Colin L. Powell does have detractors who belittle him as an "Affirmative Action General
So what? He also has people who are praising his qualifications, demeanor, and ability to represent US interests. So which side is right?
Affirmative action certainly has had a role to play in reversing the institutional discrimination that existed
before the '60s. But that role is one of "kicking down the door" of segregationist policies and coercing those who would seek to exclude minorities to follow the law.
It WAS NOT DESIGNED to be a program where minorities could use it to gain the upper hand on other equally qualified job candidates. Clearly Colin Powell possessed equal or greater personal and professional qualifications to justify his career progression. I would only be offended had he been promoted, over others who were clearly more qualified, as a result of some form of coercive affirmative action.
Obviously there is no way of completely removing prejudice from a job interview. While blacks may be discriminated against by whites, the reverse IS ALSO the case. And Chinese discriminate against Koreans, Vietnamese, and Japanese, and vice-versa.
But where is affirmative action for these other minorities? And how does affirmative action resolve problems between members of two different minority classes?
Will there be affirmative action for Jews? For the Irish? For the Arab-Americans?
Bottom line, affirmative action, like any other form of government welfare or social intervention, should remain a helping hand and not a hand out.
Regards,
Ron |
