Affirmative action is unfair" counterproductive

TO THE EDITOR:

""Would you fly in an airplane from a company whose motto is" ‘We Put Diversity First''' asks Arthur Hu of Asian Week.

This question beside being hilarious points out the inherent limitations of diversity.

It does not imply that the beneficiaries of affirmative action be they African-American Hispanic white women (according to Erin McGee" ""Carolina Review did not look objectively at data"" Mar. 18), the Sinhalese people, etc., are inferior airplane operators.

Rather, it makes the point that diversity and proportional representation should not be the most important factors in making hiring or admissions decisions.

What my detractors don't seem to understand is that I am opposed to the principle of affirmative action, not black people or any other people.

Whether you call it ‘positive discrimination' (Britain and India), ‘standardization' (Sri Lanka), ‘sons of the soil' (Malaysia) or affirmative action in the United States, it is simply wrong and counterproductive to discriminate based on race.

Furthermore, Ms. McGee is appalled"" by the insinuation I know what it's like to be discriminated against because my ancestors" the French Huguenots were discriminated against centuries ago. The insinuation would be ridiculous had I actually made that claim.

In the future please understand what I'm saying before sending angry letters to The Daily Tar Heel.

Duke Cheston

Junior

Carolina Review staff writer