A Dialogue of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
The debate over the permissibility of Affirmative Action (which I will abbreviate as AA
throughout this paper), seems to be like a maze of words. One idea or belief leads to other linking
ideas and the debate never seems to find an end. There are, like most moral topics, two opposing
viewpoints. For the purpose of this paper, I will write a dialogue using an example from each side
Alex is a white, middle-class man from an urban town, who has worked hard at academics
to get himself to where he is right now. He is currently in the process of getting his graduate
degree in law at a highly regarded Ivy League school. Beth, on the other hand, is a black woman
from a low socio-economic background. Just like Alex, she has worked extremely hard to get to
where she is today. She was also accepted into an Ivy League School and is in the process of
getting her Business Degree. Similar as these two individuals may appear, however, there
underlies hidden forms of passive and active discrimination that Beth has experienced on her way
to success. Their experiences and beliefs will be analyzed in the following dialogue to help the
reader gain a clear understanding over the debate of Affirmative Action.
Alex Smith (A) and Beth Howard (B) end up in the same coffee house while visiting
friends. Beth overhears Alex talking about his thoughts on AA. Beth, a very opinionated
woman, joins Alex at his table and they begin a fairly long discussion with their friends listening
@ I will tell you straight out that I believe AA is unjust and inappropriate because it is a
violation of equal opportunity. You know what I mean by equal opportunity right?
B: I am pretty sure but why don't you explain it to me anyway.
@ Well, basically I believe that all people should be treated alike and given the same
opportunity to succee...