Monday, January 25, 1999
With affirmative action gone, we can solve problems
RACE:: Now that Prop. 209 has removed unequal treatment, root of
societal ills can be addressed
By Daniel B. Rego
Despite what some individuals on campus may lead one to think,
the world neither revolves around – nor rises and falls only upon –
the question of affirmative action. Over two years ago, California
voters decided to prevent the state from treating people unequally
on the basis of race.
This was the right thing to do.
Now we can focus on fixing those fundamental problems that
affirmative action obscured. More and more affirmative action
programs which assessed (that is, judged) a person based on their
race are quickly disappearing. Now, we must look at other solutions
to our problems.
The problem with affirmative action is that it clumps people
into racial classifications. But wasn’t affirmative action created
precisely because people were judged according to
classifications?
Consider also that there is a growing tendency for individuals
within the same racial classification to have disparate ideologies.
For example, California Assembly GOP leader Rod Pacheco, as well as
Assembly members Bob Pacheco, Abel Maldenado and Cherlene Zettel
are all Latino, and they are all Republicans. America and
California are seeing beyond race, but some seem to not notice this
and are trying to find ways to sneak around Proposition 209.
It is proposed that the top 4 percent of each California high
school be made eligible to the University of California, to
increase "diversity" and give students at all high schools a chance
to succeed. What is interesting is that analysis after analysis
says this will help Asian and white students most. This is a bad
plan and a horrible way to get around Proposition 209. The 4
percent plan treats students unequally based on what school they
happen to go to and serves to hide just how bad some schools
are.
There are many commonalties that bind people beyond race. There
are many problems that are not racially exclusive. Yes, racism does
exist, but how can you achieve equality of treatment through means
that are inherently unequal?
The solution is to actually look at some of the root problems.
An example of this is low performance at public schools. We must
work hard to solve this problem. I doubt if Gov. Gray Davis’
primarily watered-down version of former Gov. Pete Wilson’s
proposals will completely solve this, but a workable solution must
be found.
There are many problems that we need to address, and I believe
that we are finally starting to address those issues. The day when
affirmative action is touted as a panacea for all societal ills is
waning; we are waking up to a new day with new ideas.
Comments, feedback, problems?
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