A Common Sense Solution

What's that old saying? "It's as plain as the nose on your face." That's what we say to someone when they discover an idea or answer that seemed so obvious to us, a "duh" moment. Oddly enough, what often seems so simple and common sense in retrospect was a long time in coming.

America has been dealing with racial issues since our country began. Since the 1960's, discrimination, segregation, and racism have been at the forefront of popular and political thought. And here, in this the most powerful nation on the planet, we yet struggle with dealing with one another on equal footing.

Our nation has been further subdivided on issues of the sexes, religious beliefs, sexual preferences...you name it, there's a group for it. "United" States of America seems a cruel misnomer for a country so divided. How do we move forward together when we can't even agree to disagree?

Affirmative action; this small phrase ignites a very hot topic of conversation with people on both sides of the issue equally emotional and passionate about their beliefs. Michigan put itself on the national agenda recently with the mixed Supreme Court ruling on the affirmative action program of a state college. People are again talking about the pros and cons of the theory, and then again the reality of the practice. People are examining whether affirmative action serves its intended purpose without negatively affecting others.

I have sat on the fence for most of these discussions, not having an intelligent voice on the subject. All that changed for me today. I read, of all things, a column by MO'ReillyO'Reilly on AOL News. http://www.intellivu.com//main.asp?brand... Upon reading his comments, I could hear my inner voice saying, "It should have been as plain as the nose on your face!" But I had never thought of it before, and either our esteemed leaders never had either, or not a number sufficient to make a change.

I plan to do my part to change all of that; to let my elected officials know I support this idea of Mr.O'Reilly's. The solution he proposes won't eradicate racism in our country, but it will promote unity, and it will provide the assistance to those who need it most. I urge you, if you have read the column at the above link, to write your elected officials also. Heck, I urge you to write your elected official every time you have something to share with them, but on this one topic, won't you join me in endorsing what just makes good sense?

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic