In the 1960s, this country decided to banish both pervasive and covert racial discrimination. Citizens wanted to be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin.
In the 1970s, we wanted women to have every opportunity to succeed. Slow, gradual change is sometimes hard to perceive; similar to turning around a mammoth aircraft carrier.
In truth, we have witnessed a tide of change. Are we finished? I hope not. There is affirmative action the citizens of Colorado can take right now: voting yes on Amendment 46. It cannot be challenged by politicians on either side and cannot be reversed by the entrenched, financial interests in private education.
In the 80s, our daughter, 21, and son, 19, were born into a world of color blind and gender-neutral common goals. Guess what?
They have grown up with children of all races and nationalities and they simply cannot relate to the atmosphere of 1964.
They know the history, they’ve seen the black and white footage; but it is as foreign to them as WWI was to our Boomer Generation.
We are no cultural scientists. We let our children find their own way into this current society. They arrived without innate prejudice.
Our daughter Kate is the assistant director for the Amendment 46 campaign and became involved solely from a personal standpoint. She abhors racial and gender boxes and (dis)qualifications.
She rejects the government’s entrenched, negative reinforcement of racial bias. Kate doesn’t take “no” easily. She asks, “Why are women minorities?” She asks, “Why did my race prevent me from obtaining a scholarship at a university of my choice? Why, after all my hard work, am I not special? Or worthy of being considered ‘diverse’?”
Kate’s best friend in high school was recruited to attend a prestigious east coast university. Understandably she leapt at this incredible financial and educational opportunity. Race was never an issue for these high school friends.
But by their senior year in college, it is. She is constantly reminded of her “disadvantaged” status and regrets that her accomplishments are not considered the result of hard work, rather, affirmative action.
Amendment 46 will not destroy any successful outreach programs; it just makes sure that unfair race and gender restrictions on such programs are removed. Threats of 46 destroying women’s health outreach, screening and associated health care or any form of medical support is disingenuous and frankly outrageous. As parents of an incredibly special young woman, we would never support an effort that could harm her future.
Similarly, arguments about Amendment 46 backer Ward Connerly as a KKK-endorsed carpetbagger driving this effort, are only worthy of comment due to repeated advertisements by the “No On 46” campaign. Their shameful mantra is crafted to scare some people and misinform others.
Every citizen of Colorado would offer a hand up to any person in need. Our community is gracious and caring. In truth, Connerly is a bi-racial civil rights hero who knows firsthand that when government picks winners or losers based on biology, we all lose.
We recently watched a televised debate in which an anti-46 spokesperson, Jesse Ulibarri of the Colorado Progressive Coalition, related a story about his high school guidance counselor.
The counselor suggested something less lofty than Mr. Ulibarri had in mind. Mr. Ulibarri stated it was due to his race. His point was that societal entrenched preconditions set lower goals and were racially based. This affected him greatly.
So, he ignored the wrong advice and plowed straight ahead to achieve his dream of attending the University of Colorado and graduate with honors. I know it wasn’t easy. He is another example of why hard work produces tomorrow’s leaders. Biological factors do not.
Here is the point. It’s 2008. It’s time to stop government from deciding who needs state-sponsored race and gender-based help in education, employment and contracting. Let us constitutionally place everyone on the same level playing field to start.
Let us give a hand up to those who are sincerely in need. Let us stop gender or racial impediments to early success for all of our children. Please vote for all of us; vote Yes on 46.
Bob and Billi Melvin are residents of Lakewood and are small business owners.
