On the occasion of Martin Luther King Day
"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
Our American friends are celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. day today.
Take a moment to consider the quote above and think about society today. Seems to me that both the US and Canada are still judging individuals not by the content of their character but indeed by the colour of their skin.
Ask yourself if Dr. King's dream included racially-based quotas for university admissions and government jobs.
I don't think it did.
This week, if a political candidate comes knocking at your door looking for your support next Monday, ask him or her what their position is on equality. And if it doesn't reflect that of Dr. King, be sure to let them know.
posted by Road Hammer @ 7:14 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
You're damn straight I am.
What part of "by the content of our character, not by the colour of our skin" says that racially- based hiring quotas are a civil right?
And let me guess, Condi and other black Repubs are race traitors, too?
Just exactly what are you trying to say about whites who think affirmative action is unfair?
It sounds like you are accusing racism.
Yup, that's me, bitching about the hard done by white man in 21st century western society.
Right.
Returning to the debate, it is a matter of undeniable fact that in certain spheres, policies exist that are discriminatory in nature.
Racially based hiring quotas and university admission policies are examples. Not only are they discriminatory, they are more importantly divisive.
The whole point of quotas is to discriminate in favour of one group over another.
I wonder, when a job posting is open only to members of a visible minority group, how is that in keeping with the principles of a colour-blind society? When acceptable grade point averages for admission to law schools are set at a lower bar for those of target groups rather than others, how is that in keeping with the principles of a colour-blind society? The goals of both these efforts is to discriminate against a certain group in favour of other groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
This perpetuates the ethos of "judging by the colour of my skin" rather than the "content of my character", which is what Dr. King fought against. In other words, equality of result rather than equality of opportunity. I think King wanted equality of opportunity.
I would also say that anyone who believes that this is just the hate-laced rantings of another "hard done by white man" is revealing more about themselves than the person advocating a second look at racially-based hiring and admission programs in the interest of fairness.
The title of Thomas Sowell's book "The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy" basically sums it up.
You also forgot to insinuate that I am a hompophobe and anti-French because I pointed out that the bar is set higher for certain profiles in the public service. If that equates "disgruntled white man", fine, but why should the opinions of "white men" only matter half as much as everyone else's in your world?
So until every visible minority the world over achieves success, we need affirmative action?
Let me ask you this. Would you fly on "Affirmative Action Airlines" or go to "Affirmative Action Hospital"? And if not, why not?
So you are in favour of punishing those of this generation for the sins of their forefathers past based on their ethnic profile, is that correct?
It's about more than some "white guy" languishing an extra year before getting promoted. We're talking about real people here with real dreams and goals. It's about basic fairness, merit and competence. You can't say that the aspirations of one person are worth less than someone else's just because of the skin colour, gender, or whatever that they were born with.
And how does AA that help the poor minority kid who is growing up in the ghetto? First of all, it's not the disadvantaged child that is likely to even get the education in the first place that will get him in the running for a job. It's going to be the middle-class or upper middle-class black kid who was fortunate enough to grow up in an environment where achievement was encouraged and rewarded.
Secondly, it tells him that he's nothing without white liberals there to take care of him, coddle him, and tell him that he needs special favours and treatment to succeed in life. What does that do for his self-respect? Makes the liberals feel good when they go to bed at night but that's it.
Thirdly, when he/she does get promoted, the question is always going to be asked in hushed tones: did they get the job on merit or because they're filling a quota? Not quite what MLK said when he argued that "there was no appreciable resentment of the preferential treatment being given to the special group."
State-enforced equality of result is basically the end result of affirmative action, and it makes people further dependent on the long arm of government. That's not a good thing, but perhaps there we just disagree.
As for MLK being an advocate of affirmative action in government, he said that in '65. "I Have a Dream" was in '63. White liberal do-gooders now have more ammo against the "race traitors" like Condi, Powell, Clarence Thomas, JC Watts, Michael Steele and the rest of the gang, so congratulations to them.
However, I don't think that 40 year-old words uttered in the Deep South of the United States can justify affirmative action programs in 2006 Canada.
Still waiting to hear if you would allow yourself to be operated on at Affirmative Action General or would fly the friendly skies of Affirmative Action Airlines.
"I'm alright, Jack" ... isn't that the right-winger's game?
I was watching Morgan Freeman on "Inside the Actors Studio" and he said that he despises Black History Month, BET and the like. Why, he asks, should blacks be given any sort of preferential or non-preferential treatment?
His point was that we are all human beings and equality will never be completely reached until we stop differentiating and centering ourselves out.
This is from a guy who's family came from slavery and he now owns the land that they served on. God knows he didn't have any assistance to get where he is.
One of my favourites.
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