#WeNeedToTalk: Unity Without Diversity Isn’t Unity, it’s Conformity.

Yesterday, I’m sure you all watched as Pete Hegseth gave an uninspired speech railing against the so-called “woke” culture and claiming that inclusion, diversity, and LGBTQ rights are somehow destroying the military and weakening our country.

The speech was performative at best and what he calls “woke” is simply the recognition of human dignity. He made the statement that diversity isn’t what makes us strong, its unity. But it’s clear that what he views as “unity” isn’t unity at all, it’s conformity. It’s a dangerous, hollow vision that demands people shrink themselves to fit into someone else’s mold, erasing their identities and lived experiences.

Real unity doesn’t come from everyone being the exact same. How boring is that? It comes from diversity. Diversity isn’t our weakness, it has always been our greatest strength. It’s supposed to be what makes America, America. This country has always been a messy, ongoing experiment in weaving together different backgrounds, beliefs, and identities into something bigger than the sum of its parts. That’s where our resilience and creativity come from. That’s what makes us strong.

He calls for unity but how do you unify with people who don’t accept others as they are? How do you stand together with people who deny the inherent dignity of those who don’t fit into a narrow, exclusionary box? How can you talk about unity while rejecting the humanity of people whose experiences don’t mirror your own?

The American “melting pot” was never meant to erase differences, it was meant to let them coexist and thrive. We used to celebrate that. Now, too many fear it and want to rewrite the story, claiming that unity means looking, thinking, and acting the same. That’s not the America I believe in nor is it one I want to live in.

True unity is rooted in empathy. It means we see each other fully, our differences included, and still choosing to stand together. It means creating a space where every voice matters, not silencing or erasing those who don’t fit a certain mold.

We don’t need a military, or a nation, that demands uniformity from its citizens. We need one that honors diversity and embraces the beautiful complexity of what it means to be human. Pretending otherwise doesn’t make America stronger. It makes it smaller and extremely weak.

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