HEALTH & MEDICINE
ENGL1101: Composition and Rhetoric (Online) 22739
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Anonymous Student English 1101 Their Laws: Our Generation Are we the same as our mothers, fathers, or even our grandparents, and do we still share the same views that they had as they were growing up? Then why do we still live and abide by their laws? Affirmative action was signed as an executive order by John F Kennedy in 1961 (Kidder, 2003). As it is described in its original form, minorities, women, or any group that is discriminated against is to receive “special consideration” in determining entrance to universities, employment hiring, and receiving federal contracts when competing with equally qualified white males. Affirmative Action was made with good intentions and even brought about some amazing changes. Affirmative Action is a perfect example of how a law that was made with good intentions can be and is, in fact, illegal. Everyone considers the effect Affirmative Action had on African American groups as far as creating equal rights but fail to realize the effect that it had on a females position in the workplace was far bigger (McGrath, 2012). African Americans made up less than one percent of lawyers prior to 1960; however, they now make up a total of 19.9% of all lawyers listed on the American Bar Association’s official documents (Kidder, 2003). Women prior to 1930 made up a total of only two percent of lawyers and five percent of physicians, but now comprise 42% of all lawyers and 51 % of all medical students in the United States (Chin, 2002). The first major court case that questioned affirmative action was the Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke. The University of California reserved 16 out of its 100 possible spots for minority students (Issues, 2005). Allen Bakke was rejected twice even though his test scores were significantly higher than the minority students. The minority students had not only a quota but also entirely separate admissions. Bakke sued the school for breaking the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Unites States Supreme Court ruled that the use of a quota system was illegal. The United States Supreme Court did rule, however, that the use of race was an acceptable factor in admissions (McBride, 2007). The Bakke case led the way for reverse discrimination cases because the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution states that all citizens of the United States are guaranteed equal treatment and protection by law. The Fourteenth Amendment was signed into law in 1868 after the Civil War. The Amendment was intended to help former slaves gain equal rights. Today, it is accepted that the 1954 Brown vs. the Board of Education case found the separate but equal was illegal (Kidder, 2003). The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that there are now five major classifications of discrimination: age, sex, religion, nationality, and disability. Every person, regardless of definition, is classified by the government into a discriminatory category. The idea of special treatment is degrading to any class under such provisions. Executive orders can be given only to federal or state agencies; they cannot be forced on citizens (McBride, 2007). Considering how Affirmative Action has been forced on our daily lives, it is an infringement on our constitutional rights and has created special classes; therefore, it is illegal. Our generation is more socially accepting than any time in our nation’s history. We are moving past labels and becoming a more unified nation. If we believe we are discriminated against, let it be on the basis that we are all guaranteed equal rights. Just the thought that one or more particular groups are receiving special treatment violates the concept of what our nation was founded upon. Works Cited Chin, E. L. (2002). Looking back over the history of women in medicine. Retrieved from Mom MD: http://www.mommd.com/lookingback.shtml Issues, B. (2005). More Women Apply to Medical School, But Minority Enrollees Continue to Decline. Retrieved from Diverse Education: http://diverseeducation.com/article/3352/ Kidder, W. C. (2004, March 24). Legal Education Before Affirmative Action. Retrieved from http://academic.udayton.edu/: http://academic.udayton.edu/race/03justice/LegalEd/Legaled11a.htm McBride, A. (2007). Landmark Cases. Retrieved from pbs.org: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_regents.html McGrath, J. (2012, december 21). Today’s Lawyers and Law Students: More Women, Minorities. Retrieved from McGrath & Spielberger: http://mcgrathspielberger.com/todays-lawyers-and-law-students-more-women-minorities Zisman, A. (1996). Women's History in America. Retrieved from Women’s International Center : http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm. Persuasive Part II Posted on: Monday, October 19, 2020 2:02:23 PM EDT This week we continue our lesson on Persuasive writing. Remember to read/view the "Love is a Fallacy" story. Feel free to comment on it in the WDB. Maybe you might even hear or see some logical fallacies during this year's campaigns? The Persuasive Essay is due Oct 30 - Trick or Treat!