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From: Dave Kraska
Date: 1/23/01
Time: 2:16:53 AM
Remote Name: 159.91.144.151
I actually did a research paper on affirmative action for Rhetoric I, so I'm pretty interested in the topic. The problem I have with affirmative action is that it almost completely removes the quality of a candidate for a job (or more at home to us, an acceptance or a scholarship) in many instances. I think the Supreme Court has the right idea: Affirmative Action was the correct course to pursue at one point in our history. However, it has become outdated and more of a hinderance to society than a benefit. In a modified form, it can still be beneficial, but there is no reason to (after about 35 years of doing so) continually hire, accept, and promote people who maybe less qualified.
Professional sports management is one of the areas most under fire for lack of minority hiring. But wherever you turn, you will find a minority who says "I want to be hired not because I'm (insert minority race/ethnicity here), I want to be hired because I'm the best man for the job." It happened even so recently as last week, when the New York Jets hired Herman Edwards, a black man who was formerly defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Why give him a reason to wonder if he was the best man? Why make him wonder whether his qualifications or his race got him hired?
This does not mean that we have achieved our goals. It just means we're no longer going about it the right way.
Sorry for rambling, for future reference you should probably ignore anything I write if this put you to sleep :-)
- Dave