Moral Compensation or Reverse Discrimination
             Affirmative action has been with us for over forty years, and continues to be the focus of debate and controversy. President Kennedy introduced the idea of preferential treatment in 1961 when the nation was in the middle of broad changes regarding civil liberties. The unfairness forced upon minorities was being recognized with our nation trying to make up for years of oppression that served as a barrier for the advancement of minorities. This idea is as morally commendable today as it was when it was enacted; however, the system has become an attempt to make amends for the sins of our country's past leading to a double standard that threatens every citizen's liberties. Although affirmative action programs may help in the prevention of discrimination against minorities; they are intentionally distorted and result in reverse discrimination of other groups violating their civil rights and should be eliminated.
             According to Jost (1995, April 28) opponents of affirmative action argue that these policies encourage double standards; replacing discrimination with a group preference based upon race, ethnicity, and gender. Any system that is based upon set asides, quotas, and preferential treatment is nothing more than reverse discrimination towards white males. Supporters of affirmative action argue the years of oppression and slavery cannot be erased over night. Strong affirmative action programs are necessary to ensure blacks enjoy the same opportunities for promotions, salary increases, job advancement, school admissions, and scholarships that were the exclusive to whites in the past (pp.1-2).
             Affirmative action is a series of laws and executive orders that attempt to eliminate prejudicial injustices while leveling the playing field and they apply to everyone; however, they normally focus only on blacks. In his book on affirmative action, Sadler (1996) states that the...