SCA5 之我見, 小議招生中的種族優惠

這是多年前，SCA5在加州緊鑼密鼓，甚囂塵上時的一點隨想。覺得對現在，仍有參考價值。當時不習慣用中文打字，遂用英文寫成寄出，現大略翻成中文如下。一孔之見，僅供參考：

 

這個偉大的國家，美國，建立在一個基本原則之上：人，生而平等。可是，政策和法律對某些種族的特殊優待， 卻破壞了這個公平原則。因爲，資源是有限的。如慾優待某些種族，隻有虐待（歧視）其他種族。這兩者是同一硬幣的兩麵，前者無法脫離後者而存在。而基於種族的歧視性待遇，就是種族主義。SCA5 (Senate Constitutional Amendment 5， introduced by California State Senator Edward Hernandez, a Mexican American politician, on December 12/3/2012. It asks voters to eliminate California Proposition 209's ban on the use of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in recruitment, admissions, and retention programs at California's public universities and colleges. 允許加州的公立大學在招收和保留學生時，特別照顧拉丁裔和非裔) 就是這樣一項種族主義的法案。這項法案與美國的建國原則背道而馳，與美國的憲法背道而馳。它打著反種族主義的幌子，鼓吹對亞裔及其他族群的種族歧視。

這是純粹的種族主義。一個人的種族，與生俱來，無法改變，是每一個人的生理基礎（physical essense)。因此，這不是政治問題，而是公民權利問題，人權問題。如果奧運會資格測試對非裔美國運動員的要求比對其他族裔的運動員更嚴苛，如果非裔取得資格的門檻比亞裔及白人的高，他們必須跑得更快，跳的更高才能獲得參賽資格，您認為公平嗎？還是您會控訴，這是種族主義？如果NBA和NFL根據種族比例來分配運動員的配額，您認為公平嗎？還是您會控訴，這是種族主義？可是，SCA5在教育領域提出了同樣的荒唐要求：如果你是亞裔美國人，那麽我們的公立大學不歡迎你，你必須跨過比非裔，墨裔高得多，難得多的門檻，才能進入我們由納稅人資助的公立大學！

種族主義是一條滑向深淵，佈滿荊棘的危險道路。今天，它始於加利福尼亞，明天，它可能傳播到其他州；今天，它始於高等教育，明天，人們可以用同樣的“理由”在就業、升職、科研、公務員、甚至民選官員等所有領域設立歧視性待遇。種族主義對個人不公平，它撕裂我們的社會，造成不同族群之間的緊張、摩擦和衝突。長此以往，美國將變成不同族群的，分裂的國家。我們必須問自己，我們真的想慢慢滑向深淵嗎？

誠然，很多亞裔美國學生進入了好的大學，但這並不是因為他們獲得了任何種族優待。不是的！恰恰相反，亞裔美國人在這片充滿機會的土地上一直遭受種種歧視。從過去的排華法案（“中國佬的機會”一詞就是在那個時候產生的，當時，它意味著毫無機會），到常春藤盟校的限製以及許多好的公立大學對亞裔美國人的歧視性做法等等。亞裔美國人往往必須比其他人做的更好，付出更多的汗水和犧牲，才能得到同樣的機遇。亞裔美國學生在教育上的成就，是在他們克服許多歧視，以及文化和人為的障礙後，才實現的。他們能夠進入較好的大學，是因為他們的努力、決心, 和作出的犧牲。而這，難道不正是美國精神嗎？任何在教育上做出類似努力的人，都會取得相似, 甚至更高的成就。所以，請不要用種族歧視，來“糾正”文化上的差異， 請不要懲罰對工作，對學習的努力；請不要僅僅因為某人是亞裔美國人，就剝奪他們的美國夢。

學習, 就像夢想，是很個人化的事情。如果你勤奮努力，品學兼優，各個方麵都符合甚至超過你心儀的大學的招生標準，卻僅僅因爲是亞裔而被拒，那麽，再多的亞裔上了好大學，又與你何幹？你的夢想依然破滅。難道其他亞裔會補償你嗎 ?不會。 (亞裔的回饋，如稅收等，是給全社會的。如果亞裔隻回饋亞裔，那會被批為種族主義）難道社會會補償你嗎？不會！所以，請不要僅僅因為某人是亞裔美國人，就剝奪他們的美國夢。

種族主義與這個偉大國家的基本原則是背道而馳的，從長遠來看，它對任何人都沒有好處。無論你是亞裔美國人，無論你是否有孩子，無論你是否住在加利福尼亞，無論你是共和黨人還是民主黨人，隻要你支持美國憲法，都請與我們站在一起，反對SCA5。

我的一孔之見。謝謝！

劉繼海

 

我在3/4/2014時寫的英語原文：

 

This great country of ours is built on a core principle:  that all men are created equal, no matter their race, ethnic groups, or country of origin.  The preferential treatment of some people based on race or ethnic group breaks this principle. Because, such preferential treatment translates to discriminatory treatment of other people based on race or ethnic group, these are two sides of one coin, the former cannot exist without the latter, and, discriminatory treatment of people based on race or ethnic group is the textbook definition of racism.  SCA5 is just such a bill. This bill is diametrically opposite of our founding principle of United States, it is diametrically opposite of our United States constitution. It hides behind the guise of anti-racism, while promoting racial discrimination against Asians and other ethnic groups.

The discriminatory treatment to my people based on race and ethnic group is an assault on my DNA, on my heritage, on the essence of who I am.  It is racism, pure and simple.  Thus, it is a civil rights issue, a human rights issue, it's not a political one.  If Olympic qualification standards are more stringent for African American athletes than for others, if African American athletes have to run much faster or jump much higher than other athletes to be qualified for the competition, do you think it's  fair? Or do you cry racism?  If NBA and NFL  allocated athlete quotas based on racial proportions , do you think it's fair? Or do you cry racism?   SCA5 is proposing the similar ridiculous rules in education:  if you are an individual of Asian American background, then you are not welcome to our public universities, you have to “run” much faster or “jump” much higher to enter our public universities, built on Tax payers’money. 

Racism is a slippery downhill road.  Today, it starts in California, tomorrow, it can spread to other states; today, it starts in higher education, tomorrow, people can use the same “reason” to set discriminatory treatment in job recruitment/retention, in promotion, in government hiring, even in elections, etc., etc.   Racism laws are unfair to individuals, they tear up our society, create tension, friction, and conflict among different ethnic groups.  The United States will become the Divided States of different Ethnic Groups. We have to ask ourselves, do we really want to slide down this road?

Granted, lots of Asian American students enter good universities, but, this is not because they got any preferential treatment based on their race or ethnic group.  No.  To the contrary, Asian Americans have always been discriminated against one way or another in this land of opportunity.   From the Chinese Exclusion laws (“Chinaman’s chance” was coined at that time.) of yesteryears, to the limits of Ivy Leagues and discriminatory practices of many public universities tailored to Asian American individuals.  Etc., etc.   The achievement of Asian American students in education is reached despite lots discrimination they have to fight, many cultural obstacles they have to overcome, and many man-made hoops they have to jump through.  They were able to enter good universities because of their hard work, determination, and sacrifice.   Isn't  this precisely American spirit? Any people with the similar dedication to education will achieve the same or even higher level of success.  So, please don't use racial discrimination to “correct” cultural difference.  Please don't punish hard-working individuals and rob his or her American dream just because he or she is an Asian American.

“study” , like “dream”, is a very personal thing.  If you work very hard,  excel academically, and meet or even exceed the admission standards of the university you desire in every aspect, but are rejected simply because you are Asian American, then what does it matter that other Asians have gotten into good universities? Your dream is still shattered. Will other Asian Americans compensate you? (lol—Asian American contributions, like taxes, are for society as a whole. If Asian Americans only gave back to other Asian Americans, they would be criticized for racism.) Will society compensate you? No!   So, please, do not strip someone of their American Dream just because they are Asian American.

Racism is diametrically against the major principles this great country is found on, in long term, it is not good for anybody.   Whether you are Asian American, whether you have kids, whether you live in California, whether you are Republican or Democrats, as long as you support United States’ constitution, please stand with us and say no to SCA5.

My two cents, Thank you!

Davis Jihai Liu 3/4/2014