What is affirmative action? The purpose of affirmative action is to bring about increased opportunities for disadvantaged

groups. The supposed goal is to move beyond equal opportunity and towards equal results, but is that the case? Is affirmative action

really fair? Since setting different standards for different races prohibits equality, affirmative action is wrong and does not represent

true equality.

Affirmative action tried to help women and minorities, but in the process, reverse discrimination has taken place. Its policies

judge people solely on skin color and gender.

An example is the Supreme Court case of Regents of the University of California verses Bakke (1978). A program was introduced at

University of California at Davis for physicians in California. The medical school set aside 16 of a total of 100 places in the entering

class for disadvantaged groups. One white applicant who did not make the freshman class was Allan Bakke. After receiving his

rejection letter from Davis for two straight years, Bakke learned that the acceptances of the admitted students were based on test

scores, and Bakke s scores were respectively higher. He decided to sue UC-Davis, claiming that it had denied him equal protection of

the laws by discriminating against him because of race. Even though affirmative action was created as a helping action, reverse

discrimination is still discrimination. Thus, discrimination is wrong.

Instead of affirmative action, opportunities should be awarded and deserved. Referring back to the UC-Davis v.s. Bakke case,

the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bakke, as should. The Court ordered Bakke admitted, holding that the UC-Davis Special

Admissions Program did discriminate against him because of his race. Yet, the Court refused to order UC-Davis never to use race as

a criterion for admission. A university could, said the Court, adopt an admissions program where race or ethnic background is

simply one element, to be weighed fairly against other elements in the selection process. It could not, set aside a quota of spots for

a particular group. Still, that is unfair. Affirmative action gives opportunities to disadvantaged groups based on skin color, and may

leave truly qualified people that aren t in that group stranded with no award. Is that equality? I think not! Equality is equal opportunity

for anyone based on true capability.

Why should some people get special preferences over others when it isn t rightfully deserved? Everyone has the opportunity to advance in this country, you just have to take the initiative. As a diligent minority affected by affirmative action, it is incredibly belittling to be given an opportunity based on pity, rather than one that is truly earned.