Since the rise of Black Lives Matter in 2020, we have seen a push for equity.
The prevailing philosophy of the growing '20s was that there were two classes of people: the oppressors and the oppressed. Equality was no longer king. Instead, equity was the word of the day. Equality guaranteed equal opportunity, but people still didn’t have the same outcomes. This was considered to be unfair. Why is it that two kids going to the same school came out differently? Why did one kid end up with a degree from Harvard and a 401K when the other was on welfare, burdened with child support and no major job prospects beyond a minimum wage job?
Now, you and I know that our problems do not boil down to a power imbalance that is impossible to overcome. Rather, our problems are caused by a heart too apt to deter from God’s nature and will. But the elite of our country have deviated from this truth and persist in this philosophy.
Today, you may have a doctor who is your doctor not because they are great in that field, but because they check any number of intersectional boxes. In other words, people are being chosen for positions of power or need based on how oppressed that candidate is because of their immutable characteristics, or sexual preference.
The whole system is dedicated to giving positions of power to those who are deemed not to have power.
So, who are the oppressed, and who are the oppressors? The oppressed is anyone who does not fit what is called normal. The oppressed are the normal. And this can go to an absurd degree. For instance, you can be categorized as an oppressor or as oppressed based on the color of your skin. So the system is inherently calling one skin color normal and the others not normal.
Not long ago, we agreed as a society that the key to wealth and success is to get married, have children in wedlock, go to college, and get a job. Add or take away the college degree. Why did we accept this? Because it was true. It is the only formula for success that actually works. Children born to parents who aren’t married are statistically proven to not do as well. People without jobs don’t do well. Men who have families are more motivated to do well and thus rise economically.
But what of those who don’t want to get married or at least, not to the parent of their children? What of those who are in relationships with people of the same sex? What of those who have mental illnesses and thus have confusion about their sex and gender? They don’t statistically do as well. Is that unfair? No. They just chose a path that does not work.
Odd. Turns out God’s ways do lead to success.
We are trying to make successful what is not successful. A person, regardless or race, who does what is outlined above, has every chance of success. A person who does not, is less likely to do well in life.
So we took up the wrong solution to the problem. We elevate the oppressed class and oppress the oppressors. We just flip who is oppressed and who is the oppressor. We make the abnormal normal and the normal abnormal, actually it’s called evil now days. That will give the people who made poor choices success right?
Turns out, no. It would seem that in no sector has this worked. It has only served to demonize a few people who have done nothing to harm others. It has harmed countless who have worked hard for the qualifications they have and denied them opportunities they should have been allowed to enjoy. The market is suffering due to incompetence at the highest levels.
It's diversity for all but one class, equity for everyone but one class, and a form of inclusion that doesn’t include at all.
If there were a DEI version of "Jesus Loves the Little Children," it would be, “Jesus loves minority children, all these children in the world. You and you, but not you (pointing to the white kid born in a family with married parents and might be Christian). Jesus loves these chosen few.”
For some reason, it’s even seeped into our churches. There’s a push for women pastors. Why? Because women’s voices have been oppressed by the church. Never mind Paul’s command for a woman not to preach. She is oppressed; thus, she must preach.
Society cannot continue in this. It will only end in an endless cycle of oppression. Instead, we must push for merit. Let’s not pretend it doesn’t work. Look around. You can see countless stories of people overcoming dire circumstances and still succeeding because they worked for it. We must strive for hard work. That’s the only way we can right the ship. It will improve the quality of our care, industry and security. We just have to work to include all who work.
Laura Clark is a wife, mother, and community activist. She currently serves as the interim president of Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, a conservative nonprofit law firm that fights for limited government, free markets, and strong families in the courts. Anything written by Laura for this publication does not constitute legal advice.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
