Diversity: 1. The condition of being diverse. 2. An instance of being diverse.
Diverse: 1. Differing from one another. 2. Composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.

Those are the definitions in Merriam Webster's dictionary. The real world's definition is much more complex. A few weeks ago I received a call from a reporter. The reporter wanted to speak to a "diverse" firefighter. I knew what she wanted, but for some reason, I picked that moment to make a point and have a little fun at the same time.

"No problem," I said. "We have engineers, radiation protection technicians, corporate instructors, students, farmers, builders, students, a former migrant farm worker, rich, poor, middle class, cops, career firefighters, career paramedics, career EMTs, mechanics, dispatchers, cooks, Wal-Mart employees, laborers, electricians, lawyers, bankers, elected officials, barbers, self-employed, military brats (yours truly), moms, dads, sons, daughters, grandparents...." You get the idea. When I stopped talking, there was a long silence ...

"Hello?" I asked.
"Ummmmmmm..." was the reply.
"Let me guess, that's not the kind of diversity you want, is it?" I quipped.
"No, we're looking for a black or Hispanic firefighter," she said.
"Yeah, we have a black firefighter and a couple of Hispanic firefighters," I replied.

I then proceeded to tell the reporter about my fellow firefighters who are black and Hispanic — very good friends. It is my privilege to know such quality people. The American fire service (especially the volunteer fire service) is as diverse a workforce as you can find anywhere.

I was called away to a meeting before I had the opportunity to really tell the reporter what mattered in the fire house. None of the diversity stuff (as we know it) matters. Rich, poor, white, black, straight, gay, less filling, tastes great, or whatever. None of that matters on the fire ground. All that matters is that we can depend on each other when the time comes. We don't have to like each other, share the same likes or dislikes, watch the same TV shows, listen to the same radio station or hang out after hours. But those of us who trust each other — regardless of our differences — seem to get along just fine regardless of our interpersonal differences. So what's the bottom line? Watch your brothers' and sisters' backs and everything else will work out fine.