First of all, I'd like to apologize for my tardiness. College life and engineering. It sucks. But, let's get to what we're here for.
Resolved: When in conflict, society's goal of eliminating discrimination ought to transcend an individual's right to participate in exclusive, voluntary associations.
Well then. I'll argue that when in conflict, society's goal of eliminating discrimination
should transcend an individual's right to participate in exclusive, voluntary associations.
Let's imagine a world. A world in which everyone is equal. Not socialism, I'm speaking of merely social equality. No one is barred from any such thing, they can do anything they want. However, it's not as it seems.
There is a charity down the road. It's a rather well-to-do charity, owned by rich black men. They can trace their lineage back to their African ancestors, and think highly of themselves for it. Now, they're looking for volunteers to help hand out soup for the homeless. While these black men don't think they're necessarily better than white men, they'd really rather have black men doing the handing out of soup. I mean, their foundation is founded and run by black men of African decent. So when a white man comes up to the charity to help, out of his own free will, he is turned away. They say it's no big deal, they just want a specific section of the community, the black people, to help in this event. Thanks for your time, but we won't need your service.
I ask, how is this equal treatment? Sure, it's a completely voluntary action, the white man didn't nor does he have to participate. However, this man wanted to help. He was willing to give up his day, hours of his life, up to help the homeless. But he was turned away because he was white. No hard feelings they said, nothing meant by this, they said. Whitey's alright! They shouted. (Though,to tell the truth, the man was a little creeped out by the last part.)
This applies to anything. How could it be complete inequality when a man can't eat at a restaurant because he's black, but being turned down for an exclusive, voluntary role in the community because you're black/white/Asian/Hispanic/Purple/Rainbow colored not be? This man was turned down from associating with the charity because he was white, in my story. Extrapolate it out to the Illuminati, Skull and Bones, Frats, Sororities, whomever you want. I don't care. It's the same concept, really.
That is racism folks, pure and simple. And it's not true equality until such racism is barred from society. I'm not arguing for quotas, those are stupid and lame. I am, however, arguing for a culling of even the idea that such barring because of race or another other "inequality" is okay from our society.
Again, I'd like to apologize for my tardiness. I know, "real life" and stuff, but still. I hope this hasn't inconvenienced you in any way, couchpotato.