(Noel, 1997, p. 3). Lamar Alexander, We made a big mistake when we fell into the trap of supporting reverse discrimination rather than discouraging discrimination. It doesnt work; and if we want to be one country , we should enforce the civil rights laws. But we should never let the government make distinctions based on race.(Landrigan, 1997). Are these not legitimate concerns? In schools and in the job market, non-minorities are essentially being punished for something they had no part of. For example, in Boston a white female student was denied admittance at Boston Latin High School even though she tested higher than eleven minority students who did get in. Is this right? Three judges from the 1st U.S Circuit Court of Appeals didnt think so. They agreed that denying admission to one student in favor of other students, who tested lower, on the basis of skin color was unconstitutional. The judges remarked that, while we appreciate the difficulty of the school committees task, and admire the values that it seeks to nourish, noble ends cannot justify the deployment of constitutionally impermissible means (Bayles, 1998, p. 19A). This is just one of the many court suits regarding reverse discrimination.With reverse discrimination aside, the question is whether the minorities, subject to the affirmative action laws, are ready to benefit from them. General Powell states, The choice before us is either getting back to the task of building all children or just keep building more jails, and there is no point in creating [affirmative action] opportunities if we bring up children who cant use the English language. If this generation of youth doesnt take advantage of those opportunities, whats the point? (Shepard, 1998). General Powells concern is that minorities, getting into elite co...
