Re: Candorville 8-30-2005

"As it should be, as educational intervention is more effective the
younger one is."

I agree, and if these outreach programs were ubiquitous and well-funded
(which they aren't), we wouldn't need affirmative action at the other
end because minorities wouldn't be underrepresented at universities.

"Tossing an unprepared student into the college environment, even with
a strong support system, is a disservice to the student, the college
and the community. Granted, a few will survive, and even thrive, but I
think they are the small minority."

That's not true, although it became a popular argument during the
fracas over Prop 209. Most survive, many thrive.

"Better secondary and (especially) primary eduation programs for
children at risk will not only allow minorities to compete in college
more cost effectively, but also benefits those children who would not
normally attend college. "

I'm all for that.

"I think one negative side-effect of affirmative action, right or
wrong,
is that minorities who suceed with the help of affirmative action have
a stigma of "he only made it because they ahve to fill a quota."

Not to be flippant, but that's your (the general "you," not the Blinky
you) problem. I'm sure somebody out in that audience in '99, who saw me
walk across the stage to get my diploma, thought I only made it because
they had to fill a quota. I knew I had a high GPA, I knew I deserved
it, I knew people admitted under affirmative action washed out just
like anyone else if they didn't perform once they were there -- and
that's all that really mattered. If a minority knows she/he deserves to
be where they are, that's all that should matter. I'm not going to lose
any sleep over the notion that some people out there falsely assume
minorities don't deserve what they've earned -- just because somewhere
along the line someone held a door open for them so they could go in
and prove themselves. The point is they proved themselves, and their
lives are better for it. We'll gladly accept our stigmatized diplomas
and cash our stigmatized paychecks, because that's better than the
alternative.

This is what I see as the choice, and I know other people can frame it
differently: We can procede on principle and say it's every man for
himself, with no help from government programs, and watch as the cycle
of ignorance and poverty repeats for another several generations. Or we
can procede pragmatically, and continue with a program that's resulted
in better lives and a sense of hope for young people who might
otherwise decide to mug you or me. I think the latter choice makes more
sense.

Outreach programs are a long term solution, but only if they're
maintained for a few generations. They didn't even last (with adequate
funding) a few years. The public just isn't as committed to them as we
need to be for them to work. Until we get that right, we need
affirmative action.

"Affirmative action recepients have to be "Super Black/Latino/Woman" to

overcome those perceptions. That is not fair on so many levels..."

What else is new? Haven't minorities have always had to be "Super
Black/Latino/Woman" just to get equal respect anyway, even when
affirmative action isn't a factor? It's an unfortunate reality. That
said, affirmative action doesn't materially exacerbate that situation.
If anything, it counters it by lowering that already-raised bar (where,
again, once in, the minority student or employee has to sink or swim
like anybody else).

Besides, there's always someone at the office who thinks other people
are getting special treatment -- who thinks other people don't belong
in his league, or who blames his own lack of advancement on other
people. That guy's always going to come up with some reason to validate
that assumption. Affirmative Action is just one of the excuses. Get rid
of it and another one will come right along to take its place.
Placating people who like to make hasty assumptions, IMO, is not a good
reason to get rid of a program that's led to a better standard of
living for minorities.

.

Relevant Pages

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