Fox News host Tucker Carlson ranted about diversity on the September 7 episode of his show, decrying how politicians from Barack Obama to Hillary Clinton have all lauded diversity as one of America’s greatest strengths.
Related: Tucker Carlson once beat up a gay guy who “bothered” him
“How, precisely, is diversity our strength?” the conservative commentator whinged. “Since you’ve made this our new national motto, please be specific as you explain it. Can you think, for example, of other institutions such as, I don’t know, marriage or military units in which the less people have in common, the more cohesive they are? Do you get along better with your neighbors, your co-workers if you can’t understand each other or share no common values?”
Tucker Carlson really really really really does not like living in a diverse country pic.twitter.com/iLpMr6QrNV
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) September 8, 2018
Critics and social media users were quick to set Carlson straight — pointing out how American history is full of immigrant innovators, how both social capital theory and evolutionary science support diversity, and how even Donald Trump’s own attorney Rudy Guiliani has praised diversity as a strength.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Fox News is proud to be the network of and for creepy old straight men
Because Carlson needs more enlightening, here’s what 8 LGBTQ icons have said on the topic:
1. Audre Lorde
In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction.
2. George Takei
We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.
3. Leslie Feinberg
We are pitted against each other in order to keep us from seeing each other as allies. Genuine bonds of solidarity can be forged between people who respect each other’s differences and are willing to fight their enemy together.
4. Ani DiFranco
Cause I know there is strength / In the differences between us / I know there is comfort / Where we overlap.
Anytime you stop and talk to somebody and you learn about them, you start to walk in their shoes a little bit and you see things through a different lens.
6. Billy Jean King
It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.
In our difference we are great and in our combined differences we are unbeatable … Continue to lead with that hope that says, locked arm and arm with our beautiful differences, we can succeed, we can thrive, and we can make this a more beautiful nation, a more beautiful world for all, not despite our differences, but thank God for them.
8. Bayard Rustin
You have to join every other movement for the freedom of all people.
Finally, we’ll leave you with TV writer Jess Dweck: Someone needs to tell Tucker Carlson that the greatest argument for diversity is Tucker Carlson.
Someone needs to tell Tucker Carlson that the greatest argument for diversity is Tucker Carlson pic.twitter.com/dvGDYhngDC
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) September 8, 2018
Kangol
Tucker Carlson is a not-very-bright white supremacist working for two propaganda outfits (FauxNoise and DailyCaller). What does anyone expect him to say except to rant against diversity? Meanwhile, the US, one of the most diverse countries on earth for most of its history–even though large portions of the diverse population were denied basic human rights, equality, opportunities, and dignity–became the richest and most powerful country on earth, in no small part because of its racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity. Every group that has come (or been brought) to the United States has contributed to this country’s economic and cultural success. American intellectual and technological innovations, music, cultures, etc., are celebrated around the globe, and it is not just because of US economic dominance. I’m not arguing for American exceptionalism, but I am saying American diversity has been key to this country’s success.
gymmuscleboy
@Kangol How is Tucker Carlson a white supremacist? The point which Tucker is making is a valid one – there is no rationale for increased diversity in western countries. There is a sweet spot for diversity (see the link in my comment below to Xzamilloh). The vast majority, including Tucker, agrees that immigration has been a positive force in the US. The point he is making is that there is no rationale to increase the flow.
Xzamilloh
Look, I give Tucker Carlson credit in that he’s made his alt-lite racist rhetoric palatable by doing the age old but re-tweaked practice of JAQ’ing off (Just Asking Questions) to hide his white nationalist tendencies. Fox News has really gone down this route and they’re not going to be able to live this down once Trump is out of office, be it 2020’s election or when he’s out of office in 2025 (I shudder at another 4 years of him, but establishment Dems are doing a good job of ensuring that happens)
We can indeed share the same values as others even if we’re not the same race, talk the same language, or share the same beliefs (or lack thereof). Hell, I have more in common with people on the right than I do the left in some instances.
gymmuscleboy
@Xzamilloh How is Tucker Carlson racist? Of course different races can share same values, but diversity means diversity of values too – that’s what multiculturalism is. It would be naive and arrogant to assume that all US immigrants want to become culturally American. So do you think that the US needs more diversity, or wouldn’t you agree with Tucker that western diversity is already in the “sweet spot”, as research shows? http://egsa.ucdavis.edu/blog/2013-02-12-genetic-diversity-and-economic-development-3/
gaimingfoxer
No… Seriously… Wait… You are all missing the bigger picture here.
He actually said :
Can you think, for example, of other institutions such as, I don’t know, *marriage* or military units in which the less people have in common, the more cohesive they are?
So he thinks *less* diversity in marriage is better?
Doesn’t that mean that a gay marriage of 2 men or 2 women is less diversified and therefore better?
gymmuscleboy
@gaimingfoxer Tucker Carlson supports gay marriage and has done for many years.
Kieran
Icons sure ain’t what they used to be.
gymmuscleboy
@ bobnla A great point, although lost on many in this forum who are loathe to think outside of the “virtue” that diversity = good. Expanding on your comment, even those not considered diverse are so frequently brainwashed into believing that American values are awful and America is not an exceptional place. Because “diversity is a strength”, we can improve America by importing third world values (because all cultures are equal) and brand it “multiculturalism”. Sounds neat, huh?
Just because you are gay does not mean you should embrace cultural diversity. Multiculturalism means new cultures come to a country and do not assimilate. It is easy to see that many foreign cultures gaining strength in the west HATE gay people.
DCguy
Sweetie, if you’re going to cut and paste a ramble to try to deflect from the topic. You may want to make sure it’s not completely unhinged.
DCguy
The simple fact, when the right wing says “Diversity” they mean “Not White and Straight and Christian”.
End of story. They can call being racist “Not being politically correct all they want but everybody but the media knows what they mean.
Lacuevaman
he’s the chunky frat boy that cruised the top floor library rest room. He never spoke but had the hardest fat but short d*ck that you’d ever seen. You’d blow him, he loved to shoot while being sucked…. no hands required….. but he never would acknowledge you in social settings…like ou really cared… yet he’d make sure you saw his fat azz and thick thighs in those tight chinos and he walked around with his woman…… Yep, I know Tucker.
Birdbrain1963
Tucker’s Gay bashing story is probably fake too. What gay man in their right mind would want that?