So, lets talk about racism for a minute

[JoesshittyOs]

Affirmative Action isn't a new thing, it's been around since at-least 1960's. Given the way that Aboriginal people were treated in the past, I see no problems with giving them a little leg up to help escape poverty if they want to. In a perfect world there would be no need to discriminate in that way but we don't live in a perfect world.

This guy gets it.

Basically, the Aborignees are much like the Indians are to us Americans. We came in, and we fucked them over (for the most part), when we had no right. Because of the actions in the past, we got rich off of it while they ended up being forced into poverty.

Is not even really racist. It's singling out a culture, not a race. This deal does not apply to all black people, it applies to Aboriginals.

So yes, I think you need to find a way to get passed this.

 

[RafaelNegrus]

Alright, on the issue of intelligence, we can't say conclusively that one race is smarter than the other. First off, all of our measures of intelligence are incredibly flawed (essentially they don't transfer between cultures well), so our measures are rather weak. Secondly, intelligence is something that is not just genetic, it also is related to the upbringing and environment that the person is brought up in (namely, more interaction and intellectual challenges the smarter the person will be).

Also, the notion that certain societies are less advanced is a little biased. If you want a good book on this subject, find "Guns, Germs, and Steel" it's written by an Anthropologist and historian who specifically asks why Europeans conquered the rest of the world, and much of what he found is that Europeans had the best geography for bringing about powerful societies. Honestly, why would Australia of all places, which can support a tiny population compared to Eurasia, be able to create as much technology as the Europeans? This isn't a matter of intelligence, it's an issue of number of people the society can spare to just sit and think of ideas.

OT: I think that Affirmative Action is not a perfect solution to the issue of racism, but it is better than doing nothing. Sad as it is, people in the economy aren't completely logical and it's important to help qualified people that might get passed over a chance to succeed. It's a shame that not everyone who deserves to do well gets that opportunity, but we can't make a perfect system.

 

[Arakasi]

Teach a man to fish...

 

[J-meMalone]

In situations where there may be racism and discrimination, as I've heard from some happens/happened to the Aborigines, I can understand the argument of using affirmative action.

But in general? I disagree with it.

Often it's, as many have said, essentially racist, to one or both parties. It's often said that a black (this applies to many ethnicities too obviously) person is more likely to be considered than a white person with the same qualifications. This seems unfair towards the white person, they're being rejected and understandably feel discriminated against for being the majority.

On the other hand, it's often argued the black person is more likely to be living in/lived in poverty and so deserve the chance more. However there are many who have grown up in middle class or better environments, so is it fair to say they deserve more? Essentially it labels the entire minority as poor, which is ALSO a racist view.

In my opinion, what's needed isn't to give minorities various advantages. It's to give everyone the same advantages and the disadvantages that come with them. Yes if you are white you are statistically more likely to be well off, and if you're black you are statistically less likely, but this means NOTHING to individuals. We all know a member of a minority can be rich, and a member of a majority can be poor.

Essentially, rather than saying "this group gets this" we focus on the economic background of the person, as well as other factors that may affect success in life. This can even encourage people to see others not by race, as it becomes inconsequential.

 

[IrateDonnie]

Someone is shocked that Aboriginies are getting favoured by the government? If you tick the box saying you're an Abo, all your school fees and excursions, etc. They complain they get so poorly treated when all they do is instill white guilt on us and get fucking benefits left right and center.

It's like that in the US too. My son wanted to play soccer on a local team for anyone under the age of 12, but the coach never called him because he wasn't "latino" enough. He said he forgot but considering he lives across the street I know that was BS.His son told my son the reason about six months later, he said his father didn't want to have to speak english so he only called the latino kids.I probably should have sued his ass but it wasn't worth the time or effort.

 

[Austin Merida]

I believe that there is merit in the ideas behind affirmative action - certain races were undoubtedly forcefully held back from success, and that should be addressed - However, as an anarchist, I don't condone government influence in anything. The government probably caused the problem in the first place. Would you want the person who raped your child to be the one to psychologically counsel them?

A better solution is to destroy the capitalist system. When money is god, OF COURSE people will abuse the system. The problem with affirmative action isn't that certain races aren't as prone to success as others (there is no genetic basis for such claims; there is more genetic diversity between individuals within a race than between races - that is, more people of different races are more genetically similar to you than members of your own race. Any difference in ability is more likely cultural or environmental (poorer people tend to live in dirtier and more dangerous places)), it's that it's just putting a band-aid on the gaping, infected wound that is the real problem.

 

[The Great Purtabo]

I always wondered back when I was doing tests (back to the days of year 1) why it had to ask me specifically if I were aboriginal

seriously..EVERY test I did in school it would ask if I were aboriginal, any other country do this?

whatever they are doing its not helping

They ask you if you are aboriginal in Canada as well, although the Natives in Canada aren't nearly as fucked over as the natives in Australia

 

[triggrhappy94]

I'm pro pushing for equality, but this is taking it a step too far. There's a difference between equality and favoritism. Favoritism either way can cause just as many problems as the previous racist establishment. Equality and the the awareness of the harms of prejudice is the only real fix.
It's a little annoying to see this.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Not sure if it's in the same vein, not knowing the precise way Australians treat their indigenous, but it reminds me of one of the laws in Oklahoma, where Native American schoolchildren are, by law, given shoes every year. I'm not talking the $10 slip on shoes, but fifty-to-sixty dollar brand new Nike grafted hot off the press shoes. In an area when every other demographic would hurt paying for shoes for their children, kids with even a trace of NA blood get brand new, no questions asked, lucky SOB shoes. Because of a law from like the 1860s that no one has bothered to change, update, or amend.

 

[The Great Purtabo]

Race in reality, as well as culture sure, may be nice; but it causes and has caused so much conflict throughout history, it would sure be nice if everybody just mixed into one race, then we wouldn't have a lot of these problems. Of course you would still have poverty issues, but they would be much easier to fix without these divides between us, without one side constantly calling out RACISTS! RACISTS! BRING OUT YOUR RACISTS!