We’ve heard the dictum that there is “strength in diversity” so many times that we virtually accept it as incontrovertible. Move over, law of gravity. The “D” in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is on the move.
Whoa.
Just what do they mean by, “strength in diversity?” And, if you don’t mind, who are “they,” anyway?
Neither question poses a challenge.
“They” is our federal government as it implements a diversity agenda throughout the nation. “They” is our current military leadership. “They” is our university system moving swiftly to propagate DEI across academia. “They” are the corporations hiring on any number of identity-based criteria. “They” are filmmakers in Hollywood and elsewhere emphasizing the self-proclaimed identity of actors and crew. “They” are lawmakers who preach this nonsense but have no idea what they are saying and can never quite cite the constructs that support this absurdity.
For the fun of it, let’s examine what this group of the proper and self-righteous mean.
They mean we are stronger somehow through the diversity of races, sex, gender identity, sexual preference, minority status, victimhood eligibility and whatever collage of people we can assemble. The more diverse these identifying characteristics, the stronger we will be as a nation, a military, a university, a company, a team, a movie, or whatever else you can think of.
The inconvenient reality here: It is a lie.
It is a lie, and worse, anyone who has ever contemplated the topic for more than a second knows it.
Strength may just appear in diversity, but there is no cause-effect. The way it is being defined today is bogus.
Lowest- hanging fruit: Look at the best athletic teams in our country. Do they hire based on diversity? Do the LA Lakers? How about the Pittsburgh Steelers? Boston Red Sox? That is what makes them strong, right? That’s how they win championships, correct?
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How much diversity, based on the criteria above, are the Chinese looking to incorporate into their military? The Russians? Are they quaking because of the strength we accumulate because we have access to a greater cross-section of society, as we define it?
America’s first national motto was “E Pluribus Unum,” Out of Many One.
What did our Founders mean? In three words, they meant one in vision.
The basis of any great team is a common vision. Yes, there can be differences in the path to get to greatness, as there were with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists at our founding. But, the end goal, or goal-line, so to speak, is the same.
Each of these great professional teams plays to win. Without that vision or common goal, their parts will not be as strong as a whole.
This is, of course, the union of strength in diversity with E Pluribus Unum. Both can be correct.
Everyone who joins the Pittsburgh Steelers does so to win and both submits to, and adopt, the team vision. Each player also brings his unique talent. Not everyone can be quarterback or tight end. Yet, each player has his spot on the team vital to a communal effort to achieve collective good.
Yes, there is strength in the diversity of talents.
These talents have nothing to do with race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. This is one reason our military has accomplished so much. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, how you identify, your skin color or your faith. It just doesn’t matter. Beautiful.
Here’s what does matter:
How good are you at your job? What skills do you bring to the table and how can they help us further our mission? Can you get along with others? Sacrifice what is necessary to win? Are you willing to subordinate personal interests to those in command?
This is what matters. We all know it, and yet go along with this diversity ruse out of guilt or capitulation to lots of yelling. Well, this type of thinking is going to get people killed.
The diversity lie helps neither the unqualified person, for whom it is intended, nor the person whose earned place has been sacrificed.
We should pity before celebrating the diversity hire, for he or she will never know for sure. Pity, too, the replaced worker who, booted from his qualifications, will never attain his or her potential.
Wake up, America.
Time for common sense to prevail. The worse kind of delusion is that of self.
Jeff Utsch, of Tucson Arizona, is a Faculty Lead at the Leadership and Freedom Center in Gettysburg Pennsylvania where he teaches Leadership Lessons of the Battle and other Professional Development Courses.
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