Diversity as the new patriotism
WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON
Racial and ethnic diversity is the key to happiness, success in the global marketplace and, not least, an interesting life.
So we are told in a batch of new “fair housing” radio ads that are the sort of treacly propaganda that cause sober drivers to run off the road.
Presented as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, the ads were produced by the National Fair Housing Alliance, a private, nonprofit group whose stated purpose is to make sure the act is properly implemented. The act bans housing discrimination and imposes stiff penalties for those who get caught.
Lately, the fine intent of eliminating discrimination seems to have morphed into diversity advocacy.
Before I proceed, let me say that I prefer a world in which not everyone is the same. I like that my neighbors include a gay couple, a single mother, and that several languages are spoken on my street.
But happy diversity is an organic process that results when like-minded citizens congregate around shared values and interests. Often those interests and values have evolved from racial and ethnic identities, but not necessarily. Sometimes neighbors of diverse backgrounds share affection for old houses, or window boxes, or pet-friendliness.
That not all people have access to all the same housing opportunities is called life in a free-market society. But the fair housing folks want life to be more fair, and the ads are warming us up for some really fun social engineering.
The wormiest of three ads posted online features a mother and daughter just home from visiting Mom’s workplace. Daughter is breathless with wonder at how diverse Mom’s workplace is, but she wants to know why everyone in their neighborhood “looks just like us?” Dum-de-dum-dum.
A cheerful, third-party voice explains that “diversity shouldn’t be left behind at work each day. In our neighborhoods, we can create a greater appreciation and respect for cultural differences. And prepare our children for the global life that lies ahead. After all, your family doesn’t live in a 9-to-5 world. Why should diversity?”
Another ad called “Parallel Lives” features a boring white guy and an exciting Latino. White Guy is dull because “my neighborhood always stayed the same.” Latino is vivacious and engaging because his diverse neighborhood “always got more interesting!”
In a flourish of diversity solidarity, dull White Guy and fascinating Latino say in unison: “I want my kids to live a richer life.” Doesn’t everyone? But is diversity the key to prosperity and happiness? Or is diversity what naturally occurs when people from different backgrounds are drawn to a nation where prosperity can be earned and the pursuit of happiness is a founding principle?
In fact, Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam found that diversity actually hampers civic engagement: The greater the diversity, the less people engaged in charity and community projects. In the most diverse communities, people trust each other half as much as they do in the most homogenous settings.
Putnam, a pro-diversity fellow, didn’t particularly like his findings and has insisted that the data suggest challenges rather than excuses to avoid diversification. Hear, hear. But wouldn’t those challenges best be met by individuals discovering the rewards of diversity rather than by receiving the superior wisdom of bureaucrats through chirpy public service messaging?
No one’s suggesting that the government or the alliance intends to direct where people live, but coercion usually nips the heels of propaganda. More than a hint of inorganic engineering seeps between the lines of a December 2008 report by the National Commission on Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
Based on hearings across the country, the commission found high levels of residential segregation, which “result in significant disparities between minority and nonminority households, in access to good jobs, quality education, homeownership attainment and asset accumulation.”
And what is the solution to such disparities? How does one make a neighborhood more diverse? Is it only luck—or the absence thereof—that determines how people cluster themselves?
Apparently, a little proactivity is in order. Commissioners have recommended creation of an independent enforcement agency to “advance fair housing, not just to avoid discriminating.” (Emphasis mine.) They also want to “break down residential segregation and provide households isolated in segregated areas the opportunity to find integrative alternatives.”
What exactly this means isn’t clear, but it doesn’t sound like a prescription for self-determination or free markets. And “Love Thy Neighbor” is beginning to sound like an “or else” proposition—not so much an expression of Christian charity, but a patriotic duty.
Kathleen Parker is a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. Her e-mail address is kparker@kparker.com.
Apr 27, 2009 at 6:15 a.m.
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It is not about the government forcing people to live places. It is about the government making it possible for people to live in areas that previously banned the possibility due to prejudice and discrimination.
Institutional silent racism is alive and well. Although some people in these blogs think that's not a big deal, racism hurts us all, regardless of our race. Janesville is in a very transitional state. We need to have a welcoming attitude towards all races if we are going to survive. People of color reading these posts may say, "Why would I want to live there?" Is that what we want? Open your minds people! This is not just "touchy feely liberal hippy crap" This is our future!
Apr 26, 2009 at 7:17 p.m.
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Watchout bootsybutts, someone called you racist. The horror, the horror. :)
Apr 26, 2009 at 4:30 p.m.
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Last time I looked, the word diversity was not one of the words appearing in the U.S. Constitution. Diversity is not why our country is great - the fact that we have liberty and freedom is. Hopefully having the socialist president will not CHANGE that.
Apr 26, 2009 at 4:16 p.m.
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Living amongst people who share your culture, beliefs, and lifestyles is not wrong. Don't let anybody tell you different.
Let's assume the government (in the guise of equality) does know best and eventually forces diversity on everybody. With enough forced "mixing", people will eventually lose what makes them unique. Different races will disapear, everybody will have a medium level of intelligence, everybody will have medium paying jobs and live in medium quality houses. Everybody will have the same beliefs and want to live the same lifestyle. Gee, won't that be nice???
The world has already lost too many unique societies. Why would anybody want this bad trend to continue?
Understanding (or at lease tolerating) somebody who has different beliefs is good for humanity. It certainly doesn't mean you have to agree with other's beliefs or want to live in the same neighborhood as people who dont think like you do.
Apr 26, 2009 at 4 p.m.
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Bootsy- Your post frightened me, until I kept reading and became hilarious. Let's make a list of everyone that you don't like: homosexuals, divorced families, non-English speakers, minorities, government policies, hip-hop/rap music (not all of which has bad lyrics- there are even Christian rappers- FYI), people on government assistance, section 8, people that don't (or can't) work. That is a LOT of people. Your world must be very sad, and, very angry. I feel sorry for you.
Apr 26, 2009 at 3:39 p.m.
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bootsybutts, you are so lost in your racism you can't even see reality. You should google "white privilege." Try reading some of Peggy MacIntosh's work. Affirmative Action started out white, and it still (in most cases) is. You have so many privileges and open doors strictly because of the color of your skin...not to mention all of the privileges that come with your sexuality, and if you are Christian, your religion, and if you are male, your gender. It may seem scary to offer some of those privileges to others, but just open your mind to the possibility that you are not as self made and entitled as you believe yourself to be. Allowing others to have the privileges you already have does not mean you have to lose yours. You will have to lose your prejudice and bigotry. I don't know if you can do that, but the first step is acknowledging they are there.
Apr 20, 2009 at 8:08 a.m.
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Those that promote "diversity" are the most likely to insulate themselves in cocoons of political uniformity. Visit any college campus and you will quickly see what I mean: an almost universal political orthodoxy (admittedly, some professors support Hugo Chavez while more right-wing nuts support Hillary), a uniform disdain for religion, and even political speech codes. If you really want to see "diversity," you'll have to look beyond those that are so busy peddling it.
Apr 20, 2009 at 1:38 a.m.
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Diversity as the new patriotism? Seriously? Does that imply my conscious choice for being around my own race is unpatriotic? Why is racial and ethnic diversity being forced upon us? (Diversity relating to “shared affection for old houses” is completely unrelated to any of this) If we, the majority, labeled the ‘whites’ for statistical purposes by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other federal agencies, prefer to live with other majorities than that should be our choice. The federal/state governments are becoming too large and involved in too many facets of our lives and are now telling us who our neighbors should be. So what would be “more fair”? The opportunity for homosexuals to walk down the middle of the streets blocking traffic with their pink boas so they can express themselves, or any foreigner to make the local citizens accommodate their lack of English speaking skills in every aspect of their lives? That’s already happening. How about affirmative action? We’re already giving away education to minorities with inferior test scores and lower grades when the majorities with higher test scores and grades are forced to essentially pay higher tuition rates (if they can even get into the school) because their cultural background doesn’t promote diversity in post-secondary schools. What more can be given? What will it take before the government and the leaders of the minorities are content? The lifestyle of the majority has essentially become a crime. Having a nuclear family consisting of a husband, wife, and children where BOTH parents are involved in the children’s lives in a positive way (without receiving assistance from the government) has become unpatriotic. Working for a living is apparently overrated and can be substituted for government money and food for anyone that decides to be indolent. Having the control to have less than a dozen children with only one woman is the responsible thing to do, but has become quite unpopular. Rap and hip-hop music (with its demeaning and racist lyrics) has become an accepted form of warm-up music for many of the high school’s sports teams in the area. The list goes on. So what has happened to us? How come drug use and, therefore, related crimes are where they're at now in the area as more minorities visit from Beloit, Rockford, Milwaukee, and Chicago? How come the forth ward is a disgusting place where few will ever venture any more? From the money I save from working, I plan to purchase a home in a respectable neighborhood because I want to live in a quiet, low-crime area. Then the government steps in ‘advocating diversity’, creates section 8 housing, and now my quiet, low-crime area has turned into the forth ward. I am all for EQUAL rights, but this is not equal. You need to work for what you want. Government handouts should be limited to those who NEED it, and no, being a minority does not automatically guarantee you a check from Uncle Sam.
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