| This article does not discuss the legalities | | | | telling people that they are not all equal |
| of affirmative action, I leave that to the | | | | under the eyes of the law. Profiling tells |
| courts. This article is solely about the | | | | some people that they are not as intelligent |
| philosophy of affirmative action.According to | | | | or as capable as other people and that they |
| Wikipedia, affirmative action "is a policy or | | | | can't make it without help. It tells other |
| a program promoting the representation in | | | | people that because they are 'white', they |
| various systems of people of a group who have | | | | don't deserve help. It rewards some people |
| traditionally been discriminated against, | | | | while punishing other people. This divides |
| with the aim of creating a more egalitarian | | | | the country and causes, in effect, class |
| society". In my opinion, affirmative action, | | | | warfare. America is a land of immigrants who |
| at least as it has been instituted in this | | | | should have been melded into one great class |
| country, is wrong, harmful, racist and | | | | of people, Americans. To tell them that |
| prejudicial. Affirmative action, at least in | | | | 'blacks', whites', 'hispanics', 'orientals', |
| this country, seems to be based, solely, on | | | | etc. are all different and have different |
| race or gender.In example, take two male high | | | | abilities keeps this country from being |
| school students, both attend the same low | | | | united. To grant advantages to one group over |
| income area high school, one is 'black' and | | | | another is discriminitory and divisive. To |
| one is 'white'. The 'black' student's family, | | | | tell 'blacks', 'hispanics' and others that |
| immigrated to this country from Canada | | | | they can't make it without outside help is to |
| fourteen years ago, his father works full | | | | tell them that that they are not as capable |
| time and his mother is a 'stay at home mom'. | | | | as 'whites', 'orientals' and others.Some of |
| The 'white' student's ancestors immigrated to | | | | you may be wondering why I keep placing |
| this country eighty years ago, his father was | | | | single quotation marks around certain words |
| killed, in a home invasion robbery, when he | | | | like 'black', 'white', etc.. It is because I |
| was six years old and his mother works part | | | | do not like using labels like 'black' and |
| time as a waitress in a diner. The 'black' | | | | 'white' to describe people. Other words like |
| student has a grade point average of 3.05 | | | | 'hispanic' are, in my opinion, used |
| with an S.A.T. score of 1085. The 'white' | | | | improperly as they tend to catagorize people |
| student has a grade point average of 3.55 and | | | | from many different countries or groups into |
| a S.A.T. score of 1270. Both students are | | | | one group. All 'blacks' are not the color of |
| polite and well mannered. Neither belongs to | | | | black, all 'whites' are not the color of |
| a gang or has any criminal record. Both want | | | | white and all 'hispanics' are not necessarily |
| to go to a good university so both apply to | | | | of Spain or Spanish speaking (Brazilians, for |
| U.C.L.A..Under affirmatve action, which | | | | example, are classified 'hispanic' even |
| student would be accepted? The 'white' | | | | though they speak Portuguese and most are |
| student would not be covered under | | | | descended from Portugal or some African |
| affirmative action, as 'whites' have not | | | | country.). As far as I am concerned all |
| traditionally been discriminated against, and | | | | people that are American citizens |
| no duty is owed him for being poor and | | | | (naturalized or other) or live permanently in |
| fatherless (being poor and fatherless is not | | | | the United State Of America are either |
| considered disadvantaged and the fact that he | | | | American citizens or American residents. To |
| attended the same low income school as the | | | | label them otherwise is to denigrate, isolate |
| 'black' student is also not considered a | | | | and seperate them from each other. Discussing |
| disadvantage for a 'white'). The 'black | | | | concepts, like affirmative action and |
| student, however, is considered disadvantaged | | | | cultural diversity, force the use of such |
| and is considered to come from a race that | | | | labels.The people of this country need to be |
| has traditionally been discriminated against | | | | brought together, not seperated. Being proud |
| (The fact that his family recently came here | | | | of your ancestors and your heritage is one |
| from Canada, the fact that he has a parent | | | | thing, being rewarded, punished or seperated |
| that works full time and the fact that he has | | | | because of your ancestors or heritage is |
| not suffered racial discrimination does not | | | | something else entirely. Being rewarded |
| matter.). Under affirmative action, the | | | | because others of your race or gender were |
| 'black' student would not only be accepted, | | | | mistreated in the past is wrong and being |
| he would be eligible for financial aid. The | | | | punished for what others of your race or |
| 'black' student would go to U.C.L.A. and the | | | | gender did in the past is equally wrong. How |
| 'white' student would probably end up at a | | | | would you like to be fined for horse stealing |
| community college.Change the above example to | | | | because you are a 'white' male and some other |
| a 'black student and a 'hispanic' student and | | | | 'white' male stole a horse over fifty years |
| the 'black' student would be accepted because | | | | ago or even last week? Untill all people in |
| 'blacks' rank higher on the disadvantaged | | | | this country are treated equally, and with |
| charts. Between a 'hispanic' and a 'white' | | | | the same respect, and are given the same |
| the hispanic would be accepted because | | | | chances, we will never be "One nation under |
| 'whites' don't rank on the chart, neither do | | | | God, indivisable, with liberty and justice |
| 'orientals', South East Asians or Jews. The | | | | for all". Discrimination is wrong, no matter |
| fact that Orientals, South East Asians and | | | | who is being discriminated against.Note: For |
| Jews have been discriminated against in this | | | | any of you that object to my keeping the |
| country doesn't matter as the 'political | | | | phrase "under God" in that last quote, tough. |
| correctness' police in this country do not | | | | That is the way I say it. If you don't want |
| consider them, to have traditionally been | | | | to say it that way, then don't. Just don't |
| discriminated against enough, to be | | | | try to tell me that I can't say it that way. |
| disadvantaged. The only student that would be | | | | To those of you that object to my using the |
| ranked higher on the disadvantaged chart | | | | word 'black' instead of the words |
| would be a 'black' female student. | | | | 'African-American', again I say tough. To me |
| Furthermore, a rich 'black' student who | | | | 'African-American' is just as much a misnomer |
| attended the best schools would rank the | | | | as 'Hispanic'. I believe that the word |
| sames as a poor 'black' student who attended | | | | 'black' is improper, however, I hate to use |
| a low income school.Some universities are no | | | | the word American when there is a hyphen |
| longer allowed to use affirmative action as a | | | | before it. To me an American is an American. |
| criteria so they now use 'cultural diversity' | | | | I didn't write this article to be 'politicaly |
| as their criteria. To me affirmative action | | | | correct', I wrote this artice in order to say |
| and cultural diversity are the same thing. | | | | what I think. If you want 'political |
| Both use racial and gender profiling in order | | | | correctness', go elsewhere.David G. |
| to decide who is accepted. This is America | | | | Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private |
| and everyone is supposed to be equal and | | | | investigator and currently publishes several |
| recieve equal treatment. Racial and gender | | | | internet directories including a legal and |
| profiling tells people that some races and | | | | lifestyle resources directory for attorneys, |
| females are less capable than others and | | | | lawyers and the internet public. For more |
| therefore need special help in reaching their | | | | lifestyle information see the Lifestyle |
| potential. Profiling harms this country by | | | | directory from Resources For Attorneys. |