Do you believe in positive discrimination as a way to fight racism?
453895
Definitely not.\n\nPositive discrimination for one group legitimises discrimination against another.\nThen it can be used as a legal/moral justification for future discrimination.\n\nAddressing root causes is the way to address discrimination: not by (eg.) appointing less suitable candidates for posts merely because of a disability/race/religion/etc.
310237
Interesting inquiry...My family taught me to be a racist because of the treatment they experienced while living in the south back in the 50's and 60's.  When I went to college and found out that I could be friends with people of all races my entire existence expanded.  I had to learn how to take a stand for what I believed in whether my family and friends agreed with me or not.  Learning to be my self and bridge the race gap with others has been quite enlightening.  Then again...I challenge myself to grow spiritually, so letting go of the past is one lesson I have been able to conquer.  The gift is not to resist, but to examine and inquire.  You're on the right path.  Peace.
343743
Everyone has their prejudices, but some people are more likely to act on them than others are.  I try to judge the individual, but I am just as guilty as anyone else of having my stereotypes.  I'm sure others feel the same way about me in that regard.  I guess the best rules of thumb that I use in dealing with my personal prejudices is to keep in mind that one person, or a few people, demonstrating negative traits isn't representative of the whole group that he or she belongs to, and you have to be willing to look at the positive traits demonstrated by others in the group.
319380
Affirmative action involves giving preferrential treatment to one group over another.  It isn't really any better than the Jim Crowe laws.\n\nThe irony is that people who believe in affirmative action, tend to do so on the basis of eliminating racial inequalities.  This is contradictory by nature.\n\nUnfortunately, racism and inequity will never be completely eliminated, by affirmative action or any other means.  You simply can not legislate away the opinions of others.\n\nIn the meantime, affirmative action gives fodder to those with racist agendas, and provides little if any benefit.  Not to mention that it necessarily means that qualified, deserving cantidates will miss opprotunities for employment and education based on their race.  Isn't this what we're trying to stop?
350454
Racism is the belief that one race is superior to another. Discrimination is an action based on one's racist beliefs. Prejudice is a preconceived notion held about another race. I'm sorry you are being affected adversely because you are different. I share your pain and anger. The best you can do is to rise above the ignorance and culture, educate yourself, and set the example for others to follow.
931548
Come on....... I consider every one to be equalls.  You are the one dogging on other races.  That is one thing that gets to me.  How come certain races always imply their is racism?  And want special privileges.  All people have the right to work and to earn respect from others.  Don't expect handouts.    We all started from one race... then the fall of man.  We all need to take care of ourselves.
377478
Affirmative action...the words sound so positive, don't they?\nThose words mask an ugly racism which is morally no different from that practiced in the southern US not too many years ago.\nThe only criterion used to judge people under the tyranny of affirmative action is the color of one's skin.  This is the very definition of racism.\nThere is no such thing as "reverse discrimination."  Giving anyone any advantage solely based on skin color is racism, no matter who practices it against whom.\nPeople who support affirmative action should learn, understand and take to mind Dr. King's most important lesson: We should be judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin.
915289
No. Im proud to White too. Haha but dont say that too loud, you might be called a racist.
1101314
Affirmative Action is a ridiculous idea.  How does it make any sense to say "we are righting the wrongs, removing race from being a factor, and ensuring that a man is judged on merit rather than skin color" and then say, "here's the program-- if you're black, you definately need that boost to even attempt to be on an even plane with whites."\n\nIt's racist against blacks and whites-- it eliminates the idea that blacks can be intelligent without a booster seat, and it discriminates against whites who are better qualified.
360642
Yes, but it isn't going to happen in our life time. Racism is perpetuated by the minority's as much as the bigots. As soon as they learn to let go of the past and stop making everything a race issue things will start to change.\nI will admit that I am prejudice. I am prejudice against lazy, ignorant people who think they are owed something. I don't care what color they are!\nIn my opinion there is only one race. The human race. It is time to stop perpetuating the ignorant old ways of our ancestors and get down to making a better world for everyone. Who's with me?
1175479
Racism is drawing negative conclusions about another person's traits, ethics, worth, ability, etc based solely upon that person's racial origin. And then acting upon those assumptions. \n  I think we all have "stereotypes" or "preconceptions" to 1 degree or another. Whether we like to admit it or not. A racist is usually aware of, and willing to act on these preconceptions.
483885
I feel that racism is taught. Learning to accept all people should be taught in the home at an early age. People need to realize that this world would be a boring place if we were all the same!
1032417
No. Racism would be if you hate anyone from a particular race of people or if you hate all races except for your own. Racism is based on race-based-hate not on hate in and of itself.
8235
I disagree. Though it has had positive results, if our target is true equality then affirmative action wont get us there. Equality is not going to be found in concentrating so hard on who is black, who is white, and who is in between. True equality is going to be found when we finally learn not to care about race. Equality will come when people finally decide that race doesn't matter. With affirmative action race DOES matter. Race is a big deal. Race is everything. That isn't equality.
825993
Stereotyping and racism are two different things.  You don't have to be a racist in order to stereotype.  Stereotyping isn't only a negative idea, it can also focus on the positive.  Basically, stereotyping is usually a simple idea, concept, or image and holding that to a particular group of people.  So yes, your statements could fall into a stereotype, even though it is positive, since you don't know if your statements are factual.  Even though you said "most" and "usually", you have not met every single black or Asian person in the world to know if what you're saying is actually true.  Therefore, you hold a certain group of people to an idea/concept/image of yours...and voila!  A stereotype.  That's not necessarily a bad thing as long as you don't start crossing over to the negative.  Everyone at some point in their lives has stereotyped something, whether it be a living or nonliving thing.
464141
Racism is alive and well in the usa. It used to be mainly one sided. However these days it is a multibillion dollar a year business that has made many millionaires as well as many a politicians careers. There are laws in place to curb racism. However the way they are often applied, is not balanced. I think we have learned precious little in 200+ years. Unfortunately there are plenty of people who are opportunists and/or hate mungers.
883346
Yes unfortunately racism still exists towards every race whether it be Asian, Caucasian, African American, Hispanic, and everything else.\n\nPeople fear the unfamiliar.  Unfortunately our society has made seem "okay" to make excuses for hatred.  \n\nWhat I feel is most unfortunate is the fact that the people who are prejudice against others just because someone was prejudice against them for some reason or another.  People cannot seem to grasp the concept which we all learned (hopefully) as a child; two wrongs don't make a right.  Meaning being prejudge against one race because someone has been prejudge about your preference or race is not right.\n\nIn cases of homosexuality I believe it is the same way.  Back in the 80s there was a debate about bi-racial couples marrying and just being together and now it's just the same but two people of the same gender. It's sad but I hope like all other things it will pass.  There is too much hate in this world and I feel it is truly effecting our country as a whole.