Affirmative action is not only useless, it pits race against race, each vying for the few prized seats in good schools.
First of all, there is NOTHING wrong with wanting to go to an Ivy League school. You get what you pay for. Education is important, and so is the institution from which you recieve that education. The degree from a CSU (California) is not nearly as valuable or meaningful as one from Princeton because the quality of each respective school is different. Allowing blacks entrance to a university to fill some quota or to enhance the "racial ballance" of a campus is absurd.
It shouldn't matter the racial, demographical, or ethnic heritage of the applicant. Good grades and extra-curricular activities should be the only criterae used for the litmis tests used to consider admittance. To this many minorities will assert that the schools in which their children are instructed are less equiped and more poorly run than those in which white children are educated. Be that as it may, that does not obligate the schools to allow lackluster candidates who, frankly, do not meet that standards of the school.
That many universities do admit students who, because of their racial heritage, are provided honorary and undeserved merit is the cause of the rather recent necessity that universities teach remedial subjects that should have been taught in high school. It is because of these students which, for lack of a better means by which to define them, are a distraction and a detraction from the overall quality of the school, that the quality of education as a whole has seen a drastic and rapid decline over the past 2 decades.
If a school happens to be 98% white, I see no reason why yet more white students shouldn't be admitted over a black candidate who is not as qualified, whether or not the caliber of education previously recieved by that black student was lower than that of the white student. As previously stated, it is not the fault of the educated, qualified white student OR of the university that the minority may have recieved an education in a school that was less equiped.
But America is not interested in the equality and betterment of our educational system or in seeing that provisions are made so that the most and best prepared are allowed to succeed, no, we are far too interested in seeing revenge visited upon whites, stripping them of that which we were so long denied. That is not in our power, however, it is not for the politicians to decide who should be granted admittance, it is up to those who work intimately with the students and who have the most effect on the educational process. To the minorities who feel they are cheated, I say get over it. There are so many who rose to become great and inspiritional figures without the assistance of Affirmative Action or public assistance. They rose because they had it within them to succeed no matter the condition of their plight. They did what the did because they saw better for themselves.
You are absolutely right, however, if people call it a quota then it is unconstitutional. The fact that people aren't getting into a school based on their qualifications as a person, not gender or race, is very aggrivating. The only problem with how people may read this blog, they could say 'they are racist,' or 'they just don't understand.' I don't agree with the fact that the inner cities are mostly minorities and they can't get out because they lack the education to better themselves since they all worry about getting shot or not looking cool. Not all minorities deserve the college experience if they don't work for it, but not all white people do either.
You havent seen the statistics for aptitude tests for different minority groups lately have you? Currently the mean average 'intelligence quotient' for white americans is 100, which is the mean of the normal distribution, while african americans have an average IQ of 85, and Hispanics 90. Does that mean that these different racial groups are stupid? Had you tested all different types of individuals in elementary school, there wouldnt be racial differences. But then, you ask, why does aptitude differences exist?
We often blame it on the environment, ranging from the slavery to the discrimination to the peer pressure. Think about it. if you look at America today, you'll notice the great social gaps that exist between racial groups... and you'll see that not much has changed within the last two hundred years. Yea, okay thank you 14th, 15th, and 16th Amendment, but regardless of whether minority groups try or not, they are not given the same opporunities had they been white. Look at all the partnerships of business firms in America... almost no minorities hold these positions of power. we had our first muslim senator this year... and how long have we established our federal government for? So I say that the skin color does hold great influence in the world, and colleges are smart to consider the fact that environmental and social factors may cause diversity in results. Not all people can afford those rich SAT prep programs or afford to go to rich private schools. there is a blatant gap between the percentage of different races involved in society and colleges are trying to diminish the gap. theyre not specifically targeting white students... and i must admit, those individuals that do get accepted generally have high SAT scores and great achievements. Anyone who values a good education would obviously care enough to learn actual subjects that are not remedial. If people didnt deserve to be in those schools, they would obviously be rejected, regardless of race. And besides, if people wanted to learn remedial schools, there are vocational schools for that. they dont need to spend thousands of dollars on a rich education in order to learn remedial skills. the idea is simply absurd.
-Debbie
college applications, I venture to say, are one of the few things that should be measured in a vacuum. This allows for a fair, ballanced, and unskewed evaluation of the student's elligability. It's not the dean's job to feel sympathetic towards the financial resources or demographic success rates of a particular candidate. No, that's up to the financial aid department.
While I agree partially with the idea that skin color does to some extent still sway the opportunities offered to the individual, I stop short of saying that that justifies lowering standards simply to appease or sooth the brows of so many who simply are not qualified.
we actually had a discussion about this in my english class yesterday. i respect your view on affirmative action; however, i believe your premise is slightly off.
just because the school has to fulfill a quota of people of a specific ethnic heritage, it doesn't mean that princeton or harvard or any other school will go on the streets picking out your run-off-the-mill ethnic stereotypes. these people are just as highly qualified as the caucasians that made it. it's just that the school can only pick so much out of the millions of applicants, and so they base it on 6 different criteria:
1. gpa
2. sat scores
3. ethnic background
4. family/ individual income
5. extra curricular activities/ community service
6. major
non-caucasians excel in these categories as much as those that got in. so we can't say that they are undeserving. universities see their institutions as mini-worlds within the school for they are the breeding grounds for those that will change the nation, or even the world for the better.
Here, Here! How about the colleges that are for minorities only or the majority of their students are African Americans? They will make it quite clear they do not want white students in their school. It is high time the 'race card' stop being used as an excuse for every wrong done since the dawn of time and used to get every type of hand-out possible at the expense of every other ethnicity. It is high time each and every individual, no matter what the color, race, creed; be accountable for their own actions or inactions and where the place themselves in life.
Granted, there are those who find themselves in positions where they struggle to break out of a cycle of poverty. But, the buck has to stop somewhere and there is no better place to start that with the person looking back in the mirror.
First off, I want you to udnerstand that I can see where you're coming from, but i think you are misinformed. We had an HBCU in our town, I know many kids who go to one (including a few who are White) and there is a HBCU in he next town over (as well as a Black Frat on campus which *does not* discriminate). The thing is, I have never seen or heard of a HBCU that refuses non-Black applicants to not apply, in fact they are eager to have them. Most colleges who are majority have always been that way (due to historical reasons that you may be able to assume if you know basic American history) and continue to get mroe Black students due to the fact that the choolis full of history/knowledge about Black people (something many Black people have a hard time finding, atleast regarding personal family history).
I also have ahard time understand why the writer used Blacks as the examples in his peice. Blacks are not the only minorities, in fat, they probably aren't the sought after ones anymore. Also, I did have Black friends who applied to all white colelges 9they had good grades and all that good stuff you need to have to get into college and they still didn't get it. It's a little belittling to read soemthing that automatically assumes that many Blacks (or minorities) did not get into colelge due to good grades. Oh, and this supposed "quota" everyne is mentioning...that's banned. Supposedly doesn't even exist, however that doesn't stop a colelge from wanting to diversify its' campus.
There seems to be a lot of mention about people using slavery as a crutch, most people (Black peole) are over that...there are, however, current issues that still have not been fixed within the community that have led many to be in the same situaiton.
Our government, mostly rich white people, has found a great way to get a whole new set of votes and stay in office and give tax breaks to their buddies, lining their pockets and buying their yachts. They give free education, and assistance, and food and lodging and access to jobs and basically a ticket to America. Hell, they can even come illegally and use SOMEONE else 's identity LEGALLY while they do it. You just can't be white. That's the only rule. Nevermind that most white immigrants had nothing to do with slavery, and in fact, helped free the slaves. Nevermind that most don't own businesses and aren't in any position to discriminate against them. They came here poor too. They received NO ASSISTANCE, NO WELFARE, NO FREE EDUCATION, NO HOUSING ASSISTANCE, NO FREE BUSINESS LOANS THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY BACK. THESE POLITICIANS AND BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE SCAPEGOATED THEIR OWN AND THEY DESERVE TO DIE A THOUSAND DEATHS, EACH MORE HORRIFYING THAN THE LAST. But hey, that's just me talking sensibly. And for merely calling these minorities out for living off us like parasites, we are racists. Excuse me?????? Wake up white people. Fix this shit.
Let me start by saying"(content has been edited by moderator 05/07/09)"
...And thats all i gots to say about that.
"Something given has no value"~Robert Heinlein
And if you're seeing lines in my writing that you feel you need to read between, they aren't there. ~N. Ledger
" And for merely calling these minorities out for living off us like parasites, we are racists"
Nooooo...this doesn't sound racist at all. *sigh*
I've never met a Black person who blamed every white person they met for slavery. I've never met someone who held a serious chip on their shoulder for somethng that happened 3000 years ago. However, I have met people who did not appreicate CURRENT treatment towards their people or a group of people (whether it be race or gender or sexual orientation). If you feel like people are guilting you about slavery then leave those people, because I havent met a Black person who ranted on and on about it. It's acknowledged, but theres no witch hunt taking place. Other than the fact that your argumen eems to have an us vs. them mentality and a complete lack of historical differences (everyone has there own history so judge them accordingly...this means that you cant judge the poor businessman who came over 10 years ago to the little kid who grew up in Compton,CA and came from a poor minority family). Basically, give everyone a chance because it sounded liek your mind was already made up. Oh, and there s no such thing as a "qouta"...those went out a long time ago and are supposedly illegal.
Once you get out of college this stuff is going to be with you in the real world too.
There is a case that was just heard and not yet decided by the Supreme Court where a bunch of white firemen (10) who passed the exam to be promoted to officer in New Haven Connecticut were denied their promotions because no black firemen and only one hispanic were able to pass the test. This was despite the fact that the City had spent quite a lot of money on a consultant specializing in these kinds of things to design a race neutral test.
Merit doesn't matter for city firefighters
Instead of promoting them on the basis of obvious merit, the City threw out all the test results and refused to promote anybody. Including this guy who is the lead plaintiff and who clearly earned his promotion:
Frank Ricci, the lead plaintiff, had trusted a test of merit. He had been a firefighter for 11 years and was determined to become a lieutenant. All applicants were given three months to prepare for the exam and provided with a detailed reading list. Mr. Ricci is dyslexic, so he paid an acquaintance more than $1,000 to read textbooks onto audiotapes, made flashcards, took practice tests, worked with a study group and participated in mock interviews. He gave up a second job in order to study long hours. His work paid off: He came in sixth among the 77 candidates who took the exam.
I wonder if any of the black candidates would have passed if they had worked as hard as Frank Ricci?
To me this seems like a case of affirmative action actually endangering society because whatever new bogus mechanism the City comes up with to ensure racially balanced promotions occur, it is going to be painfully obvious that more qualified white firemen are going to be left languishing while less meritorious and competent black firemen get promoted to positions of command. The result may well be dead citizens.
The sad things about all this is that it leads to the saddest form of all discrimination of all: pity. It is hard to see a minority in a position of authority and not wonder if they really deserve that position or if they are just another affirmative action charity case. If I were a minority who had earned my position in life based on merit I would resent the hell out of laws that caused society to look at me and assume I was mentally inferior and needed an unfair advantage to succeed.
...but in the case he describes above, I am actually in agreement with jackbenimble.
TTFN,
Blackout
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A question of love.
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Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.
1.) Why did this argument automatically go from Blacks vs. White?
2.) Why does it seem like some people are painting Blacks as people who can't get over slavery when in fact I've never heard a Black person hold a chip over their shoulder over it?
3.) Why is it that the same people writing these comments paint themselves as fair, openminded individuals yet put others in a box?
4.) Why is it that no one has recognized that quotas don't exist anymore?
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:
5.) Why hasn't anyone remembered that Affirmative Action works for everyone. If you're white, go to work at a majority black lawfirm...asian? then hispanic? white? then native american? it's meant to give everyone a fair chance... it will work for you too.