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From: welsch@houxj.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: RE: A Flame at Affirmative Action
Message-ID: <260@houxj.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 3-Jun-83 15:04:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: houxj.260
Posted: Fri Jun  3 15:04:43 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jun-83 01:24:10 EDT
Lines: 33

I take exception to the statement:

	My objection to AAP is simple:  AAP calls for racial
	discrimination, and racial discrimination is wrong.

because AAP does not call for racial discrimination, but rather
that positive action be taken to end racial discimination.  This
is hardly unconstitutional or wrong.

A number of people raise the point that affirmative action may
result in "quotas." This is true. So what? Given the assumption
that intelligence does not recognize race then it is reasonable
to expect that within a given job category the races would have
roughly (within 2 standard deviations) the same proportions as
in the population.  This is not the case.  One way of correcting
this problem is to have quotas.  I DON'T CONSIDER THIS USE OF
QUOTAS DISCRIMINATION.  The quota is not to restrict entry, but
rather to ensure entry.

I also take exception to the statement:

	An action which would be labeled as discrimination were it to
	victimize someone with dark skin is labeled as AAP when it
	victimizes someone with light skin.

Taking positive action to insure that minorities have equal
opportunity does not victimize anybody.  This is all affirmative
action is about.  What is unfortunate is that even when
affirmative action is taken for a number of years, many
minorities still do not have an equal opportunity.

						Larry Welsch
						houxj!welsch