'Diversity' at the New York Times

I found this piece interesting. Even laughable.

The Federalist Chronicle quotes New York Times Executive Editor Howell Raines, as he spoke to the National Association of Black Journalists in 2001. He spoke on The Times' policy of incorporating hiring practices which promote "diversity" in their workplace, and how much that has "helped" The Times.

"This [diversity recruitment] campaign has made our staff better and, more importantly, more diverse."

Raines [then] highlighted the hire of 25-year-old Jayson Blair, who has since become one of the Times' most prolific black journalists — prolific for his plagiarism, falsified quotations and faked interviews, that is. The "Gray Lady" published a 7,000-word correction and apology this week for Blair's 4-year tenure writing for the Times. Arthur Sulzberger Jr., chairman of The New York Times Company, noted, "It's a huge black eye."

"Diversity" may sound good in theory. It may sound like a fair thing to do. But so does Communism — and both fail miserably in practice.

It isn't that black people cannot be good journalists. When they are qualified, and they are the best candidates, they should be hired.

But hiring practices designed to promote "diversity," do so above all other considerations — including who is the most qualified candidate for the job. And that is where the troubles begin.

All employers should hire personnel based solely upon that individual's qualifications for the position that they seek. Skin color should not factor into the decision-making process. "Diversity in the workplace" is a buzz phrase for promoting racist hiring practices that discriminate against non-minority job-seekers. It results in lesser-qualified individuals in positions, when better qualified applicants are available for hire. In other words, it results in racial discrimination — the very demon that such policies are allegedly designed to eradicate.

By promoting diversity in the workplace, government — along with the corporations who follow its mandates — are actually promoting a hiring system which is by itself racist. And that is a great disservice to people of all races and creeds.