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.

But I refuse to believe that the bleeding requires a band-aid to be continually ripped off and replaced, when a piece of gauze and an Ace bandage would suffice.

Comments

[keilexandra]

Replying here because I think unusualmusic will also get notification from upthread:

I'm not so naive to think that affirmative action has done no good. I think it has done a great deal of good. But I consider the means of doing that good unethical. And with regard to employment, I don't think any one program is the sole cause of an effect. That's too simple an answer--and hence why I think the Focus on Affirmative Action site is overly biased, as it implies that all/most of society's gains in diversification are due to AA.

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

so what exactly would you consider an ethical way of making society be less structurally racist?

EDIT: before we even go there...what exactly is unethical about it? As a matter of fact, what is your definition of affirmative action, exactly?

[keilexandra]

See my comment below for a sort-of definition of affirmative action. Short answer: outreach is not AA, "special consideration" is.

And outreach is an ethical method of combating institutional racism; others are, of course, needed. But the lack of an equal alternative does not make affirmative action any LESS unethical, of its own merit.