DEI and justice are values bound to each other

Kudos to Selma Brigham for her letter on the renaming of the Arc of Justice Bridge (“Justice is no longer politically correct,” July 5), and also for Todd Dorman’s June 25 column she referenced. In America justice is a fundamental right of every person. Brigham is correct in binding the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion with justice in her letter. These values add up to the basic fairness of opportunity that makes America, however imperfectly, what it has always been, a land of hope and inspiration.

What a contrast to the letter immediately following Brigham’s which is a perfect example of how the values of equity, diversity and inclusion are being distorted for political reasons. The minute by minute attacks on them we see are attacks on the underlying fairness that all deserve regarding, in this case, employment.

The author’s appeal for meritocracy ignores the fact that no across-the-board criteria of merit exists nor has ever existed. In employment merit is determined entirely in the eye of the employer and is bound to vary significantly from one to another. Diversity, equity and inclusion are not meant to create “preferences” for one category over another, but to bring more ideas, skills and life experiences to the table than might otherwise be there. Far from promoting mediocrity, bringing inclusion, diversity and equity into consideration is the best way to ensure excellence.

Bryan T. Davis

Cedar Rapids