“What if litmus tests become common?” asks Dave Winer. Go read it. It’s short. I’ll wait.
In applying for a board position, I was asked a litmus test question. I answered truthfully, “I don’t agree with all of these statements.” I specifically pointed out my disagreement and why. And I still got the position. But I might not have.1And as an unpaid, volunteer position, the monetary impact on me would have been nil. I’m not tooting my horn too hard here. But it was a position I wanted.
Those of us who value diversity need to be willing to answer honestly. After all, if an organization won’t hire me because of my human rights values, do I really want to spend the majority of my waking hours around narrow-minded bigots?2Yes, I understand intolerance of intolerance. But integrity should limit one’s tactics.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advocating all should have the same values or that I would work only with those who share my values. I like Andrew Sullivan’s view:
If we cannot live and work alongside people with whom we deeply disagree, we are finished as a liberal society.
Gay marriage seems to be a dangerous topic these days. But it shouldn’t be.3Here is my post on Prop 8.
- 1And as an unpaid, volunteer position, the monetary impact on me would have been nil. I’m not tooting my horn too hard here. But it was a position I wanted.
- 2Yes, I understand intolerance of intolerance. But integrity should limit one’s tactics.
- 3Here is my post on Prop 8.