Fannie Bates of Oklahoma City:

I was admitted to American University as part of their affirmative action program, because I was from Little Dixie (or, as sociologists call it, "Little Appalachia").  It had nothing to do with race.  Affirmative action has helped thousands of people of all races.  Overall, I think it has done more for women than for any other single group.  But we do not have a level playing field yet, so it is not time to abolish it.  I hope that day comes in my lifetime. Teri McGraf asked "What will come out of this anti-affirmative action bill?"  For starters, it will cost the state millions to defend it in federal court.  That is our money that could have been spent on public transportation!  

Brenda Fletchall said:

"there's a petition available (link below) to clarify that 'Rep.' Kern does NOT speak for me, i added this note to my petition signature: Rep. Kern, You may find it helpful to become better informed about real daily life. Permit me to suggest ...a few books of helpful research to facilitate this effort: -> _Slavery By Another Name_ by Douglas Blackmon -> _The New Jim Crow_ by Michelle Alexander -> _Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work by Kathryn Edin and Laura Lein -> _The Incarcerated Woman_ ed. by Susan Sharp courage, grace, and peace;

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-sally-kern-she-does-not-speak-for-oklahoma-women

Dawn Bona said:

Like I've said before, although there might not be a perfect answer to this issue, affirmative action is the only safegaurd currently in place (at least it was). Until we live in a world where everyone has an equal chance and the playing f...ield is level for everyone, then we need protection for women and minorities. Oklahoma is definitley NOT a state that has gotten rid of racism and gender bias, our current legislation reeks of bigotry and oppression, and therefore, we need protections in place for women and minorities. Is it a perfect system? No, it is not. Is it better than nothing? Yes, it is.

Jim Joplin  said:

"From the NAACP website: 'Affirmative Action was established in 1965 by President Johnson in order to redress the discrimination that was evident in employment, education and business despite the civil rights laws which made such discrimination illegal. The purpose of Affirmative Action is to provide opportunities for minorities and women; it is not meant to create quotas.' "

LeAnn Stevens-Larré said:

So "work twice as hard to get half as much" is enough? Would you say the same thing to women who are historically discriminated against in the hiring process and in the workplace (salary, promotion)? Is that the only answer? Or are there other ways to make it fairer? I'm not saying Affirmative Action is the best way, but is pulling oneself up by one's own bootstraps possible for those who have no boots?

Teri McGrath of Lawton said:

If you think affirmative action is some kind of special treatment for people who are otherwise incapable of succeeding then you do not understand it in the same way I do. We are not talking about the same thing--and the conversation is embarrassing because it is based on an understanding of women and minorities as a bunch of lazy whiners--I do not share Sally Kern's worldview.

What good will come from passing this legislation? Can anyone tell me that?

Shannon couldn't.

I can see a lot of bad coming from it, potentially, and I suspect we will when it passes and becomes a part of our actual state constitution.

Wh...y would we do this? Just help me understand why. What is TW Shannon trying to accomplish?

He says he Affirmative action creates feelings of inferiority--I wonder if getting through four years of college without ever seeing a non-white face at the front of the classroom has a negative affect on people. It is quite quite possible that was TW Shannon's experience here at Cameron.

This is an excerpt of an article originally published by Oklahoma Citizen.