The Standard

Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Opinion

Lauren O'Reilly's letter printed in the April 8 issue of The Standard states that affirmative action "fails to reach its goal of equality because its harmful side effects do more harm than good." This is not the case. Affirmative action in Missouri higher education is essential to the promotion of equality for minorities in Missouri. In her letter, Lauren O'Reilly said that affirmative action "violates the Declaration of Independence's affirmation that 'all men are created equal.'" This statement is presented without consideration of the fact that the U.S. Constitution recognizes the inequality of people. "Determined by adding to the whole number of free persons and three-fifths of all other Persons" is stated in Article I Section 2 of the Constitution, which is considered the supreme law of the U.S. The phrase "all other Persons" of course means slaves. The founding fathers recognized that minorities were unequal. Therefore, it is the responsibility of today's leaders to undo the wrongs of the past. This has been accomplished through the use of government mandated programs like affirmative action aimed to shield minorities from discrimination. The Missouri Civil Rights Initiative would ban these programs and consequently sending hard working minority citizens of Missouri back into an era where the quality of a person's character meant nothing in the eyes of an employer, and their race, gender or religion meant everything. The social injustices of the past that we have worked so hard to rectify will return in order to remind us of why we have tried so hard to forget them. Step forward not backward, do not support the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative.



Kyle Buchanan

freshman, business education

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools