DIVERSITY vs. E PLURIBUS UNUM

Diversity. What a pleasant sounding word. I see colorful posters bearing the word placed in prominence around the office where I work. I often see the word applied in noble motto: “Strength in Diversity” or “Celebrate Diversity”. What a lovely sentiment. What could be wrong with that? I am a German American, whose original German-born ancestor arrived in the United States of America in 1853 following the death of his first wife. I’m quite sure his life in Germany was shattered. He came to America destitute, with small children in tow. He remarried an Ohio woman and settled in the fertile fields of Illinois to continue his life as a farmer. I have an appreciation for Oktoberfest that may well be genetic. I’m sure my love of the food is at any rate. Growing up in the South-West, I also dearly love the Cinco de Mayo celebration (also for the food and drink – Mexican food is the bomb!). I often found myself in the racial minority on some of the streets where I grew up. My first serious girlfriend in High School was a Latina. Is that what “Celebrate Diversity” means? Successfully living and working alongside those who are different than us? That’s what it may seem, unless you think about it a bit more.

I believe those of the liberal persuasion who find themselves in contemporary positions of power and policy making (i.e. the guys who write the quaint sayings) may define “Diversity” as a variety or multiformity based on a point or respect in which things differ. Another way to say the same thing is the strength of the masses is derived from the individual socio-ethnic, economic, and racial class from which the individual comes; the greater those differences, the greater the power of the masses. Unfortunately, there are some among us who seek to empower themselves by promoting and harnessing those differences. The greater the differences, or needs of the individual, the greater their value to the liberal society or politician. I believe this definition is a defining theme of all that is liberal, and the clear antithesis to the original notion of E Pluribus Unum as promoted by our Founding Fathers.

I have found that for every lovely idea or mechanism that exists in the physical world there is a diabolical counterfeit intended to obfuscate the intent and values emodied in the original. I’d like to think it’s a Yin-Yang, hot-cold, what goes up must come down kind of a thing. It’s not. In the world of politics I’ve noticed the counterrfeits are most often foisted upon us by those promoting elitist multicultural materialism (liberals). Charitable giving is replaced with government mandated wealth redistribution; the chruch is replaced by the state as the source of devine authority; and the “village” replaces the family as the primary nurturing force for our children. Diversity is simply another diabolical counterfeit.

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress empanelled a committee to oversee the design of a Great Seal of the United States of America. A number of suggestions were considered, with input by Benjamin Franklin and Charles Thomson. The Latin motto E Pluribus Unum was ultimately approved for inclusion on the obverse of the seal. Its translation closely means “Out of many, one”. It also describes an action of “Many uniting into one”. Charles Thomson said the motto refers to the union of states, but I believe it goes beyond that. If the states comprise the nation, it can be said that the people comprise the states.

My best friend in High School is second generation American. His father legally came to the United States just in time to enlist in the U.S. Army during World War Two. Following the war, this man worked and put himself through college earning a B.S. Degree in Engineering. Following graduation, he secured a life-time job as an aero-space engineer in Southern California. I remember this father not allowing his children to speak Spanish in their home claiming, “You’re Americans now! Speak English!” At the time, I thought that was a bit harsh, and that learning Spanish would be an advantage for someone living in California. But, their father greatly valued the United States more than his origins, and was more than willing to place all he had upon her alters. In fact, my friend recently retired from the United States Air Force following a successful career as a bomber pilot. All those siblings consider themselves Americans, first and foremost. I never saw anyone in this family look back after coming to this country.

As for my German ancestor, he enlisted in the 15th Illinois Cavalry, United States Army when the Civil War broke out in 1861. He campaigned in the western theater until he suffered a debilitating injury. His grandson fought in France during World War One, against Germany. Later, many on my “German side of the family” fought during World War Two, several again fighting in Europe. And me? I’m writing this blog from an “undisclosed location” in the Middle-East.

The ultimate point of this rodomontade is simply this; I believe this country is being torn apart by diverse groups seeking their own vain ambitions. Being an American is no longer as important as achieving those ambitions. The extensive entitlement state that attracts dead weight must be eliminated quickly and efficiently if we are to have a chance at pulling out of the current nose dive. I’m all for giving anyone who wants to be an American a chance at that dream, but they have to truly want to be American and understand what that means. Remember “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

I agree. I find it interesting that those who seem to value “diversity” most are those that are also the first to deny American exceptionalism. E pluribus unum. Out of many one. In celebrating diversity, we have forgotten that the many must unify and honor America as a whole. If we perish as a unique culture by splintering into a multitude of diverse cultures, the world will the poorer, because there is only one America.

E pluribus unum referred to the formation of one nation out of the 13 colonies. It had nothing to do with the post-modern concept of “diversity”. John Jay’s Federalist Paper #2 should put an end to that foolishness:

“With equal pleasure I have as often taken notice that Providence has been pleased to give this one connected country to one united people — a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government, very similar in their manners and customs, and who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general liberty and independence.”

As for “American exceptionalism”, that particular phrase seems to be very recent, and it has the added quality of having whatever definition the listener wants to give it. What the founders wrote about incessantly was “Liberty”, and they had plenty of definitions for just that one word.

My maternal grandfather was of German descent. His father, a glazier, emigrated from Hamburg and settled in Illinois as a farmer.

My grandfather, to his father’s horror, fought in WWI against the Fatherland and was subsequently disinherited. Oh, well.

There were seven other brothers by four different mothers and all of them considered themselves American firstly, Lutheran secondly, and German somewhere after that even though everyone on the farm grew up speaking German.

I think you and I are pretty much saying the same thing re e pluribus unum.

As to the phrase "American exceptionalism" you are right that it is of recent origin. The concept embodied therein used to go by a different name: Patriotism. Patriot's were and are proud of America and believe that it is unique in the world.

The thankfully ex-boyfriend of my youngest step-daughter is a died in the wool leftist, the son of a Code Pink member who did not fall far from the tree. He claimed vehemently that he was a patriot because he loved America. I asked him if he was proud of America, and all I got was stammering.

We need to return to a world when most Americans are proud of America and the attributes which have historically set us apart from the rest of the world.

Yeah, right, DIVERSITY. Big deal OK if you’re a 14-legged bug in the Amazon but for Western people “diversity” means Caucasion, Western bad, anybody else good.

You’re a low-level non-talent, non-skilled no-body at Dysneyland and (after 2 years) decide it’s life and death that you gotta wear your gang colors (head scarf). Whoa Wow Bend down now 9th Circus.

You in Flyover want to wear a Cross necklace — Wow, you biased, Un-Divisified twits!

Thanks and Amen!

To me:
E Pluribus Unum = Oness and harmony as a people and nation.

“Diversity” as applied in its use today = Stay like you are even if you divide and come to anarchy!

I like what some said recently: “Start where you are at; but don’t stay there.”

When I was a kid (admittedly, well over half-a-hundred years ago) we had families from various backgrounds who kept some of the old country traditions, Italian, German, Irish, Polish, Mexican...yet considered themselves Americans first.

That’s a GOOD kind of diversity. Today’s so-called diversity consists of rejecting American culture, more’s the pity.

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