<p>D2 just did her common app for 2012, she was able to check off 2 boxes, one for Asian(China), and another for white (Europe).</p>
<p>“Actually Shrinkwrap, you didn’t “here” anything I kid. But it’s not a matter of whether URMs know they’re getting a hands up. It’s a matter of them getting a hands up at all. Can you truly give someone an advantage and not others and not classify it as racial discrimination.”</p>
<p>I am not denying racial preference. </p>
<p>I am denying the fact that black kids grow up thinking “I don’t have to try because I can count on racial preference.” That is the most outrageous thing to me, but I know it’s wasted on this forum. Most black communities are just trying to increase the number of their kids who graduate high school. For every one kid who benefits from affirmative action there are probably 50 or maybe 100 or 1000 that don’t graduate college. But whatever. That’s for another forum.</p>
<p>Posted from my tablet PC that doesn’t seem to get how ****ed I am, and posts without editing…</p>
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<p>Yes, it is pretty much on the honor system, except that some places want to see documentation of tribal affiliation for those who claim to be Native American.</p>
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What country do you live in? You honestly don’t think there is a dialog about affirmative action in school admissions and employment situations in the USA? Not only is there constant dialog, there are legal actions, political campaigns, and careers built on both sides of this issue.</p>
<p>BTW - civil disobedience generally refers to an action against an oppressive or unfair government - not against a private institution trying to set it’s own admissions criteria and trusting the integrity of the people who apply. Except in a few borderline cases, most people know whether a university intends URM status to apply to them or not. I certainly know it doesn’t apply to me.</p>
<p>But I guess it’s legitimate to put perceived unfairness in admission to Yale on par with Jim Crow, King George or British imperialism in India.</p>
<p>^^^ Just caught this in my post - that should be “its own admissions criteria,” not “it’s own admissions criteria.” As you can see, even racial preferences probably wouldn’t have helped me.</p>
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<p>I don’t recall if the bus line that Rosa Parks rode was private, but lots of lunch counters in the old South were private. </p>
<p>The government can tell private restaurants whether or not to allow smoking, but can’t make rules regarding an actual definition of who exactly is entitled to receive benefits from Affirmative Action?</p>
<p>Italian-Americans were lobbying to be included in the original Affirmative Action list, but must have not had the political clout to get the final nod.</p>
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Do you really think the issue with Rosa Parks and lunch counters in the South was simply a seat on a bus or at a lunch counter?</p>
<p>These acts of civil disobedience were part of a concerted, across the board effort to battle a systematic segregation and denial of basic rights that was institutionalized in State law. I’m no history expert, but as far as I know, it was against the laws of the state for blacks to sit at the same lunch counter as white, or drink from the same fountain. I don’t equate civil actions based on seeking equal rights to civil actions seeking a level playing ground for what are essentially priviledges.</p>
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Sure they can. And they often do weigh in on affirmative action (University of Michigan, etc.). I just think the notion of everyone fudging on their applications is neither advisable nor necessary (and of course it will never happen). All it would do would be to screw up an admisisons cycle or two for kids, many of whom would be happy just to have their shot under the current system. Remember, the population of URMs is still pretty small at most of these elite schools.</p>
<p>But, I look forward to reading more about your crusade as you put your time and treasure into making this movement happen.</p>
<p>The bus that Rosa Parks rode was run by Montgomery Bus Lines, owned by [National</a> City Lines](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_City_Lines]National”>National City Lines - Wikipedia). State and local law at the time required buses to be racially segregated; this was overturned in [Browder</a> vs. Gayle](<a href=“http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_browder_v_gayle/]Browder”>http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_browder_v_gayle/).</p>
<p>My son got followed for maybe 15 minutes in our small town last night. He was driving my classy BMW, but maybe they could they could tell the bank still owned it. An eye opening experience for him, and I consider that a good thing. For the most part, he is considered the smartest, most well off kid, among his peers.</p>
<p>…does race effect how this post is interpreted?</p>
<p>Hint… my dad probably rode the bus with Rosa.</p>
<p>Who did the following?</p>
<p>The city police. When they are just hanging out, and they see cops, his friends laugh and tell him “you should RUN”!</p>
<p>But to be honest, we are VERY fortunate. No complaints.Tomorrow we will attend my sorority sponsored baccalaureate, where will honor all the African Americans who have managed to graduate.</p>
<p>One of sons friend’s cousins got shot and killed; City council member. Mistaken identity. Way worse.</p>
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Who cares? I care about doing what’s right in this country. If you like the way they do things in some other country, your path is clear.</p>
<p>I have to say I’m bemused by the idea of white and Asian kids rising up to rebel against the outrageous favoritism shown to black, Hispanic, and Native American kids. Don’t they teach history any more?</p>
<p>Shrinkwrap,</p>
<p>What you shared reminded me of a fiction book, <em>Dominion</em>, by Randy Alcorn. It’s an excellent read on issues of race, violence, and faith. It’s written by a Christian author but I think it tackles the questions well for a broader audience.</p>
<p>^Kindled! Thanks!</p>
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<p>They do teach history, and that is why this whole “affirmative action” deal baffles me. What is the country about; Living the past or moving onto the future. Yes, slavery was horrible and will forever be an important part of American history. However, does it exist today? NO. Which is why I argue that race should not be considered in admissions. If anything, it is harking on the past and giving the false image that African Americans cannot get into college without being given extra help. Which, as everyone obviously knows, is utterly false. I think if anything, AA is back tracking on the steps America has taken to remove the discrimination that has so long been a part of American culture.</p>
<p>i agree. seriously, EVERYONE at some point, SOMEWHERE, has been discriminated against. but that’s besides the point. affirmative action is not helping african americans and hispanics overcome their educational and social “disadvantage” (supposedly). by giving them a boost in admissions (or rather, lower standards), it’s letting these people get by without working as hard. that’s just going to continue the vicious cycle.</p>
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<p>This is not the purpose of affirmative action. The US Supreme Ct has upheld the use of AA for the sole purpose of creating a racially diverse learning environment, which the Ct found to benefit the student body. The Ct specifically held that AA can not be utilized to correct historic injustice.</p>
<p>Bay, though it is meant to “create a racially diverse learning environment”, it has lowered the standards for AA and Hispanic applicants.</p>
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<p>Yeah…
Kind of like that affirmative action for those white dudes whose parents are wealthy donors. Not helping those admits overcome their academic disadvantage when some of them have not performed to the level of many others (of many races).
;)</p>