Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site mhuxr.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mfs From: mfs@mhuxr.UUCP (SIMON) Newsgroups: net.women,net.politics Subject: Re: Discrimination and AA and Racism Message-ID: <363@mhuxr.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 18:07:36 EDT Article-I.D.: mhuxr.363 Posted: Thu Jun 27 18:07:36 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Jun-85 00:56:20 EDT References: <489@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <292@looking.UUCP> <354@mhuxr.UUCP> <200@fear.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 25 Xref: watmath net.women:6111 net.politics:9606 > The whole idea of having a law is to FORCE people who disagree with > you to do what you want. The whole idea of AA legislation is to > force employers who want to hire in a governmentally-approved manner. > Note that the law only FORCES employers to offer equal opportunity. AA plans are arrived at "voluntarily", with more or less governmental arm twisting. MOST often, the arm twisting occurs because the employer refuses to stop conscious and unconscious discriminatory practices. > The idea that these employers will "implement AA in a fair and > rational manner" is ludicrous. The government is trying to force > them to do something they don't want to do, so they're trying to > wriggle out -- just as YOU would do if the government tried to force > YOU to do something you thought was wrong. > You have just pointed out the necessity of AA. The law mandates equal opportunity. Discriminatory employers refuse to implement the law fairly. (Just saying "you can't discriminate" DOES NOT WORK, historically) So now what. Should Government, which theoretically also represents those discriminated agains, just say "too bad, we tried, but those evil employers just won't stop" ? Racist and sexist people will continue to be so. However, they should, they MUST not be allowed to impose their prejudices on others. Marcel Simon