My feelings exactly.
The term "Affirmative Action" isn't used a lot around here, but if we're talking about minority hiring practices...I always use the example of women firefighters. People were pushing for a long time to have more female firefighters.
Now as a biological rule, Men have the potential to be physically stronger than Women. Don't flame me for this, the strongest man will always be stronger than the strongest woman. Firefighters have to endure rigorous tests to be allowed to save people's lives. Their jobs require a lot of physical strength and endurance.
The moment anyone can run up and down those steps with 100lb hoses on their shoulder, thus passing the tests, I'm fine with them saving my life. But if anyone hired as a minority performed substandardly on those tests, then I think the plan has failed. I DO NOT think we need firefighters incapable of performing their duties, and while there are MANY women who are VERY capable of doing this well, I feel that unfair hiring practices can put weaker people into the fold.
Again, don't flame for this. None of you would want someone who was hired due to their minority status, not skill, hauling your ass out of a burning building. There are many women who could kick my ass in a second, and hell, I'd bow down and submit to their power. I'm not a woman hater, though I have been insulted for voicing this opinion before.
That's just always been my stereotypical view of minority hiring practices.
*breathe*
I think if a job involves skills that can be taught in a training-like environment, then everyone should be considered, minority or otherwise. Race, sex or social status should not have bearing at all.
What I find interesting, at least in Canada, is that I rarely, if ever see male counterstaff at a fast-food restaurant. I don't know why managers consistently put females at the counter, and it's not that I object, but it's startlingly consistent.
Anyway, gonna go listen to tool.