In a perfect world, equality would rule. There would be no discrimination and no prejudice. But we don't live in a perfect world and probably never will.
And that's why we have affirmative action laws; rules that give minorities enhanced opportunities to benefit from public programs such as education and government-let contracts. It's a policy that few are comfortable with and others want to eliminate. Five states are poised to ask voters if they want to ban such programs entirely.
The question will get even more difficult in the future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas joined Hawaii, New Mexico and California in 2005 as a majority-minority state, along with the District of Columbia. That means in those areas, the number of people classified as minorities is larger than the number of whites.
Current estimates say that somewhere around 2050, the entire U.S. will be majority-minority. Such a situation raises the question of whether the word "minority" will even be relevant at that point.
It is fair to say that even in a majority-minority country, laws enforcing equality will be needed and likely will be until full economic parity among groups is achieved.
It will be up to our grandchildren to come up with a solution that meets their society at that time. In the meantime, it's up to us to set an example that goes beyond simply minority participation in society. We must demonstrate that everyone is entitled to an equal share of all that society has to offer so that when it comes time to find new solutions, people will work together rather than try to force compromises upon one another.
- Jim Grinstead
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