Redefining Reality

Photo: canva.com

American Columban Fr. Bill Morton recently posted on his Facebook page a letter written by a school superintendent to the US Secretary of Education. The letter was a response to a blanket warning to public schools to cut programs aimed at helping special needs children, teaching about civil rights, and using equity in hiring practices. The superintendent refused to sign up as required, and the letter outlines why.

The writer questions the way that the warning was redefining reality to fit a particular agenda. Reuters reports that “U.S. President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have featured an unapologetic assault on diversity and inclusion efforts, unravelling decades-old policies to remedy historical injustices for marginalized groups in a matter of weeks”.  The Trump administration has also used federal power to attack equal opportunity initiatives, whether in local and state governments or the private sector.

The operating principle seems to be that everyone should get the same treatment regardless of historical discrimination or social disadvantage. It involves not only changing current definitions of reality but seeking to erase memories of past injustices that continue to impact the present. To achieve this a ban has been placed on all training on systemic racism and gender discrimination.

An example of how definitions are being changed or cooped is evidenced in the word “woke”. Originally, a positive term, it meant being “awake” to societal injustices. Emerging in the black community, it emphasised the need to stay informed, vigilant and proactive in the face of systemic prejudice. Alt-right circles have co-opted the term and now carry negative connotations meant to mock people who advocate for social justice, care for the earth or whose agenda is seen as left-leaning.

It is a sad world if wanting to help people, especially children with special needs, language difficulties or other disabilities, is defined as discrimination.

It is truly sad that one’s gender, sexual orientation, race or disability can place a person at a severe disadvantage when applying for certain jobs or roles.  

It is especially sad that positive terms like diversity, equity and inclusion have come to represent trends that must be resisted and overcome. This is being done by a President and administration that claims to be Christian but whose understanding and practice seems a world away from that of Jesus. Christian Nationalism, focused on God and Country promotes a very conservative vision of Christian Faith. It has deep ties with a particular political agenda for which it claims divine backing.   

Looking up diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) online, one is reminded that DEI is the Latin term for God. The Holy Trinity is marked by diversity, equity and inclusion, and so surely it is these things that have divine support. 

Fr Patrick O’Shea lives and works in Aotearoa/New Zealand