Petition to Support Affirmative Action in Basketball

[Fandango 1,440]

That's your affirmative action right there. Special treatment based on color. Great idea!

You're appalled by it in this form yet completely support it in another.

I too, found the outrage to the bake sale as being particularly interesting....Obviously, that was the purpose of the bake sale to begin with.

[Zero Sum 305]

People think the government should guarantee their happiness. It can't. It can only guarantee their right to pursue happiness.

Yes, because we simply cannot apply a principle equally across all boards. We have to pick and choose where those principles apply and ignore them everywhere else.

Racist. Blatantly racist in today's society. How dare you accuse black people of being capable and/or equal to whites.

That's your affirmative action right there. Special treatment based on color. Great idea!

You're appalled by it in this form yet completely support it in another.

The only thing worse than a racist is a hypocrite.

I guess you missed again what I stated about equal access. Equal access is not a giveaway, as much as you might be angry about non-whites getting equal access to, say, an education that you think you were cheated out of.

[Zero Sum 305]

For arguments sake lets say 500 a year. Now go on

500 out of a pool of how many?

VS

Equal access to all to achieve based on what they are capable of achieving. Of course, some people will have a fit about allowing equal access to attain the capabilities while ignoring the reality that has produced that discrepancy in the first place. This is an argument that has been repeated here over and over and the same characters will continue to miss the entire point that reality does not happen in a vacuum devoid of cause or effect.

[Danno 1,228]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmSzgvaJCn0&feature=player_embeddedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmSzgvaJCn0&feature=player_embedded

Interesting responses from the students.

eta: some of the youtube comments are pretty disgusting.

Why is it that one of the few places diversity has no place or value is... the basketball court... or a certain congressional caucus (which is funded by tax dollars)?

------------------------------------

Membership Of the Congressional Black caucus

Current Chair, Emanuel Cleaver

The caucus is officially non-partisan, but in practice it has been closely identified with the Democratic Party, and tends to function as a lobbying group within the wider Democratic Party. Only six black Republicans have been elected to Congress since the caucus was founded: Senator Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts, Representative Gary Franks of Connecticut, Delegate Melvin H. Evans of the Virgin Islands, Representative J. C. Watts of Oklahoma, Representative Allen West of Florida, and Representative Tim Scott of South Carolina. Brooke was not in the CBC. Watts elected not to join the group because of its closely Democratic affiliation and goals,[4] saying "...they said that I had sold out and [called me an] Uncle Tom. But I have my thoughts. And I think they're race-hustling poverty pimps."[5] After the 2010 midterms, Allen West joined the caucus while Tim Scott declined.[6] West indicated that he planned to shake up the CBC's “monolithic” ideology and indicated the caucus promoted a culture of victimization among its black constituents.[7]

The caucus has grown steadily as more black members have been elected. In 1969 the caucus had nine members. As of 2008, it had 43 members, including two who are non-voting members of the House, representing the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

White membership

Over the years, the question has arisen, "Does the caucus allow only black members?" Pete Stark, D-CA., who is white, tried and failed to join in 1975. In January 2007, Josephine Hearn reported in Politico that white members of Congress were not welcome to join the CBC.[8] Freshman Representative Steve Cohen, D-TN., who is white, pledged to apply for membership during his election campaign to represent his constituency, which is 60% African American. Hearn further reported that although the bylaws of the caucus do not make race a prerequisite for membership, former and current members of the caucus agreed that the group should remain "exclusively black." Rep. William Lacy Clay, Jr., D-MO., the son of Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr., D-MO., a co-founder of the caucus, is quoted as saying, "Mr. Cohen asked for admission, and he got his answer. He's white and the caucus is black. It's time to move on. We have racial policies to pursue and we are pursuing them, as Mr. Cohen has learned. It's an unwritten rule. It's understood." In response to the decision, Rep. Cohen stated, "It's their caucus and they do things their way. You don't force your way in." Clay issued an official statement from his office:

Quite simply, Rep. Cohen will have to accept what the rest of the country will have to accept – there has been an unofficial Congressional White Caucus for over 200 years, and now it's our turn to say who can join 'the club.' He does not, and cannot, meet the membership criteria, unless he can change his skin color. Primarily, we are concerned with the needs and concerns of the black population, and we will not allow white America to infringe on those objectives.

On January 25, 2007, Representative Tom Tancredo, R-CO., spoke out against the continued existence of the CBC as well as the Democratic Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Republican Congressional Hispanic Conference saying, "It is utterly hypocritical for Congress to extol the virtues of a color-blind society while officially sanctioning caucuses that are based solely on race. If we are serious about achieving the goal of a colorblind society, Congress should lead by example and end these divisive, race-based caucuses."[9]

[Fandango 1,440]

I guess you missed again what I stated about equal access. Equal access is not a giveaway, as much as you might be angry about non-whites getting equal access to, say, an education that you think you were cheated out of.

Let's boil it down this way:

Everyone has access.

We build handicapped ramps for people who are physically incapable of using the stairs.

AA's premise is that they need a ramp. They don't.

[Zero Sum 305]

Cue the straightforward agenda.

Let's boil it down this way:

Everyone has access.

We build handicapped ramps for people who are physically incapable of using the stairs.

AA's premise is that they need a ramp. They don't.

Ramps are for the disabled.

AA's point was to guarantee that they could make it to the stairs, but the path got blocked by picketeers whining about the beneficiaries just need to push and work hard, really, really hard, to make it to the stairs.

The silly logic can get sillier with these metaphors.

[slim 1,530]

I guess you missed again what I stated about equal access. Equal access is not a giveaway, as much as you might be angry about non-whites getting equal access to, say, an education that you think you were cheated out of.

Why doesn't the United Negro College Fund give me money to go to school?

I was raised in an area of poor people by poor parents yet when I applied with them I was turned down. Why?

Equal access to all to achieve based on what they are capable of achieving.

So what you're saying is if they're not capable of achieving on their own we should help them?

Or are you insinuating that they're being denied the opportunity to achieve because everyone else (who happens to be a different color) continually outperforms them?

By your very argument there should be a token Asian guy on every basketball team in America. It's not fair that they're being denied the opportunity to excel becauase others are better than them. That's racist.

[Fandango 1,440]

I had a black neighbor who was very accomplished, exceptionally bright, and very successful. He has said to me that over the years, he has had to face the scrutiny of people assuming he got where he was because of AA. Which he didn't. He said it sucked that he was automatically viewed as being where he is because of some 'special treatment' and not based on the his own merits.

Of course, it's anecdotal, but I found his opinion to be very interesting.

[Fandango 1,440]

Cue the straightforward agenda.

Ramps are for the disabled.

AA's point was to guarantee that they could make it to the stairs, but the path got blocked by picketeers whining about the beneficiaries just need to push and work hard, really, really hard, to make it to the stairs.

The silly logic can get sillier with these metaphors.

No it's boiled down to its most basic comparison to show how I see it in its most simplest form.

At one time, it may have been relevant. That time is long gone.

[Zero Sum 305]

Why doesn't the United Negro College Fund give me money to go to school?

I was raised in an area of poor people by poor parents yet when I applied with them I was turned down. Why?

So what you're saying is if they're not capable of achieving on their own we should help them?

Or are you insinuating that they're being denied the opportunity to achieve because everyone else (who happens to be a different color) continually outperforms them?

By your very argument there should be a token Asian guy on every basketball team in America. It's not fair that they're being denied the opportunity to excel becauase others are better than them. That's racist.

Let me know when you are the product of a historically disadvantaged community. Granted, you could have better directed your financial aid applications to more apt sources, that do exist. Maybe there is something to be said about that and you.

My argument is not that, because as usual, you are completely missing the point about differentiating (look it up) AA in access to a livelihood's foundations versus the ill-natured and warped purpose of doing so with an optional facet of life.

[Zero Sum 305]

No it's boiled down to its most basic comparison to show how I see it in its most simplest form.

At one time, it may have been relevant. That time is long gone.

I will agree that its prime time passed, and its end will be sooner than I previously thought. Your example was still only an exercise in a parallel that in my opinion doesn't reflect the reality of the purpose of those programs to begin with. I do not accuse you of having a racist agenda (nor anyone else directly here) in opposition to these programs, but some people out there do have that agenda- and they show this agenda clearly with their vitriol as well as their consistent placement of rhetoric while ignoring historical fact.

[_Simpson_ 250]

500 out of a pool of how many?

VS

Equal access to all to achieve based on what they are capable of achieving. Of course, some people will have a fit about allowing equal access to attain the capabilities while ignoring the reality that has produced that discrepancy in the first place.

Out of 300,000,000+...does it matter.

Most people who oppose AA totally understand why AA was started to begin with but regardless two wrongs dont make a right(sorry to go all old school on you ). Besides do you call this a good solution??? I guess I should come to expect this sort of problem solving from lefties considering their answer to back alley abortions.

This is an argument that has been repeated here over and over and the same characters will continue to miss the entire point that reality does not happen in a vacuum devoid of cause or effect.

How many times have you come across this argument...2,3 times...unless...hal ???

Edited July 12, 2011 by _Simpson_

[Danno 1,228]

I had a black neighbor who was very accomplished, exceptionally bright, and very successful. He has said to me that over the years, he has had to face the scrutiny of people assuming he got where he was because of AA. Which he didn't. He said it sucked that he was automatically viewed as being where he is because of some 'special treatment' and not based on the his own merits.

Of course, it's anecdotal, but I found his opinion to be very interesting.

YOur neighbor is one more victim in the whole AA movement, here this guy is fully qualified and he has to spend his professional life listening over his shoulder.

Instead of being secure in his professional image he has this baggage to carry for life.

Very unfair.

[slim 1,530]

Let me know when you are the product of a historically disadvantaged community.

Right now. Google "urban appalachian" and see what you come up with. Rednecks in the 'hood aren't exactly born with silver spoons in their mouths. Worse still, everyone thinks they're "already ahead of the game" because of their skin color.

That's not racist at all, is it?

Granted, you could have better directed your financial aid applications to more apt sources, that do exist.

Like one that didn't discriminate against me based on my skin color?

I thought that wasn't supposed to happen because of affirmative action. Are you saying only one group gets protection? How is that fair?

Maybe there is something to be said about that and you.

It sure does. It says that I applied equally regardless of the color of peoples' skin and didn't claim that I should get special privileges simply based on my skin color.

Perhaps we should make a government program that protects everyone?

My argument is not that, because as usual, you are completely missing the point about differentiating (look it up) AA in access to a livelihood's foundations versus the ill-natured and warped purpose of doing so with an optional facet of life.

Oh.... I get it now. We should only apply it to things that are mandatory. That way people of any color can go to the school but only people of one color can play the optional sports offered there.

[Zero Sum 305]

Out of 300,000,000+...does it matter.

Most people who oppose AA totally understand why AA was started to begin with but regardless two wrongs dont make a right(sorry to go all old school on you ). Besides do you call this a good solution??? I guess I should come to expect this sort of problem solving from lefties considering their answer to back alley abortions.

How many times have you come across this argument...2,3 times...unless...hal ???

Granting equal access is a wrong? I though you weren't a racist... if you oppose something that counters racism...

Read what I have responded to Anita Cocktail about what I think of AA. Please, do read.

Be careful with the logic you try to use there. No mention of politics either. It must be one of those spontaneous knee-jerks again? No wonder you're upset you didn't make it big in hoops.