If you're against affirmative action but in favour of racial profiling, does that make you a racist?

Question

The same arguments that oppose affirmative action (only racists see race, "black" and "hispanic" are not synonyms for poor and uneducated) can be used to oppose racial pro-filling (just replace "poor and uneducated" with "criminals and drug addicts")

Yet why is it that some (especially on the far right) oppose affirmative action strongly, yet say that racial profiling is completely OK?

I am personally against both ( and this is comming from an minority)

I simply follow Stephen Colbert's motto. "I don't see race, people tell me I'm brown, I believe them" (insert any race for this)

What are your feelings towards both these issues, and if you happen to be againse affirmative action but in favour of racial profiling, can you defend those views as not being racist.

Answer 1

Unless you are from very mixed background, everyone's a racist to some degree or other, simply because you have a race. It's not even socially unhealthy to have a bit of racism. To deny your own heritage and culture is a bit self-destructive and doesn't really make the world a better place. It just makes it a more confused place.

Answer 2

yes.

If you accept racial profiling as a valid and necessary device for security/safety, then you ignore the Timothy McVeighs while you hinder/harass decent, law-abiding people of non-white background. Minority neighborhoods then get more police/spy attention, resulting in higher arrests, and thus perpetuating percetions. Meanwhile, innocent people in those communities get turned off to the injustice of the situation, reducing cooperation with/respect for law enforcement, and perhaps aiding the very element law enforcement sought to target.

The stereotypical affirmative action scenario is that of a monority getting a job at the expense of a "more qualified" white man; it ignores the instances of qualified monorities being systematically excluded, and promotes the notion that minorities who succeeded are unqualified/unworthy/or taking advantage (never mind that a well-connmected wealthy person could also have gotten the position through privilege - and be unqualified, or not have earned his/her way. but I guess that's somehow "okay" when wealth awards positions by such means).

So even if the A-Action stereotype is completely untrue, the spread of this stereotype undermines its success - and can undermine respect for minorities who have earned thier positions. There was a study 10-20 years reporting that some 20-30 million white Americans felt they had been passed over for a job in favor of a black person, at a time when there were only 2 million blacks in that particular job market. Either blacks were doing the work of 10 white people (if so, then they were clearly more capable than the whites), or perceptions were way out of hand.

Either way, the intended "solutions," by inherent design flaws and maginfied by perceptions, only make things worse.

Answer 3

I'm against racial profiling & for affirmative action.

The reason why I support AA is b/c the majority of the corporations & businesses owned in white America are well.....white. And until there is more diverstiy in that area I don't trust that ppl of color will get a fair chance to compete for jobs owned by white & Jewish companies.

And alot ppl don't even really know how AA works. All the candidates MUST be qualified to do that particular job. It only gives minorities the chance to compete & hold jobs that the door would be closed to them otherwise....b/c of the color of their skin.

Racial profiling is a completely seperate topic. I did a report on this a long time ago & my teacher was white & also a former detective...I got an A. It's wrong, and only promotes the agenda of racial superiority against ppl of color and for white ppl.

Answer 4

I'm against affirmative action because it keeps people that are actually COMPETENT for the job from getting it just to make a "quota" (If you're good for the job, you're good. That simple.) But racial profiling is wrong because you have absolutely no grounds! My car is owned. I bought it. Just because I, a black woman, drive a nice car doesn't mean I stole it. So no affirmative action and no racial profiling.

Answer 5

I think REAL "Affirmative Action" would be to now eliminate preferential treatment for ALL special interest groups, and return to trying to consider what "equality" means. Our Brave New World idea has only led to a social ethic of Tribalism -- black, white, gay, elderly, etc., etc. -- everyone is "a minority" if he only thinks of himself. "A.A." is a better-than-good idea that, like Prohibition, has led to little else than corruption. It's a Frankenstein -- very dangerous, whatever noble spirit created it, and should be put to rest.

As far as "profiling" is concerned, it really depends on what you mean. The quasi-psychic version we see from "FBI Profilers" that seems to constantly have the side-effect of arresting the innocent, I'm against. On the other hand, I think Justice should be blind: not the Police.

Answer 6

No.

But if you favor affirmative action -- regardless of your feelings on racial profiling -- you are in sense racist, because you're putting a person's skin color ahead of everything else.

And when a person puts a person's skin color ahead of everything else, that's racism.

.

Answer 7

I agree with Knowledgeisbliss.

Answer 8

i'm for it