By Dr. Dolly Berthelot*
Little of the craziness in which we are currently living is more blatantly irrational and ridiculous than refusing to activate $33,700 to give a worthy student because the word “diversity” is in the scholarship title.
The Dormant Scholarship: A Case of “Diversity Phobia”
Mary Lett reported Nov. 7 in the Pensacola News Journal that a $25,000 scholarship intended for a stellar Hispanic recipient at the University of West Florida had been held dormant for two years for only that reason. At least the amount has grown since then, but it is doing no one any good if it is not permitted to do anyone any good. Donors John and Evelyn Ortiz Smykla must be rightfully appalled. Anyone supporting education must be rightfully appalled.
It’s just one of many things happening in the U.S., especially in Florida, and increasingly at UWF in our own community where some threatened by diversity are forcing the rest of us to lose out.
Foundational American Principles and “E Pluribus Unum”
When and how did diversity become a dirty word? America was conceived, born and developed in the very concept of diversity, made up of people from all different cultures and countries since its inception and all during its almost 250 years of existence. Our very motto is E Pluribus Unum, for goodness sake. Does that mean nothing?
Our Pledge of Allegiance ends with a resounding “With Liberty and Justice for All.” ALL. Does that actually mean with Liberty and Justice only for people just like me? Just like the majority? Just like whoever is in power? That’s pretty risky, folks.
Majority numbers can change, are already changing; power invariably shifts at least every few years and can shift in days, maybe hours. What happens when you and people just like you are no longer the majority, or no longer in power?
We must rely on steadfast principles to protect us, protect all of us.
And to optimize America’s richness, its human wealth in all forms, not merely monetary, we must consistently be nurturing and developing the best in all our people. Helping every individual reach full potential.
The Transformative Power of Public Education
Education is our best bet to achieve our full potential, to assure that every American and therefore America itself, thrives. Americans have always known that. Founding fathers preached it, even tho their practice often lagged behind their words. The free public school system, largely attributed to Horace Mann in the mid 1800s, was a transformative innovation. He considered it essential to democracy. Some of the same people who would lock out diversity would like to shutter public education rather than support it with their tax dollars. Others, like the Smyklas, the Studers, and many in our town, find ways to help, including putting their money where their mouth is.
Personal Reflections: The Immigrant Success Story
People who aspire to become Americans tend to be most enthusiastic about education, most insistent that their children go to school, stay in school, get degrees. Immigrants may preach this the loudest. My parents, first generation Americans on both sides (Lebanese and German) certainly did, as their parents taught them. So Mom and Dad both at least finished high school, as their parents had not, and got six of us through college and one through technical school, with some later earning masters and doctorates. Our extended Haik family, also children of Lebanese immigrants or first-generation Americans, is packed with MDs, most born into modest means. Mama’s grandpa was a stonemason near Beirut. Her papa was an undocumented immigrant, an almost penniless stowaway on a fruit freighter, yet he built a successful business, helped his other five Haik siblings relocate, and that has led to multitudes positively impacting the South and far beyond.
And we are rather typical, not extraordinary. We are simply Americans. Americans born into a time when hopes and dreams brought people to these shores and motivation plus hard work cultivated potential.
Scholarships and fellowships helped many of us. Scholarships, fellowships and various forms of financial aid then as now assure that students or potential students have the opportunity to become college graduates and optimal contributors to society. That includes all different kinds of people. People who may be diverse in birth country, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, age, abilities and disabilities, talents, interests, religious and political beliefs, appearance, etc, etc. Humanity is diverse in myriad ways! America is built on the best of diversity. How can that possibly be a bad thing?
The “Naughty Word”: Florida’s Current Climate
Yet somehow, today more than ever in my long lifetime, diversity itself has become a naughty word, not even to be spoken or written in some places, a concept literally banned in my increasingly, shamefully backward facing state of Florida.
What is this paranoia really about? I honestly suspect a mental health issue: Diversity-phobia. I’ve long dealt professionally with diversity issues as a communication consultant and author, always choosing to emphasize unity within diversity, because I see that as the ultimate goal for the continuing good and continuous improvement of our community and our country. Not to make everyone the same, mind you, but to appreciate the variations and learn to capitalize on differences, ultimately using the best of all for mutual benefit. My quirky book PERFECTLY SQUARE uses amusing geometric shape characters to convey this rather serious message.
Yet somehow, today more than ever in my long lifetime, diversity itself has become a naughty word, not even to be spoken or written in some places, a concept literally banned in my increasingly, shamefully backward facing state of Florida.
What is this paranoia really about? I honestly suspect a mental health issue: Diversity-phobia. I’ve long dealt professionally with diversity issues as a communication consultant and author, always choosing to emphasize unity within diversity, because I see that as the ultimate goal for the continuing good and continuous improvement of our community and our country. Not to make everyone the same, mind you, but to appreciate the variations and learn to capitalize on differences, ultimately using the best of all for mutual benefit. My quirky book PERFECTLY SQUARE uses amusing geometric shape characters to convey this rather serious message.
I’ve written about and touted this perspective for many decades. And for most of my life, which started way back at the end of WWII, that seemed to be the trend, an ever-widening circle that took in increasing diversity for mutual benefit. Yes there were terrible examples of bigotry run amuck, but from the later 1960s and by the 1990s I rejoiced in the overall trend toward ever widening inclusiveness.
Unmasking the Fear: Merit vs. Self-Preservation
A decade ago, the sad reversal seemed painfully evident. The doors were closing, the gate was going up, the circle was tightening. That’s all gotten continuously worse.
Why? What exactly are the diversity phobic afraid of?
The argument by some would be that affirmative action will diminish excellence. They want reward based on merit. I’m all for rewarding merit! Is there some logical reason to believe that actively striving to bring in more diversity would dilute excellence in our schools, colleges, workplaces, communities? That assumption seems rooted in the presumption of inferiority. That presumption is blatant prejudice.
Women were certainly once presumed inferior to men in multiple areas impacting our presence and positions (mostly lack of) in schools, universities, workplaces, society at large. That’s not entirely rectified, as indicated by wages and top slots, but it has vastly improved and now women exist and lead in environments almost unthinkable 50 years ago. What has deteriorated or been destroyed because of that inclusiveness?
Perhaps the fear is rooted not in concern about merit but about self preservation? Sort of an anti-merit assumption? If THEY (whatever diversity most terrifies) get that scholarship, job or position, I will be out in the cold. This posture seems to lack self confidence or confidence in “others like me.” If THEY get it, I won’t, or my children won’t, or my people won’t.
Oh ye of little faith… The diversity phobia evident in such ridiculousness as refusing money because diversity is in the title is akin to an arachnophobiac running screaming away in terror as they spot a small harmless spider—because they have a genuine phobia of spiders. Granted, a few spiders can be dangerous, even deadly. Black widows and brown recluses are actual potential (though limited) threats in our region. It’s rational to learn about them and to avoid them where possible. But to go bonkers at the sight of any spider—or for that matter any insect—is something other than rational. At least arachnophobia run amuck is not likely to harm anyone other than the sufferer (and possibly harmless little spiders slaughtered en mass for no logical reason).
Conclusion: Embracing Human Potential for a Stronger Nation
Diversity phobia, however, can have far reaching consequences. Not only on our variously diverse people but on our community and our country. By embracing rather than irrationally fearing diversity, we could benefit. Let’s attract the best and brightest and not send them racing off to more progressive pastures. And let’s actively seek, nurture, and nourish the full potential of everyone. Everyone, in all their diverse human glory.
Award some worthy diverse student that UWF scholarship and encourage more such generosity. Then, over time, follow the good that comes from attracting, educating, nurturing, and benefitting from the best diverse people. Really, they won’t bite.
*Dolly Berthelot, MS, EDd., is an author, former daily newspaper editor and Loyola U. Communication professor, and a private communication and writing consultant. She lives in Pensacola. This article was originally printed in the Pensacola News-Journal on the opinion page as a My Turn guest column, and is printed here with the permission of the author who still holds the copyright. The featured image was generated by Nano Banana 2.5. All other images are licensed from Adobe Stock and are not public domain.
