Affirmative Action

Second, racial preferences are meant to help the disadvantaged. Affirmative action insinuates that people of color are inferior, and therefore cannot compete fairly with the white. Lastly, affirmative action tends to be an insult to ethnic minorities on account that they are selected not for their ability but for their color. In this manner, people of color are not given the impetus to improve themselves, or to show what they can do. Affirmative Action as Discrimination Based on Race Affirmative action is geared towards providing solution to the long standing issu... ... middle of paper ... ...d not by their competence but by their race.

Steele acknowledges that blacks were wrongly persecuted, but stresses that as a result of affirmative action, "blacks now stand to lose more than they gain." Although the intent of the policy is positive, the end result is a false effort at white redemption and an ill advised effort by the black mandate to gain power by accepting undeserved positions in society. Steele points out that instead of focusing on developing ... ... middle of paper ... ...ol or technical school level by allocating more resources (financial and staffing) to those in need of extra help. Public acceptance of this preferential treatment would be greater, less emotional, and more easily justified. It does not address the intermediate needs of some minorities, but maybe there could be federal or state programs for special training.

They are being given preferential treatment because they have been mistreated. And society has a long and approved tradition of awarding compensatory damages to victims of mistreatment. To put it another way, blacks came by their current disadvantage for two reasons: 1. Whites decided that a morally irrelevant feature (having black skin) was in fact a morally relevant feature. 2.

Affirmative action is unethical and this idea is supported by moral philosophy subjects such as Kantianism, Utilitarianism, Social Contract, and Virtue Theory. Arguments against affirmative action are that it: creates reverse discrimination, lowers standards for minorities, and demeans true minority achievement. Arguments supporting affirmative action are that it is needed to: compensate minorities for centuries of slavery or oppression, assist students starting at a disadvantage, and increase diversity. One argument against affirmative action is that it leads to reverse discrimination. Affirmative action is a preferential system set up for the benefit of minorities, if two equally qualified candidate... ... middle of paper ... ..., and Democracy: The Ethics of Affirmative Action" Public Productivity & Management Review Vol.

Affirmative action continues the judgement of minorities by race; it causes reverse discrimination, and contradicts its purpose. Affirmative action is not creating a colorblind society. In fact it continues the judgement of minorities according to race. Affirmative action forces employers and colleges to lower the standard for minorities. It also is demeaning to minorities who want to be judged by their actions, not their skin color.

Affirmative Action Few social policy issues have served as a better gauge of racial and ethnic divisions among the American people than affirmative action. Affirmative action is a term referring to laws and social policies intended to alleviate discrimination that limits opportunities for a variety of groups in various social institutions. Supporters and opponents of affirmative action are passionate about their beliefs, and attack the opposing viewpoints relentlessly. Advocates believe it overcomes discrimination, gives qualified minorities a chance to compete on equal footing with whites, and provides them with the same opportunities. Opponents charge that affirmative action places unskilled minorities in positions they are not qualified for and violates the Fourteenth Amendment.

[citation needed] Opponents Opponents of affirmative action call it reverse discrimination because affirmative action requires the very discrimination it is seeking to eliminate in order to work. This contradiction makes affirmative action counter-productive. It promotes prejudice by i... ... middle of paper ... ...iscrimination prohibited by the Covenant. For example, in a State where the general conditions of a certain part of the population prevent or impair their enjoyment of human rights, the State should take specific action to correct those conditions. Such action may involve granting for a time to the part of the population concerned certain preferential treatment in specific matters as compared with the rest of the population.

It claims to promote equality when all it really does is create more social gaps and hard feelings between different social groups within our society. Affirmative Action?s practices contradict its own opinions. It?s trying to justify the theory that two wrongs make a right. Affirmative Action seems to have done more harm than good and merely add to discrimination and conflict rather than solving past problems. While Affirmative Action may have at one time served a useful purpose it seems to no longer be productive and is merely a negative system creating further problems.

Affirmative action also makes the assumption that minority groups are, in fact, disadvantaged. Another result is that the tables are turned and whites are discriminated against. Lastly, and most importantly, Affirmative Action can force people to go against their religious beliefs, and in doing so, it breaks the First Amendment to the Constitution. To begin with, Affirmative Action is meant to bring an end to discrimination. In reality, it creates more discrimination in many different ways.

Though it directly uses race and discrimination in order to preference or discard a certain kind of individual, it prevails in giving opportunity to minorities to better themselves. McClain said it well by citing that even though schools or work places may be desegregated, it is not surely synonymous with equal educational opportunity (McClain 191). Due to the fact that some individuals—especially minorities and women—face social stigmatic stereotypes as well as limitations in access to life-bettering opportunities due to coming up in a