By: Trevor Verdonik
February 24th, 2010

Each year, there comes a time to discuss the topics of diversity, equality, and justice. These topics are critical to our future as a nation and as a society.

To begin, what is diversity? Common sense would suggest a definition describing an abundance of variety within a group. In a social sense, this meaning may be expanded to reference the state of having a wide variety of different people with different ideas, backgrounds, and experiences all coming together and representing themselves as equals. Few would disagree that this arrangement is representative of a diverse society. Yet for such a simple idea, why does it seem that the ultimate paradigm of social diversity constantly eludes us? This answer lies deep within our social fabric.

It is important to note that there seem to be significant differences in the various ways diversity is interpreted. Diversity is acceptance of and respect for others regardless of whether one agrees with another’s thoughts and actions. Once phrased in these terms, diversity can be described as a respect for man’s natural right of freedom. Mankind has received no greater gift than that of freedom, a right granted by nature and inalienable by any other force. Only recently has the opportunity arisen for people to escape the will of despots and tyrants to live in a state of at least partial freedom. As such, I would consider it a terrible crime to unjustly deprive another person of his or her natural rights. It is here, where diversity and freedom intersect, that the greatest dangers to our natural rights exist.

Oppression has plagued societies throughout history, and there are even contemporary instances of oppression in the United States and abroad. From injustice, a hierarchy of leadership arises in the form of special interest groups, who strive to restore natural rights to their oppressed constituencies. It is through such advocacy that rallies are formed, speeches are given, and the creation of diversity positions in schools, businesses, and governments occur. By itself, this is not inherently bad, as it may indeed serve its purpose as intended. However, one must consider the cost of such activism when left unchecked. It is easy for unbridled activism to diverge from its original purpose and move towards the oppression of their perceived former oppressor through unrealistic demands.

For this reason, it is imperative that the progression of diversity through activism and advocacy be checked with prudence. Care must be taken to ensure that both the immediate and long-term consequences of our actions serve to benefit society as a whole and do not merely further segmentation and oppression. The reasoning for this is simple: special interest groups are, by definition, specific concerns within society, which tend to seek measures which not only ensure their own liberties, but which also occasionally advocate the recession of natural rights belonging to those they consider their oppressor. Such a mindset is based in the concept that an advantage to one must result in a disadvantage to another, a belief which is simply not true. There is no reason why everyone cannot enjoy their natural rights together, as this is the true meaning of diversity.

As a conservative thinker, I have been labeled as racist, prejudiced, unjust, immoral, sexist, intolerant, and even evil in the past, an experience shared by many conservatives. After hearing these accusations, I always question whether I am actually racist, a good person, or if my beliefs are wrong. These are difficult questions to ask but after long and hard consideration, my answer became clear. My friends emigrated here from various countries around the world, subscribe to a wide variety of political views, differ in sexual orientation, practice different religions, and are of varying ethnic backgrounds. In this respect, I embrace the differences in others around me to improve on the diversity of my life. In my mind, such a realization begs the questions: who is really intolerant, the man who believes in every person’s inalienable rights or the special interest group that divides society, pushes our differences to the forefront, and calls for the alienation of others in order to further their own interests? It is good to seek diversity, but prudence must dictate our course when dealing with something as sacred as our natural rights. Our freedom is both the most powerful and delicate possession we have as human beings, and as such it is imperative that we seek change and improvements in the diversity of our society, but we must take care to let our actions to be guided by the wisdom that all of society must progress without fear of further division and oppression.