I have to say that I respectfully disagree with much of what you have said.
Prejudice can go both ways-- white vs. black and black vs. white. (I'm addressing "black" as the minority since that is what your post refers to.) There are a lot of things that black people are afforded that white people simply aren't. One that comes to mind and really irritates me is "United Negro College Fund". If there was a fund set aside *specifically* for and named for white people, Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Push Colitition along with Al Sharpton would be on every new outlet, marching in Washington screaming "discrimination". But, why is it ok to have an organization for and named for "black people"? Mind you, I don't care what they call it. I just want equality for mankind as a whole. I want the same standard set for everyone, not just one group of individuals.
Secondly, many, many have agreed that affirmative action has done more harm than good when it comes to obtaining an advanced education. By setting a quota for a university to meet in terms of racial ratios, they are allowing those in who don't have the background to succeed, educationally. Therefore, there are many who are flunking out. Now, the problem isn't in the college level-- it starts at the beginning of one's educational journey. Equality in education should be started from the outset, not as an afterthought after many years have passed. If that happened, there'd be no need for affirmative action in education. Everyone would be vying for the same spot and only the cream of the crop would get a spot, black or white or otherwise.
Thirdly, there are many financial aid options open to those who are minorities simply because of the color of their skin. Why should one's skin color be the litmus test for financial aid for education? Shouldn't the *true* litmus test be *need* and everyone given the same access to financial aid?
The last thing I have a MAJOR problem with is those who come from foreign countries to "live the American dream" and are assisted in doing so by our government. Why should a foreigner be allowed to come to the US and obtain grants to start a business based on the mere fact that they are a foreigner and a minority? Why should the government assist those who aren't Americans to live the American dream? Why shouldn't they assist AMERICANS in living the AMERICAN dream? Now, I'm certainly not against others coming to the US to live (My two oldest children are from another country and citizens of that country). What I advocate is equal access to those grants-- and actually, FIRST access to those grants for AMERICANS.
Prejudice doesn't just involve skin color. There's much prejudice against those with disabilities- Deafness, for example. And what about people who are fat? (Yes, fat prejudice is a hobby horse for me!!)
We need a paradigm shift in our thinking. Instead of trying to focus on one group of individuals freedoms, we need to focus on freedoms for ALL groups; equality for ALL groups; applying same standards for ALL groups. If we were to ever succeed in this one area, prejudice would be a thing of the past.
Warmly,
Brandi
Originally Posted by reesesilverstar /img/forum/go_quote.gif Soooooo, the word "racism" should be defined as "prejudice to black ppl only" then?
I mean, there aren't any stereotypes against other races, perhaps? Hmmmm....
Since black ppl are our case study, society is now reaping the benefits of its rape on ppl of african descent. When you condition somebody to be a beast of burden then free them and don't recondition them so they can function well in your society how could u then have the gall to say "well, they're uneducated" when in the first place you put institutions in place to keep them disenfranchised? Only 40 years ago, 40 years in America did they have a movement that attempted to grant black ppl the same liberties as their caucasian counterparts and yet today, there still is a need for a body to continue fighting for black liberties. Do ppl really have that much balls?
I totally agree, and it ****** me off everytime I have to fill that in on a gov't form... Once I have the right to live here, what the hell does my race matter? And why is race the first adjective we use to describe somebody?