affirmative action non-debate
Dear Editor,
In the few days since the affirmative action debate, I have heard and read a great deal about how wonderful it was. The debate was an excellent way to follow up the affirmative action bake sale, and those students who organized the debate are definitely deserving of the praise they have received.
Still, I cannot help but feel like a great opportunity was missed on Monday. Affirmative action itself was hardly discussed. On one side, those of us who attended the debate were convinced in a most eloquent manner that there have been severe injustices in the past and that many disparities continue today. I don’t know an educated person who would disagree. On the other side, impassioned yet sound reason was used to show us all that it is inherently unjust to give preferential treatment to one human being over another on the basis of race. I can’t argue with that, either. In fact, it is only a variation on the first argument.
Both sides used similar arguments to come to very different conclusions. One side says racism is bad, so AA is good. The other says racism is bad, so AA is bad. In this sense, there really wasn’t a debate. There was nothing to argue about. I am not sure that anyone learned anything new or was forced to confront tough questions about their position on the issue.
If we want to get people thinking about affirmative action rather than simply evoking visceral reactions, then we need to actually discuss it. Is AA even a realistic solution to problems of race? Can it remedy the disparities in society? How much does it help underprivileged minorities? How much does it hurt them? And do its potential benefits outweigh its costs? These questions were only peripherally addressed during the debate. If we really care about doing good, about helping people and society, these are the questions that we must debate and answer. I can understand the desire to aid disadvantaged minorities. However, the actual evidence appears to show that in this regard, not only is affirmative action failing, but it is actually hurting those it is meant to help. This should be a matter of serious concern for everyone on both sides of the issue.
Cory DavidsonStudent #528-69-6446757-5525corymd@cc.usu.edu