[ZACH P.]

Originally posted by M. Krass
Perhaps I didn't structure my question well. Perhaps I made a few poor assumptions about how people felt about discrimination. I'm not sure.

There are many common forms of discrimination. They're so common, in fact, that our society needs to enforce laws that prohibit them and penalize people for exercising such discrimination. Age, race, sex, gender, orientation, religion, disability; or someone's perception of these characteristics are all common causes for discrimination.

I should also be clear that I understand the difference between making an informed decision that's based on some level of merit versus passing judgement based on stereotypes and accepted behavior. I know that this is a difficult question, as well, but I have been impressed by peoples' responses to difficult subjects in the past.

So, to elaborate further, where do we draw the line where discrimination is concerned? If the KKK wanted to bring FIRST to two dozen white children in Mississippi, but would only do so by the conscious exemption of black children, is that acceptable? If a church sponsored a team but excluded Buddhists? If a Boy Scout troop sponsored a team but excluded gays and women? In each of these examples, there doesn't seem to be any logical reason to exclude another group based on their ability and potential to accomplish the same things and benefit in the same ways as any others.

I understand that we, as a culture, and as individuals, cannot cater to the needs and desires of every individual, everywhere, all at the same time. To even attempt to do would drive us all insane. I understand that our beliefs and opinions are formed by our experiences. I understand that we're each entitled to form and hold opinions and that we're each, at some level, obligated to tolerate the opinions of others.

What I can't yet grasp, however, is where we draw the line.

You must understand that it is human nature to compete, and a way of competing is discrimination. If we make such extreme laws against such things we have gone to far. Discrimination is so ingrained in our lives and characters that it is impossible to eliminate most of it with out extremely limiting laws. You cannot makes laws to control all aspects of our life like that. When that happens we stop being a democratic republic, and start being some sort of dictatorship. Ever read Fahrenheit 451? The best that we can do is to not accept such actions in anyway, and to apply the laws that we currently have to such situations.

Those are my feelings.