First off let me say that I dont discount racism, it is alive and well among whites, blacks, asians, and hispanics in this country. I see it everyday from all parties and we are all equally guilty.
However, with regards to affirmitave action there has been one big misunderstanding. In on of the debates Gore and Bush debated quota's/affirmative action. Gore made a statement to the effect that we owed something today for our past. Which is why he supported affirmative action. Well families like Gore's and some other big names in this country might owe something but mine sure doesn't. We were immigrants a long time after salvery and also subjected to discrimination in the last century. But it wasn't really job discrimination. It was nepotism. People hiring those they knew, family members, a family friend, or just a friend.
I'll give you an example:
I needed a job, there was a good one on a ******, but I had to be an *******. So I went and took the entry exam. There were over 30 people applying for that one position. After taking the test I realized that I couldn't possibly get the job, there was so much I didn't know on the test. Not only that but the conversation during the break before interviews was like listening to a foriegn language for me. But I knew something the others didn't, one of my uncles had put a good word in for me. As the interviews went on more and more people left the room and did not return, finally it was my turn, I was last. I went in and they congratulated me. GULP! I asked them if I would recieve training for the job and they said yes. So I thought cool, it IS who you know and as long as they train me I'll be fine.
I lasted almost 1 year, no training, everyday it was a nightmare of confusion, I am competent enough to know when I am incompetent for a job. As soon as I could I left that *******. Probably pissed off my uncle too
, didn't ask.
The point is this, nepotism is rampant in this country and it is a far worse problem than racism. Quota's don't fix either issue, I don't know what can. At the time I was uneasy about how I got the job, and after doing the job I realized what a grave mistake it was. It doesn't change the fact that my family/friends can get me in a lot of other places, that I would be just as incompetent in
And it really isn't a race issue.
I like bush but he was not a natrual born leader for the oil companies, it was nepotism that got him that job.
Wrench
