Celebrating differences: Dr Bernadette L Dean stresses cultural diversity

She tries to explain how conflict is necessary for change.

KARACHI: Karachi is a 'Mini Duniya' [mini-world], considering the diversity and versatility of its culture.

Prof Dr Bernadette L Dean, speaking at the session ‘Richness in Diversity’, was the one who coined the term for Karachi at the 'Teach for Peace Conference', organised by ‘I Am Karachi’ and the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers at Dawood Public School.

"Close your eyes," Dean, the director of the VM Institute for Education, told the audience. "Now imagine that everybody around here has the same hair colour, are wearing the same clothes, speaking the same language and are thinking the same thing."

She was trying to highlight the importance of diversity. "I want you to understand that conflict is a good thing," she said. She went on to explain how conflict is needed for a change in society. "Instead of fighting over petty issues, we should learn to enjoy the diversity of everything we have in Karachi because diversity produces change."

Dean said that people are intolerant towards others only when they do not know the other person.

According to Dean, the youth of Pakistan can play an important role for the prosperity of not only Karachi, but of the country. She also discussed the role that parents, teachers and each individual can play for the prosperity of the society. Pointing out some issues, she said that parents should not encourage jokes that stereotype specific groups. "I always tell parents that they should not conduct discussions on ethnicity at home."

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2015.