Sara Warzecka Columnist

The College Republicans' bake sale last week stirred up a lot of debate over affirmative action.

Unfortunately, people who become too deeply involved in this debate are misdirecting their efforts. In the end, both sides of the debate have the same point.

One might say it's unfair to give others an unequal opportunity.

Another could counter that affirmative action fights inequality and makes up for social injustices of the past and the present. The solution? Stop wasting time and effort in arguing about the equality of the situation and make everything equal from the start.

At first, the idea of affirmative action appears offensive. Those who don't benefit call it "reverse racism," and those who do could feel insulted that someone is saying they couldn't land jobs or go to college on their own merit.

Affirmative action can give the impression that people other than white men are somehow inferior, have handicaps and need help getting into college or acquiring jobs. However, it is difficult to stay angry for long when receiving free money or a little help. Beyond the financial issues, even a predominantly white male Congress understands inequalities still exist.

Although all people may be born equal, that doesn't necessarily mean they lead equal lives or encounter equal circumstances. Where people live generally could be thought of as the starting point for the rest of their lives. It determines with whom the people grow up, what type of social activities they encounter and (most importantly) which schools they attend.

Issues of racism, sexism and general inequality exist at any school, whether coming from teachers, students, faculty, the school board or government funding. Teachers, curriculum, funding and the surrounding areas help establish what type of school can exist.

Affirmative action can give the impression that people other than white men are somehow inferior or have a handicap ...

Students hailing from poor schools are not offered as many honors, advanced placement or college dual enrollment classes as students at richer schools might be.

When applying to college or for jobs, students are judged in part on the school they came from and the quality or classes they have taken. If the quality of schools is unequal, the students graduating from those schools are unequal as well.

It's often difficult to escape the circumstances and area where you were raised. In many big cities, there are economically poor neighborhoods where residents are predominantly of a single ethnicity.

The poverty and, possibly, the crime of these communities help contribute to financial and educational disparities among ethnicities. Children of impoverished families are more likely to maintain the same financial situation upon entering adulthood.

With no outside help, there is nothing to keep generations from continuing on the same path as their parents.

Children often inherit racist or sexist attitudes from their parents. Not all people adopt such ideals, but parents certainly have a great effect on their children's morals.

Such a child affected by his parents' outlook may sit on a hiring board at a large firm and refuse to hire women or become a racist congressman.

In today's culture, where everyone is told what to do and think by big businesses, the TV advertisements and men in business suits, it's understandably harder to think for oneself instead of simply accepting the ideas passed down by the previous generation.

Americans establish a hierarchical society. Types of employment, housing and schools are all viewed in comparison to one another.

There is always something or someone better. In terms of the American system, the UA falls far below universities such as Harvard and Princeton. Employers consider applicants from Ivy League schools as far better prepared or more worthy than graduates of cheaper, state schools. In the end, America will never be the land of equality, no matter what our founding fathers dreamed.

But affirmative action does not bring the country closer to the sought-after equality. The government would rather admit it has continually screwed over minorities and women than actually fix the problem. It gives minorities and women more aid and easier access to certain opportunities instead of fixing the social problems it has created or ignored that cause inequalities.

Social and racial problems must be treated at the source. Schools need more funding to ensure all children have the opportunity to receive the same quality education. Ghettos, barrios and poorer areas must be raised to the same economic statuses that senators insist on for the area they live in. If poorer conditions do not exist, no one will ever have to attempt to escape them. And, most importantly, we need to start enacting these changes instead of arguing over them.

Sara Warzecka acknowledges we will never be on a truly level playing field. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.