What is Affirmative Action and where is the Grey on a Black/White issue?

In the beginning God created man, or did he? In the beginning all humans were equal, or were they? The Native Americans taught Benjamin Franklin that women in tribal council voted on issues. Believe it or not this played a role in deliberation back in the day for women’s rights. Laws are created by governmental bodies to hopefully protect, to set straight the acting out, unethical, immoral, lawless two legged sorts, that walk this tiny blue dot. This is done in hopes of safety, equality, and preservation. The sad part about laws, in this authors opinion is that the “lawmakers” are lazy, biased, and although on the surface they feel they have the best interest of humans in mind, in reality they have their own bias, the lobbyists and of course most importantly their own monetary gain is at stake. Oh, this monetary gain may not be in the short term and we may not see this for awhile, but it is clearly there.

Affirmative Action was an executive order in 1961 signed by John F. Kennedy. Race, Religion or country of origin was added in 1965 by Lyndon B. Jonson and an addendum in 1968 to not discriminate towards gender was then added. Affirmative action is to protect the minorities, but also to protect against discrimination of gender no matter what color someone is. Equal opportunity, stressed by the government. Equal opportunity, I did say that, did I not? That means it is supposed to work both ways. This, sad to say is not the case. When laws are implemented they are often generalized, and when enforced are often enforced globally. As recently as the last sentence, I just saw on MSNBC the Cherokee Nation is kicking out the African Americans from their tribe. During the “Trail of Tears” many who lived and many who died were the so called “freed man.” The Cherokee tribe voted in 2007 to eliminate them from their tribe. What percentage of  African American blood makes one a “freed man” to be kicked out? That answer is still pending. This is a minority kicking out a minority. Everyone equal? In the eyes of the beholder I suppose.

An example of a law that is in desperate need of an addendum would be the sweeping Federal law, stating it is illegal to own a migratory bird feather or predatory bird feather. “One feather,” is illegal and can, by law, lead to a five hundred dollar fine and actually jail time. One feather. Imagine walking through the woods with your ten-year-old and coming across a red-tailed-hawk feather. The Conservation officer observes your child playing with this random find and he just happens to have a bad day. You are fined. This actually occurred a few years ago in Champaign, Illinois to a Native American who handed Hillary Clinton an eagle feather. of course it was later washed clean of any wrong doing. The law was at one point a good and important law which now in 2011 needs to be revised. Remember, we change, all things change in life, laws must be revised if we are to continue on a healthy path.

So what is one to do when a company is so fearful of repercussions of affirmative action acting out and places an African American in front of a Caucasian, when the Caucasian has more experience and more seniority for the position? Ah yes, the reverse racism issue. It happens and is just as unfair as prejudicial issues and racist issues that occur daily. Women still in 2011 get less pay then men with the exact same position. Yes, there has been improvement but more advances must be made if we are going to see equality.

Humans over react, law makers over react, and we become disgruntled. As humans we must see through our own wants, as well as the imperfect implementation of a once good cause. Affirmative action has over the years indirectly and directly helped all races including white and has benefited women who for years were looked down upon in the work force. To plod through the injustice, to make sense of life, we must try our best to live in the moment. We cannot harbor resentment against the white man’s fear and hatred toward the Native American, and his stupidity towards African Americans with his desire for slavery. To carry that hatred with us serves no purpose. As a victim of life trauma I am here to tell you, one can walk the walk and hold grudges, however it will be your emotional cancer, eating your soul up every day. When experiencing the unexpected life trauma whether it be abuse, a death in a family, a job loss, a racist attack, or an attack against gender stand up for yourself by believing in who in the hell you really are. Sad to say we usually do not make too much progress on the legal battlefield and it costs an arm and a leg. Emotionally, YOU have choice. You, always have choice to decide how you want to handle any given situation. Can you be comfortable in all aspects, ethical, moral, and legal ? If you can, then stand up for your emotional feelings, if not be aware of the consequences.

Grey in life is notoriously a healthy stance. It is still being passionate for what you believe in, however, it is not standing on the apex of ignorance with corrective lenses the size of Texas to try and see the fine print of common sense. Grey IS seeing the forest for the trees. Grey IS respecting other individuals and their viewpoint and not shoving your opinion down their throat. Grey, is opening up your arms, accepting all, even the extremes and recognizing that some day a grey cloud may open up, casting rays of sunshine onto an autumn backdrop. Nature shows all it’s colors, no affirmative action needed in the woods behind my home !