Here's a litmus test for Barack Obama: where does he stand on racial preferences? If he's for them, then how can he claim to be a national unifier? What country bases its rule of social justice on attempting to figure out whose ancestors did what to whom?
A generation ago, racial preferences were arguably necessary for African Americans, especially in the South, to kick in the closed door of segregation and Jim Crow. But then other groups (women, Hispanics, immigrants, gays) climbed aboard the affirmative action bandwagon, absurdly proclaiming, "We are the new blacks." To which the answer is: are you the descendants of slaves? Can you begin to show a comparable history of suffering and deprivation as African Americans?
Today preferences based on race, gender, national origin and sexual orientation have largely become a scam. In elite colleges, for instance, they are a way for Jesse Jackson's kids to get an unfair advantage over poor white kids with better grades and better test scores. On those same campuses, women with lesser qualifications especially in the sciences are routinely hired as teachers over men who are more deserving. What could be more divisive, and more infuriating, then such policies of official race and gender-based discrimination?
Obama can launch a national debate, and give substance to his pledge to be a uniter, by saying: It's time for America to become a post-racial society. This doesn't mean that racism has ended or that as a social reality "race doesn't matter." But the character and magnitude or racism have dramatically changed. Racism today does not have legal sanction, as it once did. Equally significant, racism today is episodic rather than systematic. This means that the law no longer has to take account of race in order to get beyond race. The best way to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making is quite simply to get rid of race as a factor in decision-making. If racial preferences fall, obviously gender preferences would disappear as well.
If Obama makes this argument, it would astound the country and immediately draw moderate and even Republican support. The Hillary camp would launch its usual attacks, but against Obama they would bounce off. This is one issue on which Obama would have unimpeachable credibility.
Will he do it? Does he have the guts?
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 10)
46. Mokele-Mobembe (#42) - You are correct that misinterpretation is one of the many pitfalls of using statistics, especially when we let personal biases intrude. Finding these errors and other logical fallacies in these blogs and comments is like dynamiting fish in a barrel.
You might enjoy
http://www.csun.edu/~hceng028/English/fall.html
alan at 1:41PM on Mar 10th 2008
47. And why doesn't John McCain pledge to be fiscally responsible by stating what every economist knows to be the case: that you cannot fight wars all over the world and cut taxes at the same time without bankrupting the nation? Why doesn't McCain eschew Bush's tax cuts, i.e., affirmative action for the wealthy?
emelpe at 1:44PM on Mar 10th 2008
48. 27. ryan,
thanks especially with the macs of the world. but its like i told my son. you cannot group people together for an incident. i went to an all black high school for a year. my dad was the asst. principal and it was the best year of high school i ever had. i never was a waiter so i cannot speak to the issue of tipping. i can only speak to my son about not stereo-typing
brian at 12:33PM on Mar 10th 2008
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Hmmm... that's funny... you didn't mention your dad was the assistant principle in the "original" story.
Why is Ryan bringing up brian's post about his wife's abortion? I thought we were looking for the one where his wife was an atheist.
K at 1:50PM on Mar 10th 2008
49. From Mark Twain:
"There are three kinds of lies -- lies, damned lies, and statistics."
"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please."
--
That's my take on FACTS and statistics.
mac at 1:52PM on Mar 10th 2008
50. Senator Clinton is the victim of racism and sexism. The things that are said about her would never be said about a male candidate. If Obama were also a woman--with his thin legislative record--this race would NOT be so close. Shirley Chisholm, presidential candidate in 1972 who was both black and a woman, said she always had to battle sexism more than racism.
The reason Senator Clinton got so much support from the African American communities in Arkansas and New York, because of the Clintons' history fighting for civil rights. It's too bad that so many voters don't care about even recent history and only want to look forward to a glossy "future". They're more concerned with personal politics than about achievement and are voting on the basis of color.
jaqc at 1:56PM on Mar 10th 2008
51. One more( then I'll stop with Clemens):
"I believe we ought to retain all our liberties. We can't afford to throw them away. They didn't come to us in a night. The trouble with us in America is that we haven't learned to speak the truth. We have thrown away the most valuable asset we have- the individual right to oppose both flag and country when by ones's self we believe them to be in the wrong."
Just as appropiate now as it was in 1912?
mac at 2:04PM on Mar 10th 2008
52. alan,
Thanks. It would be nice if they used more examples though.
Mokele-Mobembe at 2:03PM on Mar 10th 2008
53. I can't think of anything that goes against "judging someone by their character and not their skin color" more than affirmative-action.
Greg at 2:08PM on Mar 10th 2008
54. Dinesh,
This is the exact topic that could be discussed by Obama because if one of the other candidates mentioned it, they would be labeled racists. It is long overdue to eliminate affirmative action because the newest victims of discrimination are white men. I'll give you a personal example, I was a police officer in an inner city in Connecticut. When I retired, I applied for a social workers position with the state. They were under court orders to hire hundreds of social workers because of understaffing and negligence issues. I had twenty one years of police experience and a masters degree, which was a requirement for the job. The bottom line, when I heard nothing back, came from a manager from the department. He was a friend of a friend, so he told me up front that white men were not wanted and that they would hire any other minority, even those who had no college or who spoke poor english. This is the Dept. of Children and Families and they have paid out millions of dollars for negligence because many of their social workers are incompetent. What I find particularly galling is that this is not a rare incident. I was denied another job because they needed a person of color. Quality and experience mean nothing anymore, as long as "diversity" is achieved. It's disgusting and in this era of political correctness, these types of issues are never seriously discussed. I could even understand not getting the job, if there was an applicant as competent as myself, but so far, I haven't seen many that are. Keep up the good work.
stan at 2:18PM on Mar 10th 2008
55. "racism today is episodic rather than systematic." Dinesh: you are right, but the most common racism in America now is reflex anti-white bias on the part of blacks. It is not uncommon to find the belief that AIDS is a purposeful invention of whites, that blacks should be paid money as reparation for the fact their remote ancestors were slaves, etcetera. We are entering a new phase of history, and it is high time to leave all this racism stuff behind us.
Bob at 2:26PM on Mar 10th 2008
56. To Brian:
Bullsh*t. I am sick of racist servers trying to justify their unwillingness to wait on black customers. When I was younger I was a server for different restaurants. I had a couple servers (just a few, mind you) give me that line of crap about blacks not tipping. However, they are always unwilling to accept the possibilty that maybe, just maybe, their poor attitude comes through during their service? I firmly believe you EARN the tip you get, whether good or bad. For me, if there is one group that consistently tips poorly, it's those people who come in fresh from church on Sunday. Black, white or asian, it seems like if they gave at the altar, they dont feel like they have to give at the table!
Pissed at 2:33PM on Mar 10th 2008
57. K; I thought we were looking for the abortion one? Oops. Either way though, he lied about that one too.
Ryan Anderson at 2:34PM on Mar 10th 2008
58. "The reason Senator Clinton got so much support from the African American communities in Arkansas and New York, because of the Clintons' history fighting for civil rights"
And the money spread around by the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, don't forget that.
"Hey we're on your side. Look at how much we have given". It is just like those who present themselves as pillars of the community because of all the philanthropic good they do. However, true philanthopy involves using one's "own" wealth to help others. Not the money taken from others who want something in return for that donation.
M2D5 at 2:38PM on Mar 10th 2008
59. We are in very deep financial trouble as a nation. We simply can't afford racism or AA any more.
Bob at 2:38PM on Mar 10th 2008
60. brian,
Am I to not eat today? I'll be extra hungry tomorrow.
mac at 2:43PM on Mar 10th 2008