The Racism Problem - Why DEI Must DIE

 Racism is a problem, and will continue to be a problem until we accept that there is no such thing as 'racism'.


In my series "The Art of Reasoning", in parts 9 and 10, I discussed some fundamental characteristics of human behavior, some inherent, genetically embedded survival behaviors, which are present in any social species.

Fundamental to survival is the ability to avoid or eliminate that which can harm us. How do we distinguish that which can harm us? Our inherent programming is to flock to that which is like us, and to fear that which is different.

(Note: this mechanism can be overridden. There are two key characteristics which allows us to overcome this survival response to the unknown; confidence, and curiosity. A creature that is sufficiently curious, and free of trauma from past experiences of threat may approach the unknown unafraid.)

This fear tends to lead to one of two responses to a perceived threat - flee, or fight. When alone or outnumbered, flight is the more likely response. When we have the force of a flock (or herd or pack), we may be more inclined to fight. Spend a little time observing the animal kingdom and you will see this behavior, where predator becomes prey. Buffalo, wildebeests, gazelles, elephants - all herbivores- have been known to fight off and even kill powerful prey animals, such as tigers or lions. If a lone wolf strays into the territory of another pack, the pack may respond with violence. They have even been know to slaughter a stray pup.

In 1971, a single tribe of Chimpanzees in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania split into two territorial factions. Those two factions began a brutal war with each other in 1974, which lasted four years, until one tribe was effectively decimated by the other.

All animals fight to protect resources and territories, to eliminate potential threats, to survive. It is a genetically ingrained behavior. And we humans are no different int his regard, we are subject to 'the natural man' within us. We protect that which is part of our herd against that which is not.

And the difference between 'part of the herd' and not can be very subtle. A wolf looks very much like any other wolf to us. Yet the pack can identify the outsider by his unique scent. The Gombe chimpanzees were originally all one tribe, with only four years of separation to distinguish them before they went to war.

We can form flocks based on nearly any distinguishing characteristic. Skin color, geographic origin, eye shape, spoken language, accent, age, gender, religious belief, political system. It is the same mechanism at work.

This is the problem with 'racism', 'Racism' doesn't actually exist. it is a contrived label which we have chosen to give to a very specific instance of the survival mechanism described above. The issue of "black vs white" is no different than that of 'Hutu vs Tutsi', or 'Sunni vs Shia', or 'Orange vs Green'. We create an artificial boundary, group people accordingly, expose real and contrived offenses, dredge up past sins, and go to war.

By labeling it 'racism', we have diverted attention away from the underlying mechanism at work, and instead focused on the superficial differences between two cultural groups. The unintended consequence of this is to reinforce the boundary between the two groups in question. Rather than seek to understand the similarities, we highlight the differences, which inevitably escalates the conflict.

DEI programs take this issue a step further, by introducing the idea of marginalized groups.  Any number of characteristics can be used to create still more groups, draw more battle lines, quite often erasing the very diversity they claims to be seeking in the process.

The economics of conflict further exacerbate the issue. There is so much money to be made, so much political power to be gained from playing on fears, it is far too tempting for most to pass  on the opportunity to exploit it to personal advantage.

 Anti-racism efforts, or Authoritarian imposition of diversity through DEI programs, are therefore counter-productively fostering the very thing they intend to eliminate. The first step to truly ending racism, is to stop labeling it as 'racism'. Real Diversity is achieved when it is recognized that the unit of true diversity is the individual.

Reasoning: The Solution

 In the previous posts in this series, I have detailed the rather substantial challenges we as humans face, both individually and collectively, which interfere with our ability to progress toward truth, and to live in a state of (relative) peace and prosperity.

Our very own biological, genetic nature sabotages us in this endeavor. Ironically working against its inherent purpose.

To be fair, progress in this regard is an uphill battle against a fundamental law of physics, specifically the second law of thermodynamics. In simple terms, the second law of thermodynamics says that a closed system (the universe, in this case), unless acted on by an external force, will inevitably move to a state of absolute disorder. As time progresses, living things die and decay, metals corrode, stone crumbles, stars burn out, matter and energy dissipate, until all is one vast, disordered sameness.

How then, do we combat this counter-current, this inexorable march toward absolute chaos? I introduced the answer In the fifth post of this series, "The Art of Reasoning".

I refer to it as an 'art' as I don't believe there is a specific, formulaic way to apply a prescriptive set of steps and arrive at the end goal. As the antithesis of chaos, it must necessarily be adaptive in nature. It requires an active and dynamic effort on our part, both individually and collectively.

Now, that isn't to say there aren't any basic tenets to guide the endeavor. There are guidelines and guardrails, which human wisdom has known and posited since the most ancient of days. Nearly every religious and philosophical system ever devised includes among its most basic of tenets the ideas represented - perhaps most universally today - by either 'the golden rule' ('do unto others as you would have others do to you') or the 'two great commandments' ('Love God' and 'Love thy neighbor as thyself').

The law of Maat in ancient Egypt, or the law of Tzedek in ancient Isreal are two prime examples of this. The same fundamental ideals also show up in Old Norse writings, early Hindu texts, Japanese warrior tradition...  Virtually every old civilization documents a very similar set of fundamental set of guidelines, a 'code of conduct'. The same themes are consistently represented, namely:

Truth - Be honest (or at the very least, don't lie)

Courage - Don't let you fear master you.

Hospitality - Treat guests well.

Work - Be industrious in helping to build your home and your community. Take Joy in Labor.

Fidelity - Be true to friends, and family, be celibate if single, and faithful to your partner if married.

Honor and Integrity - Keep your oaths. Ensure your family name is respected, that it retains a reputation of purity, honesty, integrity and commitment.

Kindness - Speak kind words often, and look for and act on opportunities to help and serve those around you.

Reciprocity - Return kindness for kindness.

Compassion - Be quick to forgive, slow to condemn. Do not overstep your boundaries of concern.

Remorse and Accountability - Allow yourself the expression of remorse. Acknowledge your faults and and errors, take responsibility for and do all in your power to correct your mistakes, and to undo any harm you may have caused.

Wisdom - Actively seek knowledge and cultivate wisdom.

Discipline - Be modest. Practice moderation and self-sacrifice.

Justice - Protect the innocent, the weak, and the helpless. Do not seek violence, but protect those who are unable to protect themselves.



Quite honestly, most of these tenets seem obvious, so sensible, that when one reads them, it seems almost absurd that any civilization would not choose to adhere to them. This underscores just how powerful the 'natural man' is, and why it is such an active, concerted effort to exercise the art of reasoning.

It is difficult just to keep ourselves aligned with these tenets. How can one even hope to keep a society aligned? No easy task to be certain. But one which is worthy of pursuing. And just as active pursuit of the above tenets can help keep an individual on the path of Reasoning, there are also tenets which can serve as guardrails for a society.