In Recent Years Preferential Hiring Has Become An Issue Essays

In recent years preferential hiring has become an issue of great interest. Preferential hiring, which was devised to create harmony between the different races and sexes, has divided the lines even more. Supporters on both sides seem fixed in their positions and often refuse to listen to the other group's platform. In this essay, the recipients of preferential hiring will be either black or female, and the position in question will be a professorship on the university level. The hirings in question are cases that involve several candidates, all roughly equal in their qualifications (including experience, education, people skills, etc.), with the only difference being race and/or sex. What we have here is a case of predetermined preference. The two candidates in question are equal in all ways, except race. The black applicant is selected, not because of skills or qualifications (in that case the white man would have provided the same result), but for his skin color. This seems to be blatant discrimination, but many believe it is justified. Some feel retribution for years of discrimination is reason enough, but that issue will be discussed later. First, lets focus on why this is not a solution to creating an unbiased society. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." He desired a world without discrimination, without prejudice, and without stereotypes. The fundamental lesson years of discrimination should have taught is that to give anyone preference based on skin color, sex, or religious beliefs is, in one word, wrong. As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, judgment based on skin color must not exist. All preferential hiring does is keep judgments based on skin color alive. Race and sex should not be issues in today's society, yet preferential hiring continues to make these factors issues by treating minorities as a group rather than as individuals. More importantly preferential hiring may actually fuel, rather than extinguish, feelings of racial hostility. Applying the concept of preferential hiring to another situation may help elucidate its shortcomings. A party of white men and a party of black men both arrive at a restaurant at the same time and only one table is free. The headwaiter can only seat one party and must make a decision. According to preferential hiring theory it is necessary to seat the black party first, since historically blacks have been discriminated against when seated in restaurants. In another situation, a white man and a black man are both equidistant from the last seat on the bus. Both men are the same age, have no medical problems, and are equal in all ways except skin color. Should the black man get the seat since in the past black men have been discriminated against? We could continue this practice for several centuries before the debt we owe for depriving blacks of a seat on the bus would be paid. Perhaps these examples are invalid. It could be said that jobs are a different issue. They help define social status and provide economic well-being. They might even boost self-confidence, something that discrimination has stolen. Two points must be considered before moving any further. First, blacks may learn better from a black, and women may learn better from a woman. Second, hiring women and blacks will provide role models for others. The first point Thomson quickly concedes as likely to be false. Discussion about the second point however is required, and will, in effect, serve to negate the first point as well. First, lets create a character, Bill. Bill is grossly overweight and unattractive. Studies have shown that many employers discriminate (whether subconsciously or not), against both overweight and unattractive individuals. Unfortunately for Bill, he fits into both categories. His inability to land a job reflective of his abilities, coupled with years of public humiliation through jokes made at his expense, has destroyed his self-esteem. This has caused him to accept as fact the notion that he will never be able to reach his goals. Few "Bill" success stories exist, only further plummeting his self-confidence. This example sounds strikingly similar to a common argument for preferential hiring. I have been discriminated against, which has caused my self esteem to fall, and now I am stuck, with few role models to follow. Bill's success has probably been thwarted by more sources than the today's average black or female, but there is no provision in preferential hiring for him. Just like no one can control their race or skin color, In Recent Years Preferential Hiring Has Become An Issue Essays In recent years preferential hiring has become an issue of great interest. Preferential hiring, which was devised to create harmony between the different races and sexes, has divided the lines even more. Supporters on both sides seem fixed in their positions and often refuse to listen to the other group's platform. In this essay, the recipients of preferential hiring will be either black or female, and the position in question will be a professorship on the university level. The hirings in question are cases that involve several candidates, all roughly equal in their qualifications (including experience, education, people skills, etc.), with the only difference being race and/or sex. What we have here is a case of predetermined preference. The two candidates in question are equal in all ways, except race. The black applicant is selected, not because of skills or qualifications (in that case the white man would have provided the same result), but for his skin color. This seems to be blatant discrimination, but many believe it is justified. Some feel retribution for years of discrimination is reason enough, but that issue will be discussed later. First, lets focus on why this is not a solution to creating an unbiased society. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." He desired a world without discrimination, without prejudice, and without stereotypes. The fundamental lesson years of discrimination should have taught is that to give anyone preference based on skin color, sex, or religious beliefs is, in one word, wrong. As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, judgment based on skin color must not exist. All preferential hiring does is keep judgments based on skin color alive. Race and sex should not be issues in today's society, yet preferential hiring continues to make these factors issues by treating minorities as a group rather than as individuals. More importantly preferential hiring may actually fuel, rather than extinguish, feelings of racial hostility. Applying the concept of preferential hiring to another situation may help elucidate its shortcomings. A party of white men and a party of black men both arrive at a restaurant at the same time and only one table is free. The headwaiter can only seat one party and must make a decision. According to preferential hiring theory it is necessary to seat the black party first, since historically blacks have been discriminated against when seated in restaurants. In another situation, a white man and a black man are both equidistant from the last seat on the bus. Both men are the same age, have no medical problems, and are equal in all ways except skin color. Should the black man get the seat since in the past black men have been discriminated against? We could continue this practice for several centuries before the debt we owe for depriving blacks of a seat on the bus would be paid. Perhaps these examples are invalid. It could be said that jobs are a different issue. They help define social status and provide economic well-being. They might even boost self-confidence, something that discrimination has stolen. Two points must be considered before moving any further. First, blacks may learn better from a black, and women may learn better from a woman. Second, hiring women and blacks will provide role models for others. The first point Thomson quickly concedes as likely to be false. Discussion about the second point however is required, and will, in effect, serve to negate the first point as well. First, lets create a character, Bill. Bill is grossly overweight and unattractive. Studies have shown that many employers discriminate (whether subconsciously or not), against both overweight and unattractive individuals. Unfortunately for Bill, he fits into both categories. His inability to land a job reflective of his abilities, coupled with years of public humiliation through jokes made at his expense, has destroyed his self-esteem. This has caused him to accept as fact the notion that he will never be able to reach his goals. Few "Bill" success stories exist, only further plummeting his self-confidence. This example sounds strikingly similar to a common argument for preferential hiring. I have been discriminated against, which has caused my self esteem to fall, and now I am stuck, with few role models to follow. Bill's success has probably been thwarted by more sources than the today's average black or female, but there is no provision in preferential hiring for him. Just like no one can control their race or skin color,

Free Essays on How To Build A Fire, Tell Tale Heart Compare And Contrast

Compare and Contrast In this essay I will compare and contrast the protagonist in the two stories â€Å"How to Build a Fire†, and â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart†. â€Å"How to Build a Fire†, is about a man on a mission to cross over the cold, desolate countryside of the Yukon. â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† is about a man telling the story of his perfect crime. First I will give some examples of their likenesses such as their overconfident outlook on the events throughout the story, and how, in the end, irony occurred for the both of them. Then I will contrast elements of the story such as the antagonist, and show the different aspects of the two characters. There are many ways in which the protagonists of these two stories are comparable. The first similarity that should be known is that neither of the characters have a name. They are both simply referred to as â€Å"the man†. It might be said that both authors chose not to name the men so that the reader feels less compassion for them. The most noticeable connection between them is their personalities. They both exhibit notions of arrogance throughout the story. In â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart†, Poe shows the reader immediately that the protagonist is very proud of himself. He is certain that his actions were those of a brilliant being. For no â€Å"madman† could have devised a plan of that intelligence. â€Å"But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what foresight- with what dissimulation I went to work!† These notions coincide with those of the protagonist in â€Å"How to build a Fire†. In this story the author displays the mans’ arrogance when he ignored the advice of the old man back at Sulphur Creek when he began his journey through the wilderness. The old man warned him that in sight of the temperature dropping to under fifty degrees below zero he should not walk the trail alone because it was too dangerous. He did not take the adv... Free Essays on How To Build A Fire, Tell Tale Heart Compare And Contrast Free Essays on How To Build A Fire, Tell Tale Heart Compare And Contrast Compare and Contrast In this essay I will compare and contrast the protagonist in the two stories â€Å"How to Build a Fire†, and â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart†. â€Å"How to Build a Fire†, is about a man on a mission to cross over the cold, desolate countryside of the Yukon. â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† is about a man telling the story of his perfect crime. First I will give some examples of their likenesses such as their overconfident outlook on the events throughout the story, and how, in the end, irony occurred for the both of them. Then I will contrast elements of the story such as the antagonist, and show the different aspects of the two characters. There are many ways in which the protagonists of these two stories are comparable. The first similarity that should be known is that neither of the characters have a name. They are both simply referred to as â€Å"the man†. It might be said that both authors chose not to name the men so that the reader feels less compassion for them. The most noticeable connection between them is their personalities. They both exhibit notions of arrogance throughout the story. In â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart†, Poe shows the reader immediately that the protagonist is very proud of himself. He is certain that his actions were those of a brilliant being. For no â€Å"madman† could have devised a plan of that intelligence. â€Å"But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what foresight- with what dissimulation I went to work!† These notions coincide with those of the protagonist in â€Å"How to build a Fire†. In this story the author displays the mans’ arrogance when he ignored the advice of the old man back at Sulphur Creek when he began his journey through the wilderness. The old man warned him that in sight of the temperature dropping to under fifty degrees below zero he should not walk the trail alone because it was too dangerous. He did not take the adv...

A Day at Belton Lake Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Day at Belton Lake - Essay Example The most common is sand though mud can also be up the Leon River that drains to Lake Belton and the cowhouise arms. Lake Belton has no aquatic vegetation, but some investigation reveals little presence of some vegetation in the lake. The water of the lake is usually cool in the summer time making the environment cool for swimming and in water relaxation. I had great anticipation that morning to participate in the activities that are in the lake. I hurriedly rush to my drawer containing my swimsuit. I pulled out my favorite blue swimming costume. I rush down the stairs to start off the daddy with daddy’s famous chocolate, grapes and biscuits for the morning. That is an original breakfast that we do have every time before we spend our day in Belton Lake. Lak Belton is a public lake that is open for all public access facilities. Ramping using boats, bank fishing, camping and picnics are all available. This place forms the best are to spend some time with family members and enjoy the weekend (Carpenter et al. pg. 163). The serene environment altogether with the hot summer makes the atmosphere and the lakes water cool for swimming to take place. My parents and I love swimming in Lake Belton and nearly every summer we take a day to send in the cool waters of the lake. Along the lakes beach, there is 300 foot plus the water slide curve that plunges from the start tower down to the splash pool that is four foot. The family picnics are usually located just adjacent to the lakes beach (Hoare and Hoare. pg. 225). Before taking off on our boat, we have to make sure that every equipment is in place, and we are fully prepared for any circumstance. My duty is to ensure that all essentials items including lotion, drinks, snack food, beach towels and sunscreen are all packed. As I do that, my brother and dad are always busy our boat fuel tank is full of gas, life jackets in plenty and intertube that is usually fun but dangerous