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Comment by arrrg | Hacker News Reader

Ok, if you want to play semantic games then let's play semantic games. If you think any policy based on race is racism I will for the sake of the argument accept that weird definition and say that the racist AA policy is super awesome and that I full-heartedly support that racism. I'm a racist for AA!

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Obviously not every policy based on race is racist, but affirmative action does advance a particular set of races. Call it whatever you want, but I think what the above poster has said is that to advance one race is to handicap another.

I'd like to point out that affirmative action directly leads to more racism. I've heard many racists assume that affirmative action is the sole reason someone (is in college|has that government job|got that scholarship).

Agreed. This is the Achilles Heel of affirmative action. It actually undermines the achievements of the favored group. For instance, many people believe that Obama would not be president if he were not half black. How accurate that belief is is certainly open to question, but it's not racist to think so.

In any case, according to this research, Obama's first term didn't improve racist attitudes in America.

Prejudice has risen since 2008 Obama victory:

https://bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2012/10/27/poll-majority...

Remember, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

Actually, I am saying exactly that - although I realize it may be unpopular. I don't believe that there is "good racism" be it AA or any other program. Just because you think you are helping people out based on the color of their skin, doesn't mean you are. In fact I think you are causing more harm than good by perpetuating this line of thinking that race is something to be considered as a means to discriminate.

Ideally I'd just like to see a society where race is hardly ever even talked about. It should be as significant as hair color (as another commenter mentioned). We won't get to that point if decisions are made based on race. As soon as you do that, then others will do it. And race will never cease to be a discriminating factor in human relations.

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