AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROPOSAL IN MICHIGAN

Saturday, September 23, 2006

To:     The Canton Observer
Re:     “Faith communities must support affirmative action”, Sept. 21.


I must admit that I was a bit confused after reading “Faith communities must support affirmative action” by Rev. Dr. Daniel H. Krichbaum. I think we all agree that past discriminatory practices in this country against women and minorities did occur. These practices have been stopped and outlawed and proper redress has been applied through years of affirmative action measures.

Dr. Krichbaum cites the promise of our Founders to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and urges us to “stand for fairness and equal opportunity for all women and people of color”.

He presupposes, I gather, that women and minorities do not still have equal access to jobs, contracts and educational opportunities and it is here that I beg to differ. I feel we have made great progress in eliminating the negative role gender and skin color play in our society, at least on a legality level and that fact has to be recognized.

I believe the availability of financial resources is actually the more pertinent factor when it comes to educational opportunities and that the playing field can and should be leveled through various scholarship and financial aid programs. These programs should be made available to all students with limited financial assets regardless of skin color or gender even though they may end up applying to a particular ethnic or gender group. I used scholarship money and the GI Bill to fund my own education.

As far as jobs and contracts provided by our governmental agencies, I believe decisions should be made based on a person’s ability to do a particular job and a company’s ability to handle the requirements of a specific government contract professionally, efficiently and at the lowest cost to the taxpayer – period.

I have read many arguments pro and con the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative proposal that will be on our ballot come November. The one argument that seems to stick out, for me at least is that discrimination of any kind and type should be opposed and in the reality of today’s social environment, the ballot proposal banning all discrimination in government employment, government contracts and educational programs, should be adopted.


Janusz M Szyszko