Last week, I wrote about the part that altruism has played and may continue to play in the growth of a more perfect union in America. This week, I continue with more details about the character of selfless concern for the well-being of others.
It comes to the forefront of our awareness through a controversy introduced by President Trump. He has launched an attack on the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, also known as DEIA. Following the President’s lead, New Hampshire’s Gov. Kelly Ayotte has signed into law a budget which prohibits state-funded public universities from promoting any DEI-related policies or programs.
Whereas, DEIA is a formula for building community, DEIA is being misinterpreted as segmenting the community to expose vulnerable scapegoats for acts of racism and antisemitism.
President Trump’s world is hierarchical, one is either a winner or a loser. Trump’s favorite phrases include, “Never before has there been such success!” “I make the greatest deals ever!” “Make America great,” that is, make it superior over all other nations. He even wrote about his move to stop congestion pricing in New York City by concluding with, “Long live the King!” The King wins. His friends win. Others lose.
“King” and “hierarchy” are not in the lexicon of DEIA. Advocacy for DEIA is a threat to President Trump’s MAGA world.
Therefore, President Trump seeks to construct roadblocks to the advocacy and practice of DEIA. He encourages the idea that the acronym, DEIA, is a threat to America. Viewing the acronym prompts an emotional response; a feeling of deception, danger, anxiety and fear. These persistent negative reactions are similar to those Americans felt toward Germany’s swastika and Japan’s rising sun during WWII or toward the Soviet Union’s hammer and sickle during the cold war.
The problem with acronyms and insignia is with the stirred-up feelings, leaving very little room for reason. From the President’s point of view, the acronym, DEIA, is a red flag signaling an abhorrent fearful concept that must be eliminated.
Consequently, we are witnessing President Trump’s executive orders seeking to denigrate and eliminate any hints of DEIA from educational institutions, government entities, nonprofits and community life in general. The New Hampshire legislature and governor have chosen to include those executive orders into state law.
Trump’s knee-jerk reactions seem to him sufficient cause to root out the perceived evil DEIA from the country. Successfully demonizing the acronym will bring his followers along with him. There is no room for DEIA in the MAGA way.
But what is misunderstood is there is room for MAGA people to practice DEIA, the concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. MAGA demands one way as the only way. However, DEIA includes a variety of human beings, including MAGA supporters, who together are greater than the sum of their parts.
Diversity is only meaningful and successful when all are included. Inclusion, by definition, pulls together all of the diverse participants. There is no separating out any of the people. The wholeness of inclusion embraces all the segments of diversity. Also, diversity and inclusion are understood to be companions of equity and accessibility. Equity’s meaning rests with many different people included together in fairness and impartiality. Finally, the experience of accessibility means the assurance that anyone may be a part of the DEIA community. Accessibility is the helpmate of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Any roadblocks for an individual or ethnic group to becoming a full part of the community must be torn down, such as the attempt to exclude birthright people from citizenship, or blanket refusal to asylum seekers to became citizens or threats to withhold funds from colleges and universities employing DEIA workshops or practices. A commitment to accessibility will provide a pathway and funding needed for healthcare, education and support systems like Medicare and Medicaid.
Whether in education, the workplace, business, Congress, non-profit organizations or interpersonal relationships, the blending of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility offer a more perfect union with safe space for all. Even a president is welcome and safe, free from the necessity to aspire to be king.
John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com