There are those in our society

whose very livelihood depends on keeping us divided based on our personal

identification with various groups by race, gender, ethnicity, religious

beliefs, economic status, and a host of other distinguishing traits that

make each human a unique specimen.

We see this everyday in media,

in our schools and workplaces, and in our political arenas to be sure.

We are a melting pot. The greatest indicator of our nation's demographic

comes every 10 years in the U.S. Census. The 2000 U.S. Census results

have revealed a fairly dramatic shift in minority distribution, with Latinos

emerging as equal in number to African-Americans as the largest minority

groups in the country.

With the dramatic shift in

population statistics, it seems that we may soon be poised at a fork in

the road to true equality in this country. The choices we make may make

all the difference or no difference at all depending on which road we

choose.

Along with minority group growth

comes political clout, and increasingly we see more and more demand for

preferences in policy and government to promote equal access to long-term

success. This has already caused a flurry of competition in our own state

legislature as those representing the expanding Spanish-speaking population

are seeking to level the state's economic preference playing field designed

to help stimulate economic growth and prosperity in minority-owned businesses.

This was met with resistance

too hard and come too far to see some other ethnic group reap the benefits

of their hard work.

But is it feasible to have

emerging minority political powerhouses vying for their fair share of

the preference pie? Or is there a better way? Are we destined to be a

melting pot or a seething cauldron of competing interests?

As more and more people pour

into this country from all over the world, it becomes increasingly impossible

to "create" equality through mandated preferences. In fact,

the reality of inequality with a remedy of inequality.

The real path to true equality

lies in seeing all people as equals. That is an impossibility as long

as our government continues to mandate that we focus on our differences.

The only real path to true success is the path forged through diligence

and hard work, often in spite of hardships and environmental circumstances.

Political parties and policies

capitalize on governing by division. They win support by pandering to

special interests. To take "diversity" out of the political

equation could radically change the climate of modern politics, from one

of serving groups to serving "the people."

When people come here from

other parts of the world, they do so for the opportunity they will have

when they get here. They don't come for the special preferences they might

be accorded; they come for the chance to live in freedom and live out

the American dream.

That dream isn't dead, it's

just tarnished. It is brightest for those who fought the hardest to achieve

it. It is, in the end, less dear to those who have to share credit for

the accomplishment or owe their success to special preferences.

Rather than focus on differences,

why not focus on the sameness of our uniquely American experience? When

we all operate under the same set of rules, ultimately we will see each

other as equals. It doesn't have to be a dream. It could be a reality

in our lifetimes. It all depends on which road we take from here.

[Your comments are welcome:

[email protected].]