When Discrimination Isn’t Discrimination…
“Discriminate: To mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of.”. The definition seems simple and innocent enough. We discriminate between things all the time. Clothes, cars, and food… We are by our very nature discriminatory in selecting things. Discrimination in and of itself is not a problem until we apply it to the people around us based on their race. The United States has been mired with this problem since it’s very beginning. Attempts to legislate away discrimination have only caused more problems and resentment on both sides of the issue. Policies such as Affirmative Action have sought to rectify past discrimination by discriminating against the current generation. If you don’t think that is what Affirmative Action is then read the first sentence of this paragraph again so you really understand what the word ‘discriminate’ means.
Attempting to legislate our way to racial harmony makes about as much sense are trying to legislate common sense. It pits one side against another which only serves to perpetuate the problem. Creating divisiveness will never help heal our nations racial problems. In fact the result is almost certainly the exact opposite. Divisiveness is tearing this country apart. We don’t see ourselves as one country, one people. Some where along the line we became Asian Americans, African Americans, Caucasian Americans. To get back to that spirit we used to have the country needs to stop allowing discrimination of any kind. Race and Sex should not be a factor is a hiring decision for any reason. There is no excuse.
If you want an excellent example of how our country is being torn apart look at this recently posted article on CNN. Available Here. There was a firefighter promotion exam in New Haven, CT. After the test was completely by those involved the down discovered that non of the black firefighters passed the test. Their reaction, declare the test invalid. The firefighters who did pass the test have now decided to sue the city and it has made it all the way to the US Supreme court. The cities actions are nothing short of ridiculous. Everyone was given the same exam, everyone had the same opportunity to study before hand. Firefighters are vital to the safety of the public, do you want the most qualified person or someone who passed their test after your city made it easier to pass. Obviously the test is not possible. 20 of the firefighters were able to pass. If you think race and sex should be factors in employment try this experiment. Next time your child or a loved one gets sick, don’t take them to the person you feel is most qualified, take them to the person you think is most deserving based on their race and sex. See how far that gets you.
When is discrimination no discrimination? Never…
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thank you. Anti-discrimination laws (most of them) breed resentment on one side, and often, revrse discrimination.
I’m all for laws that state you can’t refuse a job/housing/etc to someone SOLELY on the basis of race/creed/gender/etc. But to give a protected class a better chance at getting something? No thanks.
Equal rights are not special rights, and that’s exactly what so-called protected classes get too often.
And sometimes it CAN be detrimental to public safety. In fire service, a woman has lower physical standards, but does the same job. I’m a large person, 6-0, and overweight. I trust that most men could get me out of a burning building, but a 5-0 skinny as hell woman? Not likely (and for the record, I am also a woman).