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henever I get involved in something, I think about the impact it will have
roposal 2 — the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative — guarantees, with its simple
on the world that my children will inherit. It is with them in mind that I
language, fairness and equality for all people: "The state shall not discriminate
encourage everyone to vote no on Nov. 7 on Proposal 2 (the deceptively
against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis
named Michigan Civil Rights Initiative – MCRI), a proposal to amend the Michigan
of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment,
Constitution and immediately ban affirmative action and equal opportunity programs.
public education, or public contracting!'
Though they may be too young to vote, my children are not too
In Michigan, the government grants preferential treatment to
young to understand the Torah's commandment, "Justice, justice,
some while discriminating against others. That is wrong. There is
shall you pursue!' That's why there are so many Jews, both men
no justification for discrimination. Proposal 2 mirrors the color-
and women, committed to social activism.
blind language of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by commanding equal
As Jews, we have a unique perspective. Until quotas were ruled
treatment before the law.
illegal by the U. S. Supreme Court in 1978, we were excluded from
Proposal 2 returns "affirmative action" to its original intent: to
great universities and the best jobs. As a Jew, a woman and a
ensure that all individuals are treated equally "without regard to
mother, I am eager to see my children grow up in a better world.
race, gender or color." That is what John R Kennedy proclaimed in
Unfortunately, there is too
his original Executive Order
much misinformation and a
Approved ballot language for statewide bal lot proposal sponsored by Michigan
initiating "affirmative action"
Civil Rights Initiative Committee. Language was approved by the Board of
lot of confusion about affir-
in 1961. Today, in Michigan,
State Canvassers on Jan. 20, 2006.
mative action. Affirmative
affirmative action has become
action programs were estab-
synonymous with preferential
BALLOT LANGUAGE
lished during the civil rights era in an effort to
treatment.
A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO BAN AFFIRMATIVE
make up for past discrimination, fight present-day
ACTION PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO GROUPS
True affirmative action involves universal out-
OR INDIVIDUALS BASED ON THEIR RACE, GENDER, COLOR, ETHNICITY
discrimination and help create diversity in our soci-
reach (taking special care to reach out to everyone),
OR NATIONAL ORIGIN FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION OR
ety. Whether you support or oppose it, changing the
and reviewing policies and procedures to ensure
CONTRACTING PURPOSES
Constitution to eliminate it means that the debate is
nondiscrimination on the basis of race or gender.
over and there's no room for improvement. .
These
are the tools that create true equal opportunity.
The proposed constitutional amendment would:
Some people think affirmative action isn't fair.
Preferential treatment is not only morally repugnant,
• Bari public institutions from using affirmative action programs that give pref-
In fact, affirmative action encourages fairness by
but counterproductive as well.
erential treatment to groups or individuals based on their race, gender, color,
providing every qualified person the opportunity
Many of us can remember the days when "Jewish
ethnicity or national origin for public employment, education or contracting
to compete on a level playing field for public jobs,
quotas"
were applied at many universities throughout
purposes. Public institutions affected by the proposal include state govern-
education or public contracts.
America.
When these insidious practices ended, we
ment, local governments, public colleges and universities, community colleges
Some people believe this proposal will end "pref-
said "never again" would we tolerate them.
and school districts.
erences!' In fact, it won't end them for the privileged,
Tragically, the same thing is happening now to
• Prohibit public institutions from discriminating against groups or individuals
such as children of alumni and athletes.
many Asian and white students. Individual merit and
due to their gender, ethnicity, race, color or national origin. (A separate provi-
Many believe that women have reached equality
accomplishment are being supplanted by "critical
sion of the state constitution already prohibits discrimination on the basis of
in the workplace. In fact, women in our state earn
mass;'
"diversity" and "affirmative action." No matter
race, color or national origin. )
just 67 cents for every dollar men earn. Michigan
what it is called, the practice of treating citizens dif-
Should this proposal be adopted?
ties for last in the country in gender pay equity.
ferently on the basis of their race, skin color, national
Many believe that, 40 years after the civil rights
origin or gender is still discrimination.
Yes
movement, the need for affirmative action has
Not all forms of affirmative action will end when
No
passed. In fact, government statistics show that
MCRI passes; only those that grant preferential treat-
black households earn 39 percent less than white
ment to one group or another, as noted in an indepen-
households and lag way behind whites in employment, income, education, and access to
dent report published by the Citizens Research Council, which concludes:
health care.
"If Proposal 2006-02 passes, it will not outlaw all affirmative action programs in the
I want my children to benefit now from programs targeted specifically for girls or boys.
state. Only those that grant preferential treatment to individuals or groups on the basis of
Affirmative action programs have encouraged women and girls to study engineer-
minority status or gender would be invalidated by this amendment"
ing, science and math and encouraged men to become teachers or nurses. How awful it
Proposal 2 only applies to government hiring, public education and government con-
would be if health programs such as breast, cervical and prostate cancer screenings and
tracting. Proposal 2 does not, and cannot, apply to health care, breast cancer screening,
programs supporting female victims of domestic violence were at risk. But if Proposal 2
domestic violence shelters, banking and loans for women or minorities in business.
passes, gender specific programs could be eliminated or tied up waiting for the courts to
MCRI does not affect internal union policies, automakers hiring or any private sector
decide if those programs violate the amendment.
enterprise. It will not affect athletics for girls or boys, because sports are under the federal
When my children go to college, I want them to experience a campus that is diverse
jurisdiction of Title IX.
so that they can learn more about the world and the varied people in it. If they go into
The opposition claims that MCRI will "roll back progress!' Civil rights mean equal
business, I want them to know of the many opportunities that could come their way. But
treatment, not preferential treatment; and sanctioning discrimination is not "progress" in
if Proposal 2 passes, it will eliminate the outreach done to women and minority business
an enlightened society.
owners and contractors. When they go to work, I want my daughters, to earn the same
Opponents claim that without preferential hiring and preferential university admis-
salary as the man sitting next to them doing the same job — not 67 cents to the dollar
sions, Michigan can't compete in a global economy. Currently, Michigan uses preferential
he earns.
treatment and its economy is the second worst in the nation, with an unemployment rate
Along with both Gov. Jennifer Granholm and gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos,
of 7.1 percent. After Proposal 2 passes, only the best and brightest people will be hired
a broad statewide coalition of more than 200 civic, business, labor and religious
and accepted to college. How can that make Michigan less competitive?
groups are saying no to this proposal. They understand the gravity of changing the
Much is said about "sexism" in Michigan. Did "sexists" prevent Jennifer Granholm from
constitution and the effects that Proposal 2 will have on thousands of Michigan
becoming governor of Michigan, Debbie Stabenow a United States senator or Mary Sue
families.
Coleman president of the University of Michigan, one of the most prestigious universities

October 5 2006

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