By the way, this isn’t meant as an attack on you. I have read your posts for many years and respect your views as generally well thought out.
I feel very strongly on this subject.
DEI and Bud Light is an exercise in stupidity, that is certain. But Bud Light is simply bad beer, and that stupidity may only bring down what was once a cultural icon, and the wages of that idiocy means people will lose money and jobs.
DEI in military actions, air traffic control, aircraft design, training, and operation are exercises in death and destruction.
And that goes for maritime operations of seagoing vessels as well.
Thank you your measured and civil reply. This is, in part, why I often cc you in replies in relevant threads.
In sum, I believe what you’re ascribing to DEI and Affirmative Action I ascribe to collectivism. There is overlap but also difference and distinction, and how those of us who love our founding principles ”call our” this or that “cause” can help or hurt America.
First, let me say the Mayor is a dope. The fact that Baltimore remains a high crime city under his leadership is all his. I was no fan of Giuliani when he was Mayor (I worked in NYC back then) but he cleaned it up. Leaders, lead. Losers, deflect.
Second, my chief criticism here is the knee-jerk blaming of this catastrophe on DEI by some, based on Synergy Marine Group (the firm operating the Dali) having a DEI internet page. Not that it matters too much, but I’m not the only one decrying this knee-jerking.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4227184/posts
Third, or possibly part of #2, the last big blow-up “blamed” on DEI - SVB - was a grand example of our side making fools out of themselves in the rush to judgement. To wit: it’s no better than leftism blaming MAGA gunmen after a shooting. SVB lacked a Chief Risk Officer for MONTHS but in that rush, “our side” failed to do basic research and blamed a mid-tier employee IN THE UK who was all about DEI on LinkedIn. A little bit of searching on the interweb would have revealed the difference between risk assessment and comprehensive risk management. But no…gotta blame the DEI monster, even though in SVB the actual culprit was a plethora of things that have zero to do DEI, ESG, and other pet things despised by “the right.”
In the end, we looked stoopid. Because we were.
I don’t doubt the caustic dimensions of promoting losers that have eroded many basic foundational elements of America. But I would submit to you, this transcends DEI. I observed lots of favoritism and elitism that destroyed firms big and small…and that had nuthin to do with DEI. I saw plenty of losers growing up in my white suburban town who would have perished in the Founders’ times. At the same time, I’ve seen a few people who would have been sidelined in my youth (autists, for example) who now have doctorates in math. That’s the result of embracing the Christian virtue of diversity which got integrated with the Populist DEI. It’s a small silver lining, and worth celebrating, but it comes with a cost.
In my view, DEI is a symptom, not a cause, of THE main problem, which is collectivism. Look at Uvalde…the cops got off with barely a slap on the wrist. Educators who groom children are protected by the union and administrators.
Back in the day, bad eggs would be flushed out and strong individuals would be championed. Today, is nobody’s fault…”it’s the system.”
Bud Light was forced tolerance run amok. I don’t care if a guy wants to wear a dress. I thought Divine was a hoot, and FWIW John Waters thinks reassignment surgery for kids is bad. But when their head of marketing hates me and tells me I have to buy their crappy beer and like it, she can go pound sand.
We may agree more than disagree. Or not. But your reply was worth a lengthy reply on my part. I hope it makes sense.