Government should not be a Disney film with shallow representation.

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MILAN ARAN, social debater

Lisa Knudsen highlighted the lack of diversity in the government, where two of the 73 ministers and secretaries of state are people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Why should identity be more important than competence?

Government is not an arena for symbolic representation, but a critical governing body that must be able to overcome complex political challenges.

In discussions about diversity in government, competency should be the most important thing to consider when we choose our representatives, not identity.

If the goal is to get more minority groups respected and included, don’t give them a comfortable position that most people understand is given because the person colors the gang.

As a person from a minority background, I would prefer to be selected based on my skills, and not just because of my identity.

Some might think that only two of the 73 ministers and secretaries of state having an ethnic minority background is a problem. But before we call it a crisis, let’s look at the reality.

The Storting’s president was an immigrant, and the gender distribution in government remained relatively even for nearly 30 years.

Never before have so many Norwegians with immigrant backgrounds entered the Storting.

Let’s not paint a black-and-white picture of those who run the country as a club for older white guys – it’s actually more colorful than you might think.

The solution to increasing diversity in government is to encourage diverse talent to pursue careers in politics and civic life.

As time goes by, more and more minority groups will become involved and be elevated into the hierarchy. Not based on skin color, ethnicity, sexuality, or bodily function – but based on the knowledge a person has.

That’s the recipe for a healthy democracy.

Government should not be a Disney film with shallow representation.

The government makes the most important decisions for our country, and it is important that we get the best people to do the job, regardless of who they are or where they come from.