Jason Thompson - American Idiot

Jason Thompson, should be proud, he made national news!  

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Thank you to Lawrence O Donnell for pointing out the affirmative action that has guided Jason Thompson's whole career!

Affirmative Action Is Still Needed

Cindy Kilkenny had put up a post the other day that echoes a continuing argument from the right. The argument is that Affirmative Action is no longer needed for two basic reasons. One, being that the the nation has recently elected its first African American president, supposedly showing that there is no more racism. The second line of argument is that the number of people that are considered minorities, added together, will outnumber the people that are classified as white.

Both of these arguments are demonstratively false.

For the second argument first, just because the population of one group of ethnic types outnumber another doesn't prevent prejudism. The glaring example would be South Africa and apartheid. Even though blacks vastly outnumbered whites, it were the whites that held the power and were able to dictate based on their legalized racism. Likewise, just because the class labeled as minorities, when combined, outnumbers whites, it does not mean that they would automatically get a fair shake in life.

The first line of argument is even more laughable than the second. The first commenter on Cindy's post had an interested train of thought:

Leapin // Nov 6, 2008 at 1:02 pm

It’s either BO needed affirmative action to become president or its BO didn’t need affirmative action to become president. If it’s the former then there a case can be made that BO wasn’t the best qualified person just the politically correct color. If it’s the latter then affirmative action should end. Affirmative action is just politically correct discrimination. Treating people fairly and respectfully should come from the heart not the law. I don’t think continuation of affirmative active is in the best spirit of “uniting”.

Leapin never considered the fact that Obama might have been the better choice, and was more qualified, but wouldn't have even had the chance to prove himself if it wasn't for Affirmative Action, either directly or indirectly.

I do agree with Leapin in the sense that treating people fairly and respectfully should come from the heart, and not the law. Unfortunately, there are too many examples in just recent days showing that until society matures enough, there is still a need for the law to remain in place.

For example, there was a cross burning in New Jersey, in the yard of some Obama supporters. During the campaign, we had this button from the Texas GOP. We had the Curious George/Obama shirts in Georgia, which Rush Limbaugh found so endearing. Yard signs in Florida. James Byrd. Brandon McClelland. The KKK.

And speaking of Rush, how about when he not only played, but defended, "Barack The Magic Negro."

The list could go on forever. And as long as it goes on, America will need Affirmative Action, and will need it until crap like this stops.