Daily Assignment

EDST 391-083
Color-Blind Nation: Worthy or Worthless Ideal?

Name:
Date:
"Daily Assignment"
P/F Writing Assignment for Day 3

Readings:

Text of Proposition 209 {website}
Jeffrey & Kennedy ("Citizens guide to the affirmative action debate") {ER}

The Jeffrey & Kennedy article ("Citizen's Guide") analyzes the arguments put forward by the pro-209 and anti-209 people. The article suggests that this argument, like others over affirmative action, is not a tug-o-war between good guys and bad guys. Rather, the two sides hold conflicting views of social justice--(1) a traditional view and (2) one that many people would now want to replace it with. The following assignment and class discussion are meant to help you understand how these two views of justice differ. They are, indeed, dramatically different and terribly important. So-

1. The article contrasts the two views by describing how they differ in defining four basic concepts: preferential treatment, equal opportunity, affirmative action, and civil rights. For each of the four concepts please write a one-sentence definition of the term for both the pro-209 and anti-209 positions. Then write in one sentence or so the rationale or principle behind each. Try to zero in on the most essential components of the definitions and rationales. Write them in your own words to the extent possible.

a. preferential treatment

pro-209
- definition:
- rationale:
anti-209
- definition:
- rationale:

b. equal opportunity

pro-209
- definition:
- rationale:
anti-209
- definition:
- rationale:

c. affirmative action

pro-209
- definition:
- rationale:
anti-209
- definition:
- rationale:

d. civil rights

pro-209
- definition:
- rationale:
anti-209
- definition:
- rationale:

2. At this point, which set of arguments--the pro-209 or the anti-209--do you find more persuasive? Why?

EDST 391-083 Color-Blind Nation: Worthy or Worthless Ideal?

EDST 391-083
Color-Blind Nation: Worthy or Worthless Ideal?