<p><strong><em>Edit: oops, sorry this was a cross post before I saw your pleas for a truce (places sword back in sheath)</em></strong> </p>
<p>I don't think AA is racist in the least. And for all those who insist that it is, funny how few such voices were when URMs were being systematically excluded from opportunity (i.e. when real racism was at work). Most ppl against AA are really only concerned about equity and fairness to the degree they maintain every possible advantage for themselves (Clarence Thomas notwithstanding). Campuses could be completely devoid of URMs and lot of posters, so passionate here in their arguments against AA, would be blissfully unconcerned about the reasons why. </p>
<p>Thus, I don't buy the AA is racist against minorities because of the implication of not being "good enough" one bit. Many are already predisposed to such thinking, and the abolishment of AA would not change that. Once a person gets through the door, more often than not, they will be judged on present performance. Professors don't have a seperate grade book for AA admits vs. others. URMs graduate on their own merit, not because of being a URM. If others don't care to understand that - well, that's their problem I guess.</p>
<p>In 1961 President John F. Kennedy first proposed the idea of preferential treatment towards race and gender in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement in America. It was a immense victory in the United States when Americans began to recognize discrimination in all facets of life, and thus Americans sought to make up for the oppression and discrimination that swept America in the past and stifled the advancement of minorities. However, little did Kennedy as well as all Americans know what the institution of Affirmative Action would hold for the future of America. Affirmative Action is undoubtedly a morally commendable effort, but in its pursuit to reconcile America’s past sins, it has indeed failed. </p>
<pre><code>The primary flaw in our approach to affirmative action is that the system intends to fight fire with fire, that is discrimination with discrimination. This term is coined, “reverse discrimination” because affirmative action seeks the advancement of certain minorities, while in turn inhibiting the advancement of another race. For instance, in college admissions, African-American and Hispanic applicants are given an advantage over applicants that are Caucasian or Asian-American. The Dean of Admissions at Harvard University stated almost a year ago that diversity plays an important role in college admissions. However, is it worth advancing the diversity of a given college campus at the expense of essentially inhibiting the advancement of certain non under-represented minorities? Diversity is the foundation of America, but America wasn’t created diverse by the government nor certain institutions; it was created diverse by the people that represent this nation. It is important to point out that college admissions has become corrupt through the years as a result of affirmative action policies, making Caucasian and Asian-American males the true losers. It is time America and all of its institutions come to realization the fundamental flaw to affirmative action is indeed reverse discrimination.
Not only is reverse discrimination a negative effect of affirmative action, it also discriminates on those that actually benefit from the system. Minorities all across America are capable of getting the best jobs, being admitted to the most prestigious schools, and being successful as any white male. The problem lies when people view them as inferior because of affirmative action. An attitude persists in America with a notion that, “You couldn’t do it on your own.” These implications have disastrous effects on minority students. A minority who truly understands affirmative action can never truly feel accomplished when a lingering doubt about the legitimacy of the achievement exists.
</code></pre>
<p>The underlining theme surrounding the issue of affirmative action is that the system treats individuals as groups, races in particular, rather than the individuals they are. The system has created the notion that, “one size fits all,” which is inherently false. Every individual has a different identity; affirmative action views race as an identity. This flaw only makes the demise of the system as a whole faster. Ultimately, any true American will acknowledge that diversity is essential to our nation. America after all was founded by diversity, diversity that continues to grow at a rapid rate. Does America truly need an institution to advance diversity and create equality, when affirmative action is a prime example that does neither. America will indeed prosper on its own; prosperity that can never be achieved through some government institution.</p>
<p>this is an open thread, if it ticks you off that much than don't read it. I combined all the arguments against an affirmative action system and wrote an article. It summarizes why affirmative action is bs</p>
<p>I just can't think of any reason why racial AA is the best choice.</p>
<p>To give poor people a better chance? Well, usually URMs that are admitted are middle/upper class anyway. How about economic AA? </p>
<p>To give previously discriminated against races a leg up? Well, Asians were subject to numerous racist laws and attitudes, at least as many as Hispanics. They probably didn't experience the same hardships as a race as Blacks or Native Americans, but again, I reiterate that most acceptees are from privileged members of these groups that have not faced the worst of these hardships within their own lives. Also, it seems silly to be helping out a race until they succeed and then immediately try to smother their percentages.</p>
<p>Finally, to give diversity to the campus? Oh, this is the silliest reason. What, do you think you as a person are defined MOST IMPORTANTLY by your racial status? That thing you were born with, or that culture that <em>may</em> have influenced your personality... along with your parents, your socioeconomic status, your friends, the number of trees in your neighborhood... There are SO MANY more important factors than race. I'd care about diversity in political views, diversity in income status, diversity in familial status, diversity of interests or talents, so many more diversities that can add value to a college campus rather than a skin color that could maybe possibly sometimes have a correlation with more important factors. </p>
<p>Actually, personally, I think all AA is by nature discriminatory in a very negative way. It assumes that admins would do a good job playing 'God' and deciding which people, based on highly subjective factors, would be most "worthy" for the higher education they desire. (Or should I say, most worthy for the college they want to go to. Higher education in itself - in the form of community colleges - is quite readily accessible.) Let's leave that to God...that is, for those that believe in him :)</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and someone's bound to bring this up/ to have already brought this up: culture of education/ not. </p>
<p>Really, another simple way to avoid a heavy handed, clumsy, and racist method: just use parental education. Naturally, there will be more African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, etc, that have less educated parents; and they will benefit from this. So will the white and Asian people who have a similar situation. </p>
<p>Though of course, I repeat <em>again</em> that I still don't prefer any kind of AA, but there are better options.</p>
<p>no it would not---eliminating the AA would merely allow further discrimination because the edifice in which we live in perpetuates racism--only through certain restrictions can a fraction, just a mere fraction, of this social disease be somewhat repressed. Obviously, The AA won't eradicate discrimination, but it is a considerable help. Those who implemented the AA struggled arduosly to see it utilized, one must realize that college administrators did not implement this willingly. The status quo breeds social ills, all the proggressive qualities we see today are the results of mass struggle not whim. Those who perpetuate the detraction of the AA are not altruistic, as you seem to put it, but truely, they are those who benefit from the system of racism.</p>
<p>American values are those which shunn fraternity, compassion, decency, benevolence, assistance, and so on. What I see on this thread is purely cheap american narcissm, hedonism, individualism.....</p>
<p>Get over it people, life isn't fair. For those of you out there who don't think AA is fair, ask yourself if you have ever favored from either knowing someone or any other kind of perk? if so, how is this different? I know how it's different... It doesn't benefit you! As soon as something doesn't benefit YOU then all of a sudden it's no good! SOUR GRAPES - get over it!</p>
<p>^Hard to ignore the irony in the statement when it just so happens that you are a URM. </p>
<p>"If you DO think AA is fair, ask yourself if you have ever been disgusted at witnessing subjective, preferential treatment... if so, how is this different? I know how it's different.. it DOES benefit YOU!" ;)</p>
<p>Affirmative action is a pointless system. The people who get into a college or get the job should be the ones who are the most qualified, not the ones whose races are the most underrepresented.</p>
<p>Do minorities still get treated poorly in some situations? Yes, but affirmative action only increases ill feelings towards them and undermines the abilities they innately possess.</p>
<p>I'm all for considering economic circumstances and other factors which may be influenced by race or culture, but this should not be something considered in admissions across the board.</p>
<p>Haa haa, how in the world would you know anything about me??????? You are just shooting off your mouth (keypad) and this is the exact reason racism exists in our society. Get over it!</p>
<p>diverstiy is what makes america great. Colleges DO need diversity..</p>
<p>This thread is by far diversity at its FINEST...you have everyone from white,black, Asian, Hispanic etc all offering there own diverse opinion. Everyone is integrating their cultural beliefs into this one topic. I think if there were just asians and whites in this thread there would be much to debate and the same if it was just blacks and Hispanics.In a matter of days this thread has regenerated 50posts.</p>
<p>If anyone of you can prove that diversity hasn't contributed to this thread. Or having others present their ideas against yours didn't make your beliefs stronger or weaker or even stayed the same then diversity has not done its job and inevitably AA doesn't serve a purpose.</p>
<p>Nice post. Yes, absolutely diversity has been good on this site and in our country. It just bothers me when "self-serving" individuals start crying the blues when things don't benefit them. Life isn't alway fair and we need to be grown up enough and mature enough to learn and grow from this. Instead many just start shooting off their mouths making total fools of themselves and showing how ignorant they really are. </p>
<p>Many of the students on this site are top tier students who will be going to competitive colleges. The higher education you have and the more opportunities you have and the more exposure you have to other countries and other people from around the world. Beacuse of this, you must be understanding of other cultures in order to succeed in life. You may not agree with everyone but you must be gracious enough to not offend. Everyone has perks at some point in their lives, just realize it and move on.</p>
<p>Guitars: Check your own post history. I don't understand how the stating of a fact is "racism."
Also, you've repeatedly coupled "AA" with "Life isn't fair, get over it." Please clarify for me: Are you agreeing that AA is not fair? </p>
<p>Ixjunitxi: You make a very strong point. The downside is that colleges very rarely serve as a forum for such discussion though. </p>
<p>I do agree that this thread wouldn't have been nearly as interesting without posters of different backgrounds, but I find it kind of circular reasoning that racial diversity at its finest is, well... a heated debate about racial diversity.</p>