Dialogue on Affirmative Action
Dialogue on Affirmative Action
By Punkerslut
Affirmative Action Advocate (AAA): I believe in Affirmative
Action, because it equalizes the playing ground. If 5% of
America is Asian, then in a class room of 20, there should be
one asian. If 35% of America is black, then in that same class
room, there should be 7 Africans. By putting people of different
race into a class room, it offers a diversity, where people can
learn to appreciate the differences of each other.
Punkerslut: Are you saying that the greatest aspect of a
person's individuality is the color of their skin?
AAA: Well, no...
Punkerslut: It sure sounds like it. You just said that the basis
for diversity is a person's race.
AAA: I didn't say that.
Punkerslut: You said that by having different races in a
classroom, there would be diversity. I can only conclude that
you think diversity is based wholly on skin color. Are you
saying that the only important part of a person's character is
their race?
AAA: No. A person is much more than their race. They have
emotions, like happiness and suffering, and they should be
considered for that.
Punkerslut: I agree, and I believe a person should be judged
upon their ability, and not upon their race.
AAA: When it comes to the matter of judging, it differs.
Punkerslut: How so?
AAA: Race should be considered as a factor in deciding whether a
person is given a job, since the possible Racism of employers
and others is also a factor.
Punkerslut: But, in the Supreme Court case of Brown, it was
deemed illegal for a school system to have specifically white or
black students, because such is Racism. Since Racism has been
removed from the school system, do you think that the school
administration should go further, and say that all African
students will get an additional 10 points, and all Caucasian
students receive 10 less points?
AAA: Of course I don't think. That's a ridiculous idea.
Punkerslut: Then why shouldn't employers use a similar strategy?
If a white person comes into a job, and is efficient at their
ability, and a black person comes in, who is inefficient, should
the white person or the black person be hired?
AAA: It depends on the others hired by the employer.
Punkerslut: On their race?
AAA: Precisely.
Punkerslut: But why? That's acting on the very principles of
Racism. It is selecting someone for their position based on the
color of their skin, and not the efficiency of their abilities.
AAA: Well, if the employer's previous employees are all white,
then a black person should be hired.
Punkerslut: Why?
AAA: Because, that way, it's equal.
Punkerslut: Do you suggest that the military discharge at least
a quarter of its soldiers?
AAA: Why should it?
Punkerslut: More than half the military soldiers are of African
descent, but less than half of the United States population is
of the same descent. Should we fire these African soldiers,
sending them a note, "I am deeply sorry, but since you are
black, you are of no use to us."?
AAA: Well, that's one area where Africans have the upper hand.
Punkerslut: Why not make it equal for all races for all jobs?
You are simply reduplicating the conditions of the early 1900's,
where Africans had it worse off and where whites had it better
off, but instead, you are turning the whites into a persecuted
minority.
AAA: Certainly not! Affirmative Action equalizes the field, by
having as many whites and blacks in an employment or university,
as there are proportional to the amount in the country.
Punkerslut: That doesn't end Racism, but only promotes it. By
choosing one person over another, on the basis of their race,
that is Racism. But, perhaps it is different. When a white man
is chosen because he is white, you call it Racism, and find it
to be terrible. But when a black man is chosen because he is
black, you call it Affirmative Action, and find it to be
justice. I cannot but find this to be a gross contradiction,
that any rational thinker will find to be absurd in the highest
degree.
AAA: But, in a nation with 35% of the population of African
descent, should have 35% of every occupation filled with African
descent, and 35% of the seats of every university filled with
Africans.
Punkerslut: That's not necessarily true. If 10% of the United
States has blue eyes, but in universities, 15% of the student
population has blue eyes, should those 5% -- no matter how
brilliant or intelligent they are -- be expelled and replaced
with students of other eye colors?
AAA: No.
Punkerslut: Why not?
AAA: Because nobody discriminates on eye color, only on race.
Punkerslut: Then why not make it illegal to discriminate on race?
AAA: It already is illegal.
Punkerslut: Then what's the point in making it necessary to have
a student body or a employee body with races proportionally
equal to that of the national average?
AAA: It prevents any possible Racism.
Punkerslut: But, my friend, that is where you and I differ...
You call it Racism when a black man is rejected from a job
because he is black. I call it Racism when any human being is
rejected from a job because of their race. Thus Affirmative
Action is Racism.
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