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An Editorial In Favor Of Civil Rights!

Editorials like this one in the Colorado Springs Gazette in favor of non-discriminatory civil rights are rare, and hence to be savored.

Discussing the claims of some signers of the Colorado Civil Rights Coalition that they were deceived, the editorial states, in part:

It?s difficult to understand how they could feel deceived. Signing a petition is like casting a vote, or signing a contract: don?t do it if you?re not prepared. And everyone has been told not to sign documents without reading them first. That?s difficult when it comes to a lengthy contract involving a minor purchase. But the petition for a civil rights initiative couldn't be simpler. Here?s what it says:

?The State shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.?

It?s abundantly clear the initiative would forbid state ?discrimination? and ?preferential treatment? based on superficial criterion. By ending ?preferential treatment,? it would end the most common form: ?affirmative action.?

When the state gives special treatment to people because of their skin, the state engages in racial discrimination. One person has been deemed a winner, by virtue of race, and another person has lost by virtue of race. We can call it "affirmative action" all we want, but it's racism pure and simple. Anything that makes race a central consideration is racist. Anything that makes sex a central consideration is sexist. This is not a difficult concept.

It is, however, too difficult for people of a certain political persuasion.

Full post as published by Discriminations on April 06, 2008 (boomark / email).