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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.