Cultural competence.

Wendy McElroy has an interesting dissection of so-called "cultural competence," a concept that is gaining some adherents in the education world.

The definition of ["cultural competence"] is all-important.

Unfortunately, language surrounding the term is usually vague and bureaucratic. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is typical in stating, "Cultural competence requires that organizations...have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge..." ^[1]

The stupidity inherent in a goal that diversity should be valued is the first thought that comes to mind in reading this drivel. This is akin to a mathematics teacher's "valuing" the fact that some students come up with "diverse" answers to the problem "2 + 2 = ?" like "5," "7," "IV," "100," "cuatro," "四," "Vier," or "четыре."

Granted that "culture" is not as precise a concept as base-10 addition but one thing you CAN be certain of is that the proponents of CC do not think that native American (no, not Native American) culture has ANY claim to primacy in the schools and offices of This Great Land of Ours (TGLOO).

No $^%#&g way!

The existence of a bona fide all-kidding-aside practicing cannibal would merit only a heartfelt, "How wonderful!" from one genuinely competent in cultural competency. Ditto, for the gal who shows up with a neck like a giraffe from wearing multiple metal ring neck expanders, the guy with cosmetic facial scars, and the gal with slit lower lips stretched around hockey pucks.

If there's any recognition of the concept of gradations of value in the CC or PC world, its denizens have not announced this fact. Children who are street thugs, dopers, dealers, illiterates, obstructionists, or not fluent in English are to be valued for the simple differentness they bring to the table. People whose religion sanctions wife beating, degradation of women, and murder of innocent nonadherents just must be treated like the best thing ever to make a contribution to the Nation's rich culture.

Not "cultural heritage," mind you, just rich "culture," that constantly mutating slurry of random future inputs and arbitrary artifactual contributions like the Orange Slurpy dispensers you see at DQ.

The point about conducting self-assessment as a requirement of CC demonstrates the intellectual incompetence of the New Jersey standard setters above. Every organization needs to assess itself. The KGB, the SS, and the Akron Chamber of Commerce need(ed) to do this. The New Jersey guys might as well have put in a requirement of a fat-free diet with lots of broccoli.

Manage the "dynamics of difference" does NOT, of course, mean punishment of or correction of those who deviate from proven winning practices, but rather arranging the professional oblivion and financial ruin of those who choose not to knuckle under to a concept of human society devised by the Three Stooges, all too well known for their commitment to random violence and frequent occupational change.

"Acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge," of course, does NOT mean learn about the wonders of the U.S.A. and its magnificent cultural heritage -- or the pernicious effects of clan and tribe culture and other aspects of failed or grossly retarded cultures -- but a commitment to acquiring insipid facts about diet, dress, and geography.

CC is an attack on common sense and, as Ms. McElroy makes clear, pernicious in its goals and effects.

Notes
^[1] "Cultural Competence: Coming To a School Near You?" By Wendy McElroy, LewRockwell.com, 10/21/05.