To the editor:

I support President Trump in removing all DEI from all federal agencies and any others that get federal money. DEI — what that means is we should favor those who have a certain skin color or lifestyle. That is not American, is it? No. Is that what Martin Luther King Jr. meant when he said we should be judged by our character, not the color of our skin? No. The system in America, both economic and political, should reward hard work and merit. If a college admissions director gets an admissions applicant from a zip code that is knowingly in distress, and that student is doing very well, that is a big plus for successful admission. Neither the color of the student nor the lifestyle of the student is known. But hard work and merit should be considered in hiring and academia. Agree or disagree? But not skin color. That would qualify as being considered un-American. Employers need to take a look at that as well. They want to hire good people so hire them based on merit.

Lavern Eick

Marshall