[408] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: Affirmative Action
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Prez H. Cannady)
Tue May 1 09:01:49 2001
Message-Id: <200105011301.JAA21865@melbourne-city-street.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 01 May 2001 09:01:02 -0400
To: "Sourav K. Mandal" <Sourav.Mandal@ikaran.com>, mit-talk@MIT.EDU
From: "Prez H. Cannady" <revprez@MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <200105010332.XAA02256@dichotomy.dyn.dhs.org>
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At 11:32 PM 4/30/01 , Sourav K. Mandal wrote
>
>Allow me to distill your arguments. Say that there is a latent,
>irrational bias among "groups of privilege" against "oppressed groups"
>(which I haven't seen, as minority myself). Pragmatically, will
>affirmative actions programs help change attitudes?
Allow me to lace your argumenst with history. Affirmative
action was not conceived as a measure to network African
American and white professionals. It grew out of a federal
desire to do away with the cumbersome, wasteful reality
of racism in federal contracting and military service.
Attitude, as you so quaintly put it, has nothing to do with it.
>Rather than
>fostering an appreciation in the value of the individual and
>rationality, it creates yet another wrong in an attempt to get things
>right.
I disagree. Affirmative action is the ultimate example of
what happens when a few rational ideas collide head on with
racial panic and a sudden, inexplicable burst of white guilt.
In the short time it's been around, I can't say I didn't
enjoy its company -- as young as I am. Still, I don't expect
it to live on much longer. So, now you can go on about the
attitudes fostered by affirmative action without dressing
the matter over in false philosophy.
>In doing so, many who do not hold such irrational views, will
>be harmed. This is a formula for breeding resentment, and thereby, in
>a small fraction of people, yet more racism.
Resentment is a primary threat to affirmative action.
Do not mistake it for the primary concerns of the Black
community. Also, do not underestimate the value women
voters place in equal opportunity programs.
>Motherhood is time-consuming and expensive; in short, a tremendous
>endeavour.
Thank Gawd I'm a man.
>Why should any institution have to compromise its bottom
>line to support a personal undertaking?
I betchya if your mommy was tricking for some extra cash
to feed your behind, you'd come up with a few reasons.
>Hypothetically, I might get an
>invitation to a pro football camp (_purely_ hypothetically!).
Hypothetically, I might ascend on high and become the
Almighty.
>Would it
>be proper of me to demand paid leave?
Depends, could you get away with it?
>By what right can I ask anything
>of my employer if I choose to leave or compromise the work for which I
>am paid to do?
The right that says it ain't a crime if nobody complains.
>That would be a theft of time, and equivalently, money.
Neither which is bad in and of itself. It's the
consequences that really sting.
>What does a diversity in _thought_ have to do with race?
Let me give you an example.
A Black kid from Shitside Oakland, CA tends to
enjoy a much different experience, forment
in a much different environment, and probably
has a very different view on society and the
economy than a white kid from Bel-Air or Westchester,
or a North Korean kid eating grass in a desparate
attempt to revive his non-existent vestigial cud.
>I myself have encountered some racism, nothing to get worked up about.
Sure. So why are you making such a big deal about it
right now? Why are you worried about resentment fostered
by affirmative action?
>Racists are idiots, and I will defend myself from them as necessary and
>deride them as it suits me.
This becomes exceedingly difficult when slung by a rope from the back
of a moving pick-up truck driving down a dirt road at sixty-five
miles per hour. It doesn't take a wise man to take a life, and
don't think racists can't plan as well ahead as good, kind-hearted
moralists. I've met a lot in my experience -- they tend to graze
both sides of the brains pasture.
>However, whatever misfortune I have
>encountered in my life does not _entitle_ me to anything.
Of course not. Your own wit ability to take advantage
does.
>Justice, and
>injustice, start with individuals, not with groups;
The truism of all time, starting with everybody's
favorite two words: justice and injustice.
>and, the only
>remedy for irrational thoughts and evil motives are rational ideas and
>a continuing adherence to justice for the individual.
That in and of itself is an assumption, and therefore an
irrational statement, on your part.
>Punishing groups
>of good people for the sins of certain individuals is wrong.
This is true, especially if you're in that group of people.
>That said, I've always felt less comfortable among my own racial peer
>group than among any other group, because there is a pressure to
>conform above and beyond ethics and personal interests.
Now there's something you might want to avoid admitting
in public. Look what happened to Noam Chomsky. One day
he was having his dickridden by every leftist in the
world, and nowadays he can barely manage to grab the
attention of the last few diehard. pre-Vietnam
Commies and Greens out there. He also managed to piss
of a good portion of world Jewry in the process with
his self-hating rhetoric and moronic assaults against
Israel.
I, for one, am very comfortable with my race, skin
color, heritage and dietary habits. I don't expect
to change them anytime soon.
>It's sad how
>many times other Indian folks, young and old alike, have chastised me
>for enjoying my filet mignon, showing romantic interest in non-Indian
>women, disliking the crappy Indian "pop" music and Bollywood movies,
>and for not pursuing medicine as career. The last one makes me laugh
>to no end ...
Really. I never had those problems. I guess diversity's
pretty sweet, aight?
Rev Prez
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Presley H. Cannady, Class of 2002, Electrical Engineering
Acting Chairman, College Republicans
CR Website <http://web.mit.edu/republicans/www/>
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