Usually, I’ve got a strong consistent opinion on issues relating to discrimination.
But I just discovered a case where I think I support this judge’s decision to allow Kamehameha schools’ to keep their admissions policy intact.
Since they don’t recieve federal funding, and the schools were founded specifically for Hawaiians, I don’t see a problem. I hesitate to call it “discrimination” at all. It’s more like a specialized school.
Every person should be considered equal to each other in our country and legal system. But this doesn’t mean that everything is going to be uniform. Race is always going to be present, and I sometimes think that it is ok to have organizations like this, especially if they are standing on their own feet, and not on government funds, for example.
I found this article from ’s journal.
4 Comments
I agree with you E. It’s like the school that was recentely opened strictly for gay and lesbian people. They are discriminating by their own choice and since they’re not funded by any government organization, they should be allowed to be a specialized school!
Hey,
I think it comes down to a question of whether “equal treatment” recognizes the reality of power relationships. As in, would it be OK for someone to recognize that women have less power in society and focus attention on helping them? In this case, native hawaiians have less power because of poverty, and have a specific cultural identity. Is it OK to recognize that and try to correct the power imbalance? I think it’s OK so long as it is measured and reasonable.
I have to also agree with allowing the Kamehameha School’s to keep their admissions’ policy in tact.
If this is in reference to the most recent incident involving the boy who could not prove his Hawaiian heritage, I believe he shouldn’t have been accepted. His mother was unable to present the PROPER legal documentation to prove that he was Hawaiian. She claimed that the documentation she showed was accepted elsewhere and that’s why she thought it was okay. But, if it is not the legally stated document that the school requested…she almost lied on the application then. On those terms alone, the boy shouldn’t have been accepted.
Phew.
Now, I’m done.
Nice to see you on lj again! :)
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