The argument might go something like "The ends don't justify the means" or "Two wrongs don't make it right" etc. It can deeply offend ones meritocratic values t

The argument might go something like "The ends don't justify the means" or "Two wrongs don't make it right" etc. It can deeply offend ones meritocratic values to be pushed aside to ensure someone has an equal outcome with lesser qualifications (or even equal qualifications where race was the deciding factor) if it can be shown this occurs. But of course inequity in outcome deeply offends other values. So there can't be a clearly right answer. There is a book that explored the values of both sides of these issues called Righteous Mind that really shifted me away from zealous opinions for or against DEI.