E Pluribus Unum

In George Orwell’s tale of a dystopian time, 1984, words are twisted to mean the opposite of their usual spirit. What is usually considered good becomes bad, and vice versa. This “doublethink” was expressed as war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.

In real life, we now see reverse interpretations of the admirable words diversity, equity, and inclusion — which, for instance, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis falsely redefines as discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination.

The genuine meanings, however, cannot be avoided. Diversity recognizes our undeniable pluralism. Equity doesn’t assume we all have equal abilities but ensures that everybody can be judged equally on merit, not irrelevant biases. Inclusion means that people of diverse identities should populate our workforces, colleges, military, and other establishments, especially their leadership.

DEI rightly exists in the explicit or implicit policies of many institutions — in areas such as hiring, organizing, and training, with job descriptions that give everyone qualified an equal chance to apply.

BUCKWALTER

But unsurprisingly, reactionaries denounce it as a liberal assault on our way of life. In reality, though, it’s essential to the way our lives should be. It constitutes some of the best ideals in American culture.

The great divide in U.S. society today is between exclusion and inclusion — whether that involves race, religion, ethnicity, immigration, or gender identity and orientation. DEI obviously threatens the exclusionists.

The aversion to DEI is likely motivated, in part, by changing U.S. demographics and attitudes. Heterosexual non-Hispanic whites are a diminishing majority, and there’s a greater acceptance of Blacks, Hispanics, LGBTs, and bi-racials, along with a greater acceptance of their rights. The U.S. is commendably offering much more visibility and integration to previously marginalized groups.

Fearful people see that trend toward inclusive pluralism and less relative power for the long-dominant sector, which led DeSantis to call DEI “anti-white.” Echoing that frightened mindset, the Florida Legislature banned DEI at state universities — a blatant repudiation of core American values that effectively endorses discrimination.

As with any concept, DEI can be misapplied and cause problems. But properly understood, it can affect our highest precepts.

Of course, we’re a diverse “nation of immigrants” from around the world. Of course, we must have equity. The founding tenet that we’re all created equal and its concomitant prospect of open opportunity has continually drawn widely varied immigrants from closed societies. Of course, we must be inclusive—as proclaimed in our motto, e pluribus unum, “out of many, one.”

Critics cry this is “woke”—another word that’s maliciously misused and actually means awareness of social injustice, a good thing. In truth, the auspicious social awareness—wokeness—at the heart of DEI comports fully with America’s progressive evolution, so close-minded resistance is a regressive, futile attempt to stem our historical march to expand justice. We have become and will become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. It’s the American way.

— Roger Buckwalter is a retired editorial page editor of The Jupiter Courier.

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