We live in a country with more diversity, of every kind, than
any other nation on earth. It's one of our greatest strengths. It's also one of
our greatest challenges. Diversity implies differences and differences often
create uncertainty. 
Additionally, many culturally diverse groups have a history
of conflict with one another - a history of fact, a history of perception and a history of
innuendo. So I think it particularly important that when each of us encounters
someone different from ourselves (i.e. an "individual of difference"), that we go out of our way to show that individual
that they are on equal footing with us, that we respect them, etc.
Yes, we should do this to everyone, but when two individuals of similarity interact, there usually isn't that potential tension of difference. However, when we encounter someone of difference on a day-to-day basis, we go out of our way to:
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