Understanding Diversity

I have been writing a lot recently about diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) and have been highly critical of such programs. However I know that many people are passionately in favor of such programs. Recently, my local television station was discussing Texas Senate Bill 17 banning DEI at the University of Texas and the reporter interviewed a UT student of Indian descent who said, “diversity in itself is a good thing.” But is diversity actually a good thing? Or is it one of those other things that can be good or bad depending on how it is used? I think most people who are talking about diversity have not really studied diversity and don’t really know how diversity can be applied to help humanity or how it can be misapplied to harm people.

First, we have to realize that people do not particularly like diversity. Diversity is uncomfortable. We are more comfortable around people similar to ourselves. That’s why we have places like Little Italy and Chinatown. We need a good reason to associate with someone that is different. Trade and business might be one reason to engage with someone different – diverse people may have interesting products to sell. But after the deal has closed, mos