Conservatives donât need affirmative action

Editor,

I recently read an article about an issue relating to affirmative action. (The Metropolitan, March 6) Perry Swanson deserves commendation for thinking for himself. l believe that the professors in the Metro Political Science department reflect the progressive student body. What is ironic to me is Mike Rosen (a conservative radio host) wanting an affirmative action program for conservative teachers.

How can affirmative action be opposed by most conservatives and then be demanded as a means to implement conservative teachers? Using right-wing rhetoric, cannot these ãminorityä teachers pull themselves up by the boot straps and overcome unfair treatment? The answer is no. There needs to be conscious individuals who trust themselves to see injustice and label it as such. Then we need to wait and listen and watch to see what is happening. Finally, we must do all that we can to ameliorate injustice. Students are not smart until their knowledge is shared with others. l would support a balance between liberals and conservatives in the Political Science department because students need to see the extremes of both sides, not be prodded into supporting one or the other.

I confess that I am an Anglo-American male feminist, and I am also an education student who realizes the need for diversity. l also believe affirmative action will ensure the opportunity for women and people of color (individuals who have not been acknowledged as intellectuals or even humans for too long) to be heard and be able to have control. Republican Conservative or Democratic Liberal does not matter, right? All that is important is the need for an assortment of different individuals. The real issue here, as Oneida Meranto points out, is ã(the) fear (of) women and people of color, not liberals or ideology.ä The overwhelming male perspective is what needs adjustments.

And how can conservatives want diverse conversations when only a white male viewpoint is presented? This very reason is why affirmative action is essential to the progress of American society. Meranto is right-on for exposing the nakedness of chauvinist attitudes, such as Rosenâs. (By the way Mr. Rosen, be careful who you judge as unsophisticated because my idealism will change the world while your conservative boat sinks in despair and monotony.) The opposition to affirmative action is scraping and clawing to slow down the advance of equality. This fear is a power issue because white males will no longer have omniscient say-so over America. Right wingers will not allow themselves to stop talking long enough to listen to what others have to say.
I ask this to the student population, ãCan you respect a teacher who does not recognize that you are a woman or that your mother is the reason you are alive, or that you may have a different opinion because of your ethnicity? Can you learn from a teacher who degrades your desire for equal opportunity?ä Erick Erickson, are there only He teachers? This lexical bias is trite and insignificant, as some would say, but this sexism seeps into the consciousness of students and teachers. Your selfish attitude excludes important ideas.

There needs to be a more critical attitude of our education, as  Swanson demonstrated with initiative, so that we all can be contributors to the future. Look around at who lives in the ghettos and barrios of America. Then look to see who has the most money in American corporations. There is a definite need for women and people of color to receive a fairer share of the pie. Trust yourself to support all human beings. Donât be greedy.

Robby Prior
Metro student