Cohousing-L Mailing List: diversity/consensus

[Dorothy Zemach (dw195005]

I've been reading with interest and puzzlement all of the letters
in the past few weeks about wanting diversity in a community, and at
same time wishing that the consensus process would go smoothly.

Will I be attacked if I say that I am *not* looking for such terrific
diversity in a co-housing community?  Don't get me wrong; I have nothing
against diversity, and in fact do diversity training as part of my job.
I have lived in plenty of diverse surroundings (in fact, I haven't had
neighbors who spoke English for over 10 years), am married to someone from
another country, and deal exclusively with non-Americans at work. I have
had some exciting times living in neighborhoods replete with different
income levels, nationalities, religions, etc.; but on the down side I
have also been accosted by street gangs; seen a drive-by shooting; seen
my neighbors' houses broken into; been physically assualted, pelted
with stones, and had my door painted with kerosene because I was American;
lived in areas with no recycling and trash all over streets; seen the
street in front of my house literally run red with blood (sheeps', at
least), etc.

Now I find myself wanting to live with others who will agitate for curbside
recycling, who will plant gardens, who want to share and/or co-own
appliances and vehicles, etc., not to mention not attack me!  I do not think
of this as "insulating" myself; I am not going to change jobs, after all,
or stop traveling, or limit myself to only one kind of friend.

What do people mean when they say "diversity"?  Do you mean that you want
people of different skin colors who agree with you on all major moral
issues?  Is that really diversity?  How would you cope with true diversity
when a group of three families (who I am assuming were not especially
"diverse") have conflicts over scheduling 3 or 4 summer barbecues?

Every co-housing group I have corresponded with has included a mission
statement and/or a list of goals, and has asked that prospective members
agree to abide by previous decisions and be comfortable with the group's
outlook.  Well, I don't think that encourages diversity, but it sounds
like it would help bring together a group of people who could live
together harmoniously and productively.

If anyone would like to try a *really* diverse neighborhood, I can give
you some excellent suggestions.  Bring your own deadlock.

Dorothy Zemach
Osaka, Japan