Let me share this first:
“WASHINGTON —
The Supreme
Court’s decision to send a thorny affirmative action case back to
the lower courts for additional review left both sides claiming victory on
Monday”.
“Edward Blum, the man who
has been the driving force behind the challenge to the University of Texas at
Austin ruled on by the court, scoffed at the claims of a victory from groups
that support affirmative action. “If they are excited about this ruling,” he
said, I think it’s gravely misplaced”.
“The decision, Mr. Blum
said, “begins the restoration of the original colorblind principles to our
nation’s civil rights laws,” and will both hasten the end of racial preferences
in schools across the nation and unleash a flood of lawsuits. Under the
justices’ requirement that racial distinctions in admissions be subjected to a
tough constitutional test, he said, “it is very unlikely that most institutions
will be able to overcome these hurdles”.
“Experts without a strong stake in the case
said that neither side should feel fully triumphant, and that the issue was far
from resolved”.
“Affirmative action (known as positive discrimination in the United
Kingdom, and as employment equity in Canada and elsewhere) refers to
policies that take factors including race, color, religion, sex, or national
origin into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group"
in areas of employment, education, and business".
Affirmative
action, was intended to promote the opportunities of defined groups within a
society (for example minorities, underrepresented, and underprivileged). It was
often used in government and educational settings with the idea to ensure that these
groups within a society are included in all programs (trying to give a fair
shot). The often stated justification for affirmative action by its proponents was
to compensate for past discrimination, persecution or exploitation by the “ruling
class of a culture”, and to address existing discrimination
(I paraphrased
this from various sources)
In other words, it was designed to help people,
especially those who needed help.
Unfortunately, politics
and personal opinion often come into play with things like this, and very
rarely do people come to the table with a truly open mind and altruistic heart.
I had mentioned the other day a 400-year history of discrimination cannot be
erased within 50 years. So do we need affirmative action? Probably not in the
same way it started, however, the data shows the groups originally targeted for
affirmative action still need the scales balanced when it comes to education.
Do not assume
that the color of someone’s skin means they need or were an affirmative action
case. According to the labels used, I am considered a “minority” in this
country simply because of the color of my skin, but I assure you there is
nothing minor about my background. I needed no extra help in school because I grew
up from generations of privilege and the culture of my parents was strong.
Those who are privileged
generally know nothing else and often do not (and cannot) see the reasons for
things like Affirmative action. Yes in the United States, the opportunity to
make it is there for almost everyone, but it does not mean everyone will. In
addition, everyone could use a hand at some point, and that comes in many ways:
family, friends, community, church, and education.
Affirmative
action is supposed to lend a hand, and for people who profess to be “Christians”
what is wrong with lending a hand. Instead of spending all that time and money
on fighting something you do not understand, why don’t you try to understand it
and then come up a way to revamp the system for the 21st century?
This not about
you, it is not about me, it is about helping the next generations be productive
members of society. It is about helping people.
Dr Flavius A B
Akerele III
The ETeam
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