| Show 9 Letters to the Editor Quit Complaining and Try Earning the Advantages Given by Affirmative Action Dear Edi Editor tor After reading Juan Hernandez's Hernandez s 's sletter letter to the editor in the April 4 issue of Horizon I couldn't help but stare at what I had just read I cannot let Juans Juan's letter pass without a response The letter begins by stating Many minorities set their hopes on affirmative action for a fair chance at landing a job and therein lies the Very problem people such as myself find so infuriating Why dont don't people like Juan who are so caught up in the advantages advantages advantages ad ad- vantages given them by current affirmative affirmative affirmative af af- af- af action policies say what they really feel instead of using some sort of politically correct doublespeak Wouldn't it have been a more accurate statement for Juan to tomake tomake tomake make by saying something to the effect of Many Mexicans and other Latinos women blacks Asians Pacific islanders and other persecuted minority groups need affirmative action in the forms of quotas and preferential treatment in order to obtain decent employment and educational educational educational opportunities In essence Juan appears to feel as do many others in minority groups that they cant can't make it if in today's society because they are somehow unable to meet the demands and expectations set for the average white male such as myself Isn't that what minorities are basically saying when they whine and complain about people like me who are opposed to affirmative action action action ac ac- ac- ac tion I have absolutely no objection to employers or colleges seeking out minority applicants thus providing equal opportunities However I have a major problem with quotas and preferential treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment that seek to ensure equal results The awarding of jobs or admission to colleges if they are areto areto areto to be fair must be done on the basis of merit proven performance and genuine ability Juan states that They want a color bli blind nd America bu but t the reality is that this will only hurt those that are and always will be seen as colored I strongly disagree As things currently are blacks and Mexicans and women get more advantages than I do Why Because of their skin color or their sex That's what hurts Merit proven performance and ability are the only qualifications that ought to come into play in determining who gets the job or who gets admitted to the college or university If a black or Mexican or woman or white male for that matter matter matter mat mat- ter cant can't measure up to such qualifications then tough luck Juan further spews many Anglos have accused the government government government govern govern- ment of reverse discrimination Some whites say that forcing employers to hire someone because because because be be- cause of their skin color is a crime in itself Damn straight What else can you reasonably call it If a ablack ablack ablack black is hired for a job that r Im I'm m more qualified for simply because hes he's black and Im I'm white that is reverse discrimination Call it whatever placates your conscience Juan but discrimination by any other name is still discrimination and still just as wrong The bottom line here is that minorities need to get off their soap boxes and quit bitching and moaning and do something to earn the advantages given them by affi affirmative affirmative af af- af- af fi rma ti ve act action ion po policies I ic ies Quit demanding easier job qualifications qualifications qualifications or easier college entrance requirements requirements requirements re re- re- re based on your color or your sex In short get a life Scott Scon Christian Bauer Batter General Education Major |
