Question about heritage/ethnicity
- Thread starter milos_mommy
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As long as there are quotas -- there will be a need for quotas.
There's more to it than that, of course, but that's an integral part of it.
We can no longer choose the person best suited for the job/position/place in education based solely on abilities and work ethic, and it goes across the board to paying employees based on their productivity and/or quality of work, and a large part of the reason is the old, bigoted attitudes that white males were supreme. Problem is, we've thrown the baby out with the bath water, and frankly, quotas seem insulting and condescending.
There's more to it than that, of course, but that's an integral part of it.
We can no longer choose the person best suited for the job/position/place in education based solely on abilities and work ethic, and it goes across the board to paying employees based on their productivity and/or quality of work, and a large part of the reason is the old, bigoted attitudes that white males were supreme. Problem is, we've thrown the baby out with the bath water, and frankly, quotas seem insulting and condescending.
Anybody that thinks they aren't racist should really read The Left Hand of Darkness. It's a classic sci fi novel by Ursula Le Guin written in the 60s. The way she wrote it, just, it was eye opening in the most elegant way. I can't really say anything more specific without ruining it, but it's one of those books most people should read once.
So I would always say that I'm American. But I'll also say I'm German, french, english, and scots-irish if someone asks about that. Funnily enough, all of us kids identify most with the German side, even if its only 1/4. Like, if someone disses the Germans we'll get all defensive and whatnot. (fake defensive). But I can't really think of a time when we've said, "HEY! I'm French!"
I don't know, it's just something that we do. But I consider myself American through and through, my ancestors may have come from other countries, but I live here. I mean, my english side came over on the mayflower. By now my mom's side should just be called American, but its not. Kind of strange actually.
I don't know, it's just something that we do. But I consider myself American through and through, my ancestors may have come from other countries, but I live here. I mean, my english side came over on the mayflower. By now my mom's side should just be called American, but its not. Kind of strange actually.
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This is absolutely ridiculous. You don't "have" to check anything, first of all, checking your race is ALWAYS optional. Secondly, you choose whatever box YOU identify with. Not what other people consider you or what you look like. Thirdly, that's like telling a lighter-skinned black person they have to check white because they're not as "black" as others.
I've been told -- off the record, and I appreciated the candor, it took some of the sting out -- that I would have been chosen for a couple of different jobs except that they needed to hire a minority, and although hiring a woman helped, being able to hire a female who was a member of a minority was a double.
On the other hand, I've been passed over because they felt having a woman "like me????" in a male workplace would cause problems with the wives.
I've also been stuck in a position as an assistant manager where we had a staff member who was stealing (along with being incompetent and coming in to work pilled up) and HR told us we could NOT fire her as she was the only minority in our store and the company, overall, was short minority workers. It wasn't like the manager had screened minorities out, he'd done the opposite to try to even things out and he'd actually hired several people but, for some reason, none of them showed for work the first day -- at a music store -- with benefits if you worked 20 hours a week! Go figure.
So yes, it does happen, and it sucks to be on EITHER side of the equation.
The whole issue shouldn't even be an issue. It should be PEOPLE, what's underneath the skin, not the amount of melanin in our skin.
On the other hand, I've been passed over because they felt having a woman "like me????" in a male workplace would cause problems with the wives.
I've also been stuck in a position as an assistant manager where we had a staff member who was stealing (along with being incompetent and coming in to work pilled up) and HR told us we could NOT fire her as she was the only minority in our store and the company, overall, was short minority workers. It wasn't like the manager had screened minorities out, he'd done the opposite to try to even things out and he'd actually hired several people but, for some reason, none of them showed for work the first day -- at a music store -- with benefits if you worked 20 hours a week! Go figure.
So yes, it does happen, and it sucks to be on EITHER side of the equation.
The whole issue shouldn't even be an issue. It should be PEOPLE, what's underneath the skin, not the amount of melanin in our skin.
I read the first page, but am really not in the mood to read this whole thread, so I'm just going to answer the first thread. My mother moved to America from Finland 30 years ago. I was born here. I have both a Finnish and an American passport. I am Finnish American. My father is American from German and Native American decent. I don't consider myself German or Native American, though if people ask, I will tell them I have it in my heritage. I usually just say that I am Finnish unless they ask more specifically.
I think it depends on the tribe. The US Blackfoot nation is really really poor. I know the Duwamish here in WA have amazing healthcare though (it's 100% paid for by the giant LED TV billboards next to the freeway on their land. I hate those things, but hey, it's doing a lot of good for a lot of people).
I'm 1/4, but my dad was adopted and my grandpa was a Canadian citizen so it's kind of wonky as far as applying for membership. Also I think I have to apply to the Canadian Blackfoot nation but I'm not a citizen of Canada? Or something? Bleh.
I'm 1/4, but my dad was adopted and my grandpa was a Canadian citizen so it's kind of wonky as far as applying for membership. Also I think I have to apply to the Canadian Blackfoot nation but I'm not a citizen of Canada? Or something? Bleh.
It shouldn't be required, and you may check whatever group you identify with. I check mixed or other, or the appropriate combination of boxes.
My full sister is the palest pinkish white, has bright ginger hair, and blue eyes. I'm olive colored with dark eyes and dark hair. Our kids don't even look the same race much less first cousins, but they are. They shouldn't feel obligated to check different boxes just because they look different, even though they have the same ancestors.
On medical forms it can be really important to be accurate because your lineage can affect the type of bone marrow you are able to give or receive. The blood bank was really excited when I specified Greek because apparently some Greek bone marrow is compatible with a very specific niche of African recipients that is hard to find donors for.
My full sister is the palest pinkish white, has bright ginger hair, and blue eyes. I'm olive colored with dark eyes and dark hair. Our kids don't even look the same race much less first cousins, but they are. They shouldn't feel obligated to check different boxes just because they look different, even though they have the same ancestors.
On medical forms it can be really important to be accurate because your lineage can affect the type of bone marrow you are able to give or receive. The blood bank was really excited when I specified Greek because apparently some Greek bone marrow is compatible with a very specific niche of African recipients that is hard to find donors for.
Haha...that reminds me of my Dad and how he use to joke and tease my Mom. My Dad was all German, but American...quite a few generations back since anyone came from Germany. My Mom's side was English, Irish, and Scottish. My Dad would say to me in front of my Mom, "Yep... your Mother's side polluted the good, German strain that you kids have." LOL. He'd say it with a big grin, which was good thinking on his part.
