Romaro Houston
Diversity refers to the existence of individual characteristics that makes one person different from another person. These characteristics range from age and gender to race, religion, sexual orientation, and cultural upbringing.

Many people think of diverse groups as an inclusion of races and ethnicities; but, to achieve true cultural diversity, age, religion, and even sexual orientation should be part of the mix.

By being part of a diverse group people better understand the world that they live in; however, sometimes diversity without enlightenment can create problems such as discrimination, prejudices and stereotypes.

Diversity to me is about change. Making a situation more diverse can change attitudes and change beliefs. Change can be beneficial to make people of the world more understanding and accepting of different kinds of people because they get to experience others as individuals.

As a student, I believe that diversity is important especially in an academic setting. When I'm going through the learning process it is an organized setting. At school, diversity plays a huge part in my experience. I have contact with people of different race, religions, and sexual orientations but for academic and athletic purposes I am focused on a goal. I never learn to accept others because they are different; I learn to accept people because while we may have diverse attributes we are the same trying to accomplish something.

Diversity is essential in the United States. Differences are what started this country and our melting pot of ideas is what makes it so singular from all other countries as democracy that allows individual voice. Diversity adds to our freedom and is why our forefathers guaranteed us individualism under the Bill of Rights. If we were not free to practice whatever religion we choose and cherish our cultural heritages, then our country would not be free. If there were no diversity, there would be no freedom of choice. Without freedom this wouldn't be the United States of America.

Diversity matters in every aspect of our lives. As people, a part of nation, we need diversity to help us better understand why things are the way they are. As students we need diversity to teach us how to live in the world, once we are finally on our own in it. In my own life, diversity matters to me because being apart of a minority race and religion, my thoughts and actions play a huge role in adding diversity to everyday situations. By accepting diversity we are saying that there is nothing wrong with being different.

As a newspaper staff the BlackhawK supported our attempt to reach all voices through this magazine for the past two years despite the fact that we as an individual operation have not been fiscally solvent. . For that as the 2007-2008 business manager I thank them. Now with funding cuts for the paper itself no longer receiving service fees it is time for people of all diverse cultures to come forward and end support.

I challenge each family with a student in this school to pay the minimal $2.00 to support the paper next year and then add three more.. I challenge each diverse business in the community to come to our aid. Buy at least one Ad.

Children are the future of America. At the BlackhawK and now Lift Every Voice, we have showed that we are not only not being left behind we at least, for now, are on top. Help us stay there. Journalism is a rigorous curriculum that combines reading, writing, math and the arts. We are part of that. Now it is all about the money.