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Affirmative action is racist

To the editor,

Sheila Bapat's commentary "A plan that fails on its merits" should have read "Yet another racist/sexist load of garbage!" I believe that everyone is created equal - regardless of race, sex, or any traits with which you are born. Ms. Bapat obviously does not share this point of view. From her commentary it appears that she believes that females and people of non-white races should be rewarded for things they have no control over. I agree that there are racism and sexism problems that need to be solved, but this is not the way to do it. This only adds fuel to the flame.

This causes females and non-white people to ask themselves, "Did I get accepted into this college and did I get these scholarships because I'm not good enough to earn them on my own?" This is especially harmful to those females and non-whites who have earned admission by their own "merit" (as Bapat calls it). This also causes whites and males to ask themselves "Why do I have to work extra hard to get something, when these other people get it for free? What makes them so special?"

It is wrong for white males to generalize and be bitter against females and non-whites because of this. We should instead direct our disgust at the hypocrisy of those who create these racist/sexist ideas.

I apologize to the females and non-whites who have been discriminated against. This discrimination should not happen and we should work together to stop it. However, discriminating against white males is equally wrong. I refuse to apologize for being a white male. I cannot change what I am. If you are going to judge or evaluate me, base it on who I am, not what I am.

Michael E. Eskue

MIS/OM senior