So my facts were off. Thanks for setting me straight.
Erek
These are not reparations, asshole. Nor are they set-asides.
And why is this program evil, pray tell? I can think of a lot of things that are evil, but giving money to students committed to uplifting impoverished communities doesn’t register as one of them.
“Minority” set-asides certainly aren’t "evil. They are, however, unfair to those who didn’t have the built in advantage of being automaticly able to claim certain government benefits because they were born a certain race.
Why can’t “minorities” compete just like everyone else?
[The] contention that today’s rich person is simply the winner of a “race that is open for anyone to enter” takes no account of inheritance or how we are equipped as we enter that race. It doesn’t acknowledge that some approach the starting line in streamlined Lycra suits and track shoes, with full knowledge of the rules, a determined attitude and belief in their own abilities, not to mention a close friendship with those setting the rules and choosing the winner. Others, hungry from not having had a meal that day, barely make it to the starting line, don’t really understand the purpose of the race or its rules, lack self-confidence and are full of hostility, and are convinced that those officials at the side of the track are actually cops waiting to bust them.
- Linda McQuaig, All You Can Eat
Pretty paternalistic. I believe that if there are grants to go around, that everyone should compete for them. For government to hand them out to certain favored groups is certainly discrimination, if not racism.
The NIH has many many grants that everyone can go after. Some grants are geared towards people in particular research areas. Other grants are geared towards people of certain backgrounds, with abilities and experiences that extend beyond their scientific expertise. Where you get this idea that this one particular program in the OP is the be-all, end-all of all research funding is beyond me.
Barking Spider, I assume you must be hard of hearing, 'cos sound most definitely doesn’t travel through a vacuum.
If you are are so concerned about racism, then I’m sure you are aware of the discrimination blacks, Jews, women, and Latinos faced in this nation until the 1960s. Blacks were routinely excluded from the best schools, Jews were only admitted in small numbers and ecluded entirely from many schools, and women had to struggle to be admitted to professional programs. It was a white man’s paradise. Now that there are attempts to redress historical injustice, you decide it’s wrong to factor race as a criterion for financial aid.
Dude, you’re a racist. It’s evident from your entire posting history. You don’t give a shit about fairness or discrimination in theory, you just hate seeing folks who aren’t white and male get a piece of the pie.
You desperately need to read up on the history of racism in this country because your posts reek of the densest, rankest kind of retrograde ignorance.
What the fuck, even if you did have the right info, it probably wouldn’t help because you’re stupid. Not just unintelligent or intellectually deprived–no, you’re the willful, ain’t-gonna-listen, dumb-right-down-to-the-bone kind of ignoramus that makes Dan Quayle look like Bertrand freakin’ Russell.
Now fuck right off, would you? Thanks, ever so.
Gobear, I see you included Latinos in those who were “oppressed” by the “evil” White man."
Being that “Latinos were only about 2 percentage of this countries population until the mid sixties, and the Civil Rights act was passed in '64, I would venture to say that the vast majority of “latinos” have never suffered under any legal discrimination. Since that is so, why are included under any sort of “preference” program”
Also, I notice you said “blacks, jews, women, and latinos”. Mmmmm… everyone but White men. Are you trying to suggest White men cause all or most of the racial or sexual discrimination in this country? I have noticed in my experiences that Blacks tend to be much more racist than Whites. Latinos tend to be more racist than Whites toward Blacks.
I also notice that you lump women together with racial minorities. Are you trying to suggest that White women have more in common with some Black than with their White fathers, husbands, or children?
BTW, dipshit, my kids are half “latino”. If they were to apply for a NIH grant saying they were “latino”, they would have a definate advantage over any White person who did the same application, but claimed to be White.
I can’t believe a level playing field represents “discrimination” and racism to you people.
Thats why I’m very tempted to tell my very White looking, half Latino children to use their mothers maiden name on all government forms. If the government wants to discriminate against Whites, in favor of someone with a Spanish surname, then my kids may as well take advantage of it.
Ah, yes, all those poor white guys getting pulled over by black cops. All those white men being denied jobs by black managers and CEOs. All those white guys living in ghettos owned by rich black slumlords. Such a pity.
I never used the words “:opressed” or “evil white man.” I’m no self-hating liberal. I’m just another white guy who isn’t so blinded by racism to see that this country affords more advantage to white guys than to any other sector of the population. Look at who owns the money and power in the US. Look at the composition of the Congress, the presidents, the supreme court.
Were white men lynched by black mobs? Were white guys kidnapped in Europe and enslaved by black masters?
How many women were admitted to the professions before the 1960s? How easy was it for women to hold jobs, to earn the same money for the same job? Hell, women didn’t even get the vote until 1920.
You are a fucking idiot.
Those Blacks are being pulled over because they committed traffic violations. There was a study came out a couple months ago in N.J which said that Blacks commit traffic violations at a higher rate than Whites. No profiling.
Racial discrimination in hiring is also illegal, as you should know. Not that it doesnt still happen. I myself wasn’t hired because of my race, but I can’t prove it, even though the manager was Black, as were most of his employees.
Also, I don’t know who owns most slums. Probably the FedGov, if I were to guess.
Think about who built this country, and you’ll find you’r answer.
Most lynchings were of White men by White men. Those lynchings of Black men in the South were primarily by registered Democrat White men.
Also, refering to your claim that Whites kidnapped Blacks in Africa for slavery purposes, this is almost unheard of.
Many African slaves were captured by their fellow Africans, and sold into slavery by their fellow Africans to Arab slave traders.
Many, if not most African slaves, were already working as slaves to their African slave masters, when they were sold to the Arab slave traders.
I suggest you read a history book, preferably printed before the 1960s, if you want to read the truth of the African slave trade.
Lots of women were admitted to the professions. If a qualified woman wasn’t admitted, then I would say it was the University’s loss.
Also, lots of States allowed women to vote prior to 1920. You people run around acting like women couldnt even vote before the amendment. The fact is, many, if not most States allowed women to vote.
My point is, Monsto pisses and moans because a White colleague of hers suggests that she may be a Gypsy and entitled to a preference.
My reaction is: Why is there such a thing as a preference? Shouldn’t grants be based on merit?
Odd, I’ve read many history books, in fact I have a university degree in the subject, yet I have never before been confronted by your, er, “facts.” Curse my deficient education.
You mean to tell me that your University education taught you that Whites “kidnapped” Blacks from Africa?
If so, you’d better go ask for your money back.
The ultimate question is why are there certain groups that are grossly underrepresented in the scientific arena?
Why are educational opportunities so limited?
What accounts for the disparaties in certain health-related issues?
Why are some people encouraged to go into scientific areas and others are not encouraged to do so?
When science doesn’t reflect the society it serves, what biases enter into it?
What can we do to ensure these biases don’t occur?
How can we get more minorities interested in science? And why do we think this is a good/bad thing?
Why isn’t the playing field even? What can we do to speed up that day when we can say it’s even?
Until we get answers to these questions, I think we’ll be able to answer yours.
BTW, I have worked for the grant money I receive. I had to write a proposal to receive my funding, including my grades, standardized test scores, recommendation letters, and a listing of my publications. This wasn’t a hand-out at all; I received funding based on merit as well as my minority status. So you don’t have to worry about us incompetent black folks messing up all the fancy-schmancy scientific equipment.
Ever heard of the Triangle Trade, fuckface?
To all your questions: Please read the book The Bell Curve. Theres a reason why certain racial groups score higher than others. And it’s not “racism”.
So you admit that you got a taxpayer grant based on your racial status. And you wonder wonder why some people might put you down. In fact, you call one of your co-students a Bitch because she might want to claim a preference as you have.
You aren’t a scientist, are you? Telling someone to go read “The Bell Curve” for scientific information is like telling someone to go read the funnypages for updates on current events.
And you citing The Bell Curve just proves that you’re a racist and that despite your high post count, the SDMB has failed to wipe out your ignorance.
And why have they put you down, Barking Spider?
No, I’m calling her a bitch because she wants to be a minority only so she can get money. She’s lying so she can get money. She’s unfairly playing on the history of a group’s oppression SO SHE CAN GET YOUR MONEY.
She sniffs her nose at the black residents that live around our school and yet she wants to claim she’s “just like them” when it might benefit her. If you can’t figure out why this would infuriate someone, then you have no common sense.
Of course, they all volunteered to come here. "ooh pick me, I want to become someone else’s property. :rolleyes:
As a college student, albeit an “affirmative action” college student, can you point out where the Bell Curve is in error?
There has never been an intelligence test which said Blacks were equal in intelligence to Whites. Can you point to where the Bell Curve is in error?
How does me citing the Bell Curve prove I’m a racist? I honestly don’'t believe any race is inherently superior to another. All the Bell Curve does is suggest that intelligence is hereditery.