Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!mit-eddi!rh From: rh@mit-eddi.UUCP (Randy Haskins) Newsgroups: net.flame,net.politics Subject: Re: A Flame at Affirmative Action Message-ID: <263@mit-eddi.UUCP> Date: Wed, 22-Jun-83 13:40:57 EDT Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.263 Posted: Wed Jun 22 13:40:57 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 23-Jun-83 01:47:07 EDT References: ssc-vax.256 Lines: 19 Let's model racial discrimination as a pendulum. The damage done by it is the time integral of the angle of displacement, NO MATTER WHICH SIDE IT IS ON. Now, we will all admit that the pendulum has been on the side that discriminates against minorities (mostly black). Very few of us are not reasonable enough to admit that this is a bad thing. However, what affirmative action seeks to do is push the pendulum to the other side. (Bakke didn't take "screw you" for an answer, however.) What we should try to do is bring it gently to rest in the middle, so that no further damage is done. (Cliche time: two wrongs don't make a right.) Of course, we can't do that too easily, since employers, et. al., can't overlook that fact that someone is of a different race, so they must be given a decision algorithm as to whether that is in that person's favor or against. If they have a conscience (or rules and laws hanging over their heads), they will tend to put it in that person's favor. If they are ignorant, unconscienable, and unpressured, they will hold it against the person.