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 ...
"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."
I second, third and FOURTH that! The man is absolutely BRILLIANT.
Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams ... they need to write more. Unfortunately not every one reads them.
Miss (as verb) Walter Williams on Rush’s show.
He is a handsome guy. Thomas Sowel is also ... Sowell looks like he ought to be wearing a scotus robe.
Thomas Sowell (even Alan Keyes) would be a powerhouse in the SC! If only...
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.
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.
Amen.
I’d vote for him in a heartbeat!! By the way, LOVE your tagline!!!!
freedom of association is inherently discriminatory.
he might still be
Heck if I know. You look at obozo and state the obvious “he’s black” and you’re called a racist.
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