Diversity is great?

Rating: 4/10 (1 October 2005)

Actually, I got something Completely different out of this movie than any of these reviewers did, and I'm not sure it was the intention of the writer/director either.
Every reviewer (here and the "professional" ones) seems to think this movie is an expose on racism in America, and how we shouldn't judge each other on skin color alone. But the truth is that the clash (or crash, if you will) between races is NOT based merely on differences in skin color, but in our different CULTURES, which are merely represented by people with different skin colors, eye shapes, hair textures, etc. The topic of multi culture clashes is never addressed anywhere because we're all expected to love the idea of multiculturalism.
However, this movie, probably unintended, presents a much more realistic view of the results of vastly races, and subsequently cultures and cultural values, living among each other...Racism, or the belief that one race is inherently genetically superior to another, is not the real problem facing the people in this film, or in life. Problems don't happen between races because they have different skin colors- problems happen when different races have different and conflicting cultural values, as those ingrained values affect each race or ethnic group's perspective on life, work, family, leisure, how they raise their kids, how they view money, self-discipline, sexuality, morality, work ethic, etc. The skin color of a white person isn't the major factor which differentiates him from a black person - the value system that he is raised with does.
Why is it that when a black person succeeds in a so-called traditional white man's world, is he then ostracized by those blacks who intentionally segregate themselves from whites? It isn't because his skin has turned white, but because he is now seen as embracing the VALUES of white society, and therefore not really "black" anymore.
So, it's not really about being "black" or "white" skinned, it's about "black culture and identity" vs "white culture and identity." The same applies to other races and ethnic groups - each one has it's own identity and cultural values - which again, we're supposed to embrace. But, let's face it people: many of those values CLASH harshly with each other, and soon, you have a balkanized society -especially when each culture - and consequently, each value system - is supposed to be valued and tolerated equally. Well, that's nice and dandy in theory, but in reality, it doesn't work. I think this film illustrates that: we can all sing "We are the world" all we want, but in day-to-day life, it's unrealistic to expect that I'm gonna be OK with your values that I think stink, and that you're gonna embrace mine. And by suppressing our resentment that we aren't SUPPOSED embrace or value our cultural values over others (especially if you're white) or even recogognize they exist (!)Largely due to such artificial and suppressing devices as political correctness and diversity training, the anger is growing and growing and will be exploding in more situations in our ever increasingly diverse society. At some point, it will become more and more common for people to stand up and scream out: "Goddammit! I'm sick of being told to tolerate and embrace your Third World cultural values when my values are what made this country great! Your people are bringing us all down, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
It's complicated folks, and the more we have varying cultures living together - and the more we ignore the harsh implications those differences bring to the table - the more our varying cultures - and races - will clash.