Checking In -- Boston Public Forum

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Date Posted: 23:48:21 01/23/04 Fri
Author: Wakener
Subject: Checking In

Well. I haven't watched the show much lately, but I saw the opening to last week's, and the teaser for tonight's, and I thought I'd watch it, since I've been following the story of Affirmative Action Bake Sales in the headlines lately.

I thought the episode was fairly good. Not great, but better than much of what I saw last season. I was happy with Marilyn's views on Affirmative Action, mostly because her views on that subject reflect my own, and the response I get from many Blacks both inside and outside of my own family (including my own mother) parallel the reaction she got from Marla. She even enumerated some of my own reasons for holding the positions I do (although the character and I part company on some of the other issues discussed in the denouement--and I especially didn't like the implications carried in the dig at Pat Robertson).

Of course, what was missing in the bake sale issue was an enucleation of the principle behind it underscored with statistics. With the actual Affirmative Action Bake Sales, the price schedule was *directly* determined by the percentages of tuition savings for participating minorities at the universities on whose campii they are held, and the question is asked directly: "If it is unfair to sell cookies in this manner, why is it fair to sell educations in exactly the same manner?" Why is doing something for a dollar racist, but doing the same thing for ten thousand dollars not?

Well, even so, I rather doubt that this episode will save the show, but it was worth noting. Plus, I wanted to see if any of the old bunch are still posting to this board. On most of the newer messages (added, I note to very short, but very old threads) I also see newer names. Any longtime members of the board still around?

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