Keith Martin-Smith (Part 3) – The Wonderful Ideals But Flawed Applications of DEI: Intolerant Tolerance, Undiverse Diversity, Unliberal Liberalism, and More

Ep. 147 (Part 3 of 3) | Award-winning author, Zen priest and teacher, Kung Fu master, and professional advisor and trainer, Keith Martin-Smith, took a good look at the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement when he began to notice the damage it was causing people he knew under the guise of progress, or equity. Putting his keen mind to the task, Keith identified seven key areas where the DEI movement goes markedly astray from the values it aspires to. Coming from an integral understanding, Keith does more than simply point out where the movement has backfired. We learn that postmodern thinking is how we became aware of the “subtle soup of racism [and bias] in the cultural field itself”—beyond the concrete, obvious social injustices that activists fought in the 20th century. This more subtle field of bias is responsible for the inequalities we see in society today, which is what the DEI movement would like to tear down. But the ways in which DEI acts to make this happen, ironically, are characterized by exactly the things that DEI is against: intolerance, inequity, undiversity, tribalism, and anti-liberalism.

In his wise, articulate, and gracious way, Keith makes sense of why the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement has become a political flashpoint, raising the hackles of not only rightwing conservatives but also liberal progressives. Sympathetic to the values of DEI, Keith is all about helping to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement. When asked how the values of DEI could be fulfilled to make it the harmonious, effective, correcting movement it aspires to be, Keith responded, “with conversations like this, for one thing,” adding, “we need to realize that everyone has a portion of truth—we just need to connect everyone’s portion of truth with their heart.” Recorded June 6, 2024.

“Everybody cares…they just care about different things. Consensus and change come from being willing to listen to what people care about and finding space to honor that.”

(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)

Topics & Time Stamps – Part 3

• What is liberalism? (01:18)
• The nature of DEI’s anti-liberalism: banning free speech and more (05:08)
• White fragility is a non-argument and it’s anti-liberal (09:30)
• Another dangerous idea: silence is violence (10:44)
• Allowing trial by public opinion (11:41)
• Creating a true meritocracy: results from blind auditioning symphony musicians (14:13)
• Forced equality of outcome: is forcing 20% of symphony goers to be black a good idea? (15:31)
• Going far right and far left, you find they mirror each other (18:32)
• The klansmen who turned in their robes after talking to a black man (21:11)
• What could be done to fulfill the values of DEI and make it the effective correcting movement it aspires to be? (23:39)
• DEI at its best: recognizing the subtle ways in which cognitive bias affects the culture (27:05)
• The postmodern/DEI point of view doesn’t see how they are projecting their beliefs onto the culture (29:45)
• Microaggressions are real—but DEI proponents conflate microaggressions with macroaggressions (34:46)
• Critical race theory is the only explanatory theory in the DEI toolbox (39:33)
• Critical theory says power dynamics distort all interactions (44:15)
• The presumption of oppression and power is inaccurate from a biological standpoint (50:17)
• Partial truths are worth honoring (53:14)
• Everybody cares: finding space to honor that (56:09)
• What can we do to turn things around? (59:34)
• The difference between dignity and respect (01:01:10)

Resources & References – Part 3

• Steve McIntosh, co-founder of the Institute for Cultural Evolution, author of Developmental Politics: How America Can Grow into a Better Version of Itself*, see also Consciousness Evolves, Politics Can Too (Deep Transformation podcast)
• Shachar Erez, Israeli therapist who brought a Palestinian woman and far right Israeli woman together on his podcast, see also Coping with the Horrors of War: An Israeli Therapist Shares the Agony, Grief & Uncertainty of Wartime (Deep Transformation podcast)
• Daryl Davis, How One Man Convinced 200 Ku Klux Klan Members To Give Up Their Robes (NPR story)
• Jordan Peterson, psychologist, author, popular media commentator
• Critical race theory
• Critical theory
• Dignity versus Respect with Rosalind Wiseman (YouTube video)
• Keith Martin-Smith’s website: https://www.keithmartinsmith.com
• Keith Martin-Smith, When the Buddha Needs Therapy*
• Keith Martin-Smith, A Heart Blown Open: The Life and Practice of Zen Master Jun Po Denis Kelly Roshi*
• Keith Martin-Smith, The Seven Deadly Sins of DEI (Integral Life video presentation)
• Keith Martin-Smith, Reintegrating DEI: Beyond the Culture Wars (Integral Life video presentation)

* As an Amazon Associate, Deep Transformation earns from qualifying purchases.

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Keith Martin-Smith is the award-winning author of five books, most recently When the Buddha Needs Therapy, about which Ken Wilber said, “This is a terrific book, fully embracing a truly Integral perspective and highly recommended.” He is also an ordained Zen priest, a Northern Kung Fu lineage holder and recognized sifu, and a professional advisor and trainer. More at KeithMartinSmith.com.

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Podcast produced by Vanessa Santos and Show Notes by Heidi Mitchell