Reading Noah Stahl’s column (“Diversity education creates division, not understanding”) in the March 22 edition of the Daily made me realize that

a) There were lesbian communities in Newton’s time, and

b) Three credits of diversity classes aren’t enough. Although it would make Mr. Stahl’s world a much easier place to study a single (presumably white) history, we live in a world with cultural identities that need to be embraced rather than erased.

The reason most white American people feel they can sanitize race and culture is the general absence of culture in their own lives.

If there were prominent Norwegian American, German American or French American identities in this country, they would never allow themselves to be grouped into a run-of-the-mill American identity. Quebec, for example, absolutely refuses to give up its French identity and become simply Canadian because it defines them as people.

Stahl states that classes called “human history,” “human literature” and other “human” classes should be offered. This idea comes under the guise of defeating racism, but it does so by removing other races and cultures.

Think of what these classes would entail. A human literature class ceases to make sense if it’s taught in English; not everybody shares that language. A human history class would be forced to choose a cultural interpretation of the origin of humans; not everybody believes in science or the Bible.

Culture and race are so deeply entrenched in history and society that they can’t be erased, overlooked or separated. This world has benefited so much from multiculturalism (foods, literature, art, clothing, health, etc.) it’s idiotic to ignore other cultures. At best, everyone can learn to understand and benefit from other cultures. I commend Iowa State for requiring these classes because people like Stahl just don’t get it.

Dan Bergeland

Freshman

Electrical Engineering