicultural Leadership Council
President
