Diversity training has value for all

We were glad to see Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden recently wave a flag of concern about a possible First Amendment violation by the county. We appreciate that the county's top legal enforcer monitors local events regarding our nation's cherished constitutional freedoms of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly and petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

Vander Sanden's flagging, however, looks to us to be a stretch.

The issue is the county's diversity training. It has provided programs on various cultures likely not familiar to most Iowans, including public employees. Most recently, the Board of Supervisors OK'd a session on Islam at the Mother Mosque of America in Cedar Rapids. Employees can use paid time-off benefits to attend. Attendance is voluntary.

The county attorney wonders whether this program violates the First Amendment's stipulation that government can't designate an official religion or prevent someone from free practice of religion. Vander Sanden simply questioned whether allowing paid time off for such programs is a proper use of taxpayer money within the Constitution's requirements of maintaining the boundaries between religion and government.

We don't see any clear violation. Supervisor John Harris explained to a Gazette reporter that the diversity training is aimed at helping employees better understand other cultures, not endorsement of any religion. As long as that's the focus of these sessions, and there's no proselytizing, we see no problem. What's more, accurate information about other cultures can help our government and community develop better relationships with an increasingly diverse population of many cultures. We think Linn County's initiative is valuable.

And as diversity in Eastern Iowa continues to expand, it may become just as useful to offer non-Christian/Judeo public employees some training on those widespread traditions, too.

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