Affirmative Action And Discrimination: Case Study

Is discrimination the solution to resolving past discrimination? In what society can you erase inequality by promoting it?
How is any policy to be considered affirmative when it creates harm to others by discriminating?
Is it the responsible of Universities, especially public ones to change their admissions policy to cater to private organizations? What kind of precedent does this set?

Affirmative action originated with the intent to end discrimination, but in reality it justifies racism by its actions. The policy of affirmative action judges people on the color of their skin, creating discrimination in itself. Affirmative action tried to help minorities, but reverse discrimination has taken place instead. A candidate should be chosen
based on abilities, knowledge, and talent, instead of the color of their skin. Affirmative action gives special preferences and treatments to minorities, while condescending their true abilities.
Affirmative action programs were originally designed to end discrimination against minority groups. These programs are doing more harm though by creating a backlash. Instead of ending discrimination all together, the programs have done the opposite and created a reverse discrimination. White people who have worked harder and are more qualified are often becoming passed over just because they are white. There is no fairness involved in choosing minority groups over whites. White people should not be punished for the actions of their ancestors. This will only lead to resentment by whites and more discrimination will occur.
Affirmative action lowers standards of accountability needed to push students to perform better.
If a minority student is able to get into an Ivy League college with a 3.2 grade point average, they would not find a need to push themselves to get a 4.0. Although some students are self motivated to do so, most people need the incentive to do their best. By setting lower standards, the level of accountability is also being lowered. Hard work, discipline, and achievement should be rewarded. There should not be a reward to be a student of a minority race, while there is punishment for another student just because they are not a
minority.
Students who are admitted to a college on the basis of lowered standards are often ill-equipped to handle the school in which they were admitted to.
Affirmative action programs set a quota for colleges to specify what percentage of minorities must be admitted to. These quotas are supposed to be to increase the college’s social and racial diversity, but can often do much more harm. More than likely, students admitted on this basis will be in over their heads. Ivy League schools have high GPA and SAT requirements because it is extremely difficult to graduate from them. When these schools are forced to lower their standards to achieve minority quotas, some students cannot keep up. This does not say that the students are not capable, but they are just not ready to go there yet. The lower graduation rates of minorities is a statement is that they are often attending colleges that do not match their abilities. Many times in admissions, white students are often passed over who are much more qualified than minority students.
Affirmative action programs are very condescending to minorities by saying that they need it to succeed. When preferential treatment is given to minorities, it is the say as saying “You are incapable of achieving this on your own, so let me help you.” It is insulting to minorities when affirmative action implies that they cannot achieve their own goals through hard work and abilities. Affirmative action also suggests that minorities are not capable
of competing on an equal basis.
There is not a need for such a program in the United States that has not promoted fairness for each citizen in the nation. Affirmative action programs that were created to end discrimination for minorities and yet have created reverse discrimination. This reverse discrimination is generating racial resentment. The effects of affirmative action are making white people become the minority, while minorities are becoming the majority. Affirmative action has also eroded incentives and lowered standards. In the United States, everybody has the equal opportunity to advance themselves; they just have to take the initiative to do so.

References
Affirmative Action. Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. 2010. http://ic.galegroup.com.library.esc.edu/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&source=&sortBy=&displayGroups=&search_within_results=&action=e&catId=GALE%7C00000000LVUX&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CPC3010999135&userGroupName=esc&jsid=cc759684d43aa599360d3815e677284d

Affirmative Action Programs Do Not Promote Equal Opportunity. Social Justice. 2010. http://ic.galegroup.com.library.esc.edu/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName= Viewpoints&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&source=&sortBy=&displayGroups=&zid=&search_within _results=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010397242

The enduring relevance of affirmative action. The American Prospect. 2010. http://ic.galegroup.com.library.esc.edu/ic/ovic/AcademicJournalsDetailsPage/AcademicJournalsDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Journals&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&source=&sortBy=&displayGroups=&search_within_results=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CA234930122&userGroupName=esc&jsid=9cf948750c63341a42d20e366522567e