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Oct. 28, 2005 A lawyer saw one of my pieces and wrote a very, very, very long message to me, which could be summarized by saying that there have been cases decided in favor of affirmative action and that racism does exist. He seemed to think that I have claimed that racism doesn’t exist. In other words, he basically can’t read precisely, as his prejudices get in the way. My reply to him was as follows: 1) Recognizing that racism still exists, which I do, having been combating it for many years (http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/oct/article107.html, http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/oct/article144.html) does not equate to a position that affirmative action is now or ever was necessary or desirable. My position would be that affirmative action is discrimination--discrimination based on race--and that such is illegal under the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Not only is it illegal, but it is counterproductive if the goal is to end discrimination and end racism and end prejudice and produce racial harmony and equality. Causing the white folk to see that they are discriminated against, to cause white and black folk to doubt that blacks get ahead by talent and hard work and education, only serves to perpetuate hostility between the races. (See my real-world example below which is an amplification of my previous military experience in one of the pieces cited above.) Whether a lawyer wins or loses a case based on more-or-less irrelevant but convincing arguments to a jury is not important to me. What works in real life is what is important. 2) The tautology is that one ends discrimination by ending it, not by switching the target of discrimination. Affirmative action is basically reversing the direction of the original discrimination, and as such as no more worthy of praise nor more fair than the original discrimination was—which is, it is an abomination to discriminate based on race. 3) School integration was a reasonable-sounding, well-meaning approach to a worthy goal. That it failed is unfortunate. It was, however, predictable, given human nature. It is quite clear now, interestingly, that much of the current segregation going on is directly, deliberately produced by the black folks. Black students in college demand black studies courses, black dormitories, black fraternities, etc. The "Black Caucus" in congress is another example. Stop separating yourself from society if you don't wish to be separated from society! 4) Referring back to my success at "integration" of my military outfits, it was based on strict merit promotions and appointments. If someone was the best at the job, they got promoted or appointed. I had the first female platoon sergeant in the 112th Medical Brigade--perhaps in the entire 4th Army area of the reserve component. I had platoons with black officers and white sergeants--and white officers with black sergeants--all based on merit. When I was offered the command of the outfit, I was told it was an impossible task--the black power dudes were giving the raised fist salutes, the white Kentucky-born sergeants were incorrigible redneck racists, various groups were fighting among each other, the motor pool wouldn’t eat in the mess hall with the other troops, the mess section had been condemned by the health department, the unit was staffed with worthless lieutenants who had no skills, etc., etc. Perhaps I was foolish, but I accepted the job. My last day as commander, after two years in the saddle, I was sitting in the mess hall with a black lieutenant platoon leader and one of the Kentucky "racist" sergeants walked by, stopped to chat with his lieutenant about some platoon business, and walked on. The black platoon leader watched him walk away, smiled, and said, "That man and me are brothers, Colonel!" The black power advocate had been promoted to staff sergeant. The "completely worthless" second lieutenant had been appointed the commo officer for the brigade headquarters. Another had been selected to be the general's aide. The motor pool had been selected as the best in the brigade. The mess section, whose food had previously rated inedible and which had been condemned by the state health department, had won the prize as the best at AT. The training officer was a young female lieutenant. We were running training scenarios in 1988 based on Middle East muslim threats, 13 years before 9/11. All this happened specifically because I totally and deliberately IGNORED and ESCHEWED affirmative action. If I had been seen as promoting people because of race, the situation in the unit would have deteriorated rather than improved after I took command. Instead, I appointed and promoted based on MERIT, and the troops understood and respected it, and they respected those officers and NCOs appointed over them no matter what race. 5) Regarding obeisance to legal decisions: "The law is an ass.” Being extremely annoying is a required course in law school, as is straining at gnats and swallowing camels. I don’t have to take ridiculous legal decisions seriously. 6) Trying to make people conform to stupid laws is bad public policy. ------------ About the author Brooks A. Mick: 63-yr-old physician, still practicing medicine but retired from the US Army. Write just for the fun of it, but working on novel in the vein of Tom Clancy's politico-military genre. Email: brooks15@cox.net ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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