Tendler 1

Hutton Tendler
John Kubler
English 114A
3 September 2014
Equality
Imagine a world without religion, no higher power to call to. There would be no
restrictions on death, no concern for afterlife. Everyone would live in the present. If there were
no countries, we would have no separation, it would be complete diversity. John Lennon states in
his song Imagine, Nothing to kill or die for, this is significant because it expresses the
controversy between different nations. There would be no war, nothing to fight over.
If we had no possession, there would be no claim to anyone or anything. There would be
no consumerism. Lennon sings, No need for greed or hunger, In other words, there would be
no need for money, or bargaining. Everyone would help one another, without rewards. He
exemplifies, A brotherhood of man, this is important because it signifies each and every person
coming together as one, like a family. You would comfort anyone in need, as if they were your
own.
John Lennon also expresses the dreams that he has for everyone in the world to come
together and be at peace with one another. He includes the idea that others feel the same way and
hopes more people will assemble to unify the nations. In this song, he creates a perfect world, a
utopia. In this dream world, we could each be ourselves. Without judgments based on race, age,
or borders. This song symbolizes pathos, due to the emotions Lennon has about peace.
Ethnic diversity is a vast controversy. Different views on this topic can sway the reader in
numerous directions. Robert D. Putnam analyzes these bounteous views in his article, E

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Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century, he claims, Increased
immigration and diversity are not only inevitable, but over the long run they are also desirable. ,
this is valid due to other statements implying that diverse communities allows creative minds to
join to enhance one anothers ideas. It also allows for constant change and growth within these
societies. Putnam also mentions, As we have more contact with people who are unlike us, we
overcome our initial hesitation and ignorance and come to trust them more.., he elaborates on
this in many instances, it indicates that creating and accepting diversity allows for trust within
mixed cultures.
Putnam also expresses a contrary argument, the conflict theory, this idea shows that
when we live in a homogeneous nature, we tend to distrust other ethnicities. This is evident in
the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, ..whereas in our rural South Dakota county
(95 percent white) celebrating diversity means inviting a few Norwegians to the annual
Swedish picnic., In other words, it is rare to find any diversity in these areas, and by only
inviting other white cultures shows the lack of trust in these societies.
Finding trust in other ethnicities is rare and not surprising. The most shocking evidence
Putnam states through these surveys suggests, Diversity seems to trigger not in-group/out-group
division, but anomie or social isolation., in other words heterogeneous societies not only distrust
other ethnicities, they also distrust their own ethnicities. He amplifies this with many examples
including the more time spent watching television which creates antisocial environments and
reduces the quality of life and interaction with others.
Studies have also shown that hunkering down or isolation occurs everywhere in
communities with economic differences and those that support equality. Putnam has stated many
different sides of the issue at hand but he also embellishes on his point of view, The task of

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becoming comfortable with diversity will not be easy or quick, but it will be speeded by our
collective efforts and in the end well worth the effort., this explains how he is not against
immigration but simply reminding us of how to work together to be successful as a whole.
America is one of few countries assembled this way and it is an experiment of mankind to create
a social climate of diversity and unification. As his title reads e pluribus unum, from our dolla
bill, means namely to create a novel of one out of a diverse many.

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Works Cited
Lennon, John. "Imagine"(1971)
Putnam, Robert, D. "E Pluribus Unum: Diversity and Community in the Twenty-first Century"