DISCLAIMER: this is all coming from a middle-class white kid from Idaho. Take what you want from it. This is by no means my opinion, because I really don’t know what the right answer to this question is (if there is a right answer at all). It’s just another way of looking at things. Proceed? Yes/No [click yes!]

Okay. Question: our culture is rather focused on promoting differences between races in order to promote tolerance of other peoples’ races, correct? In doing so, though, aren’t we simply a) furthering a different kind of discrimination, and b) doing the exact opposite of what we probably should be doing to promote tolerance?

Let me put it this way: wouldn’t the best way to deal with race and tolerance be to eliminate the concept all together?

Of course, if you know me at all, you know that I’m not speaking at all of exterminating all races until a “master race” is developed. I’m talking about eliminating the concept of race by simply ceasing to bring up racial differences in our culture.

Here, let me try to make a little more sense. This is a problem I see with trying to “play up” racial differences in order to try to promote tolerance and equal opportunities. Let’s take, for example, a hypothetical college who is offering a hypothetical scholarship aimed specifically at those who are of Hispanic background. In other words, if you are Hispanic, you are basically in the running to get this scholarship. The school justifies this action by stating that the scholarship allows the school to become more diverse. Makes sense, right? Well, here’s the problem. By allowing this scholarship to be offered only to Hispanics, isn’t the school discriminating against them?

We (people in the US) are now being taught that there are no intellectual differences between the races of the world, meaning that all races are equally mentally competent and able to perform at the same levels. But this hypothetical school, by stating that they are promoting diversity by seeking out Hispanics especially with this scholarship, is actually disagreeing with this message by promoting that Hispanics “think differently” than the rest of the races, and thus need a special scholarship in order to be recruited by the school. Does that make any sense? By giving a certain race an advantage in the form of a scholarship or a job offering based solely on his or her race, a person, school, or company is actually making the statement that this race needs an extra chance or opportunity in order to compete on the same level as everyone else.

I don’t know if that’s making sense or not. Wouldn’t it be better if all races were given the equal chance, with no special cases or extra boosts for any one? Wouldn’t this removal of race from the formula basically eliminate racial discrimination?

Let me summarize with this: a white guy and a black guy are competing against each other to get a position at a corporation. If we believe what we are taught—that race makes no difference in regards to thinking capacity and ability to perform on the job—shouldn’t both these men be given the same chance to get the job, with neither one getting special advantages? I think downplaying rather than playing up race would be a much fairer and better way to deal with racial issues.

But hey, of course I know of the statistical, historical, and social ramifications of being different races in the United States. I know that not all races have the same economic standings, and that other factors both from present situations and situations in the past influence how races are perceived today and how many opportunities they actually have. I know that it is probably very realistic to be offering special deals and offers to, say, Hispanics, in order to allow them to have opportunities that they may not get simply because they are not white people in America. That’s just the way our country works right now.

So yes, I know all that. I’m just stating this opinion/viewpoint because I think it’s one that is often overlooked.

That is all!