Teaching Toxic Topics on Taxpayer’s Tab

It is clear we have real racial problems in this country, problems that need to be worked through as we try to restore some semblance of harmony and understanding among the population.
National healing starts with meaningful conversations, devoid of angry rhetoric and criminal reactions, and needs to include everyone studiously listening to opposing viewpoints.

It is the old idea of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes and understanding their pain.
What we don’t need now are diversity racketeers making a buck off racial turmoil. Unfortunately, that is what is happening, and taxpayers are often footing the bill.
Profiteers calling themselves “anti-racism trainers” have been hired to lecture white federal employees about their racist attitudes at several agencies – the Treasury and Justice Departments, the Federal Reserve, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the National Institutes of Health, to name a few. The training sessions start from the premise that “virtually all white people contribute to racism” and they don’t support doing away with racist institutions. Session leaders insist that all whites must be re-programmed to rid themselves of their ingrained racial bias. At the core of these diversity lessons is the stated condemnation of an entire race of people – Caucasians.
Wait a minute. Isn’t that the exact attitude these trainers say they are trying to combat? How can vilifying an entire race of people to elevate another race ever result in a positive outcome? How can these tactics ever possibly bring us together?

Christopher Rufo – Facebook Photo

Documentary filmmaker Christopher Rufo has reported extensively about this disturbing trend of anti-racist training. He says there are now dozens of private firms currently offering racial diversity training to government agencies, corporations and universities. Rufo reports that the tragic death of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer has sparked an uptick in interest in these “politically correct,” high cost seminars. The question, of course, is do they help soothe race relations or are they simply a feel-good measure that does more harm than good?
The latest course for federal workers is called “Difficult Conversations About Race in Troubling Times.”

In Safe Spaces Whites Must Remain Silent & Not Respond

White government supervisors are instructed to provide “safe spaces” where black employees can be “seen in their pain” explaining what it means to be black to their white counterparts. Whites are instructed to sit in silence and “in the discomfort” of their individual racism. Whites are told they can not protest and “don’t get to decide when someone is being too emotional, too rash or too mean.” Whites are not allowed to protest if a black colleague “responds to their oppression in a way [they] don’t like.”
Call me crazy but this doesn’t sound like a positive tactic to bring about racial harmony among employees. This approach doesn’t help us reach the promise land of a harmonious society or contribute to colleagues understanding the content of their co-worker’s character. Making whites sit in humiliated silence, atoning for the sins of unidentified bigots, doesn’t reveal anything about their true mindset on race relations. This methodology seems tailor-made to instill bitterness and divisiveness. Also, consider what’s happening within the U.S. Army. Recently the Army’s Equity and Inclusion Agency held race-based re-education seminars for both uniformed and civilian personnel at a facility in Alabama. The idea behind “Operation Inclusion” was to expand the program to “all Army Four-star commands.”

The U.S. Army Has Embraced Anti-Racist Seminars

Again, it sounds like a good idea to hold sessions designed to foster better race relations. But according to material included in the Operation Inclusion session Caucasians are never to mention certain ideas and phrases considered racist. Included: the concept that there is only one human race, that blacks can be racially prejudiced against whites and that America should celebrate Columbus Day. Also labeled racist in the Army seminar were the phrases “All Lives Matter,” and “Make America Great Again” and if one believes in the concepts of “colorblindness” then you are deemed to be no better than a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
I, for one, am mighty tired of self-appointed Speech Police and being told I’m an automatic racist when I know in my heart I am not.
Defining an entire race of people as something reprehensibly offensive is not a way to build racial rapport. And paying for such damaging teachings with taxpayers dollars is inexcusable.

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15 Comments

  1. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:32 am

    Reader Jane Lockwood writes:

    I am not an “automatic racist” either. I am over 80, so I have seen a lot. I was raised, educated and worked in a Northeast environment which was Inclusive with regard to race, religion and nationality. In the course of my life I have lived in eight states and traveled abroad.I have supported fair and equal treatment for all, even to the point of risking criticism or being called “disloyal”. I personally participated in assisting with integrating housing.
    I do have reservations about entities that want to deny rights to women, regardless by religion or nationality, and will not support them.
    I have no sympathy for the numerous destructive “movements” arising. Thank you for looking beneath their surface. I am not racist and have done nothing to deserve having a black fist waved in my face.

  2. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:33 am

    Reader Hi Diane,

    I read your opinion in the Albuquerque Journal but I’m not sure why you’re so adamant about the idea of diversity training. My understanding is that the training permits people to understand the perspective of people not like themselves.

    If a part of that training it to allow a person to relate their experience, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to allow that person, relating to not-alike people, probable in an uncomfortable situation, the opportunity to express their experience in an uninterrupted forum. Later, after the uninterrupted relating of experiences, discussions about the experiences would seem to be an appropriate part of the training.

    You express that you’re “mighty tired of the self-appointed speech police and being told I’m an automatic racist when I know in my heart I am not.”

    Well I don’t know who the speech police who are telling you that you are an automatic racist, but if you are worried about what you are perceiving from others, maybe you should examine the route of this concern.

    Finally, I know a “president” who expresses no racist in him, it’s obvious there is, perhaps you should check again.

    John Meehan

    • Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:42 am

      Diane replies to John Meehan,

      Yeah, John, I checked again and I’m still not a racist.

      Also, I am not against all diversity training. I am against diversity training that demonizes one race of humanity in the attempt to try to build up another.

  3. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:44 am

    Reader Scott Perl writes:

    I am amazed you haven’t been sent to a re-education camp yet. Continue to speak the truth. But I have a question, why have you succumbed to the requirement that the word “black” be capitalized, yet three words later you don’t capitalize the word “white”? According to the website grammarbook.com you capitalize races, nationalities, and tribes. It specifically notes that “white and black in reference to race are lowercase.”

    https://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/capital.asp

    It may seem like a small thing, today, but if people who have a national platform give in to even small demands to change our language not only will it succeed but there will always be another demand another day. Where do you draw the line? Words should not be politicized to achieve a social or cultural objective.

    Respectfully,

    Scott Perl
    Albuquerque, NM

    PS – I am curious where you live and how an Op-Ed column like yours is serialized today given our politics. Personally, I am glad to read something in a newspaper that generally reflects my opinions.

    • Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:46 am

      Diane replies to Scott:

      Nope! So far I’ve escaped being tied to a chair and force fed the idea that the entire white race is a bunch of wild-eyed racists.

      Now to your question. Please read this: https://www.startribune.com/ap-says-it-will-capitalize-black-but-not-white/571831891/

      Every newspaper and news site where my weekly column appears has their own style guidelines and editors who make sure whaever appears under their banner adheres to the stylebook they have adopted. I’m thinking the editorial staff in what ever papaper you’re reading my column follows the AP guidelines, which you can see have now been amended to capitalize Black but not white.

      I’ve found it is very confusing and not every editor is catching every black/white reference. ~DD

  4. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:46 am

    Reader KEVIN B PARK writes:

    It seems to me that there is an element of the black community is is somehow stuck in time. They believe they are disadvantaged. Every few years, or even decades this sense of disadvantage bubbles up into riots leading to what I see, a typical white guy, as more advantage. Higher education, hiring, housing, as well as other laws are already stacked in their favor. As a community, they seem to suffer from low self esteem, brought on by negative self talk. I think there are political forces out there that make use that; over and over, its dependable.

    Like you, I’m not a racist. Never have been. I grew up in Albuquerque, which is about as racially diverse a community as there is. But, I am tired of the whining, and rioting, and looting.

    I’m not a racist, but they are slowly persuading me otherwise. I can’t believe I just wrote that, but I think it’s true.

    Kevin Park

  5. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:51 am

    Reader Athena writes:

    When will especially the west learn that you cant force people to get along with others just for the sake of getting along?

    Mixing cultures and people usually only happen when one group conquers another or the submissive group earns the acceptance of the dominant group if ever. That’s natural as with all human relationships.

    Furthermore, when diff groups are introduced to each other, it’s NATURAL for the groups to NOT trust each other because of the social implications that do matter that come with accepting or rejecting new social norms from a new group. People always want to talk about skin color being an issue, but with skin color usually comes culture where culture has a large role to play in whether people get along or not.

    I’m sick of this overall culture where people are being force fed values and things they may not entirely agree with. In fact some hate groups actually make sense when it comes to this type of conflict. We all don’t have to get along that’s the thing. And that’s okay! Of course it would be nice if we all could get along but that’s not reality and that’s why we have free will and the ability to choose what we do want! Imagine having your friends and the people in your life picked for you. No thanks! In fact

    I’m mind blown how white people are not POd and doing something about all the bs because I’d be. Btw, I’m not white.

  6. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:51 am

    Reader Lanie White writes:

    Hello? Where have you been the last couple of decades but especially the last four years? It is impossible to talk to anyone who does not share your opinions. If you don’t agree with the insane left, you might lose your job, lose your business, and your life savings.

  7. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:52 am

    Reader Ronald Settje writes:

    Telling a group of people, based upon the color of their skin, that they are racists is in fact a racist remark. It is remarkable that anti-racist organizations like black lives matter were founded by Marxists and Racists. If BLM are so concerned about black Americans, how is it that they never comment about black on black murder. That topic does not fit their narrative.

  8. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:57 am

    Reader Freedom ForAll writes:

    Step one is to call out all the white people doing that training for profiting off black issues and do the same to authors like Robin Deangelo. This group is getting good at eating their own and a white person making money off this seems like something they would attack. You can even use their words like “colonizing” to get it started.

    Step 2 accredit programs that just focus on the job a person wants so there is a cheaper non indoctrination option. Also not funding SJW studies* as the article mentions. If there is no money or power in it the leeches will naturally move on.

    * Social Justice Warrior

  9. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 10:58 am

    Reader Chris Yaeger writes:

    Tired of hearing the need for “honest conversation”. Honest conversation to the left is for the right to surrender from the true definition of “equality”. Since the 60’s we’ve implemented so many programs that subordinate “equality” to putting the minorities in positions of power over the masses in an attempt to “equalize” the playing field. Affirmative action, small business grants for minorities, college admission requirements, etc. have not lead to social justice (for ALL). No, we’ve been pandering. Making it easier to demand “equality” based on this false narrative that in today’s society the minorities are still at a disadvantage. How sad that we’ve come so far only to be thrust back into a time that exists only in the minds of radicals who seek only to destroy the greatest nation on earth. Intellectual debate has been shut down by the screaming left with no consideration for any opinions other than their own.

  10. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 11:04 am

    Reader Generic American Thinker writes:

    Taking advantage of someone’s compassion and tolerance leads to them and their children dropping this behavior in the future and replacing it with a defensive internal self identity that is racially based, the opposite outcome all these race baiters are claiming they want.

    As Whites circle their wagons and find common ‘skin’ based unity, they discover they are not alone in feeling harassed and attacked for no reason. Political actions create counter actions and this November one of the biggest counter revolutions will occur that will make 2016 look minor in comparison as ‘middle America’ and dare I say, White America strikes back against unwanted and unfair attacks directly upon them by racial and radical assholes.

    Enough is enough, from ‘caring’ about minorities I could now give a shit, compete with me and lose or win, but no advantage will be given your ‘race’ or gender issues.
    You want help? Go find a social worker or beg for free money somewhere with all the others who’ve given up on competing in the real world on their merits.

    If you’re so equal and as good as everyone says you are, prove it or realize some are better, some fight and win, some get the prize and the money and you don’t. That’s life, not some terrible sign of prejudice embedded in the system.

  11. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 11:04 am

    Reader cdema1246 writes:

    The BLM movement will continue to push the envelope as far as they are allowed. Eventually when it hits closer to home, and it will, the elected officials pretending to care will realize the monsters they’ve unleashed. They will be as helpless as the innocent are now.

  12. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 11:05 am

    Reader Sue Citizen writes:

    Defund Diversity

  13. Diane Dimond on July 27, 2020 at 11:20 am

    Reader Douglas Roy writes:

    The hatred of police is toxic. The hatred of authority in general is toxic. Hatred is toxic, in most cases. Supporting unlawful, provocative, and violent protests is toxic. Failing to uphold law and order is toxic to all citizens and the country.

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