Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Fundamentalist Nightmare
From: Tim Bieling <QAA@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1992 18:41:25 EST
 <OAHVENLA.92Oct31200605@lk-hp-7.hut.fi><4NOV92.13275411@jevex.waisman.wisc.edu> <adams.720912880@spssig>
Organization: Penn State University

In article <adams.720912880@spssig>, adams@spss.com (Steve Adams) says:
>[...]
>kingston@jevex.waisman.wisc.edu writes:
>
>>"Gee, I'm a homosexual, so that we get this straight, you better hire me or
>>I'm going to call DESCRIMINATION"!!!  What rights to us NORMAL white people
                                                          ^^^^^^
>>have anymore??????

The above all caps word says a lot to me.  I find that emphasized use
of the word as an insult, and it speaks volumes about the poster.

>>
>>Now, do I have any rights to go back to the empoyer and yell descrimiation
>for
>>hiring a black or homosexual with less experience than I?  You bet your sweet
>>ass, NOT!!  The government and the PEOPLE have all gone to hell as far as I'm
>>concerned!!

Yes, you do have a right to yell discrimination.  My impression of the
AA laws (which i strongly disagree with anyway) are that minorities
should be given preferential treatment ONLY if they have equal
qualifications to white applicants.  (I'm sure that in reality most
employers just cover their quota asses tho)

>
>I object to quotas totally.  I object to preferential hiring.  The highest
>quality, most experienced person should get the job, irrespective of their
>race, creed, sexual orientation, etc.  The government must defend minorities
>from discrimination in the areas of work, housing, etc, until the last
>vestiges of discrimination are eliminated.

Steve - I totally agree with your position about quota laws, etc.  But
non-discrimination "clauses" are not AA or quota laws.  Non-disc. laws
are an attempt to give people some legal recourse if they feel they've
been unjustly denied a job/housing, etc.  An example of such a non-disc
statement is Penn State's:

"The Pennsylvania State University is comitted to the policy that all persons
shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment
without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance,
or qualification as determined by University policy or by state or federal
authorities.  The Pennsylvania State University does not discriminate against
any person because of age, ancestry, color, disability or handicap, national
origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Direct all affirmative action inqueries to [...]"

Now, the University is required to deal with AA policies because of federal
law.

>BTW, it could be worse.  You could be a straight, white, Christian male.
>Like me.

Using the above non-disc policy - you're well covered.  As a matter of
fact, all four "personal aspects" you list are directly covered in the
above policy.  Until recently "sexual orientation" was not included
in the above policy.

A final thought - (not directed just to you, Steve) the push to add
"sexual orientation" to non-disc policies covers gay, bi, and straight
people.  I don't see any "special status" in such a policy.

Comments welcome.

-Tim
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,talk.origins,alt.atheism