In the past decade, corporations, schools, foundations and governments have scrambled to construct DEI staff and agendas to satisfy belligerent progressive demands. Their desired goal? That seemingly magic word – diversity. And yet, demanding diversity in our associations is really nothing more than identity promotion. In an already pluralistic society like ours, diversity alone is simply not a worthy goal. True diversity is the achievement of a more important and genuine goal; namely unity. Unity is displayed in a gathering of diverse individuals joined by and devoted to common objectives and values. The personal decisions to embrace evident truths and timeless principles transcend skin color, race, age and most other identity based distinctions.
While preparing to teach a class at our church, I was examining the words of Paul in I Corinthians 12:12-26. At first glance, this is a straightforward description of the interdependent relationship various body parts have within the physical body as a whole. The comparison is then made to the unique roles individual members of the church play within the larger Body of Christ. The diverse parts of the body have unity and purpose as they play assorted roles within the same body.
Studying the text, I became even more aware of the relationship between the words diversity and unity. Anyone who has been an attentive citizen in our country in recent years recognizes these two words as “key players” in the development of a great deal of national policy as well as rhetoric, with respect to race, immigration, education, hiring, law enforcement, etc.
We must not get confused about the meaning of unity as opposed to union. Unity is a relationship diverse members share with a common goal or nourishment. Union typically is just a gathering of people with a mutual opponent or features.
Unity is an inner thing. It is a common demonstration of personal conviction, purpose and passion within a varied group of individuals. Unity demands agreement at a very deep and basic level.
Union is an outer thing; the “coat” they wear or the cause they promote. It is more a common grievance or identity. Union is often evident at a more peripheral, superficial and functional level.
A body’s foot, ear or lungs are all energized and nourished by the same blood they share circulated through common arteries -- unity and diversity. Individual Christians are filled and sustained by the same Spirit that indwells and empowers them -- unity and diversity. Citizens are joined together as Americans by their common commitment to free speech, personal liberty, equal opportunity and other principles -- unity and diversity.
A collection of feet apart from the body is senseless. Assortments of people based only on skin color, race or similar history is also just as senseless. Black men, who disagree on basic human rights, do not have unity. They just look alike -- union. White women who do not have a common moral code, do not have unity. They just look alike -- union. Hispanic or Asian or tall, et al, people who do not believe fundamental and essential truths jointly, do not have unity. They just look alike -- union.
Americans of all races, colors and creeds need to have a new appreciation for the fundamental value of unity in our nation. There is no positive display of diversity in a society without unity and common values. Upon a foundation of unity, diversity is the healthiest expression of the validity of the principles that unify us.
Again, diversity is not the goal. It is just a sign that our pluralistic society is becoming more healthy. However, benchmarks that are more foundational must come first. Namely, the respect for liberty, for the rule of law, for fellow citizens, for the principles of freedom, equal opportunity, free speech, God-given entitlements and the unhindered right to pursue happiness for yourself and your family. When these benchmarks are realized, we have the building blocks of unity, which in turn is the backdrop for authentic diversity.
Many societies still have strict caste systems that act as barriers to entire sectors of a nation’s people. In other countries, there are powerful obstacles that may not be “on the books” officially but restrict millions from the benefits of freedom and merit-based advancement.
The United States is not a perfect nation, but we have the highest levels of freedom, opportunity, individual rights and protective legislation in the world. They offer broad avenues of possibility in every level of American society. Liberty and equal opportunity enable success, achievement and excellence. But that success is not guaranteed as DEI proponents absurdly demand. Every citizen must then bring their own personal character, talent, ambition and work ethic to bear in the real world, as they contend with competition, limited resources and unfairness; to name just a few.
In a free society, we cannot monitor decency, legislate morality or guarantee a perfectly level playing field for everyone. There will always be a small percentage of the whole who are racists, evildoers, idiots and the selfish of the world sprinkled among us doing their damage. Our enemies, within and without, focusing on that small percentage, try to portray our nation as fundamentally flawed and systemically hostile to millions of our own citizens. But this portrayal is deliberately deceitful and patently false. In this depiction, we are simply told that diversity is the strength of America. However, that is woefully shallow, incomplete and not true. Our real strength is the unity we share across and within that diversity.
In the years ahead, in a more truthful and enlightened world, we could hope to see colleges, businesses, neighborhoods, churches and personal relationships characterized by the unity of faith, competence, goodwill, freedom, equal opportunity and love of country. The diversity that flows naturally from such unity will transcend all of our distinctions.
PRINCIPLES -
· Freedom of speech
· The rule of law
· Respect for our fellow citizens
· Equal opportunity for all
· Personal responsibility
· Merit based benefits of excellence
“It’s the Principle” - blog by Art Noyes
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