An Analogy

[keilexandra]

If affirmative action is a band-aid over a bleeding wound, then the collateral casualties (whites and often Asians) must be the nerve cells of the healthy skin around the wound. Is it important to staunch the bleeding before healing can begin? YES

Comments

[beteio]

I'm trying to think of what the University of California system would be in your analogy...

[keilexandra]

Hah. I don't know--Prop 209 has been under attack recently. But otherwise, maybe a bruise instead of an open wound? Some might argue otherwise, given the low numbers of URMs.

[keilexandra]

Thank you for the link. I do wish it weren't so obviously biased--to the point where I question many of the claims--but it is interesting reading. However, where is the direct quote of the U.S. Dept. of Labor regarding beneficiaries of affirmative action? I also dispute the assumption that increased diversity can be solely attributed to affirmative action.

[keilexandra]

The original site was obviously biased in that it made no attempt to admit the merit of opposing arguments or acknowledge the shortcomings of affirmative action (even if only to counter them). Any such one-sided source is suspicious in my eyes.

My problem with affirmative action is not that it aids unqualified people--I very much doubt that--but that it aids less qualified people. If a woman would not have been hired over a man in a gender-blind reading--that is, assuming that both candidates were male--then the woman is relatively less qualified. I recently read a book, although dated, on admissions decisions at Stanford 10 years ago; that discussion will, I hope, be fruitful.