President to speak at 4:30 about Affirmative action..

[r9etb]

My extensive experience has taught me to reject your premise that persons from minority backgrounds are different from me, so different that by virtue of their background, without reference to their actual human selves that they will provide me with experiences, insights, and "points of view" not otherwise obtainable.

Oh, please. Now you're claiming that a person's background has no influence on how they look at life. You cannot be serious.

As it happens, my experience has taught me that people from different races quite often have a different cultural background -- one that usually runs along racial lines -- and their outlook on life is influenced by it. This is not a bad thing, it's just a fact.

Is it always true? No. Is it then never true, as you're claiming? Absolutely not. Is it true more often than not? In my experience, it is.

The rest of your comment is pointless -- not to mention wrong.

I would point out, BTW, that YOU are the one talking about black people in this discussion. I have not -- I merely noted that it's not a bad thing to have a healthy mix of racial (and thus probably cultural), and socioeconomic backgrounds in a college environment.

One might almost think that this is a case of "some of your best friends are black."

[beachn4fun]

I agree. I like the President's recommendation that the top 10% of the class (or something to that effect) should be accepted. To me this would give all students, regardless of their color, an incentive to work harder. I think it would also give many Black and Hispanic (and any others that fall under minority) students a sense of pride and higher self-esteem by knowing they are selected because of their hard work and intelligence, not because of the color of their skin.

[beachn4fun]

I agree with Howlin. I think this is a great idea! I hope the President or someone on his staff reads your suggestion.

[beachn4fun]

Besides, the President made a very good point in this statement:

Quote -
"Instead, they have a tendency to divide people, to separate people who are deemed to be worthy of something and have it taken away from them not on the basis of merit, but on the basis of simply a quota or something that is driven exclusively by race," he said. - Unquote

One - diversity - this word in itself causes division. Understanding different cultures is one thing (even though we are all suppose to be Americans), but this word has been used as a sword lately to mean something different and to divide people. If you don't believe me just listen to those who are protesting this possible change (J. Jackson & Sharpton, etc.) when they use this word along with "racism."

And - "...but on the basis of simply a quota or something that is driven exclusively by race..." I agree with GWBush. To me this is discrimination in itself. Although a lot of people don't agree with me on this. And, some call it reverse-discrimination. But - it is still discrimination.