[MD] an aside

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Ron]
But this shows how an intellectual ideal can overcome all that. It 
proves the potential of strength through diversity. That not all 
intellectual patterns are evil, that some transcend cultural values 
and it's these intellectual values of a social community is what 
really makes this country dynamic.

[Arlo]
Typically, words like "multiculturalism" and "diversity" are simply 
empty words charged with being a boogeyman of some sort. As Craig 
pointed out, and I've been talking about with John, I think its 
important to talk about "what kind of 'diversity' is being talked about".

In my opinion, diversity in social patterns is irrelevant so long as 
those patterns do not violate (governing) intellectual principles 
(i.e., those that can be shown either subvert intellectual dominance 
or attempt to dominate biological patterns in the absence of 
justification that doing so is necessary for the survival of 
society). To be clear, I place the burden on proof ahead of 
accusations of "immoral" subversion or dominance.

The reason I place burden of proof upfront is that it is from 
diversity (biological, social and intellectual) that DQ operates. 
Historically, times of our greatest "dynamic" evolution occur at the 
meeting point between very different cultures (even if that is later 
denied by those wishing to associate all of mankind's glories to one 
particular race or group).

So we have things like "biological diversity" (say, diversity in 
melanin levels, body size/shape), "social diversity" (say, religion 
or ethnic ritual, punk rock or country music), and "intellectual 
diversity" (say, quantum physics or Newtonian)*. The important thing, 
IMO, is to recognize that from diversity DQ flows (on all levels), 
while holding the reigns static just tightly enough to prevent 
devoltution or subversive dominance of a lower level of a higher level.

* I guess for completeness I'd add "inorganic diversity" (carbon or oxygen).