Diversity Misses The Point

There's an op-ed in USA Today from former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in which he laments the lawsuit against Harvard seeking an end to the discrimination against certain racial groups.  Specifically, the suit points to the fact that Asian-American students have to achieve much higher grades and SAT scores to gain entry to Harvard than African Americans or Hispanics.  In other words, the Harvard admissions policies give unfair preferences to blacks and Hispanics over Asians.  Mabus, of course, doesn't mention that the Asians are subjected to discrimination.  Mabus calls the practice one which promotes diversity.  Nearly his entire article is a hymn of praise to the concept of diversity.  The discussion of diversity, however, misses the point.

Think about it.  We can all agree that discrimination based upon race or sex or religion or ethnicity is a bad thing.  That is true even if those discriminated against are seeking admission to college.  If Asians do better in school and on the SAT tests, then they should be given the fruits of that performance.  There is no exception which promotes discrimination if it deals with Asians admission to colleges that take federal money.  The law is clear:  discrimination is not allowed.