Why do hispanics qualify for affirmative action?

[kaffiria]

I was just thinking about it and I realized that hispanic people should not qualify for programs for minorities.

Firstly, most minority groups do not qualify for any kind of AA. Most east asians, south asians, arabs and jews do not qualify- especially not for educational AA. And I can see why native americans get AA- the US went and built its country over theirs and killed them or forced them into poverty stricken reservations. And I can see why blacks get it- their ancestors didn't want to come here as they are mostly descended from slaves and then they suffered 100 years of very harsh discrimination after the civil war.

But hispanics? What's their reasoning? Just because they perform worse in school they get rewarded? They are descended from people that came here on purpose. Although they may have faced discrimination in the past, it wasnt more than the asians building the railroads. They may have come to the US poor, but so did Irish that were fleeing the potato famine, the jews and eastern europeans fleeing WWII and most other immigrants to the US. But today if you look at scores of people going to college, the Asians and Jews are the highest and the hispanics are amongst the lowest.

People say it is better for the hispanic community for them to be helped by affirmative action policies, but it's not fair to everyone else who is not an under represented minority. There is no justice in giving them a break just because their ethnic community is socioeconomically disadvantaged.

[cali]

1. Ugh. Your language is

pretty damn offensive. Perhaps this isn't the right community for you.

[kaffiria]

6. No it isn't.

My language is not offensive unless you are offended by the use of the term "jew" for Jewish person and how I forget to capitalize race names.

[WindRavenX]

9. calling someone a "jew" has usually negative connotations

FWI.

[BushOut06]

10. Especially when it's "jew" and not "Jew"

n/t

[cali]

11. Oh yes it is. One of the clearest signs of racism

is broad generalizations about a group. Just out of curiosity, with beliefs like the ones you expressed, what makes you think you'd be happy at DU?

[valerief]

2. You're funny. I remember when Hispanics were either black or white.

Now they're neither, it seems.

You're not serious here, are you? Do you understand politics?

[Solly Mack]

3. I have a headache

Anyone got aspirin?

[BushOut06]

4. What kind of racist bullshit is that?

<snip>
"But hispanics? What's their reasoning? Just because they perform worse in school they get rewarded?"
<snip>

This whole post reeks of racist bullshit. Consider yourself alerted.

[WindRavenX]

7. that line stuck out at me too

Ughhh.

[cali]

8. Thanks. I just came back to do that because

I realized that in my initial shock over this racist post, I forgot.

[WindRavenX]

5. good lord

Look, I'm trying not to be snarky here, but I have a lot of problems with your reasoning. First, you think that they're "rewarded" because they do worse in school. Well, yeah. Because hispanics in this country are still at an economic disadvantage and are still seen as an "other" in American culture. There is a lot of prejudice against the community, mostly because of the recent immigration battles, and it makes sense to offer AA to this community.

I think you're confusing "non-minority status" with "more power", and no offense, any non-white community here in America is still at a unique disadvantage, especially economic disadvantages, which has its greatest impact on equal access to higher education.

[kaffiria]

12. .

I am south indian, therefore darker skinned than most hispanics, yet I have never and will never qualify for disadvantaged minority status. And why? Because the other people that happen to be of the same race that I am do well in school. I remember in HS when out of everyone that applied to Harvard, the one with the lowest SAT and GPA was the one who got in. She is a rich cuban girl and has skin like alabaster.
What is the logic here?

[WindRavenX]

13. From a statistical standpoint, you're probably not at an economic disadvantage

Latinos in America are the group least likely to go to college, due to numerous socio-economic factors.

[kaffiria]

32. well

After all these irate replies, I have seen none that even approaches an explanation for this.

From a statistical standpoint, other people in my race do well so what then? This changes the amount of times in my life I have been asked if my father owns a quickie mart? This changes the fact that a white person is still more likely to date a hispanic than they are to date me? This changes my 12 letter foreign last name?

Why should our educational system reward a group only because their scores are lower? Hispanic people are often the same color as caucasians and cannot always even be distinguished. Can you say that about Japanese people?

[WindRavenX]

37. for the last time, it's not "rewarding" a group because they are doing poorly

Do you realize people do poorly in school for a number of reasons other than intelligence? Most of them are economic. From a statistical standpoint, hispanics in America face a number of socio-economic barriers that pervents them from achieving high test scores such as the SAT and other standardized tests. Realizing this, you allow AA to correct for that inequality.

[Lost-in-FL]

34. What a load of shit...

[mykpart]

14. Come to some of the border states like Texas,

California, New Mexico. Hispanics are discriminated against today in these areas, sometimes more than Blacks. And people with a Hispanic surname are often discriminated against purely on the basis of their name!

[Zywiec]

15. What about white African Americans?

Should caucasians who have lived their whole lives in Africa and move to the USA be denied benefits even though they are African American?

[WindRavenX]

17. Whites are the ruling class in America

So...your analogy doesn't hold up.

White African Americans is just a silly term. They're causasians from Africa, but that doesn't make them black.


Wow, this thread is a laugh riot.

[Zywiec]

22. White African American is just a silly term?

Why?

I remember a CNN newscaster calling black French protesters African Americans because everyone is so conditioned to call anyone with black skin African Americans. What about blacks from other places? It doesn't matter, just call them African Americans and feel good about yourself.

[WindRavenX]

25. that's...my point.

They're not white "African Americans". They're white.

Jesus christ.

[Zywiec]

28. Is it impossible to be from Africa and be white?

[WindRavenX]

31. I'm going to use very simple language for you.

Your race is not defined by your geo-political place of birth. You can be racially defined as black and be, say, from France. That does not make you a black "African" because, duh, not all black people are from Africa.
A white person from Africa is racially considered to be "caucasian".

Why is this so hard for you to grasp?

[BushOut06]

36. Those poor, mistreated white South Africans

I see what he's getting at. Those poor South African white minority folks, who had to endure years of racist treatment at the hand of the minority blacks.

Wait, you mean it was the other way around? You mean, once again white people were mistreating black people? :sarcasm:

[WindRavenX]

44. LOL

:thumbsup:

[cali]

19. Oh puke, another one.

It's an infestation.

[valerief]

20. Yes, and those Native American Black Asians. What about them?

[uppityperson]

24. You forgot your sarcasm smiley :sarcasm:

:sarcasm:

[Forkboy]

16. Why do idiots insist on starting threads?

[WindRavenX]

18. LOL look upthread for "white african americans"

:rofl:

[Forkboy]

40. I tried thinking of a joke for that but,really,what can be said after that?

:D

[BringEmOn]

21. Where's the tombstone?

[baldguy]

23. I'll use small words, so's you can understand.

All Americans should have equal access to educational and economic opportunities. They do not. Affirmative Action seeks to remedy that.

The idea is that EVERY individual has worth and can contribute to the economic and cultural advancement of the country.

[WindRavenX]

26. thank you

:thumbsup:

Hopefully the mods will 'stone the racist posters in this thread.

[valerief]

30. I think only the OP is offensive. Everyone else is either serious or

playing off her ridiculousness.

[WindRavenX]

33. ohhhh, I think there's another one in this thread

Something about white African Americans...

[uppityperson]

38. Been watching over the last bit of time too.

watching and wondering.

[valerief]

39. That was not serious! It was too ridiculous to be serious. Only the OP

is "tombstonable."

EDITED: On second thought, maybe you're right.

[uppityperson]

27. but it's just not fairrrrrrrrr!!!!111

:sarcasm: and edited to add thank you.

[kaffiria]

42. terrible

This reply could not have been more devoid or reason. AA does not give people- people as in individuals- equal access to education . It gives some people more access because other people that have the same racial heritage do poorly as a group.

Firstly, my OP is NOT racist. You call me racist for stating that hispanics do comparitively poorly in school racist? That isn't racist. That is an accepted statistic that is the basis of AA for them in the first place.

[Lost-in-FL]

29. Why not?

[senseandsensibility]

35. Will this be locked soon?

Okay, I will assume honest motives on the part of the OP. I understand, coming from a working class background, that it is not always easy to see other people or groups getting advantages while you do not. If we're honest, I think we have all felt that way at times. However, I have taught mostly Hispanic economically disadvantaged children for many years. I will say that they are wonderful children with great potential and I have happily devoted my career to them. They are doubly disadvantaged, both economically and linguistically. Although I see them overcome challenges daily, it takes them years to become fluent enough in English to compete with the children who are native English speakers. Many of them DO, however, and I think your comment about them not doing well in school is a stereotype. Statistically, it may be true, but there are many, many exceptions. And you should see their standardized scores in Math! When it's not language related, these kids can compete with anybody. But they do need extra support.

[BushOut06]

43. Honest motives my ass - it seems like the OP is jealous

At least, it sure comes across that way. It looks like the OP is complaining that although he is a "south Indian with darker skin", all these Hispanics are getting preferential treatment. Because we all know how dumb Hispanics are and that they can't do well in school :sarcasm:

[noamnety]

41. Ugh

please use a bucket if you are going to spew.

Children Under 18 Living in Poverty, 2004

All children under 18
17.8%

White only, non-Hispanic
10.5%

Black
33.2%

Hispanic
28.9%

Asian
9.8%

http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/

Why do you suppose their community is economically disadvantaged?

[Fenris]

45. Locking.

This is flamebait and race-baiting.