The idea of diversity for its own sake makes
no sense to me. It is unethical, and the premises and assumptions behind affirmative
action and enforced quotas etc. seem all wrong.
Appointing someone just
because they tick the right boxes often leads to injustice and inefficiency; I
have seen many examples of this for myself.
Some people are fighting for common sense, fairness,
effectiveness and productivity. I have found an inspiring example from the US.
Cypress Semiconductor
This case goes back to 1996, but
it is still relevant – and inspiring. I found online a letter written
by a Mr T. J. Rodgers, the then CEO of US company Cypress Semiconductor, to a
group of nuns, shareholders in the company, in response to their complaint that
the Directors were all white males.
Summary of the complaint
"...Sister
Doris, speaking for the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia as a Cypress
shareholder, expressed the view that a company ‘is best represented by a Board
of qualified Directors reflecting the equality of the sexes, races, and ethnic
groups.’...she closed her letter with the exhortation, ‘We urge you to enrich
the Board by seeking qualified women and members of racial minorities as
nominees.'"
Selections from the response
Mr Rodgers' reply is very well
expressed. It deserves worldwide publicity. It is much too long to reproduce
here, but can be found, together with the full background story, on the Cypress website.
In his position, I might have
been tempted to reply, “Go to hell you stupid old fools”, but the shareholders
must be humoured I suppose. He does tell Sister Doris to
get down from her high horse though!
