Correct me if I am wrong, but being a non believer myself, I don’t think the majority of this country is Christian. I think it’s mostly non believers if you get down to it. No one is going to church anymore and there’s a lot of people who quit practicing. I don’t get where they think they are running the show. Non believers don’t have the psychological threat of heaven or hell hanging over their heads.
As of 2023, 68% of the United States "identifies as Christian." Of course, that covers a broad spectrum which includes Catholic to Evangelical fundamentalists who don't think Catholics are Christians to people who say they believe in Christ, but don't belong to any denomination. I'd guess the percentage of weekly church attending would be far lower.
I think the resurgence of Christian Evangelists and Opus Dei type Catholics comes out of hollowness and loneliness.
People that identify with these extreme and anti-democratic religious offshoots want to belong to some sort of community. The cultish aspects are really concerning, as one can't argue with faith. There is also the money that flows into those mega churches, people get terribly dependent on that.
But I do agree with you that, despite the 68% percentage that identify as Christian that Amelia noted in reply, there is probably a much smaller core of extreme crusaders that are truly behind Trump.
I keep hoping that vaunted 30% support for Trump collapses like a souffle and turns out to be more like 17% or 12%. Now that the mask is off, and Christian Nationalist's direct attacks on democracy are so clear and undeniable, now that their gaslighting is called out a little more regularly, I hope America wakes up from this dreadful fever.
We need to carefully sweep back out all the stochastic terrorists that McConnell and Trump seeded into our government institutions. The Republican Party needs to be erased or reborn without these rank traitors in its midst.
As a non believer myself, sadly, we "nones"—which include atheists as well as the more common "religiously unaffiliated"—amount to just 22%. But it is growing fast!
Brilliant example of NASA not knowing Thing 1 about baking bread—a skill so elementary that most of us have it. Brilliant. A more diverse table brings us all a better meal!
Maybe after all these generations it comes down to the old “law of the jungle” survival of the fittest! If the old guard can’t keep up anymore, without cheating and rigging the game, then they need to move aside.
Before I read: in my opinion, it's those who are insecure (rightly or wrongly) in their innate abilities (vs. Those handed to them at birth, like the ability to eat every day). We see it everywhere, "wah, I lost the match/game/election and that means my opponent must be cheating!" With the issue with the Olympics and with the despicable attacks on Kamala re:things she was born as (Black AND Indian) I'd pose a very simple question: What is a woman?
At least, the Rs have been braying that this question has a simple answer, but, since it isn't, they keep banging their heads against it. How much natural testosterone until that "person with a uterus" is a man? Extra X chromosome in men (which happens in 1 in 500-1000 baby boys)? Is THAT a woman?
The more you insist on a clear standardized answer when We. Are. All. Different...well, now you gotta make thousands of little stupid rules which make no sense.
DEI, in my opinion, is a direct result of childhood inequality. You didn't get the job because you were black or brown, you got the job because you are the best despite the disadvantages society has handed you. Your potential has not been reached because you've been held back. Those without those barriers are the best they're going to be, so, the potential for growth just isn't there. (This "person with no obstacles at all" is fictional, btw but, like absolutely everything else, there's a spectrum).
Since our country is so hyper-focused on individualism, most would rather ignore that there are effects to systemic inequality on individuals at all. That's why we need DEI. Because, as Dr. Horrible put it, "The status is NOT quo." When/if it ever is...there will be no need for DEI.
Trump DID NOT GRADUATE from Wharton. That's one of his many many lies. He couldn't get into Wharton because he didn't meet their entry requirements. He was allowed to AUDIT classes at the school.
One of his professors remembered him in 2016: "Donald Trump was the dumbest fucking student who ever walked in my classroom."
U Penn has verified he was a student in their business program and graduated in 1968. He transferred to U Penn from Fordham.
With a B.S. in real estate business, technically he graduated from U Penn's business school, which is Wharton. Did he ever take any business classes at U Penn or did he transfer everything from Fordham?
Who knows? Penn won't comment beyond confirming he graduated in 1968 with a degree from their business curriculum.
“When all you've known is privilege, equality can feel like discrimination.” Perfectly put! Especially when all you care about is maintaining that privilege.
Excellent piece, showing the value of diversity , especially in the workplace. The statement about different knowledge bases and viewpoints is especially accurate. But if you don’t see the value in differing viewpoints, being white and especially male is the probable membership group you’re comfortable with.
What “they” don’t realize is that whites and especially white males, have ALWAYS had privilege in this country. So when they say “white lives matter “ it shows their ignorance of US history. White lives have ALWAYS mattered. Others not so much. Educating them is the answer but very difficult to do.
The best line in this piece is that DEI really means don jr., Eric and ivanka. So when a MAGAt raise that issue, just refer to his kids. That should shut them up at least for a few seconds before the outrage spews forth.
Wonderful article and example of how different thinking and knowledge makes any person, company, government etc so much stronger. I never heard the NASA story but it's perfect!
Just call white privilege what it should be called; WPA(white penis advantage). By the way, I wish I could take credit for that but my friend, John Shore who is also a Substacker(Hey Boomer)wrote about this very subject July 26.
A great many people whose self-esteem rests on being better than that "other" person by virtue of some inborn and/or cultural characteristic (e.g. skin tone, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.) feel threatened by any idea that levels the playing field for that other person, who - by virtue of that inborn and/or cultural characteristic - is, to the people making the determination, inherently less qualified than themselves. They are not concerned about equity; they are concerned about maintaining their advantage.
Trump is, himself, one of those people, and, like a good many similar people, does not see that his birth as a white, male, affluent Christian (or Christian-affiliate) gave him an advantage over those who are possessed of fewer, or none, of those characteristics. He truly believes that he is a self-made man, having starting with a "mere" million dollar loan from a parent, where the rest of us could spend a lifetime working and never attain that sum. Many of his supporters believe the same thing - that equity will not level the playing field by bringing everyone to the same starting point (the purpose of DEI and similar initiatives), but rather that it will put those who have always had an advantage at a disadvantage - and that is one thing they cannot bear to consider. It's why they support Trump - because he wants to help them maintain their advantage, and they really don't care what it costs other people; they feel they are entitled to such a position. It's a key part of why his base supports him.
Correct me if I am wrong, but being a non believer myself, I don’t think the majority of this country is Christian. I think it’s mostly non believers if you get down to it. No one is going to church anymore and there’s a lot of people who quit practicing. I don’t get where they think they are running the show. Non believers don’t have the psychological threat of heaven or hell hanging over their heads.
As of 2023, 68% of the United States "identifies as Christian." Of course, that covers a broad spectrum which includes Catholic to Evangelical fundamentalists who don't think Catholics are Christians to people who say they believe in Christ, but don't belong to any denomination. I'd guess the percentage of weekly church attending would be far lower.
I think the resurgence of Christian Evangelists and Opus Dei type Catholics comes out of hollowness and loneliness.
People that identify with these extreme and anti-democratic religious offshoots want to belong to some sort of community. The cultish aspects are really concerning, as one can't argue with faith. There is also the money that flows into those mega churches, people get terribly dependent on that.
But I do agree with you that, despite the 68% percentage that identify as Christian that Amelia noted in reply, there is probably a much smaller core of extreme crusaders that are truly behind Trump.
I keep hoping that vaunted 30% support for Trump collapses like a souffle and turns out to be more like 17% or 12%. Now that the mask is off, and Christian Nationalist's direct attacks on democracy are so clear and undeniable, now that their gaslighting is called out a little more regularly, I hope America wakes up from this dreadful fever.
We need to carefully sweep back out all the stochastic terrorists that McConnell and Trump seeded into our government institutions. The Republican Party needs to be erased or reborn without these rank traitors in its midst.
As a non believer myself, sadly, we "nones"—which include atheists as well as the more common "religiously unaffiliated"—amount to just 22%. But it is growing fast!
To me, DEI means Definitely Earned It.
Great! Thank you!
This on a T-shirt immediately ❤️
Brilliant example of NASA not knowing Thing 1 about baking bread—a skill so elementary that most of us have it. Brilliant. A more diverse table brings us all a better meal!
You don’t have to be a white supremacist to see the republican white supremacy going on here.
Maybe after all these generations it comes down to the old “law of the jungle” survival of the fittest! If the old guard can’t keep up anymore, without cheating and rigging the game, then they need to move aside.
If I were on an airplane with Charlie Kirk I’d be nervous too
Before I read: in my opinion, it's those who are insecure (rightly or wrongly) in their innate abilities (vs. Those handed to them at birth, like the ability to eat every day). We see it everywhere, "wah, I lost the match/game/election and that means my opponent must be cheating!" With the issue with the Olympics and with the despicable attacks on Kamala re:things she was born as (Black AND Indian) I'd pose a very simple question: What is a woman?
At least, the Rs have been braying that this question has a simple answer, but, since it isn't, they keep banging their heads against it. How much natural testosterone until that "person with a uterus" is a man? Extra X chromosome in men (which happens in 1 in 500-1000 baby boys)? Is THAT a woman?
The more you insist on a clear standardized answer when We. Are. All. Different...well, now you gotta make thousands of little stupid rules which make no sense.
DEI, in my opinion, is a direct result of childhood inequality. You didn't get the job because you were black or brown, you got the job because you are the best despite the disadvantages society has handed you. Your potential has not been reached because you've been held back. Those without those barriers are the best they're going to be, so, the potential for growth just isn't there. (This "person with no obstacles at all" is fictional, btw but, like absolutely everything else, there's a spectrum).
Since our country is so hyper-focused on individualism, most would rather ignore that there are effects to systemic inequality on individuals at all. That's why we need DEI. Because, as Dr. Horrible put it, "The status is NOT quo." When/if it ever is...there will be no need for DEI.
Trump DID NOT GRADUATE from Wharton. That's one of his many many lies. He couldn't get into Wharton because he didn't meet their entry requirements. He was allowed to AUDIT classes at the school.
One of his professors remembered him in 2016: "Donald Trump was the dumbest fucking student who ever walked in my classroom."
U Penn has verified he was a student in their business program and graduated in 1968. He transferred to U Penn from Fordham.
With a B.S. in real estate business, technically he graduated from U Penn's business school, which is Wharton. Did he ever take any business classes at U Penn or did he transfer everything from Fordham?
Who knows? Penn won't comment beyond confirming he graduated in 1968 with a degree from their business curriculum.
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/09/14/donald-trump-at-wharton-university-of-pennsylvania/
“When all you've known is privilege, equality can feel like discrimination.” Perfectly put! Especially when all you care about is maintaining that privilege.
I copied that quote.
Great post!
Excellent piece, showing the value of diversity , especially in the workplace. The statement about different knowledge bases and viewpoints is especially accurate. But if you don’t see the value in differing viewpoints, being white and especially male is the probable membership group you’re comfortable with.
What “they” don’t realize is that whites and especially white males, have ALWAYS had privilege in this country. So when they say “white lives matter “ it shows their ignorance of US history. White lives have ALWAYS mattered. Others not so much. Educating them is the answer but very difficult to do.
The best line in this piece is that DEI really means don jr., Eric and ivanka. So when a MAGAt raise that issue, just refer to his kids. That should shut them up at least for a few seconds before the outrage spews forth.
Or Duly Elected Incumbent, as (I think) the Black mayor of Baltimore said.
Wonderful article and example of how different thinking and knowledge makes any person, company, government etc so much stronger. I never heard the NASA story but it's perfect!
"Equity ensures opportunities are free from bias and discrimination." However, that is not how it is executed or advertised.
Wow! So many great takeaways for me to use with my family and friends. Thank you!
How did that block head incel Charlie Kirk get a platform that people actually listen to and quote from?
That’s what I wondered. Who is this guy and why would I care what he thinks?!
DEI is the new "N" word. The peasants with their pitchforks are scared 😱
Just call white privilege what it should be called; WPA(white penis advantage). By the way, I wish I could take credit for that but my friend, John Shore who is also a Substacker(Hey Boomer)wrote about this very subject July 26.
A great many people whose self-esteem rests on being better than that "other" person by virtue of some inborn and/or cultural characteristic (e.g. skin tone, sexual orientation, gender, religion, etc.) feel threatened by any idea that levels the playing field for that other person, who - by virtue of that inborn and/or cultural characteristic - is, to the people making the determination, inherently less qualified than themselves. They are not concerned about equity; they are concerned about maintaining their advantage.
Trump is, himself, one of those people, and, like a good many similar people, does not see that his birth as a white, male, affluent Christian (or Christian-affiliate) gave him an advantage over those who are possessed of fewer, or none, of those characteristics. He truly believes that he is a self-made man, having starting with a "mere" million dollar loan from a parent, where the rest of us could spend a lifetime working and never attain that sum. Many of his supporters believe the same thing - that equity will not level the playing field by bringing everyone to the same starting point (the purpose of DEI and similar initiatives), but rather that it will put those who have always had an advantage at a disadvantage - and that is one thing they cannot bear to consider. It's why they support Trump - because he wants to help them maintain their advantage, and they really don't care what it costs other people; they feel they are entitled to such a position. It's a key part of why his base supports him.