This is a facet of modern society that I just don’t understand.. the idea that certain demographics have been simply declared to be at a social deficit and therein is in need of assistance…. Moreover, the idea that, as a collective race, one would NEED more than another… As if Race A is just inherently better than Race B.. Something I just don’t think makes sense.
Being a white boy from Long Island, I’m on the quite opposite end of the spectrum.. The one that DOESN’T need any affirmative action strictly because of my skin, ethnicity, and where I live. Just because I’m white, most people assume that I’m probably rich, and won’t ever have to worry about being able to acquire work.. Therein, I need no assistance from the government..
Now I ask you, what makes me so special? I am by no means good at everything, and would bet a pretty penny that some unfortunate minority is probably significantly better than me at most things anyway… And it is in that that he is at a deficit and I am inherently ahead? No way!
Your qualification for anything should be based upon dedication and skill, not what you look like… If that company is hiring you to be their token black guy, then why would you want to work there anyway? This whole idea of equality through diversity contradicts itself from square one… “Lets make it equal… by giving some people an advantage”… The way I see it, if Jose is not as qualified as Luke, then he shouldnt get the job, but if he is then he should… The fact that Jose is “Hispanic” has absolutely nothing to do with any of that, just as the fact that Luke is white, has NOTHING to do with it…
Affirmative action is essentially labeling races, and forcing them into further prejudice… The only thing being affirmed is a recognition of the segregation that divides those of different ethnicity, rather than simply uniting them as one humanity.
No, this post is not a disdainful response to my mexican best friend getting a full ride to a MUCH better school than UB with the exact same grades and less EC activities than I did…. BUT it can’t go unaccounted for!
My friend Alex is qualified for what he was admitted into, which is a 30 person architecture program at Cooper Union, and I am indubitably psyched for him to have been granted such an opportunity… But it bothers me beyond words that he checked off “hispanic” on the application, and how, out of 30 people, ‘diversity’ is a must, and there’s no way that his race wasn’t a factor in the decision.
It just the atrocity of making kids declare their race on tests and applications.. It’s like “Hey with this info we can make statistics about people!” which basically translates to ‘factual’ stereotypes that can be officially applied to society..
In a world built by me, none of that matters.. If someone is capable and qualified, it doesn’t mean a damn thing what he looks like or where he’s from.. Skill, and one’s true character is much more than skin deep, and this world is doomed until we realize that.
