NationStates Jolt Archive


A Question of Diversity

Malkyer
10-06-2005, 02:51
First of all, I should point out that this applies only to Americans, as I'm not quite sure what other countries have Affirmative Action-type programs.

Now, on to the point:

I have many problems with Affirmative Action, such as: it's racist (by giving minorities a big sign to wave around saying "Hey, look at me! I'm not good enough to do [x] on my own!"), provides people with a crutch, allows for less-than qualified people to enter an occupation/position/whatever, et cetera.

My question for American liberals is this: how, exactly, does putting people of different skin pigmentations promote diversity? Isn't that just racism, albeit friendly- and cuddly-sounding?

Which of these following two scenarios is more diverse?

A) A room filled with twenty people, who are all the same racial/ethnic/economic background, yet have vastly differing religious, political and philosophical beliefs, or...

B) A room filled with twenty people of varying racial/ethnic/economic backgrounds, mainly poor minorities, yet who all have similar religious, political and philosophical beliefs?

Any and all answers, so long as they are reasonable, are welcome.
Leonstein
10-06-2005, 03:52
Affirmative action does nothing but take a set of open jobs and reserve them for people who otherwise wouldn't even be considered. For racial reasons.
Your assertion that, because they are there because of affirmative action, they are somehow incapable is unfounded.

As to your question:
It is fairly impossible to find a racially diverse group with the exact same beliefs. That will only happen if all these people may have different genes, but come from the same culture and the same upbringing.
It is therefore more likely that a group with racially diverse background is more diverse in the way they attack a problem.
Roach-Busters
10-06-2005, 04:16
Affirmative action is a racist, self-defeating policy. People shouldn't be given a job just because they're a certain color. People should only be a given a job if they're qualified to perform it. If they're qualified, then their skin color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, et. al. shouldn't matter.
Leonstein
10-06-2005, 13:43
Affirmative action is a racist, self-defeating policy. People shouldn't be given a job just because they're a certain color. People should only be a given a job if they're qualified to perform it. If they're qualified, then their skin color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, et. al. shouldn't matter.

And yet it does. Fooling yourself into thinking there is a fair hiring policy in the US or anywhere is unwise.
Pterodonia
10-06-2005, 14:09
I think Affirmative Action was once very necessary in the U.S. so that women and blacks and other minorities could get a foot in the door. I'd like to think that, in the U.S., Affirmative Action is no longer necessary. And I think that, in my particular corner of the country (Northern California), that's true, for the most part. I do see a lot of racism still in certain parts of the country, and until all the dinosaurs of yesteryear have finally become extinct, Affirmative Action may have to remain in effect a little while longer. I don't really like it, but I think it's still one of those necessary evils at this point.

Maybe we will someday implement some means of doing blind interviews, where all that shows through is the person's intelligence, capabilities and perhaps their psychological makeup - sex, religion, race - all of that will be completely transparent. Then maybe Affirmative Action can go the way of the rest of the dinosaurs.