America's Cancer

The other day, while filling out an online job application, I came across a check box that I'd never seen before. This box appeared at the very end of the application after all the obligatory identification and, more importantly, skills, work history, and educational information had been given. The line next to the box said something on the order of,

"If you feel you qualify as a diversity status candidate, check this box".

With my culturally dissenting opinion concerning the state of racism in America in mind, I clicked the box filling it in. I know what the human resource specialists meant when they included the word, "diversity", but I felt justified in my decision. Those HR folks will probably be a little miffed if or when they discover I'm a white, Anglo-Saxon, protestant male.

The same application also set aside a special place for me to declare my ethnicity. While the box took great pains to spell out that the applicant's information would in no way be factored into a hiring decision I knew it to be a rouse.

Due to the fear of political correct noncompliance, corporations must now prove the makeup of their workforce shows no favor one race over another. Yet this fear has blossomed into lunacy with the advent of the quota. It is the consequence of this fear that white, Anglo-Saxon, protestant males such as myself are an unwanted...make that less sought-after...hire.

For the purpose of self-preservation, I chose: "declined to identify". It is hard enough in this economy to find a good job that will translate into a great career, I don't need to be disqualified from consideration simply because I'm in the racial and/or gender majority.

Unfortunately, that is how the race card is played in America today. Federally funded colleges and universities, for example, aren't allowed to accept new students on the basis of academics alone but must make certain waivers for students of a particular race or ethnic group.

The University of Michigan gave 20 points out of a possible 150 to applicants if they were African-American. The U.S. Supreme Court struck this down, but still upheld that race should play a factor in the admissions process. ~ Whitney Blake, theFire.org

While I understand what the U of M and the Supreme Court are trying to accomplish, making concessions for something that is not within the bounds of human control does nothing but feed the cancer that has gripped America for decades: entitlement.

How is the race of an applicant going to make him/her a better or worse employee? How is race going to make one a better or worse student?

We as a nation need to make a collective statement that we no longer put up with racism. That our efforts to bring about equality in America are resolute. Our determination unwavering. We will not judge someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their character as one celebrated civil rights leader once said. Let us throw off the spirit of hatred. Make it known that bigotry has no place among the hearts and minds of the children of liberty.

Yet how do we do this? We can start by learning three things.

1. There is no such thing as reverse racism. Racism is racism no matter in what direction it is hurled.
2. If born here or a naturalized citizen, you are an American first. I'm an American of European descent, not a European-American.
3. When we lift one race over another, we affirm their perceived affliction. This practice negates all of the hard work done to bring about true equality.
   

In 12 days, I'll be attending a career fair in Columbus. When I walk up to a corporate display and begin talking to the human resources specialist, I hope he/she will see me as a highly skilled, multi-talented, and university-educated prospective employee; not as someone who can't help them fill their "diversity quota".

Kwestions by Kenny Part II

Kenny Simpson, over at his blog, FootBaskTrack Coach has asked for opinions on whether or not the words of Rev. Wright have hurt Barack Obama's campaign. I responded on his site with only minor changes from what you'll read below. Join in on the discussion if you like.

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Yes, Wright hurt him. I also think that Obama hurt himself.

While Obama did try and distance himself from Wright's comments somewhat, he did concede that "the anger is still there"...meaning the black community is still angry. In my view, this comment has done just as much damage do his campaign as the comments from Rev. Wright and I'll tell you why.

There is one key demographic that outshines all others in voter turnout and that is the white male. This article carefully and dutifully points out that this demographic is not racist but

"annoyed and disappointed when people of certain backgrounds exhibit behavior
that typifies the worst stereotypes of their race".

Let me point out that I do not think Obama typifies the worst stereotype of a black American. However, what you will find is the "Angry White Man" will be immediately turned off when he hears a rich, educated, accomplished black man say that "the anger is still there".

The "Angry White Man" will sit steaming red-faced as these words roll off the tongue of an affluent, Chicago-area lawyer who threw his maternal Grandmother under the bus last week when he said that in essence "white women are bred to be scared of young black men". Here is the full quote:

"... .. The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any
racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person who, uh, if she
sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know there's a reaction that's been
been bred into our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in
the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to
break through it..."

- Senator Barack Obama

I wished that race would not have been an issue in this campaign season (because it's not an issue) but the Democrats have let it be such.

I openly welcome the rebuttal of anyone who disagrees with me. I hope that, by listening to each other's point of view, we as Americans will learn to respect one another... which will bring us closer to true unity.

I will leave you with one final thought.

I hope you, dear reader, will check out http://www.tucc.org/ and look at the "About Us" section. Please read their 10-point vision for the black value system, read about their unconditional commitment to a black worship service, and read the words that say "black religious experience".

Then ask yourself...

Would this website be viewed in the same light if it was for a "white" church?