Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site spar.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!spar!ellis
From: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics
Subject: Re: Discrimination and Affirmative Action
Message-ID: <314@spar.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Jun-85 10:02:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: spar.314
Posted: Tue Jun 11 10:02:17 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Jun-85 01:41:22 EDT
References: <476@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <3819@alice.UUCP>
Reply-To: ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis)
Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research, CA
Lines: 61
Keywords: The Suffering of the OverPrivileged
Xref: watmath net.women:5746 net.politics:9376

>{jj@alice}

>I'll repeat it once more.
>
>I hardly claim that the world is perfect, but destroying people's
>self respect via AA(and via discrimination, sexism, and 
>other forms of sheer stupidity)  and expecting them to convey a good sense of
>self to their offspring is a ridiculous position.

    Funny how it's mostly white people who say this.

    And how do you explain that black leaders, political organizations,
    and electorate are overwhelmingly in favor of AA?

>...
>In order to emiminate {minority poverty}, one must remove the CAUSE.

    I concur. And the major causes of the suffering of our underprivileged
    are inferior education and employment opportunities -- precisely the goal
    of AA programs.

>The problem with current AA methods is that they further discrimination
>in the job/marketplace because (among other things) they give the
>bigots an EXCUSE to continue discriminating.

    ANY GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WHATSOEVER that is aimed at helping our
    underprivileged `minorities' is arguably discriminatory, whether it be
    in the form of subsidies to black entrepreneurs, economic aid for women
    students, or free milk programs native american elementary school
    students.

    Frankly, the bigots will think of excuses REGARDLESS of whether programs
    to help are minorities implemented or not. 

    If we fail to act for fear of arousing their wrath, then they have
    succeeded in continuing the oppression of our underprivileged.

>Above all, DON'T GIVE THE PREVIOUS "PRIVLEDGED" CLASS A SENSE 
>OF HOPELESSNESS.    To do so only creates hate, and a new class
>of unhappy people (who, given the power that they DO hold,
>will ensure that nobody winds up happy.)

     Why worry more about the imaginary suffering of the overprivileged and
     their greed-induced hatred when there are so many underprivileged who
     live with REAL suffering?     

     Rather, I would say, above all, create a nation where all kinds of
     people can excel, where individual differences are not simply
     tolerated, but cherished, instead of the current ugly situation where
     conformism to Anglo Male stereotypes is practically required for entry
     into America's power structure.

     How many MILLIONS of white immigrants have destroyed their heritage and
     sold out to the flimsy Anglo image due to the deeply ingrained
     conformist attitudes predominating here?

>TEDDY BEARS HAVE LIMITED PATIENCE! THEY DO EVENTUALLY GET HUNGRY!

     You have my deepest sympathy

-michael