Tee Ball Nation

Confession time: with apologies to my grandkids, I hate tee-ball. Every kid bats every inning, they get to swing as many times as it takes to hit the ball into fair territory, every hit is a single, the last batter of every inning gets a grand slam, and those rare defensive put-outs don’t count for anything. Yes, I also confess that I’m one of those people on the sidelines who cheers when little Timmy finally trickles one out in front of home plate on his 12th swing, “Run to first, Timmy! No, the other way, Timmy, run the other way!” And did I mention they don’t keep score? Tee-ball bears a closer resemblance to a child beauty pageant than it does to a sport.

Tee-ball is also a nice simile for our society under the woke regime of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI). DEI is the rubric under which our elitist ruling class desires to disrupt our society and remake it into their vision of utopia. The goal is to eliminate the concept of meritocracy (which is, in their view, a manifestation of “white supremacy”) and transform our culture to achieve the perfect balance of representation of each group (see Group Think) in every field to accomplish equal outcomes for all.

The purpose of tee-ball is to teach basic skills, such as throwing, catching, and swinging a bat, to kids who are too young to have developed the hand-eye coordination required to play baseball. But imagine if, in the spirit of DEI, we eliminated the sport of baseball and replaced it with Major League Tee-Ball (MLT!). Every game would end in an 81 to 81 tie, it wouldn’t matter if a batter could hit a ball 437 feet or 37 feet, every batter could swing as many times as they needed to hit the ball, diving catches in the outfield wouldn’t matter, and defensive gems would be irrelevant. No special skills, natural ability, or hard work are required for Tee Ball, so each roster could be carefully assembled to have just the right percentage of each diversity group, and every player would be paid exactly the same salary.

As humans we are all created in God’s image, and we all have equal value before God. It's important to note that equity, in the context of DEI, is much different than equality, and means the imposed equality of results. When a class is given a test, equality ensures that everyone in the class has access to the same instruction and study materials. Equity means everyone gets an A, regardless of whether they worked to learn the material.

Equity doesn’t happen naturally. Ironically, it’s our diversity that prevents equity. Equity must be enforced by changing the rules under which we operate, giving special advantages to some while disadvantaging others. It’s interesting that those who create the rules and do the enforcing don’t apply the rules to themselves.

DEI has become pervasive in our culture. Universities have DEI deans and have created entire bureaucracies on most campuses. At many colleges, to be hired as a professor or administrator, an applicant must sign a pledge to pursue the university’s DEI objectives or write a statement proclaiming personal DEI goals that align with those of the university. Corporations have DEI officers, expanded human resources departments, and proudly proclaim new DEI mission statements on their websites and publications. Even some churches have created DEI committees, the purpose of which I have been unable to ascertain, and not for lack of asking.

As usual, California is on the cutting edge of the DEI movement. The state’s education bureaucracy is in the process of adopting new diversity curriculum frameworks in social studies, history, English language, health and even mathematics. George Orwell’s prophecy from 1984 of “two plus two equals five” is coming ever closer to fulfillment. The governor recently signed AB101, which adds a requirement for a semester of “Ethnic Studies” to the high school graduation requirements. Kids may no longer be able to add, but they will certainly know their proper place on the victim-oppressor matrix! Both the UC and State University systems have announced that they will no longer use SAT or ACT scores in evaluating freshman applications.

The goal is to eliminate the concept of merit. Up until recently, there were well established characteristics and behaviors that, when adopted, would nearly always result in successful participation in American society. These included attributes such as a strong work ethic, perseverance, integrity, courage and loyalty, and behaviors such as paying your debts, obeying the law, getting an education, and avoiding adultery. These concepts have been relegated to the ash heap of history as elements of “whiteness” or “white privilege”. Of course, these have nothing to do with ethnicity or melanin content. They are the mutually beneficial attributes that a free society bestows to a free and responsible citizenry.

In the progressive utopian vision, excellence is no longer acceptable. Distinction must be suppressed. Equity requires that, instead of striving for higher standards we relentlessly pursue mediocrity. When not everyone can achieve mediocrity, we must continually lower the bar further and further until everyone can participate equally in the pathetic.

Let us recognize these for the lies they are. I don’t see a great future for Major League Tee Ball. On our current path, I don’t see a great future for America either. As believers, we are called to something much better. We are called in whatever we do, whether in word or deed, to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him [Colossians 3:17], and to live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us [1 Peter 2:12]. Don’t pursue equity – pursue excellence!