Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rabbit.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!alice!rabbit!jj From: jj@rabbit.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: YADH (Yet another D**n Honky) Squeeks out. Message-ID: <1542@rabbit.UUCP> Date: Fri, 3-Jun-83 16:09:00 EDT Article-I.D.: rabbit.1542 Posted: Fri Jun 3 16:09:00 1983 Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jun-83 12:37:34 EDT Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill Lines: 76 I'll lay it on the line right now. *************************************************************************** Affirmative action serves only to drag everyone down to a level that no one should ever experience. It is an affront to those who are being "aided", those who are being disadvantaged, and society in general. It is used to take the place of actions, such as EQUIVELANT EDUCATION, equivelant evaluation of performance, and equitable treatment of the individual, that would ELIMINATE the NEED for Affirmitive Action. *************************************************************************** Now, before you all send me letter bombs with eight ounces of jolly-good-night in them, let me say a few more things. The basic premise of affirmative action is good, in fact, required of any civilized society. I refer to the concept that any personal or personnel differences should not affect a person's right to be treated as a member of society and be compensated equitably for that person's contributions to society. The concept that some, because of race, color, or creed, should be placed first in line, last in line, or eliminated from line, is exactly the opposite of the premise above. Unfortunately, the premise in this paragraph is exactly the way the Affirmative Action is currently implemented in this country. It specifically takes away the rights of the majority in order to ensure the rights of the individual. I'm sure that you've seen my blunderings in net.women and net.politics about education, respect for humanity, and the like, but here goes again. ************************************************************************* I believe that the way to ensure true equality is to educate each and every individual so that they can, without artificial preference, compete whatever part of society they wish to, given only that they have the innate ability. Each person must, also, be willing to take responsibility for their contributions and actions. Furthermore, discrimination must be utterly illegal, AND considered evil by all members of society. **************************************************************** Affirmative action as it currently stands teaches the individual, no matter what group he or she belongs to, that race, color, creed, sex, age, hair length, religion, shirt size, and color of socks all matter, and that a certain combination of the above deserves preferential treatment. Additionally, the execution of affirmative action leaves many people with hostile feelings toward the idea of affirmative action, and in some, toward the intent. These hostile feelings are echoed in the workplace, where the person being "aided" is made to feel a lesser human. This human being undoubtedly (and with reason) resents this catagorization, returns hostility, and so it goes on and on, without any real emotional resolution on the part of anyone. The affirmative action program, of course, remains around to remind anyone whos basic goodwill and intellegence allow them to overcome the situation. How to solve the problem of education: I don't know. A step in the right direction would be to begin to emphasize basic intellectual skills for everyone. In addition, leaders, educators, politicians, and everyone else must be willing to accept the help of anyone who is trying to contribute to the general welfare, regardless of their social status. I suggest to the readers that they take the time to formalize and write up their own ideas on the subjects of education, responsibility, and emotional defusing. Sign me, A potato eating honky coalminer whose ancestors wore woad and kilts. rabbit!jj