Who's "The Man" now?

Congrats goes out to the success of Barak Obama and therefore equal opportunity. Unfortunately that also means Affirmative Action took a hit, sending those who choose to hide incompetence behind claims of racial inequality running for new excuses to fail.

What the election also does is reaffirm to American Citizens and to the world abroad that the “Land of Opportunity” gives the hope to achieve, not the disenchantment to complain.

Affirmative Action and many groups like it may have good intentions in helping all to reach the “American Dream,” but their methodologies such as racial quotas and non-universal testing only enflames the influence of discrimination rather than lessening it.

I am a second generation immigrant. My father came to the US, learned the language, studied at school, adjusted to a completely new culture, worked hard to achieve his dream, and now retires watching his own children succeed.

Growing up, I don’t recall EVER hearing him use cultural differences as an excuse. Of course there was ridicule, of course there was resistance, of course there were problems, but that was NEVER something that would deny him of his goals.
We were raised to work hard, do our best, use our heads, and never give up. We were also raised not to expect or even wait for life to “give us a break,” “help us out,” or “always be fair,” but to take what life gives you…both good and bad…to make yourself better.

For my father, or his children, there were no government hand outs, no skewed or weighted measuring systems, nor did we expect it. And we’d probably reject them even if we did qualify just out of sheer pride.
Because the truth is, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights IS our Affirmative Action. It WAS built to level the playing field. And it IS what makes the U.S. the Land of Opportunity.

Many questioned the unparalleled support that was given to Barack Obama by the mainstream media. Yes he did run an incredible campaign and the opposition was less than inspiring, but the lack of scrutiny in letting the public know about who he is instead of immortalizing him was laughable.

So much so, that the only explanation I can find is that the influence of Affirmative Action is so ingrained in society, that well…I guess he needed help! And how unfair to also give equal time to the old white man.

Regardless, Barak Obama is our next President and of course for the sake of our country and the world of which it is highly influential, I wish him well.

However, where Affirmative Action goes wrong, although it may help one get a position by enhancing qualifications or handicapping others, it certainly doesn’t guarantee performance.

Accomplished people like Condilezza Rice, JUD Clarence Thomas, John Thompson, Meg Whitman, even Oprah didn't need a lot of help to get them to their success. Are they the exception or the rule?

Obama brings the national spotlight to equal opportunity. And regardless of how he does, the US should finally be balanced to equality based solely on performance. There should be no more excuses.

Because “The Man” is a different man…and it’ll be interesting to see who is blamed now.