Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What's discrimination?
Jewish World Review ^ | Sept. 6, 2006 | Walter Williams

Posted on 04/05/2009 5:44:37 PM PDT by ReformationFan

There's so much confusion and emotionalism about discrimination that I thought I'd take a stab at a dispassionate analysis. Discrimination is simply the act of choice. When we choose Bordeaux wine, we discriminate against Burgundy wine. When I married Mrs. Williams, I discriminated against other women. Even though I occasionally think about equal opportunity, Mrs. Williams demands continued discrimination. You say, "Williams, such discrimination doesn't harm anyone." You're wrong. Discriminating in favor of Bordeaux wine reduces the value of resources held in Burgundy production. Discriminating in favor of Mrs. Williams harmed other women by reducing their opportunity set, assuming I'm a man other women would marry. Our lives are spent discriminating for or against one thing or another. In other words, choice requires discrimination. When we modify the term with race, sex, height, weight or age, we merely specify the choice criteria. Imagine how silly, not to mention impossible, life would be if discrimination were outlawed. Imagine engaging in just about any activity where we couldn't discriminate by race, sex, height, weight, age, mannerisms, college selection, looks or ability; it would turn into a carnival. I've sometimes asked students if they believe in equal opportunity in employment. Invariably, they answer yes. Then I ask them, when they graduate, whether they plan to give every employer an equal opportunity to hire them. Most often they answer no; they plan to discriminate against certain employers. Then I ask them, if they're not going to give every employer an equal opportunity to hire them, what's fair about requiring an employer to give them an equal opportunity to be hired? Sometimes students will argue that certain forms of discrimination are OK but it's racial discrimination that's truly offensive. That's when I confess my own history of racial discrimination.

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: discrimination; indiscriminate; undiscerning; walterewilliams; walterwilliams; williams
This editorial about discrimination was written back in 2006 but it's still relevant for today. In the name of fighting "discrimination", our society seems determined to make us as indiscriminate and undiscerning as possible. I'm not a Christopher Hitchens fan but I love this quote of his-

"It especially annoys me when racists are accused of 'discrimination.' The ability to discriminate is a precious facility; by judging all members of one 'race' to be the same, the racist precisely shows himself incapable of discrimination."

1 posted on 04/05/2009 5:44:38 PM PDT by ReformationFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: Morgana

I second, third and FOURTH that! The man is absolutely BRILLIANT.


3 posted on 04/05/2009 5:47:28 PM PDT by joethedrummer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: joethedrummer

Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams ... they need to write more. Unfortunately not every one reads them.


4 posted on 04/05/2009 5:49:04 PM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan

Miss (as verb) Walter Williams on Rush’s show.


5 posted on 04/05/2009 5:49:52 PM PDT by libh8er
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan
Photobucket
6 posted on 04/05/2009 5:49:58 PM PDT by sionnsar ((Iran Azadi | 5yst3m 0wn3d - it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY) | "Also sprach Telethustra" - NonValueAdded)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan

7 posted on 04/05/2009 5:51:33 PM PDT by libh8er
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: libh8er

He is a handsome guy. Thomas Sowel is also ... Sowell looks like he ought to be wearing a scotus robe.


8 posted on 04/05/2009 5:52:47 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: MHGinTN

Thomas Sowell (even Alan Keyes) would be a powerhouse in the SC! If only...


9 posted on 04/05/2009 5:56:14 PM PDT by libh8er
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan

Despite the fact that some have tried to change the meaning of the word to suit their own purposes discrimination is a must if one is to survive in this world. It is not an option.


10 posted on 04/05/2009 5:56:24 PM PDT by Bigun ("It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." Voltaire)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan
Discrimination is simply the act of choice.

Walter is spot on.

The word "discriminating" used to be complement.

Someone with impeccable taste would be described as being "very discriminating" imply they knew and appreciated fine things.

11 posted on 04/05/2009 5:59:35 PM PDT by Wil H (No Accomplishments, No Experience, No Resume No Records, No References, Nobama..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

Amen.


12 posted on 04/05/2009 6:04:17 PM PDT by Fintan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

I’d vote for him in a heartbeat!! By the way, LOVE your tagline!!!!


13 posted on 04/05/2009 6:08:51 PM PDT by fishergirl (My warrior, my soldier, my hero - my son. God bless our troops!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan

freedom of association is inherently discriminatory.


14 posted on 04/05/2009 6:46:08 PM PDT by hecht
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Morgana

he might still be


15 posted on 04/05/2009 6:46:43 PM PDT by hecht
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: ReformationFan

Heck if I know. You look at obozo and state the obvious “he’s black” and you’re called a racist.


16 posted on 04/05/2009 7:19:44 PM PDT by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson