Acceptance of diversity, and isolationism: two concepts that have been at the forefront of my mind, given the current situation in our state, our country and the world. I’ll not discuss world history or politics, but rather look at those concepts as they relate to my own past experiences and my current concerns.

The first half of my life, as a child and young adult, I did not have much experience outside my immediate environment. I was isolated from diversity, had little exposure to people who weren’t like me. That changed in 1984 when I made a sudden decision to accompany a climbing ex...