Saving this for the future

 

Christopher F. Rufo 

@realchrisrufo

The best way to understand DEI is to separate the marketing pitch—which, I agree, is attractive—from the reality of DEI in practice. Here is how I see it: 1. Diversity: We agree that it is important for people of all backgrounds to be treated fairly. But "diversity" in the political sense means treating individuals as a representation of their group identity, sorting them into a hierarchy based on the "oppressor-oppressed" dynamic, and then discriminating for or against certain groups on that basis. In practice, it means putting identity above merit, rewarding and punishing individuals based on their ancestry and, increasingly, their political ideology. In academia, for example, "diversity statements" are used to measure conformity to left-wing racial theories. 2. Equity: We agree that we should maximize opportunity for all. But "equity" is a political ideology that is distinct from, and contradictory to, "equality." In the highest sense, equality means that the state should treat individuals impartially, as in "equality under law," while recognizing that individuals have different talents, desires, and motivations, which will inevitably lead to inequalities. In a sense, you cannot have equality without inequality—they are two sides of the same coin. "Equity," on the other hand, treats all inequality as illegitimate and attempts to force group equalization, or "equality of outcomes," through redistribution of wealth and property. This is a key tenet of critical race theory. 3. Inclusion: We agree that institutions should have constructive, creative environments. But in practice, "inclusion" is a code word for a distinct, left-wing orthodoxy and is used to suppress disfavored groups and opinions. At many universities, DEI administrators publish speech codes in the name of "inclusion" that restrict the range of discourse and speech on campus. Additionally, the "inclusion" principle is never extended to supposed "oppressor" groups, such as whites, men, and Christians—instead, it becomes a form of exclusion. We can see this in the real world with many institutions implementing "hate," "bias," and "safe space" policies, which, in practice, are used to silence dissent and, especially, conservative speech. This is not speculation. I have substantiated all of these claims with dozens of investigative reports on DEI bureaucracies in universities, schools, and corporations. It is, in fact, much worse in the particular than in the general dynamics I am describing above.