I think you give away why you're so upset about diversity training and everything else in this article when you write: "Western social structure—which is based on freedom and meritocracy". Really? For whom has Western social structure been based on freedom and meritocracy? As I white male I can answer that- white males. You can't say Western social structure has been based on freedom and meritocracy when women couldn't have a credit card in their own name until the 70's for example never mind all of the treatment of everyone who wasn't a white male in this fabled merit based free Western Society. Have gay people been free and judged by their merit? How about Alan Turing who is a major reason we're not speaking German today being chemically castrated? Was that based on freedom and merit? I'd say chemically castrating someone for being gay who helped defeat fascism and preserved our freedom is a radical viewpoint. Denying women credit cards is a radical viewpoint. Denying huge sections of the population the full rights of freedom and merit because of their gender, race, and sexual orientation is a radical viewpoint. I think you're so bent out of shape about this topic because you feel threatened by the changes in society and by people who have been locked out of this supposed merit based society no matter how much merit they possess. You should celebrate this supposed Western freedom and merit that is being practiced by students, gays, people of color, women and everyone else denied freedom and the ability to live based on their merit. They are struggling and fighting and working on living up to a society based on freedom and merit. We and you should celebrate their efforts. Are they getting everything right? Do they have all the answers? Nope and nope. But, after what 1000+ years of us dudes getting a lot wrong surely we can make some room for other view points and opinions and mistakes. That's not a radical viewpoint. That's progress.
Incredible! What a great piece of writing. You said so much in such a limited space, too. This article helps clarify what I've been sensing for some time, you have identified it exquisitely. As most social and intellectual shifts occur relatively slowly over time and therefore, by their creeping nature go largely unnoticed until attention is drawn to it, the bottom line is that warnings go mostly unnoticed. People don't want to know the ugly truth.
Winston Churchill warned of growing Fascism in Europe during the 1930's but those that needed to listen were more concerned about avoiding war than they were about preventing it, and there IS a difference.
With the creeping onslaught of ultra-liberalism or even radical conservatism (if you want to call it that) lies the danger of waking up too late.
I've read some of the other comments and I feel that some of those responding to your article have taken it personally. An article does, after all, lack the benefit of open dialogue so that is one downside of your terrific piece.
My own view on this is based on my background in European and American history studies.
Generally I enjoy your writing. Today, I think you made a thoughtful point but missed the bigger picture. These universities did not approve of the actions taken on Oct 7. I know no one that did. Hate speech is abhorrent, plain and simple. And so are hateful actions. Israel is the oppressor of the Palestinians. If you have ever traveled there you will have seen that for yourself. That does not make the actions of the Hamas excusable. It also does not make the genocide of the 22,000+ and counting Palestinians excusable. Hate and oppression are simply not the answer. It is greed and power that has driven the Israeli and Palestinian conflict all of these years. As in all of recorded history, the oppressed will rise up to challenge their oppressors. That is the situation and must be addressed, not by supplying weapons and money to the oppressor.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful piece, Robert. You've approached a highly contentious topic with great compassion and moral clarity. I grew up in the United States, but have spent most of my adult life living in Israel. As a liberal, secular woman, I can understand the allure of DEI ideology. I subscribed to it myself for many years. Today, I see things differently. Although the DEI story is compelling on many levels, when I look closely at how it's endorsed, and by whom, it's hard to ignore all the dangerous blind spots. Applying this framework (which, as you argue, is failing in America) makes even less sense in the Middle East. There are many basic assumptions and norms that simply don't translate into local reality. Unfortunately, much of the younger generation that is militantly espousing these beliefs completely lacks the perspective that is needed to apply them judiciously. I'm not sure what it will take for them to question their deeply held beliefs and transform them into a perspective that is genuinely pluralistic. I hope it won't take something as extreme as what is currently happening in my neck of the woods.
I love on the UES of Manhattan and have this conversation constantly. Two years ago I attended the CUNY Law School graduation of a friend and was appalled by the institution supported antisemitism. The speakers all referred to the abolishionist movement. Over dinner I asked for clarification and was given a smug, as if I was beneath the answer, "the move to abolish our judicial system" as the answer from a 24 y/o child who had never paid a bill or held a job in her life and had gone from one indoctrinating institution to the next. The fact that my curiosity was met with distain rather than a desire to educate me on a topic she was clearly passionate about shows who the real elitists are, and as you noted, where the oppressed become the oppressor by the fact that she didn't deem me worthy of her knowledge because, as a white woman, although Catholic, am apparently also an oppressor. I will share this article to a lot of people for a long time. Thank you for the care you took in preparing it.
Robert, I've enjoyed your articles for years. This one is excellent, with considerable food for thought and discussion, and truth. It should be required reading for every high school student, especially those who will attend college. I always like your choice of quotations, but one minor point today -- the Aristotle quotation is a fabrication. It appears that he said "For instance, it is thought that justice is equality, and so it is, though not for everybody but only for those who are equals; and it is thought that inequality is just, for so indeed it is, though not for everybody, but for those who are unequal; but these partisans strip away the qualification of the persons concerned, and judge badly." in his "Politics", 3.1280a <www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0058%3Abook%3D3%3Asection%3D1280a>.
I can imagine what was you feeling writing this looong article :-) but seriously, I agree with every word you have write there. It was a delight read it.
It’s a hard way for all of us who are trying to make a positive change in the world. Is specially challenging for those of us who have little child. Mine are 10 and 6 years old and I’m always thinking in how to be a good father and support my wife to show them how to live correctly, with high spiritual and moral values, you know, the values where our occidental society was founded.
I want to thank you for taking the time to share with us this kind of ideas and opinions. This just shows that you are a great leader. Sometimes if difficult for me to understand every single word because I’m not a English native speaker, but I try to do it. And it’s a good practice to improve my English.
Thank you, Robert, for expressing a solid view on the uses and abuses of the victim mindset, the oppressor/opressed narrative, DEI initiatives, meritocracy, equal opportunities and equal outcomes.
I'm a resilient woman (or think so myself), seeking constructive agency in any circumstances. I'm called an extreme optimist, and I think it was Churchill who said, what's the point of being anything else.
From this perspective, I aim at helping others become agents and not abuse the position of a victim or abuse that mindset even without being direct victims themselves. I respect those who are victims and admire them when they take constructive agency, attemting to rebuild their world even facing terrible consequences. I strive for that myself, but the cost to me is small, poverty at the worst, which in a western European country is paradise compared to what some positive agents face elsewhere.
This said, I perceive agreement in the comments: DEI and meritocracy are not opposed, they are the same in essence, divided by abuse. I understand DEI should be a means to achieve meritocracy, a means to provide equal opportunities. While a victim mindset (I mean it as mindset, used regardless of having been a victim) and an oppressor/opressed narrative seem to advocate for equal outcomes in a way.
I don't know, I just hope people take what they have and do the best with it in a constructive and courageous way. The best I can do is help my (just out of their teens) children care for a better world for all. Share with them that at the workplace I don't see a point in manifesting your identity, that what is important is your effort and growth mindset (they drive results). At the end of the day, bias (& discrimination) is based on what we see: man/woman (regardless of nuances, just what one looks like), colour and facial expressions, height, volume, pitch of voice, accent, fluency in the language, level/function in the organisation... So many bias only on what is directly observable! I'm too old to waste energy and time in thinking I may be also biased by what I don't know that is (how you feel re. identity, world politics...). That I save for empathy if/when needed.
Sorry, I wrote for so long and definitely not even half as clearly and thoroughly researched as Robert. Sign that I really like the article and enjoyed reading all the comments. Thanks if you read this one.
I agree with your article on the whole, but there was no mention of the dangers of white supremacists' hate for anyone who is not white and/or Christian nationalist. Trump and his extreme right minions have been espousing dangerous hate speech for years that has exploited social media channels where there is limited fact checking. Right-wing anarchists such as 4chan and 8chan also have joined in the fray. Trump wields Christian nationalism only for his own benefit, of course. The goal is a Christian national-theocracy with Trump as dictator and the elimination of our democratic republic form of government.
Before the war with Hamas, Netanyahu also sought to dismantle democracy in Israel. He wields Orthodox Jewish views for his political benefit. Thankfully, the Israeli Supreme Court, recently and narrowly struck down Netanyahu's legal attempt to curb the power of the judicial branch and cement his dictatorship.
Sexism is also not addressed in your article. DEIB efforts also seek to counter sexism. Make no mistake, Hamas is evil and morally bankrupt. Their hate for the Jews has led to the destruction of their own people. However, if the Israeli military had listened to their female experts on Hamas and female soldiers in the field, they may have recognized that a Hamas invasion was imminent. Perhaps they could have stopped the the Hamas terrorist attack, hostage taking, and the subsequent killing more than 20,000 civilians, half of them children under 18, in the Gaza Strip. The fact that warnings from Israeli female military personnel were completely disregarded is just a reminder of how sexism's pervasiveness and toxicity impacts the lives of everyone (the theme of the recent Barbie movie!). When we emphasize that our country is a meritocracy, we are merely gaslighting and disenfranchising half our population that knows it is not.
Great article and I agree with many points except the broad criticism of DEI programs which have been around long before 2020. DEI programs are getting increased investment, attention and scrutiny in recent years so the growing pains are expected. Poor implementation of a program is not unique to DEI. Executed correctly, I have seen them become mission enablers in the military. The fear of a "victim mentality" is also theoretical. I would like to see more research on that hypothesis. I have embraced DEI concepts for over 20 years of my professional career, which were essentially a continuation of the principles imparted by my parents that focused on equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. Insightful conservative thought should never be brought down by the lowest common denominator of extreme right wing views. I think the same respect should be afforded to DEI practitioners who are making a positive impact every day.
I'd love to debate some of your points in an open forum. You make a lot of assumptions and apply labels carelessly, but I do agree with a number of your points. Would be an interesting and stimulating conversation, I think.
I am a DEI professional in higher ed. Like Brad, I agree with many (but not all) of your points and appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into this piece.
"Each year, these schools—which talk so loudly about inclusivity—proudly reject more students than the year before as they chase vanity rankings that highlight their exclusivity." Such an interesting observation that I had never thought about, thanks for writing this piece.
Robert, I have some questions for you, and some comments:
1. You said "so many individuals and institutions have openly embraced antisemitic viewpoints". What do you mean by "embraced" in the context of institutions? And what when you refer to "so many" and institutions, how many are does your research say are doing this "embracing"?
2. You said "These lecturers increasingly teach students what to think, rather than how to think." Can you share the data you used to make this claim?
3. You talked about how RPO mis-uses the history of peoples to frame the "oppressors" and the "oppressed" and quoted Thomas Sewell about how history shouldn't apply in a meritocracy. But then you provided a brief history of Jewish oppression to make the point that it should. Please reconcile.
One thing I find really challenging in today's political climate is that most people I encounter or read don't seem to be able to grasp that multiple things can be true at the same time. Some examples:
Israel has been systematically and aggressively oppressing Palestinians AND the HAMAS attack was unspeakably wrong.
Providing assistance to people who are being systematically disadvantaged AND then expecting them to compete on the merits can be part of the same plan.
Protecting our border integrity AND treating defenseless, desperate refugees with respect and kindness can both be done at the same time.
The "victim ideology' can only be defeated when people understand that multiple things can be true at the same time. Unfortunately, very few politicians/leaders have the acumen or desire to posit that. Look no further than the current front-runner for President, Trump. Listen to his stump speeches. Half of the time he spends on explaining why he is a victim. The other half? Why YOU are a victim. Nothing sells like the 'victim ideology'. People LOVE hearing that their failures are not their fault, and that if they vote a certain way, they will get retribution on their transgressors. It's the American political 'slam dunk' approach to winning votes. Until we find some people with courage to say the unpopular "multiple things can be true at once", we will never have the empathy necessary to compete in the future.
Oh Robert, am so, so disappointed in this article.
1. Progressive Ideals Misread Much?: So, you're telling me that wanting a fair society is the same as axing merit and freedom? True progressivism isn’t about creating some Orwellian world where effort and talent don’t matter. It’s about leveling the field so everyone's hard work and merit actually count, regardless of where they started.
2. Intersectionality Isn’t the Villain Here: It's not some weapon to rank people's suffering; it's about understanding the layered ways discrimination hits people. It's meant for empathy and bringing folks together, not dividing them into oppression categories.
3. DEI Isn’t About Playing the Victim: Okay, DEI programs aren’t perfect, but they’re not the brainwashing schemes you’re making them out to be. They're crucial for building spaces where everyone feels they belong. These programs aren't about making everyone into victims; they’re about respect and representation.
4. Equality of Opportunity vs. Outcomes Isn’t Black and White: I think you are oversimplifying the whole equality of opportunity vs. outcomes debate. It's not about handing out trophies for showing up. It's about tearing down real barriers so that the playing field is genuinely fair. From this article it seems you have reduced it to a scenario where nobody gets to shine.
5. Higher Ed Isn’t the Enemy: These places are trying to fix historical imbalances and value diverse perspectives, not just create echo chambers. They’re about more than just race or ethnicity; they’re tackling socioeconomic disparities too.
6. Antisemitism Isn’t Just About RPO, and Criticism of Israel Isn’t Inherently Antisemitic: Saying that the rise of antisemitism is all down to radical progressive orthodoxy oversimplifies things by a mile. Antisemitism is a complex beast with a long, ugly history, and it's way bigger than any one ideology or movement. And hey, while we're at it, let's clear something up: criticizing the policies of the Israeli government doesn't automatically make someone antisemitic. There's a world of difference between opposing certain political actions and hating on an entire group of people based on their religion or ethnicity. Conflating the two? That's not just unhelpful; it's misleading and muddies the waters of what antisemitism really is.
I think you give away why you're so upset about diversity training and everything else in this article when you write: "Western social structure—which is based on freedom and meritocracy". Really? For whom has Western social structure been based on freedom and meritocracy? As I white male I can answer that- white males. You can't say Western social structure has been based on freedom and meritocracy when women couldn't have a credit card in their own name until the 70's for example never mind all of the treatment of everyone who wasn't a white male in this fabled merit based free Western Society. Have gay people been free and judged by their merit? How about Alan Turing who is a major reason we're not speaking German today being chemically castrated? Was that based on freedom and merit? I'd say chemically castrating someone for being gay who helped defeat fascism and preserved our freedom is a radical viewpoint. Denying women credit cards is a radical viewpoint. Denying huge sections of the population the full rights of freedom and merit because of their gender, race, and sexual orientation is a radical viewpoint. I think you're so bent out of shape about this topic because you feel threatened by the changes in society and by people who have been locked out of this supposed merit based society no matter how much merit they possess. You should celebrate this supposed Western freedom and merit that is being practiced by students, gays, people of color, women and everyone else denied freedom and the ability to live based on their merit. They are struggling and fighting and working on living up to a society based on freedom and merit. We and you should celebrate their efforts. Are they getting everything right? Do they have all the answers? Nope and nope. But, after what 1000+ years of us dudes getting a lot wrong surely we can make some room for other view points and opinions and mistakes. That's not a radical viewpoint. That's progress.
Incredible! What a great piece of writing. You said so much in such a limited space, too. This article helps clarify what I've been sensing for some time, you have identified it exquisitely. As most social and intellectual shifts occur relatively slowly over time and therefore, by their creeping nature go largely unnoticed until attention is drawn to it, the bottom line is that warnings go mostly unnoticed. People don't want to know the ugly truth.
Winston Churchill warned of growing Fascism in Europe during the 1930's but those that needed to listen were more concerned about avoiding war than they were about preventing it, and there IS a difference.
With the creeping onslaught of ultra-liberalism or even radical conservatism (if you want to call it that) lies the danger of waking up too late.
I've read some of the other comments and I feel that some of those responding to your article have taken it personally. An article does, after all, lack the benefit of open dialogue so that is one downside of your terrific piece.
My own view on this is based on my background in European and American history studies.
Generally I enjoy your writing. Today, I think you made a thoughtful point but missed the bigger picture. These universities did not approve of the actions taken on Oct 7. I know no one that did. Hate speech is abhorrent, plain and simple. And so are hateful actions. Israel is the oppressor of the Palestinians. If you have ever traveled there you will have seen that for yourself. That does not make the actions of the Hamas excusable. It also does not make the genocide of the 22,000+ and counting Palestinians excusable. Hate and oppression are simply not the answer. It is greed and power that has driven the Israeli and Palestinian conflict all of these years. As in all of recorded history, the oppressed will rise up to challenge their oppressors. That is the situation and must be addressed, not by supplying weapons and money to the oppressor.
Thank you for writing this thoughtful piece, Robert. You've approached a highly contentious topic with great compassion and moral clarity. I grew up in the United States, but have spent most of my adult life living in Israel. As a liberal, secular woman, I can understand the allure of DEI ideology. I subscribed to it myself for many years. Today, I see things differently. Although the DEI story is compelling on many levels, when I look closely at how it's endorsed, and by whom, it's hard to ignore all the dangerous blind spots. Applying this framework (which, as you argue, is failing in America) makes even less sense in the Middle East. There are many basic assumptions and norms that simply don't translate into local reality. Unfortunately, much of the younger generation that is militantly espousing these beliefs completely lacks the perspective that is needed to apply them judiciously. I'm not sure what it will take for them to question their deeply held beliefs and transform them into a perspective that is genuinely pluralistic. I hope it won't take something as extreme as what is currently happening in my neck of the woods.
Thank you. The time you spent writing will result in people thinking and talking, which is a positive.
I love on the UES of Manhattan and have this conversation constantly. Two years ago I attended the CUNY Law School graduation of a friend and was appalled by the institution supported antisemitism. The speakers all referred to the abolishionist movement. Over dinner I asked for clarification and was given a smug, as if I was beneath the answer, "the move to abolish our judicial system" as the answer from a 24 y/o child who had never paid a bill or held a job in her life and had gone from one indoctrinating institution to the next. The fact that my curiosity was met with distain rather than a desire to educate me on a topic she was clearly passionate about shows who the real elitists are, and as you noted, where the oppressed become the oppressor by the fact that she didn't deem me worthy of her knowledge because, as a white woman, although Catholic, am apparently also an oppressor. I will share this article to a lot of people for a long time. Thank you for the care you took in preparing it.
Robert, I've enjoyed your articles for years. This one is excellent, with considerable food for thought and discussion, and truth. It should be required reading for every high school student, especially those who will attend college. I always like your choice of quotations, but one minor point today -- the Aristotle quotation is a fabrication. It appears that he said "For instance, it is thought that justice is equality, and so it is, though not for everybody but only for those who are equals; and it is thought that inequality is just, for so indeed it is, though not for everybody, but for those who are unequal; but these partisans strip away the qualification of the persons concerned, and judge badly." in his "Politics", 3.1280a <www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0058%3Abook%3D3%3Asection%3D1280a>.
Hi Robert.
I can imagine what was you feeling writing this looong article :-) but seriously, I agree with every word you have write there. It was a delight read it.
It’s a hard way for all of us who are trying to make a positive change in the world. Is specially challenging for those of us who have little child. Mine are 10 and 6 years old and I’m always thinking in how to be a good father and support my wife to show them how to live correctly, with high spiritual and moral values, you know, the values where our occidental society was founded.
I want to thank you for taking the time to share with us this kind of ideas and opinions. This just shows that you are a great leader. Sometimes if difficult for me to understand every single word because I’m not a English native speaker, but I try to do it. And it’s a good practice to improve my English.
Best regards from Costa Rica.
Thank you, Robert, for expressing a solid view on the uses and abuses of the victim mindset, the oppressor/opressed narrative, DEI initiatives, meritocracy, equal opportunities and equal outcomes.
I'm a resilient woman (or think so myself), seeking constructive agency in any circumstances. I'm called an extreme optimist, and I think it was Churchill who said, what's the point of being anything else.
From this perspective, I aim at helping others become agents and not abuse the position of a victim or abuse that mindset even without being direct victims themselves. I respect those who are victims and admire them when they take constructive agency, attemting to rebuild their world even facing terrible consequences. I strive for that myself, but the cost to me is small, poverty at the worst, which in a western European country is paradise compared to what some positive agents face elsewhere.
This said, I perceive agreement in the comments: DEI and meritocracy are not opposed, they are the same in essence, divided by abuse. I understand DEI should be a means to achieve meritocracy, a means to provide equal opportunities. While a victim mindset (I mean it as mindset, used regardless of having been a victim) and an oppressor/opressed narrative seem to advocate for equal outcomes in a way.
I don't know, I just hope people take what they have and do the best with it in a constructive and courageous way. The best I can do is help my (just out of their teens) children care for a better world for all. Share with them that at the workplace I don't see a point in manifesting your identity, that what is important is your effort and growth mindset (they drive results). At the end of the day, bias (& discrimination) is based on what we see: man/woman (regardless of nuances, just what one looks like), colour and facial expressions, height, volume, pitch of voice, accent, fluency in the language, level/function in the organisation... So many bias only on what is directly observable! I'm too old to waste energy and time in thinking I may be also biased by what I don't know that is (how you feel re. identity, world politics...). That I save for empathy if/when needed.
Sorry, I wrote for so long and definitely not even half as clearly and thoroughly researched as Robert. Sign that I really like the article and enjoyed reading all the comments. Thanks if you read this one.
I agree with your article on the whole, but there was no mention of the dangers of white supremacists' hate for anyone who is not white and/or Christian nationalist. Trump and his extreme right minions have been espousing dangerous hate speech for years that has exploited social media channels where there is limited fact checking. Right-wing anarchists such as 4chan and 8chan also have joined in the fray. Trump wields Christian nationalism only for his own benefit, of course. The goal is a Christian national-theocracy with Trump as dictator and the elimination of our democratic republic form of government.
Before the war with Hamas, Netanyahu also sought to dismantle democracy in Israel. He wields Orthodox Jewish views for his political benefit. Thankfully, the Israeli Supreme Court, recently and narrowly struck down Netanyahu's legal attempt to curb the power of the judicial branch and cement his dictatorship.
Sexism is also not addressed in your article. DEIB efforts also seek to counter sexism. Make no mistake, Hamas is evil and morally bankrupt. Their hate for the Jews has led to the destruction of their own people. However, if the Israeli military had listened to their female experts on Hamas and female soldiers in the field, they may have recognized that a Hamas invasion was imminent. Perhaps they could have stopped the the Hamas terrorist attack, hostage taking, and the subsequent killing more than 20,000 civilians, half of them children under 18, in the Gaza Strip. The fact that warnings from Israeli female military personnel were completely disregarded is just a reminder of how sexism's pervasiveness and toxicity impacts the lives of everyone (the theme of the recent Barbie movie!). When we emphasize that our country is a meritocracy, we are merely gaslighting and disenfranchising half our population that knows it is not.
Great article and I agree with many points except the broad criticism of DEI programs which have been around long before 2020. DEI programs are getting increased investment, attention and scrutiny in recent years so the growing pains are expected. Poor implementation of a program is not unique to DEI. Executed correctly, I have seen them become mission enablers in the military. The fear of a "victim mentality" is also theoretical. I would like to see more research on that hypothesis. I have embraced DEI concepts for over 20 years of my professional career, which were essentially a continuation of the principles imparted by my parents that focused on equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. Insightful conservative thought should never be brought down by the lowest common denominator of extreme right wing views. I think the same respect should be afforded to DEI practitioners who are making a positive impact every day.
I'd love to debate some of your points in an open forum. You make a lot of assumptions and apply labels carelessly, but I do agree with a number of your points. Would be an interesting and stimulating conversation, I think.
I am a DEI professional in higher ed. Like Brad, I agree with many (but not all) of your points and appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into this piece.
"Each year, these schools—which talk so loudly about inclusivity—proudly reject more students than the year before as they chase vanity rankings that highlight their exclusivity." Such an interesting observation that I had never thought about, thanks for writing this piece.
Robert, I have some questions for you, and some comments:
1. You said "so many individuals and institutions have openly embraced antisemitic viewpoints". What do you mean by "embraced" in the context of institutions? And what when you refer to "so many" and institutions, how many are does your research say are doing this "embracing"?
2. You said "These lecturers increasingly teach students what to think, rather than how to think." Can you share the data you used to make this claim?
3. You talked about how RPO mis-uses the history of peoples to frame the "oppressors" and the "oppressed" and quoted Thomas Sewell about how history shouldn't apply in a meritocracy. But then you provided a brief history of Jewish oppression to make the point that it should. Please reconcile.
One thing I find really challenging in today's political climate is that most people I encounter or read don't seem to be able to grasp that multiple things can be true at the same time. Some examples:
Israel has been systematically and aggressively oppressing Palestinians AND the HAMAS attack was unspeakably wrong.
Providing assistance to people who are being systematically disadvantaged AND then expecting them to compete on the merits can be part of the same plan.
Protecting our border integrity AND treating defenseless, desperate refugees with respect and kindness can both be done at the same time.
The "victim ideology' can only be defeated when people understand that multiple things can be true at the same time. Unfortunately, very few politicians/leaders have the acumen or desire to posit that. Look no further than the current front-runner for President, Trump. Listen to his stump speeches. Half of the time he spends on explaining why he is a victim. The other half? Why YOU are a victim. Nothing sells like the 'victim ideology'. People LOVE hearing that their failures are not their fault, and that if they vote a certain way, they will get retribution on their transgressors. It's the American political 'slam dunk' approach to winning votes. Until we find some people with courage to say the unpopular "multiple things can be true at once", we will never have the empathy necessary to compete in the future.
Oh Robert, am so, so disappointed in this article.
1. Progressive Ideals Misread Much?: So, you're telling me that wanting a fair society is the same as axing merit and freedom? True progressivism isn’t about creating some Orwellian world where effort and talent don’t matter. It’s about leveling the field so everyone's hard work and merit actually count, regardless of where they started.
2. Intersectionality Isn’t the Villain Here: It's not some weapon to rank people's suffering; it's about understanding the layered ways discrimination hits people. It's meant for empathy and bringing folks together, not dividing them into oppression categories.
3. DEI Isn’t About Playing the Victim: Okay, DEI programs aren’t perfect, but they’re not the brainwashing schemes you’re making them out to be. They're crucial for building spaces where everyone feels they belong. These programs aren't about making everyone into victims; they’re about respect and representation.
4. Equality of Opportunity vs. Outcomes Isn’t Black and White: I think you are oversimplifying the whole equality of opportunity vs. outcomes debate. It's not about handing out trophies for showing up. It's about tearing down real barriers so that the playing field is genuinely fair. From this article it seems you have reduced it to a scenario where nobody gets to shine.
5. Higher Ed Isn’t the Enemy: These places are trying to fix historical imbalances and value diverse perspectives, not just create echo chambers. They’re about more than just race or ethnicity; they’re tackling socioeconomic disparities too.
6. Antisemitism Isn’t Just About RPO, and Criticism of Israel Isn’t Inherently Antisemitic: Saying that the rise of antisemitism is all down to radical progressive orthodoxy oversimplifies things by a mile. Antisemitism is a complex beast with a long, ugly history, and it's way bigger than any one ideology or movement. And hey, while we're at it, let's clear something up: criticizing the policies of the Israeli government doesn't automatically make someone antisemitic. There's a world of difference between opposing certain political actions and hating on an entire group of people based on their religion or ethnicity. Conflating the two? That's not just unhelpful; it's misleading and muddies the waters of what antisemitism really is.