Without trivializing the importance of continually seeking equality of opportunity in our country, I cannot help but think the time has come to begin to evaluate some of the older laws designed to secure equality.
Affirmative action is a program which continues to baffle me as minorities are given advantages that caucasions are not. Lower admission standards and more opportunity for financial aid at the college level, and specific laws/provisions for guaranteeing more opportunity in the work place for minorities. At one point in time, I know these standards may have been needed, but now, with multiple reports and court cases of reverse discrimination, it is time to pull them back.
Another issue in the fight for equality came in the case of voting rights. There are multiple laws and protections in place to guarantee all U.S. citizens, who are of age, the right to vote. These laws contain protections for all people and processes to prosecute those who might try to take away another's right to vote. But are these laws selective in their interpretation of who they protect? I attached a nice article that you won't find in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or on the Yahoo! frontpage about possible reverse discrimination in voting rights. I want to hear your thoughts after reading the article. Leave me a nice little comment so we can discuss later.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/24/voting-rights-official-calls-black-panther-dismissal-travesty-justice/
Enjoy and good luck!
Coach Nokes
Most of the time when you hear about the Black Panthers, you are also hearing about some sort of racism from a white towards a black. In this article you hear about the Black Panthers being at the polls intimidating other voters predominantly whites by having what is stated as nightsticks, yelling racial slurs, and wearing military unifroms. This incident was brought to the Department of Justice but was droped; if this was an incident with the KKK the case would have not been droped and the men would be prosecuted. If our government wants to strive for equality they cannot discriminate on judicial matters. By allowing this case to go away, they will continue to do it, but if other groups like the KKK attempt to do the same thing they will be tried with out hesitation. Many who defend the Black Panthers on this one say it is okay due to the fact that the whites did the same thing years ago to the blacks when they were first able to vote and before the Voting Rights Act was actually passed. But is it okay to do something just because it was done in the past to you? If we want equality then we have to be able to take cases to trial no matter the ethnicity of the two parties.
ReplyDeleteIf we're striving for equality, then we need to make everything equal on all sides of the matter. No matter the race of whoever is in the wrong, the case should be carried out regardless. If the Black Panthers were to be a group of white people doing the exact same thing, it should be handled just the same. Judicial issues should be handled blindly when it comes to race if we truly want to reach equality.
ReplyDeleteEquality isn't truly equality if it is only taken into consideration for one particular group. Regardless of whether this group is a minority or a majority, this group should be treated equally. If this particular case were the other way around: that is to say, a majority discriminating against the Black Panthers, then there would be no question at all about the seriousness of the crime. It is only because this group is a minority that it is an issue. This should not be the case.
ReplyDeletealthough i can see where the governement is comming from i think they are off base. they need to treat it equally. equality is one of the big things in america today and without it we are the same of some of the other coutries today. if the issue is equality than it needs to be treated the same as if some other group was making the case
ReplyDeleteThe U.S. was founded upon one of the main characteristics of equality. Anyone and everyone should be treated equally minority or majority. Equality is not the main issue here, it is who did this.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Nokes has made a point..It may be time to draw those unnecessary privilages for minorites back, but still that would just create more problems in our nation. With all of the crap going on right now, a race war isn't really something we need.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the fattest pigeon is the one with the best cooking skills.
Master F out.
Although the government claims that Americans receive full equality, in situations like this with the Black Panthers anyone can see that the concept of equaulity is not always taken so seriously. If our country truly supported the idea of everyone being equal, they would actually treat everyone the same way in all situations. If the Black Panthers had been a group of white people, then you know the situation would have turned out differently. This shows the lack of enforcing equality in our government. You can't judge your decision based off of someone's ethnicity, religion, personality, etc. You have to determine the result of a situation solely based on treating everyone equal.
ReplyDelete"It may be time to draw those unnecessary privilages for minorites back"
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jake, I believe that the majority (not all) take advantage of the government. They're usually the first to point out "racism", although it's usually just completely over-exaggerated. We're all worried about being politically correct, yet in order to have true equality, we need to have that courtesy extended to us as well. In my opinion, the judicial branch is completely biased in racist issues being brought to the courts.. most times they end up being blown completely out of the water. Although there are still major racists out there, it's not just the whites.
i think that many commendments show that this country is built upon the idea of equality. race of a person shouldnt matter at all.
ReplyDeleteOne of the blessings in America is how diverse we are. I think that no matter where we are, some one will be unhappy because of the inequality. I don't believe there will ever be a time where everyone is satisfied or at peace, but however, striving to make that peace is what we're called to do. I do think that somethings are unfair about the admissions standards at colleges or the strive to show the diversity in a school. However, I think we should all be judged on a standard for admissions and for employment and other things of that nature. For when God judges us, he will not have a bias opinion based on our skin, it will be based on our hearts.
ReplyDeleteAs Emily said, to be in America as a free person is a true blessing. However, many polite and idealistic subjects are ignored, such as respect or abstinence. This is why I believe so many nationalities and/or races seem to often take it one step too far. The idea of equality is not a prideful community of just one race seeking dominance - that is the opposite of equality. Today, many races will find communities of their own race, but making friends are normally not their primary motive. It can be disputed was is their true motive, but they want to be accepted one way or another. However, this is where it goes too far.
ReplyDeleteThe political idea of socialism is on the rise in America, and it would seem minorities see more it in for them than everybody else. With massive amounts of nationalization, more "freebies" are implemented. It's not just acceptance anymore - it's borderline appeasement.
Goals of humanity should not be based on races - only the Human Race itself.
Since we are striving for equality, then we need to make everything equal in every case, not pick and choose. No matter the race of whoever is in the wrong, the case should be carried out regardless of certain details. White, black, whatever the case it should all be handled the same. Race should not matter in judicial issues. They should in all cases be overlooked if we want to reach true equality.
ReplyDeleteI feel like our government is giving the minorities more privileges than they are to the majority. They are so scared to get into someone throwing out the "race card." I've heard it multiple times when I have said that I do not agree with Obama's policies. People are so quick to shout "You're just saying that because he's black!" and never realize that they are defending something that will most likely throw our nation into a downward spiral and ultimately to an economic crash. If Bush would have made half of the decisions that Obama has made our nation would have absolutely despised him. Most Americans are just too scared to say anything so that they will not have to be called a racist. I personally believe that all persons should be treated equally. And as J Wills said the only race that should be seen in people is the Human Race. That actually is a very clever, and true, statement.
ReplyDeleteOur nation constantly prides itself on the basis of equality. We are a land of diversity founded on the principle that everyone has an equal opportunity and everyone is "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." Today it seems there are some who have lost sight of the equality of man and seen need to give special privilages to certain people groups. I can see that at a certain point in history extra privilages for job opportunites etc. might have been needed. But as for this case that the DOJ dropped, it seems that it was dropped for no apparent reason other than to appease a "minority" group. I agree with Marta when she says we must not "pick and choose" when we are practicing "equality." I also agree with Emily when she says the true opinion or judgement is not ours, It is God's, for to Him, race or skin color does not matter; only the heart. If we could hold to THIS idea of equality, we would find our world a much more peaceful, and fair, place.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Max, everyone knows that Democrats are always trying to find ways to make everything so much easier for "minorities". Sure we are all equal and deserve the same rights, but I'm beginning to think our government is passing the equal line and heading into anti-white territory. This is probably just an exaggeration and I am not racist what-so-ever, but how long before people get tax cuts just for being hispanic, african american etc...
ReplyDeleteI think that it's important to recognize that true equality means equality for all people. Equality is very important in the United States because it's one of the fundamental concepts that our country was founded on. If people did not believe that equality was necessary, our country could not be a properly functioning democracy because not everyone's opinions would be valued. The idea of a democracy is that everyone has an equal say in the government decisions. Of course, things like race shouldn't matter here. Equality is important no matter is you're a minority or not.
ReplyDeletewhen the voting rights act was established, it was put in place for all races. when any race is being descriminated against, even caucasians, it should be a matter of importance that should not slip by. in this country we stand for equality, and we should live up to our standards.
ReplyDeleteAlthough discrimination against blacks was a major problem a long time ago, that is no longer the problem. The issue is equality of all people. If that is what America is striving for, then no person or race should be treated with better accommodations than another. This is completely self-refuting. The basic principles that America was founded upon should not be refuted or argued against. No decision, especially nation wide, should be based on race, ethnicity, religion, or any other factors.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mr. Nokes. I believe that yes, at one point in time, these laws and acts were necessary and very benificial, but the continued push of these is almost creating a reverse affect. Equality is supposed to be "everybody has an equal oppertunity", and that's the way it should be kept.
ReplyDelete-Austin
I agree with you Coach Nokes. This is a big issue that is becoming stupid at how much they are given. It is not equal opportunites for other people that are not a minority. This is an unfair advantage is all situations.
ReplyDelete--Shelby--
Equality is one of the pricipals this country was founded on. I agree with Coach Nokes that when we put these laws into effect, they were appropriate but as Austin said, now it is having the opposite affect.
ReplyDelete-Bryce