Affirmative Action is Right and Necessary

James, I understand your POV. However my stance is that Affirmative Action is NOT *NECESSARY* because of all of the people who have overcome similar obstacles. I'm going to quote one of the most profound pieces of dialog in one of my favorite movies (The Departed). Perhaps it's not the most 'professional' statement or very good in a form of debate, but I think it gets right to the point: "I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me. Years ago we had the church. That was only a way of saying we had each other. The Knights of Columbus were real head-breakers; true guineas. They took over their piece of the city. Twenty years after an Irishman couldn't get a fucking job, we had the presidency. May he rest in peace. That's what the niggers don't realize. If I got one thing against the black chappies, it's this: no one gives it to you. You have to take it." -- Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) Is that statement politically incorrect? Sure. But it does ring some truth. As I have mentioned, several minorities in this country had been oppressed for years and could not find decent jobs, lived poor and unlavished lifestyles, etc. Yet instead of bitching about life's unfairness, they went out and made something of themselves. They changed their fate. They WORKED HARD and SAVED MONEY and insisted that their children do the same. They resorted to working tough, blue collar jobs for pennies and lived modestly, instead of using government hand-outs to cloak their kids in Tommy Hilfiger or FUBU jeans. They didn't cry for help or blame others for their circumstance; instead they seized the day and took it upon themselves to make a change. Before MLK died, this is what he preached. Hard work. Dedication. Perserverance. PEACE. Non-violence. He fought for equality and justice not through gang membership or committing crimes, but by overcoming the struggle of African Americans, and proving that black people were worth equal treatment to white people in this country. No group has been more oppressed than the Jews. Now they own more than half of Hollywood, and are perhaps among the wealthiest people in America. Keep in mind that this is after they have withstood mass persecution, were enslaved in concentration camps, have had their families separated, homes raided, and lives destroyed. And this is all without any implementation of Affirmative Action in the Unisted States. Instead, the Jews put an emphasis on education, and continued to seek employment in academic fields such as law and medicine. Fighting through stereotypes and other stigmas, the Jews have overcome the barriers imposed upon them, and are no longer considered to be a minority that we need to help (economically speaking). The same goes for the Irish and Italians, of course on a much lesser scale. So you see, I am not a racist. Nor am I an extreme right-winger opposed to giving aid to the poor black communities who are struggling. Instead, I consider myself a fair person. I feel as though conditions for black people - or any minority - or any people - are subject to change from generation to generation, so long as people are willing to step up and make sacrifices on behalf of their chilren, grandchildren, etc. Fighting for your rights as American citizens is what MLK preached. He had a dream that blacks and whites would have equal opportunities -- not that blacks have preference over whites because of the color of their skin.