Debate about equality is heated
Speakers line up for, against government preferential policies
Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield, introduced a resolution in the Utah Legislature earlier this year that, if passed, would have prohibited public schools and employers from discriminating or giving preferential treatment based on race or gender. Though
the measure was defeated, the state's Black Advisory Council organized Monday's forum to discuss a potential reintroduction during the 2011 legislative session. Oda, who argued in support of his resolution on Monday, said he is "gathering
additional information" and has not yet decided whether he will make a move.
Ward Connerly, founder and president of the American Civil Rights Institute, backed Oda. Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, and Mary Deiss Brown, an attorney specializing in immigration and family law, spoke for the opposition.
"Many of us are wishing for a completely color blind society, one in which we respect each other, we respect ourselves and no one seeks favoritism from one another," Oda said. "We will never completely end prejudice — that is human nature. But ladies and gentlemen, we cannot continue to use discrimination to fight discrimination."
Connerly, who is from California, said affirmative action was created as a policy of nondiscrimination and was never intended to give preferential treatment.
As a black man, he said, he was raised to believe in self empowerment.
"My people fought long and hard for the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Connerly said. "What that act does is guarantees to every American the right to equal treatment under the law. That's what this proposal is all about."
Connerly and Oda argued that affirmative action, while it had its place, was created in a different era. The time has now come, they said, for the government to start developing educational and hiring programs that will not sort people according to race and gender.
Litvack and Brown argued, however, that racism is still alive and well in Salt Lake City.
"I grew up in Salt Lake and I've gotta say, the first time I saw a black person I was in junior high," Brown said. "I don't know of any instance when a white man can say he's been disadvantaged."
By taking away the state's power to differentiate between people according to race and gender, she said, you effectively prevent the government from helping those populations that are most in need.
The resolution would kill educational programs that target minority students, Litvack said. How then would Utah close the achievement gap?
"This isn't about someone who is qualified versus someone who is not qualified," he said. "Equal opportunity programs and policies are about outreach and retention. This is about helping people who are historically disadvantaged get equal footing."
The crowd leaned heavily against the resolution, frequently interrupting the debate to shout out their opposition. When the moderator opened up the floor for questions, audience members scrambled for the microphone, pushing the meeting more than 45 minutes overtime. One commentor, a 17-year-old Native American girl fought back tears as she reprimanded Oda for "refusing to admit" that minorities are still underrepresented in higher education.
"From history you can see that African Americans, Native Americans we were beaten down," she said. "How am I supposed to compete with someone who three to four generations of experience going to college. I'm the first."
Oda and Connerly said the resolution was never intended to do away with programs to help disadvantaged students — those living in poverty or coming from families with a lack of educational experience. That help should not be dispensed, however, based on race.
After the debate, the audience swarmed the stage, peppering Oda with questions.
"It was quite hostile," he said. "I'm happy to discuss this but I do wish we could keep things civil."
Maclovia Perez
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