Mr Spinkles
Mr
Here's my take: if you look at the issue with a group mentality (i.e. blacks vs. whites vs. hispanics etc.) you could argue that affirmative action is fair, as it evens the playing field and attempts to 'make up' for past discrimination.
On the other hand, if you look at affirmative action with an individual mentality (i.e. John vs. Lanita vs. Pablo etc.) affirmative action is most definitely unfair, as Pablo might get hired for the job even though John is more qualified, simply because Pablo belongs to a group.
Perhaps part of the reason some whites resent affirmative action is because they lack the group mentality required to see that it is fair in some ways (besides the KKK, few whites consider themselves part of 'white America' or refer to 'white rights'). I do not see myself as a 'white person' I just see myself as 'me'. I am distinct and unique, and to classify me as part of a larger group who share a similar ethnicity would be to devalue my individuality. I do not think of my friend Melanie as 'my black friend' I simply think of her as my friend, Melanie.
So it is easy to see how difficult it would be for someone with an individual mentality to accept the fairness of affirmative action, since it discriminates based on race (hence the so-called 'reverse discrimination').
And now I will open up the floor for some discussion......
On the other hand, if you look at affirmative action with an individual mentality (i.e. John vs. Lanita vs. Pablo etc.) affirmative action is most definitely unfair, as Pablo might get hired for the job even though John is more qualified, simply because Pablo belongs to a group.
Perhaps part of the reason some whites resent affirmative action is because they lack the group mentality required to see that it is fair in some ways (besides the KKK, few whites consider themselves part of 'white America' or refer to 'white rights'). I do not see myself as a 'white person' I just see myself as 'me'. I am distinct and unique, and to classify me as part of a larger group who share a similar ethnicity would be to devalue my individuality. I do not think of my friend Melanie as 'my black friend' I simply think of her as my friend, Melanie.
So it is easy to see how difficult it would be for someone with an individual mentality to accept the fairness of affirmative action, since it discriminates based on race (hence the so-called 'reverse discrimination').
And now I will open up the floor for some discussion......