There's this "Diversity Committee" at work, aimed to helping people come together and appreciate cultural differences, while at the same time celebrating what makes individual cultures unique. They're doing some type of a "kick off" event with cultural foods and music.

I was eating my lunch when the gentleman in charge of the dietary department comes in and asks if my salad is from (AWESOME ITALIAN PLACE), because they're having foods from different countries at this Diversity thing, and it reminds him he needs to order pizza for the Italian portion of the food.

At first I'm like..."But...pizza isn't Italian, per se. Isn't that kind of stereotypical?" But the more I thought about it, the more it annoyed me. Why have a “Diversity” Committee if you're just going to propagate the same old BS stereotypes?So I went to talk to the person in the committee handling the food and was told that basically it's all about money. Pizza is cheap and they'll deliver. "Plus," she says "I've had pizza in Italy."

...

Yes. I've had pizza in CANADA, too, does that make it CANADIAN by default? WTF kind of a statement is that? Pizza is no more Italian than "french fries" are French, but you get those in Paris, too!

Then my boss says, "In order for it to be a stereotype, you have to know about it." which upsets me even more. That's the point of the committee! To fight racial ignorance! It's a stereotype because everyone ASSUMES IT'S TRUE without being educated and stepping outside their own racial comforts.

I'm just ashamed. I really am. If it weren’t a Diversity Committee I’d probably ignore it, but, man…

Ugh. Just had to rant.  

Hey, I've had beef larb and pho in my city.  Doesn't mean they are native Angeleno dishes.  Sigh.

I think they should just be honest and call it the pizza committee.  That would be more likely to bring people together.

I'd sign up for a pizza commitee!

Ignorance is everywhere, unfortunately.

Lol, all of my Italian friends have cooked me some amazing, delicious real Italian meals - I have not once been offered a "slice of pizza" while in their home.  That is ridiculous, and I am not one who knows a whole lot about ethnic food.  Oh and his saying "In order to be a stereotype, you have to know about it", I don't even know what the fuck that means.  Sounds like something the head of my department would say - she isn't capable of admitting to any mistakes either.   

Sorry, I had to do it Luci, because it is sooo ridiculous

The Office: Diversity Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j7wr-wsmcI&feature=PlayList&p=04DC115814BF2AC5&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=42

LOL Bananas!  The office never gets old - hey, I think I am 2/15th American Indian too!!!  

The video that comes after that one is even better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5rTjBydX-k&feature=PlayList&p=04DC115814BF2AC5&index=44&playnext=3&playnext_from=PL

Luci, why wouldn't they just have each person bring something homemade that their family eats, to display some cultural variety? Like an Around the World Pot Luck.

Luci--I'm not sure any food would really be an Italian experience, unless it involves your Italian mom, grandma and aunts to spend all day in your kitchen, preparing homemade, authentic--and yes, Italian--food.