The unintended consequences of diversity

On the positive side, diversity brings together many varying points of
view and perspectives, and all peoples benefit from such exposure, even if they
don’t realize it at the time. Yet forced diversity is dangerous. It breeds
resentment and a twisted form of hatred in itself. How many fights and even armed
conflicts have been fought in the name of diversity, yet they were merely the
sick plots of tyrants seeking homogeneous behavior? Forced diversity by the
State always yields unintended consequences. Despite the best of intentions and
pursuits of “political correctness,” these acts always miss the mark.

The most recent example of unintended consequences was certainly the Fort Hood
tragedy. The assassin’s background and dubious associations were overlooked
(some would say even swept under the rug) for fear the military would be
branded as insensitive to and discriminatory against the Muslim faith.
 
Let’s be honest, we as a nation have come a long way in battling the gross
abuses of civil rights every citizen is entitled to in this nation. The challenge
for all of us today is to root out the residual effects of hatred due to
discrimination against minorities, women, sexual orientation, age and
whatever.

But we must do so CAREFULLY. We are addressing these concerns at the margin in
many respects. No one is lynching African-Americans in the public square. Does
that mean racism is dead? No, not any more than the election of a black
president means the color barrier has been broken. There will still be pockets.
But to look for diversity in places where merit should exist and thrive more
abundantly is a fool’s errand, and often makes it more difficult to help the
class diversity was first intended to benefit.

Williams can be heard daily on Sirius/XM Power 169 from 9 to 10 p.m.

Visit www.armstrongwilliams.com.