At a restaurant with friends on Friday night the conversation turned towards the much-maligned but barely- understood subject of affirmative action. The conversation remained civil for the most part, and I have to admit that some interesting critiques were raised. But, like any conversation about race where people of color are absent, some rather ignorant things were said. There were the obvious poorly considered arguments, ie. "Affirmative action means that unqualified people get hired/admitted," "Affirmative action just makes racism worse." I've heard all these before, but one new argument threw me into a stupor of disbelief: "Martin Luther King would not support affirmative action."
I'm getting really tired of conservatives co-opting Dr. King's legacy to serve a right-wing political agenda. The man was a socialist and a pacifist, fer cryin' out loud. Don't right-wingers realize this? If he hadn't been a martyr, they'd hate his guts. Anyways, if you need any proof that Dr. King would support affirmative action programs, go here, here and here.
I'm getting really tired of conservatives co-opting Dr. King's legacy to serve a right-wing political agenda. The man was a socialist and a pacifist, fer cryin' out loud. Don't right-wingers realize this? If he hadn't been a martyr, they'd hate his guts. Anyways, if you need any proof that Dr. King would support affirmative action programs, go here, here and here.