DL Opinion columns

Anti-DEI Fervor Out of Control. Enough Already – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

The war on DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is ridiculous. Take the recent claim by MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk that the Texas flood death toll “would not have been as high if it wasn’t for DEI”.  Unfortunately, claims that DEI is responsible for catastrophes are fairly common these days. Trump tried to blame the January mid-air crash in DC between a plan and a helicopter on DEI. Musk commented in January after California wildfires: “DEI means people die.” These conspiracy theories go above and beyond Fake News! DEI doesn’t control floods, earthquakes or tornadoes.

Texas is a red state with no DEI policies. But Kirk saying that its flood is a DEI fiasco resonates with folks who want to believe that women and minorities are at the root of our problems. Anything that might be related to political power is particularly vulnerable. That means not having to admit how funding was denied by GOP elected officials for enhancing alert systems. It was considered too expensive, especially since they preferred to “build that wall”. It’s rumored that Governor Abbott took the money that the Biden administration gave Texas to install early warning systems in the Kerrville area and used it on other projects. And vacationing Texas Senator Ted Cruz could have helped fix the situation years ago. Maybe if Abbott and Cruz had some DEI advisors, they’d have saved lives.

Musk’s DOGE cut hundreds of employees from the national weather service. That reduced the number of weather balloons providing high resolution of fluid in the atmosphere, affecting the accuracy of weather forecasting. The depletion of FEMA employees didn’t help the “sinking ship” situation either. Both of these actions had an anti-DEI element and the Texas situation might have been less dangerous if they weren’t implemented.

Conspiracy theories blaming DEI is par for the course, despite all evidence to the contrary. And Democrats are accused of politicizing events like the Texas flood. Folks like Charlie Kirk, unelected and with no official title, get to be “Influencers” in this game. Kirk created a nonprofit called Turning Point USA with a mission to identify, educate, train, and organize students to supposedly promote freedom. And here’s where the DEI battle gets personal given the focus of Kirk’s recent women’s leadership conference: True femininity resides in servitude and motherhood.

Back in 1932, during the Depression, married women were the first federal employees let go to save money. Today, the ultraconservative right happily reflects the past and the deletion of exceptional women from positions of power. For example, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fired US Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, who was the US military representative to the NATO Military Committee. Now there are no female 4-star generals/admirals and it’s questionable whether any women will be promoted, or even recruited, in the military.

You’d think that young women would rebel against this discrimination. But, no! I’m amazed that they engage by the thousands in the online subculture of “Tradwives” emphasizing domesticity and submission to the male breadwinner. They’re unmoved by how women who step outside this role are considered incompetent, over-emotional, and DEI selected. 

Yes, some folks object to the exclusion of women in powerful positions. Take for example the editorials on both sides of The Times Free Press regarding the new TVA board Trump nominees being all male. Unfortunately, these objections may not go anywhere given the current anti-DEI intimidation methods. But I refuse to be silenced, even if called nasty names, as should we all. It’s time to speak up loudly and often for the value of our women and minorities. Let’s start with an online flood of DEI support.

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