Is affirmative action offensive only because it is deemed to be discrimination against Caucasians?

Question

A lot of people are offended by affirmative action in the US and employment equity in Canada. Much discrimination occurs for superificial reasons, and yet, most people don't tend to so vehemently oppose it. Affirmative action/employment equity is the only "discrimination" I have seen raise so many voices in anger. For a long time -- and even until today -- less qualified people were granted employment because of their skin colour. It was unofficial affirmative action. There wasn't much protest against that then (and there isn't now). Obviously, discrimination or gaining privileges at others' expense isn't that much of a moral issue for most folk. So, I have to ask: If affirmative action/employment equity did not disfavor Caucasians, would it be so offensive?

Answer 1

http://www.pbs.org/race/006_WhereRaceLives/006_00-home.htm

I think everybody needs to stop playing the victim!

It does not necessarily disfavor caucasians. For example

About 10 years ago, my father scored the highest on his civil service test (promotion test for government jobs)
Because his boss was a racist #$&^*#^, he was passed up for the promotion even though he scored the highest, because his boss wanted to hire underqualified minorities JUST TO FIRE THEM.
He hired the head lawyer from the NAACP in our city, and won a "reverse discrimination" case. His boss was caught up, fired, and my father was promoted and given a settlement. Now hes doing the hiring (based on accomplishments)...and what do you know....a lot of those people just happen to be minorities.

Affirmative action should not be offensive. It was not designed to give underqualified minorities better jobs. It was designed to ensure that qualified minorities get the jobs they deserve. If someone has a problem with unqualified people being hired, they should quit crying and just report it to the EEOC.

Answer 2

First of all I'm guessing your are twenty five and under. I believe you have a great sense of morality and equality, but have yet to truly understand it. Desegregation laws were passed in 1964. Believe it or not that is not that long ago. The people born that year are reacing 43 years of age. Even though these laws were put in place because blacks ewre intentionally denied an equal opportunity for an education, a healthy lifestyle, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The desegregation laws were intended to improve conditions for minorities, mostly black. Ironically these laws spited many people and racicism persisted. After these laws were in place, there was little to no access to college education and good jobs for many minorities and women. These were considered privaleges and not rights. So in 1969 affirmative action laws were passed to ensure that a quota of not only blacks, but all minority groups including WHITE WOMEN were met. Simply translated jobs an education were monopolized by white men an were a privalege of the good ole boys' network. There were laws stating in order to recieve certain federal money and tax benefits buisnesses would hire so many of the very same people they intentionally excluded since before the inception of this nation. WHITES WERE NOT EXCLUDED. A WHITE MAN GOING INTO THE NURSING FIELD TO THIS VERY DAY IS STILL ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS BECAUSE HE IS A MINORITY IN THAT FIELD. Affirmative action is not there do deny white people but level the playing field which happens to still be dominated by white men. Ironically many white people don't understand that and are still spiteful. When you see the sucess of another race and have an emotional reaction, make sure you understand the struggle. Also many jobs and schools made little effort to exceed quotas.

Answer 3

I'm white and American there are many types of Caucasians some are foreign like Italians or Russians but I'm American. I think affirmative action is kinda dumb but in the end it prevents a few racist jerks from doing what he wants and hiring who he likes.
if your the best candidate for the job you should get hired ideally its just not so with a few bad apples in the bunch. This is why the law was passed to protect people from the racist losers.

Answer 4

Affirmitive Action is offensive and not offensive all in the same.

While it is good to try to push out cultural biased, it also pushes a gap in the process.

I dont care if you are black, white, red, green, purple, blue, male, female, a-sexual, transexual what ever we should all be treated the same.

Like it or not we are "generations" based on race as well as gender and now even sexual preference.

I think there will always be some sort of affirmitive action because there will always be someone taken advantage of or someone who wants something they dont deserve. Sorry but tis the truth.

*blessings to all, no matter the race, sex or whatever *L**

Answer 5

In the US people are blinded by race when it comes to affirmative action numbers. The primary beneficiaries of affirmative action in the US were caucasian women, and not blacks or latinos. But everyone seems to be blinded by the color of ones skin.

Answer 6

Its not offensive, its just not fair in the long term.

Truth be told, people should be judged on merit. "Liberals" who want to judge people using quotas and not much different than racist conservatives. The only difference is who the bias is in favor of.

I think that racism is racism, no matter which way it goes, its always offensive. I know lots of immigrants, many of whom are successful on merit. Give everyone a fair shot and you'll have better more effiecient society.

Answer 7

It should be offensive to ALL races because WE ALL should be ashamed that such an action had to been have taken to somewhat have equality. Education and performance SHOULD be what determines a persons position in life but unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world.

Answer 8

i don't believe in Affirmative action it is between the dumbs element everybody has ever arise with. i believe contained in the perfect human being for the job, not giving to someone basically to have a stability of blacks white and Hispanics. II have see some Hispanic operating at job's thy understand not something about how did thy get there AFFIRMATIVE action. yet there operating. and then I considered loads of youthful black at job doing aver-element yet operating why AFFIRMATIVE action ....them I call a educate piece Is it discrimination hostile to whits HELL definite that's. a company will for the most employ a black human being who's acquainted with not a dam element about the job for 3 resons a million. tax destroy, 2,a minority stability,3 terrified of proceedings. Discrimination works both concepts you recognize. it is going to likely be the perfect guy for the job, if the guy is white, black ,or Hispanic as long as its the perfect human being. And being pad to that end to what your nicely worth. Lazy human beings status round basically looking solid ought to not get pad the some because the undesirable guy operating his @ss off doing his job and their job. Pay a guy to that end. yet thanks I not in any respect did imagine about a time-honored practitioner skimming Thur on affirmative action. that's one hell of an eye fixed opener. OH and purchase the way i'm hispanic ,and that i not in any respect ever favor a job basically becues of that . to me thats like saying thy sense sorry that i'm hispanic.,,,**** on that.

Answer 9

Some people think that it demeans other races because it assumes we need help. I was taught that everyone should have a chance to succeed on an even playing field and you just simply have to be better than the other guy whatever color he is.

Answer 10

It would not be offensive to anyone if it did not disfavor anyone.