Last night, as I was browsing a movie streaming service, I came upon a particular collection of films with the following description:

“Our selection of critically acclaimed…titles celebrates diversity. Enjoy these very different stories.”

From that, what sorts of movies would you expect to find?

Within the collection, a further explanation of the roundup read thusly:

“Playful, poignant, political. This collection has it all. Our selection of critically acclaimed…stories, documentaries and feature films celebrates diversity.”

What does that suggest?

Here are a few partial summaries of the movies found within:

Marc and Fred go to war when they are refused a double bed at a Christian B&B. They win their court case and go back.

This documentary picks up the respective stories of Rene and Jamie, 13 years after their Gender Affirmation Surgeries.

A young piano prodigy returns to his family farm after a long stay in ex-gay conversion therapy.

Jenny has led an openly gay life with everyone except her family. … Jenny decides to marry Kitty, a woman they thought was her roommate.

A provocative and moving documentary exploring the lives of gay women living in the conservative, religious deep South and the unique hardships, bigotry, bullying, sexism and racism they endure.

Beyond the headlines and debates about gender rights, witness the multidimensional lives of seven transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals.

Having always felt he was born in the wrong body and now at his third school, 10-year-old Tom is having trouble settling in and finding acceptance from his newfound peers – but a school dance is about to revolutionize it all.

Does that sound like diversity to you?

Where are the things that are diverse????

What would actual diversity look like in the modern world? Nobody knows.

The cultural contingent — which appears to be slowly coming together legislatively with political one — won’t let us find out.

Our language is being hijacked — the opposite of politically-considerate mores is being called “political correctness,” and we’re told a radically singular, exclusionary morality is “diversity.”

Here’s an example of what a truly “diverse” movie collection would look like:

A movie that’s pro-choice (The Cider House Rules)
One that’s pro-life (October Baby)
A film that’s politically liberal (The Green Zone)
One that’s conservative (Rules of Engagement)
A movie that’s pro-Muslim (Malcolm X)
One that’s pro-Christianity (Hacksaw Ridge)
A film about traditional values (Cheaper By the Dozen — 1950 version)
One about non-traditional values (any movie from the streaming service’s list above)

Doesn’t that collection feel good? It’s actually inclusive, rather than the opposite, which some perplexingly use to define that word. There’s something in that list for everyone. It truly does celebrate diversity.

Diversity can exist, but the streaming service’s collection is the opposite of diverse. And please don’t misunderstand — that’s absolutely fine; it just shouldn’t state otherwise.

Coming generations cannot develop intellectually, and expand and strengthen their thinking, if they’re constantly being told the most singular thing is the most broad, the most bigoted thing is the most tolerant, the most exclusive thing is all-encompassing, and the most closed minds are the most open. A plague of conceptual opposites has stricken the American lexicon. Words matter. We’re currently caught up in a whole lot of baiting and switching; as inconsequential as that may seem to some, it is — in my opinion — critical that we once again embrace the provision of truth afforded by language. At present moment, we are missing out due to a sleight of hand. And despite it being Opposite Day in the current spin of the world, losing is not winning.

May we reach a day when the only diversity which matters — that of thought — is a catalyst for learning how to think, not what to think. And in the strictest sense of the word, may truth win.

What do you think about this? And how about my movie list — what would you suggest in each category? Please add to the discussion; you’re as much a part of this as I am.

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