Comments about ‘Affirmative action still needed in Utah’

We got our current president through affirmative action, and look at what that is costing us.

The logic of this kind of argument is truly silly. Lets discriminate against others to show that discrimination is wrong. Affirmative action is a farce and always has been, it is a holdover from the sixties that never made sense on any level then and certainly doesn't make sense now. As long as one group is favored over another equality will never be achieved. You don't really want equality, you want favoritism based on race instead of qualifications.
People living today had nothing to do with past discrimination and yet you want to punish them and everyone else in the future for your perceived injustices. This makes no sense. Stop race whining and do something constructive to improve the fate of all Americans.Stop living in the sixties.

By saying equal opportunity is not enough and we need affirmative action, Jeanetta Williams is saying that those she represents do not have the required skills, education, talent, or merit to succeed. Her inference is blatantly false and insulting to all minorities and women.

to expand on my previous post, because some may not understand.

Women and monitorites are just as talented and skilled, and possess as much merit as white males.

This op-ed is such a rambling piece that the DNews should have done her a favor and edited it or offered a ghost writer.

Ms. Williams does not want equal opportunity, she wants equal outcomes. The foundational logic of affirmative action is that if success (however defined) does not fall on minorities in the exact proportion of their population (roughly 13%), discrimination is in play. She tut-tuts references to MLK then turns around and explicitly advocates for race as the sole criteria for measurement.

When blacks are no longer 'special' and have lost the ability to blame whitey, black leadership will finally need to deal honestly with the cultural issues causing black under-achievement. Affirmative Action only serves to perpetuate and entrench such under-achievement. This legislation is long overdue, and while perhaps bitter medicine to some, is necessary for black advancement in the long term.

LGBT citizens can still be discriminated against in employment and housing, but we need a Constitutional amendment to protect the straight white middle class male! They are the real victims!

If Utah is going to be the laughing stock of the nation, at least don't write the jokes for them; make them come up with their own material.

Rather than explain why affirmative action is necessary, Williams uses most of the article to attack Ward Connerly. She seems to be saying that you should support affirmative action simply because it is opposed by someone I don't like.

Affirmative action was developed and enforced for the first time by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It is used to combat discrimination and promote equal opportunity....


Affirmative action is DISCRIMINATORY against everyone who is white and male. I have a smaller chance for opportunities because of my skin tone and gender. My intelligence and hard work are the ONLY factors that should be considered.

Death to injustice and racism! Death to affirmative action!

You say rich whiteys aren't being denied their Ivy League educations because of affirmative action. How about the white lower or middle class kids who are being denied admission to their state schools and jobs because the colleges and employers have to hold open positions for less qualified people for fear of NAACP outcry. Why do we even have an NAACP? The title alone is discriminatory, exclusionary and racist. Dr. King had a dream that people would be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Affirmative action does just the opposite and is a slap in the face to true equality.

I cannot beleive what I just read. Instead of a reasoned argument for her cause, she uses the unusually large space given to her to do character assassinations of those she disagrees with. I think her association needs a better representative. I hope that those she attacked write a column in response.

By just reading the comments being posted here,
I'd have to agree - Yes, Racism is alive and well in Utah - to wit Affirmative Action laws are still needed here.

~Middle Aged Engineer White Guy

I believe affirmative action has served a useful purpose, but most of its potential has been achieved. Continued reliance on it will engender increasing resentment, particularly from white males, and not without reason. It's time to curtail affirmative action.

Affirmative action is "I'm more equal than you are." Ms. Williams is not advancing that cause with her rhetoric. It is interesting that even "Middle Aged Engineer White Guy" labels anyone who questions the wisdom of AA as a racist. Political hegemony, as in thought police, are ever present.

So diagreeing with Williams or anyone who wants preferentil treatment makes you a racist? You my friend are extrememly biased yourself and should take a good hard look in the mirror. If you think here whole article is that Racism is alive and well in Utah you were reading something she did not write.

Affirmative Action is proof positive George Orwell knew whereof he spoke when he penned "four legs good, two legs better"

I am all for affirmative outreach, which I define as making sure all interested parties are aware of job opportunities, school admission opportunities and requirements, govenment contract, etc, even if it means going out of the way to contract or advertise to certain groups. But the hiring, admitting, contract, etc decision should be based on "the content of their character rather than the color of their skin"

Whoa, whoa whoa....

As one who falls hardest victim to AA laws,
let me assure you, I lived the disparity.
I loose more jobs for being "Over Qualified" - Politically Correct code words for - you are a Middle aged White Guy with 25+ years experience.

The laws ARE racially and gender biased.
I'll agree.

But on the other hand,

I've experienced for myself - especially living here in Utah - the intolerance of those espousing living a HIGHER law.

I'm a typical white, middle aged, heterosexual, male, aerospace engineer AND a practicing Mormon.

You should see my reaction when, while in private company with others meeting similar criteria -- having looked around seeing the coast is clear and then having them rail to me about the:

mexicans, stupid women, democrats, blacks, and mostly the NON-Mormons...all the while ASSUMING I see the world exactly as they do.

I've lived in Seattle.
I've worked at MicroSoft and Boeing.
Middle aged white guys are the minorities.
Hindu, Chinese, Korean, Muslim, Japanese, Italian, Russian, Peruvian, Bangledash, you name it.

As much as logically I'm against them --
UTAH is 30 years behind the times and UTAH needs these laws!!!

Ms. Williams states, quote:

"Affirmative action helps many women, American Indians and other historically disenfranchised communities"

Therein lies the fundamental fallacy of her "aruguemnt".

The "help" is blatent discrimination.

The "historically" word properly describes present day-while there may have been historical disenfranchisment, it doesn't exist today, and perpetuating "Help" (discrimination) is not proper.

All historical subjugation that Ms. Williams is concerned about has been remedied.

It is now time to judge by the content of character, much as Ms. Williams eschews such a concept. Admittedly though, that would put her out of her job so I can see a real conflict of interest in her position.

Of course, race is self declared for political and legal purposes. If there is gain to be had by self declaring as a particular race, lets all do it! We could become the blackest state in the nation with the next census! Want a little "Help" with your next government contract or getting into school? Self declare as Black, American Indian, or anything else that shows up in your geneology! Everyone has at least a little minority blood in them.

So pass a law making discrimination legal. Lets get even.

By the way have you ever objected when

"having looked around seeing the coast is clear and then having them rail to me about the:

mexicans, stupid women, democrats, blacks, and mostly the NON-Mormons...all the while ASSUMING I see the world exactly as they do."

The proposed amendment sounds reasonable, constitutional, just, fair, and equitable. Why should any American be given preferential treatment over any other? That's discrimination, and all of us should oppose it. You too, NAACP! Put yourself in everybody else's shoes.

I can't decide who is the most clueless, Williams or Middle aged white guy, it's a toss up. You both need to think for more than 30 seconds about what you are saying, none of it makes any sense at all. If Williams is the best you can do NAACP then you are in real trouble, I heard her speak on MLK day, what a rambling bunch of nonsense, she thinks she is Barack Obama and needs to parent us all into her bizarre way of thinking. Wake up M'am, you are so far off track it is scary.