What a Song and a Texas flood taught me about "Diversity"

 It all started when I was listening to Color Music's cover of "Alone Pt II" by Alan Walker. I like the song, and I like this interpretation of the song, but there was a point, beginning at about 00:32, The chorus first comes in, all singing in Unity.

 It simple, and beautiful. a clean, singular melody.

 Than at about 00:43, the magic begins, when they diverge. Gives me the chills.

 But I had a realization.

 

That isn't diversity.

 

 Imagine, if you will, a Country western tune, overlaid on top of a rap beat, overlaid on an EDM drop, on top of an operatic solo, on top of a gothic metal growl...

 A chaotic cacophony. Hundreds of voices each doing their own thing.

 

 The real magic is harmony, when diverse voices come together for a singular goal.

 

I saw a news clip last week that further illuminated this. 

 

It was a story which centered on one individual who noticed a problem with the official response system in his area. It consisted of two incoming lines for people to call for help, and  one outgoing line for dispatching emergency services.

 This system quickly became overwhelmed.

The individual in question, seeing this, made a social media post saying he had a boat, and people could reach out to him via social media if they were in dire need.

 Others  saw his post, and rather than starting their own independent effort, reached out to this individual, offering their boats and time. Before long close to on hundred boats were operating under a hastily formed command structure, responding to distress calls, and checking on homes of elderly people at the request of their out-of-state children.

 Those individuals could have just taken the diversity route -each posting their own message and doing their own thing. Watching the interview clips of the individual, there was nothing about him that screamed "leader" or charisma. He was just a humble, quite guy who had a boat and saw a need. Yet, close to a hundred other people saw his post, and chose to harmonize with him. And - just like the song - the end result gave me chills.