“DEI” is commonly and carelessly used as if its three components were equivalent. They are not the same. This three-part series of essays explains and distinguishes among the three terms: diversity, equity, and inclusion. These terms would never have been used if there were not some sense in which each has a positive meaning.
This first installment explores the primary meanings, which are themselves good. The second essay explored how each has been used in a negative or even foolish way. This final essay demonstrates how these concepts can be twisted to be evil or ugly — hence the title.
The UGLY of DEI is the final installment
- Diversity
Diversity based on identity becomes even uglier when recognized as diverse because of artificial, speculative, or even temporary self-chosen identities.
2. Equity — An extreme example of injustice:
MESOPOTAMIA
THE CODE OF HAMMURABI (c. 1780 BC)
230
If [the fallen house] kill the son of the owner the son of that builder shall be put to death.
This vicious punishment is contrary to the law given by Moses, circa 1400 BC
Deuteronomy 24
16 Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.
Aristotle reportedly said, “We know it is unjust to treat equal things unequally. But it is also unjust to treat unequal things equally.”
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 5
Collective punishment
Fascists, Nazis and Communists had no compunction against collective punishments — directly contrary to Western principles of justice considered in the first installment.
Nuremberg Trial proceedings — Indictment:
Count Three
Oct. 18, 1945
COUNT THREE — WAR CRIMES
“VIII. (F) THE EXACTION OF COLLECTIVE PENALTIES
“The Germans pursued a systematic policy of inflicting, in all the occupied countries, collective penalties, pecuniary and otherwise, upon the population for acts of individuals for which it could not be regarded as collectively responsible; this was done at many places, including Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, and Rogaland.
“These acts violated Article 50, Hague Regulations, 1907, the laws and customs of war, the general principles of criminal law as derived from the criminal laws of all civilized nations, the internal penal laws of the countries in which such crimes were committed, and Article 6 (b) of the Charter.”
Stalin murdered tens of millions in his purges. It was guilt by association. Among other crimes, he caused millions of Ukrainian peasants to starve to death. Mao murdered several tens of millions — most by starvation — again, guilt by association with the landlord class and the educated. Some died by cannibalism.
On Aug. 26, 2025, Pope Leo XIV referred to the suffering in Gaza as “collective punishment.”
Reparations
Merriam-Webster defines reparations as “the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury.” This goes far beyond restitution which involves a specific wrongdoer paying compensation to the specific victim of a specific wrong.
Reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States has gained support over the past decades. Apologies for slavery and Jim Crow by the US House of Representatives in 2008, and the US Senate in 2009 were preceeded by a 2007 resolution in the NC House.
As of March 6, 2024, 22 localities had approved a reparations commission or task force and 11 states have considered legislation to create one. In October 2020, California created a reparations task force to study and develop proposals for redressing injustices experienced by African Americans in the state, with special consideration for descendants of people enslaved in the United States. On Sept. 12, 2025, California lawmakers passed a law allowing priority college admission for descendants of slaves.
How would one decide who pays and who gets reparations? An American politician is the daughter of a Tamil Indian physician mother and a Jamaican-born father. Her mother’s family is of the Brahman caste, the highest in the Indian caste system, historically advantaged over lower castes such as the Dalits (untouchables). Her father is descended both from enslaved Jamaicans and, according to family lore, an Irish slaveowner. For the purpose of deciding reparations, would this politician deserve compensation for her father’s ancestors’ past suffering? Or should this person pay reparations to compensate for her mother’s ancestors’ oppression of the untouchables and her Irish ancestors’ slaveholdings?
America is made up of immigrants from the whole world, including “Native” American, who immigrated from Siberia if you trace far enough back. Are those clamoring for reparations today demanding compensation for wrongs they did not personally suffer from those who did not personally harm them?
3. Inclusion
The ugly side of inclusion ignores the reality of biological differences between men and women, advocating for biologically male ‘transgender women’ to compete in women’s athletic events.
A Heritage Foundation article recounted Lia Thomas’ suit against World Aquatics for refusing to allow her to compete in women’s elite swimming events.
“So yes, Lia Thomas — at 6 feet, 1 inch tall, with broader shoulders, higher muscle mass, greater bone density and longer legs — has a distinct athletic benefit over even the most highly trained female aquatic competitors in the world.
“Feminists stress the ‘illusion of difference’ between the sexes, claiming that if ‘women cut their hair the same way as men, wore “men’s” clothes, and didn’t shave their legs and underarms, wear makeup, or pluck their eyebrows, they wouldn’t look nearly as different from men as they do.’”
The University of Pennsylvania has apologized to the victims of its wrongheaded policies and restored medals to those cheated by Lia Thomas.
Womanhood is not makeup, hairstyles, dresses or high heels.
>>> Women’s Sports on the Chopping Block
“A favorite tactic of the anti-biology crowd is to force a convolution of the sexes and paint immutable differences as artificial, ensuring that women’s equality can be decimated sport by sport, bathroom by bathroom, program by program,” the article stated.
Everyone can recognize these differences between the sexes, which is why there needs to be active effort to convince people young and old to ignore that innate ability to recognize them. The logic behind Civil Rights gains for women was that “while men and women are different, opportunities for each must be equal.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote in 1996 in U.S. v. Virginia: “Physical differences between men and women, however, are enduring: ‘[T]he two sexes are not fungible; a community made up exclusively of one [sex] is different from a community composed of both.’”
The Civil rights Act of 1965 was passed the same year that the 2nd edition of Fowler’s Modern English Usage was published. It says those who confuse gender with sex are joking or blundering. Homer “nodded.” Gorsuch “blundered.”
For a prescient article on this subject, read www.paulstam.info, Articles for 2016. “Legends v. the Truth,” pages 11-17.
DEAR READERS
Send your nomination of words that confuse policy to paulstam@stamlawfirm.com. This seventh installment appears in a series: The GOOD, The BAD, and The UGLY, in three parts. Parts I, II, III, IV, V, and VI explored corruption, liberal/conservative/ progressive, legalize/decriminalize, nonprofit, bipartisan, democracy/republic, forgive, mandate, fascism, Marxist, traitor, treason, gaming, gambling, amnesty, politically motivated, fraction of, decimate, honor and privilege. Part VIII will look at the differences among profanity, cursing, and swearing. For more information, see Parts I – VII under Articles for 2025, www.paulstam.info.
