Do you agree with affirmative action programs?

[Batgirl]

What are your views on affirmative action? Does it promote diversity or is it really positive discrimination?

its reverse-discrimination... in the US we are WAYYY past the era where affirmative action was "necessary"... individuals should be accepted colleges and universities based on their own merit, aptitude, and ability... they should not get a default handicap based on the color of their skin... this issue strikes a vain with me...

~Nick

[Ram0528]

I think that the system, if its kept, needs to be changed. It needs to change so that its based on a persons economic situation instead of race.

[Batgirl]

I strongly disagree with the whole concept of affirmative action and would be horrified to make it through as part of some diversity initiative. Each individual should be judged on merit and ability alone irrespective of gender, race, nationality etc. It's dangerous ground when you start institutionalising what is in effect favourtism towards a particular segment of the population.

[AmericanGirl]

Ram has an excellent suggestion, base it on economic rather than race. I think that its sad that we still live in a day and time where people are not given opportunity on their own hard work and merit.

[Field_Sailor]

Affirmative action can be used in many different ways. Economics don't matter if you're applying for a job.

Now I said NO. I do not want to get a job, scholarship, into a school or anything else because of my skin. I have always worked extremely hard. It is past our time for that. Yes, I'm Black, btw. I think nowadays it's an insult. Ya know when applying to colleges whilt in HS, I never filled out the Race column. Also I didn't apply for minority scholarships. I got good grades and applied on those. I was poor as shit. HONESTLY literally my rent was $100, my mom hadn't worked since I was 12. But every single school I applied to I was accepted to on merit, community service and grades. I didn't apply for NAACP awards because I figured someone else needed them more. If you need them go ahead, I am not downplaying them. I worked my ass to get into school.

Condi Rice (ya know the Nat'l Security Advisor, yeah her) got her first ever job as because she was an Black Woman (the most powerful person in America, IMO). She has not gotten any jobs since because of Affirmative Action. She said (paraphrasing) it is good to get your foot in the door, but not to be used as a tool to succeed.

And yes I am enlisted in the Navy, I didn't go to school, because in between making A's in school I was busy making babies. I chose the Military becuase it was better for my daughter.

[AmericanGirl]

Field, I give you a lot of credit, I really admire the fact that you did it on your own terms, and I think you are going to be successful in whatever you decide to do... you have a good head on your shoulders.

[Field_Sailor]

Tks, you say that to all the single, smart, black, Sailors, lol.

No seriously thanks a lot.

[0311Marine]

HELL NO, It should be the right man for the right job, If i have the choice between a black corpsman whose been in for awhile and knows what hes doing or a white one that just got out of his MOS school, im going to choose the black guy everytime, but if there training was reversed then ill choose the white guy, Its not the color of their skin its the fact they have put in the hours and know what there doing, same thing for college and everything else, if a black guy who got only so-so grades gets into a college ahead of a white guy who got strait A's thats wrong, but again if the situation is reversed then thats wrong to. Like i said before Right Man for the Right Job.

Semper Fi

[Batgirl]

Picking up on a point in FS's post, I think it should be illegal to ask someone's race or religion on job or higher education applications. I know in the UK it's not allowed.

[Field_Sailor]

It's optional here. I think it is good. Texas has a prgram which is good (but it does have kinks). The top 10% in every public school have automatic acceptance and scholarships to any State-sponsored college. That eliminates race, and rewards the best. The only problem is the level of education in one school over the other. In school A (ghetto) the cutoff for top 10% is 3.57, however in school B it is 3.87. see the difference? Oh well the program is awesome in my eyes.

[RFleischman]

HELL NO, It should be the right man for the right job

I agree!

[Field_Sailor]

You guys do need to realize that at one point Affirmative Action was good adn needed. It's out lived it's pupose now though.

[Batgirl]

I can see your point but I'm not sure affirmative action has actually done any good. I would say it has created an atmosphere of mistrust and has placed even more pressure on the minorities it was designed to help. What I think is terrible is that such an initiative is required. If everyone subscribed to the practice of "best person for the job" regardless of gender, race, religion etc then we wouldn't need to have this discussion. I know, in an ideal world....

[Field_Sailor]

Originally Posted by Natasha

What I think is terrible is that such an initiative is required. If everyone subscribed to the practice of "best person for the job" regardless of gender, race, religion etc then we wouldn't need to have this discussion. I know, in an ideal world....

was

Not anymore but it was a time when blacks weren't accepted into schools or jobs. Even if they were more qualifed. I think we have passed it for the most part now.