I totally agree that Affirmative Action is discrimination. It is, plain and simple.
Not only is it discrimination, it is demeaning to the minority. I got good grades and worked hard in school, but due to affirmative action, many could have believed that I was gedding through school (and even into the schools) because of my heritage and not on my merits.
As far as anti-discrimination policies go, you are right, Slaine. You, the white male are not protected. I am finding that to be true also for the Christian in this nation. It has been ruled constitutional for a school in California to REQUIRE history students to say Muslim prayers (for the sake of history), but the cross in the Los Angeles city seal is being removed, even though the city was founded by Catholics and therefore the cross is historical in nature. No one is being forced to worship G-d in Los Angeles by having that cross there, but it must go.
When are these people going to realise that this sort of attitude, far from stamping out discrimination, fosters resentment and causes more trouble than it solves by alienating a large section of society that, otherwise, would be sympathetic
Unfortunately, it is going to take a heart change, a worldview shift on the part of the people, and that is hard to effect, especially when the attitude you are talking about is being disseminated through the schools. We need our kids growing up knowing that ALL discrimination is evil, not just discriminating against previously oppressed peoples. Parents have to do the job and find a way to counter what the teachers are giving them on this.
Ogg, I am not convinced that it was all for the best, but I am a realist. I can either focus on the negatives or I can be thankful for the good that did come. Which would you rather have me do: continually look around at your "race" and be angry because you people walked onto my family farm with guns and forced us out of our homes, our fields, away from our nation with a two-house congress and all the same modern conviences of the times that you people had, making us walk thousands of miles and causing at least 1/4 of our people to die along the way to a place where we were given substandard housing and food that was either rancid or infested with insects --or-- realize that there were bad and evil men then as there are now and look at the fact that I am alive, my people have withstood the attempts of your people in the past to destroy us, and we can now take what advancements you have made and use it them our good? The first attitude leaves me bitter, angry, and keeps me oppressed. The second attitude allows me to soar.
BTW...the president who caused my family to be forced from our farm and to walk the Trail of Tears was Andrew Jackson, and I always have difficulty looking at a $20 bill with his face on it. But I can't hold his sins against the current whites of the world.
I suppose pride in a nation can come from different views as well. I do not take pride in much my nation has done (Japanese internment for exapmle). I do take pride in other things it has (helping put an end to Hilter's reign of terror). But, all in all, I am proud of my country. She has done many wonderful things. I hope she does more.
I do not see fighting for one's country as a terrible act. How is is disgraceful to protect one's family? Or to help oppressed people's to become free?
I also disagree that the majority of right-minded people would not dream of bearing arms unless provoked. We NEED a strong military to protect us, which means we need those who daily bear arms. Bearing arms is not shooting, by the way, it is having and knowing how to use those arms, and then using them when appropriate. So, I am very proud of having warriors in every generation of my family from before this nation was conceived. And I am proud of those veterans who served my country who I am not related to. Hey, I am proud of DutchRush, who is a veteran of his nation! He did his part to protect his land. Well done, lief!
