Merriam-Webster defines diverse to be “composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.” It follows that diversity is the condition of being diverse. Furthermore, one who is the head of diversity would encourage its existence.

This is apparently not the case when it comes to Steve Denson, the director of diversity at the Cox School of Business. Diversity is a buzz word that people constantly manipulate for their desired ends regardless of the means. Something that is apparently lost on Mr. Denson, as well as many on both sides of the aisle, is that diversity means so much more than skin color. Diversity of thoughts, ideologies and political orientation seems to be simply unacceptable to people like Mr. Denson, a man in charge of ensuring that it exists!

Simply because you truly hate what someone says does not make it hate speech. What was written on professor Henson’s door is hate speech. What Reed Hanson said in his editorial is not. Sartain’s editorial was crass and inappropriate, and in the end, it only served to support those who protested outside Hughes-Trigg.

The broad overreaching concept that has become blatantly apparent over the past several weeks is intellectual inconsistency. The director of diversity of Cox stands so obviously against the thing which he oversees. Conservative views, contrary to the popular liberal indoctrination in universities across the United States, are deemed hate speech and quelled at every opportunity by people who hide behind the “free speech” mantra. To disagree with anyone who is not a WASP is hate speech, while blatant, nasty attacks on them are lauded.

Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney hit a Capitol police officer who was merely doing his job. He didn’t recognize her, and since she wasn’t wearing her small member pin worn by members of Congress to bypass security, he stopped her from hurrying into a House office building. For those constitutionally ignorant out there, there are 435 members of Congress, each with a staff of about 10 to 20. It is acceptable that a Capitol police officer not recognize someone. She decided to hit him. She should face the consequences, correct?

Apparently not. At her press conference on the issue, surrounded by schoolchildren who “support” her, the first thing she said was, “I am a black, female.” Though I have italicized this, it was her emphasis. You see, the Capitol police officer was white, ergo he is racist. Does anyone else see the disconnect?

This man merely stopped her from bypassing security into a federal building where security is of the highest concern, and she has made it into a matter of race. What message does this send to those schoolchildren around her? To people across the country? I’ll let you answer that question, lest I be labeled a racist.

This only further adds to my point. When I float the idea that this should not be a matter of race, there are people right now considering me a racist. I wish that I could submit this without a picture letting peo le know I’m white. Above all else, I wish we could stop making race an issue in any circumstance in this country. Why can’t people just be people?

One of many challenges to Hanson’s latest editorial essentially asks Mr. Hanson if he has ever been discriminated against. On all my college and scholarship applications, I did not check the race box because I didn’t want to hurt my chances. I write this editorial with some trepidation as well because I know that when people see my picture and disagree with what I’ve had to say, there is a strong chance that someone will incorrectly label me a racist or a bigot.

Remember when professor Henson said that all Bush supporters were homophobes? Remember when another person discussed fraternity guys as walking around campus like idiots with vomit all over themselves? Remember when Mr. Denson said that the Young Conservatives of Texas are the Junior League of the KKK?  Why are these sweeping generalizations acceptable?

There are other issues to discuss concerning intellectual inconsistency, but I have run out of room in this editorial. I would like to point out, however, that Mr. Denson has once again made a broad generalization that Republicans are fighting immigration. Those Republican racists must be at it again.

Let’s stop and think about this ignorant statement for just one second. Republicans are deeply divided on how to handle illegal immigration. Each side of the debate has both Democrats and Republicans on it, so let’s stop with the inappropriate political stereotypes. I think it’s important to remember that the issue stems from people breaking the law and nothing else. Immigration is a great thing. Illegal immigration is a crime. What’s so hard about this?

Next time you attack a person or that person’s ideas, remember that wonderful word diversity.

Kevin Lavelle is a sophomore management science and Spanish double major. He can be reached at [email protected].