My Original Oratory Speech

Making the Case for Colorblind Justice

Danny O’Connor was a member of the police department is Memphis Tennessee. In 1988 O’Connor decided to apply for promotion to sergeant. That year there were 209 other officers competing for the 75 slots. After evaluation he was placed as number fifty-six on the list. Because of his score he was assured of his place, and looked forward to soon becoming a sergeant. But, that was before affirmative action came into play. Because of Affirmative Action, 19 blacks, who had not made it onto the original list, were added to the list, while 19 whites were removed from the list, including Mr. O’Connor. This happed to Mr. O’Connor for the next two years, while 43 less qualified candidates were promoted. (Eastland pg.1-2)

In the book, Ending Affirmative Action the Case for Colorblind Justice, by Terry Eastland, I read the story about Mr. O’Connor and many others who have been negatively affected by Affirmative Action.

For 150 years our country has refused to endorse colorblind justice as the only moral remedy to our endless struggles against racism.

In order to better understand what is going on in America today concerning Affirmative action, we must first learn its history. President John F. Kennedy coined the phrase “Affirmative Action” in 1961. As defined by the American Heritage dictionary Affirmative Action is; "A policy or a program that seeks to redress past discrimination through active measures to ensure equal opportunity, as in education and employment.” (American Heritage Dictionary) Affirmative action was used not only as a means to combat segregation but to guarantee equal rights for Blacks and other minorities.

However, there is another option, which is more Biblical and moral than Affirmative action. It is best known as Color-blind justice. In the American Heritage Dictionary, Colorblind justice means; “Not recognizing racial or class distinctions.” (American Heritage Dictionary)

Abolitionist Wendell Phillips first promoted the Idea of Colorblind Justice in the post reconstruction era in America. During this time the 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th amendments were added to our constitution, thus, guaranteeing rights for African Americans. Even so Phillips saw a need for an additional amendment, which read as follows. “No State shall make any distinction among its citizens on account of race and color.” (qtd. in Eastland pg.26) I believe abolitionists promoted this amendment out of concern for future problems that could arise because of loopholes in the other amendments. History tells us their foresight was correct, with the advent of the despicable Jim Crow Laws, which created segregation between Blacks, whites and other minorities.

The Jim Crow laws kept us bound to racial segregation, until the passage of Affirmative Action in 1961. Affirmative action did what it was meant to do, over ride racial prejudice, but in so doing the pendulum shifted all the way from black racism to reverse discrimination.

Cheryl Hopwood applied for admission to the University Of Texas School Of Law in 1992. She had previously earned a degree in accounting from, achieved a grade point average of 3.8, and received a score of 39 out of 48 on the Law School Admissions Test. She was also a certified public accountant. She thought her credentials were excellent; however the school turned her down. At first she thought the admitted students must have been exceptional. However, when she went to investigate she found out she was not admitted because she was white. Apparently the schools affirmative action plan set aside 15% of the 500 seats for minorities students admitted under lower academic standards. In fact there were 12 minority students accepted who had the same or higher composite score, who were admitted,

and 84 additional minority applicants all with lower score who were admitted. Hopwood then found out she would have gotten in if she were only a minority (Eastland pg.3-4).

This is the problem with Affirmative Action today. Affirmative Action was meant to stop racial prejudice, but instead it has created a new racial prejudice.

There are many reasons why we should dispose of Affirmative Action. The first is that Affirmative Action is no longer and asset to African Americans, and minorities.

For Instance, a minority person might not work as hard in school, because they know Affirmative Action will help them get to college. This also applies to jobs and promotions. Thus Affirmative Action hinders them from living up to their full potential. On the other hand, a minority person might work very hard and get good grades and a good job without help from Affirmative action, but how are others to know that? I have even heard of some African Americans wanting to wear shirts that say, “Here on merit, not Affirmative action.” Thus, either way you look at it, a Black or minority person is no longer getting a good bargain.

As Booker T. Washington once said, "No greater injury can be done to any youth than to let him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be advanced in life regardless of his own merits or efforts" (Worldofquotes.com).

Next, let’s talk about how this is affecting White Americans. As we have seen in the stories of Danny O’Connor and Cheryl Hopwood there is racism against white Americans. This happens predominantly in college and the workforce. Many people are not getting into colleges, jobs or promotions because of the color of their skin. This is wrong. America is supposed to stand for justice for all, and we claim that we are no longer a racist country, but how can we say these things when people are being chosen for schools and jobs based on skin color not merit.

This mindset of color really becomes absurd when we go back to the Bible and modern science which both tell us there is only one race, and race is really only determined based by how much melanin is in our skin. So basically it really is like saying, “I am sorry Mr. Williams but we have already filled all our boxes for people with blonde hair, and yes I know you are more qualified than some of the brunettes and redheads, but we need to have an equal amount of them all.” We would find something like this to be unacceptable, but that is all the difference skin color really is.

Even more absurd is the fact that affirmative action now applies to all minority groups, when it was designed to help African Americans! This means that, all other minority groups, Illegal Immigrants and foreigners who were never slaves and to whom we do not own any special privilege to, are getting just that! The regular Hard working American is getting penalized based on his skin color, while someone under minority statues is getting a bonus just because they are of another ethnic background. Not because we owe them anything.

I now want to address the economic aspect. I spoke to a woman who did affirmative action paper work for a bank and she told me of the labor and costs that go into a program that is corrupt. We cannot estimate the financial impact of Affirmative Action on businesses and individuals, but we do know that there is increased and costs associated with a program that does support American principles.

If we were to dispose of Affirmative Action, there would still be protection against discrimination. There are many laws already in place which provide protection for blacks, women, and other minorities without affording special preference or privileges.

It is also important to note that the majority of people who benefit from Affirmative action are middle class African Americans, not the underprivileged. Affirmative action was used to help create an Black middle class when there was none. Affirmative Action has done this, and now we have a thriving Black middle class. However, because of the way Affirmative action is set up today, it is highly unlikely

any severely underprivileged African American could ever be helped through this program. In fact, now that Affirmative actions’ goal is complete and the playing field between races has been fairly leveled, Affirmative Action has begun to create separation between races and we are moving backwards instead of forward in regards to racial equality. This is why it is now the time for Colorblind Justice to take center stage. (Eastland)

Now that we have the history of Affirmative Action, and the reasons it is corrupt, we can look at the benefits our society would receive were we to ban Affirmative Action and instead use Color Blind justice.

The First is; we as a country could finally put slavery in the past. Not that we would forget, but that we could move past that wrong, and continue towards a better future.

And finally, we could take the next step in becoming a non-racist county, by not favoring any race over another, but by seeing all races as equal and accepting them based on merit not color.

I want to mention here, that I do believe racism is still an issue in America. No matter what laws we employ racism will always exist, because it is a heart issue. However having the law on the side of morality and justice, makes a huge difference in how people act toward one another.

Helping our country become a colorblind society will not be easy. If we are to succeed, it will be because the people saw its value and fought for it.

You can help promote colorblind justice and oppose Affirmative Action.

By talking to people and helping educate Americans about the dangers of Affirmative Action and the benefits of Color Blind Justice, you can affect change through the hearts of the people.

And most importantly, we need to pray that God would aid us in our cause, and that justice would prevail in the end.

In closing, I wish to say Affirmative action is a law which divides, where as colorblind justice unites. It is my dream that one day every man, woman and child in America would be able to stand together not separated by race, but united as people, and as Americans, and together proudly say the Pledge of Allegiance, where every word would ring true, as never before. Then we would truly be the United States of America. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

Better to Give

Every Christmas most people hear the phrase "It is better to give than to receive." I know that when I am sitting down with my family and we are all watching each other open presents. I love to see their face light up when they open the gift from me, but I also know that when it is my turn to open a present I love it even more. So, I think "maybe they are both good but I still like getting presents more than giving them". But then I remember the best part of my Christmas this year. It all started on Christmas Eve. My mom wanted my Dad to build a manger because our old one was well old. So my dad and brother went out and built a manger out of spare wood and used some moss for hay, and the baby Jesus from the old manger. It looked great! Not long after they had placed it outside with lights and all, a man came to our door looking a little embarrassed. He told us he needed some money so he could give his Kids a Christmas, so could he work for us? My Mom invited him in, and had my dad come to speak with the man. The man told my Dad that he had lost his job of 11 years and had to get a temporary job. He had lost his house and were living in an apartment not far from us, and the money he was making just made ends meet. My mom and I had a hard time not crying when we heard this. We had all those presents under our tree, none of which we needed. And this man had nothing to give his family. I asked him how old his kids were, and he told me he had a nine year old daughter, a six year old son, and an 18 month baby. I ran down to my room and grabbed some old fashion Polly's that were in nice shape, some necklaces I was going to give away, and my bible from when I was 12. My Mom and Dad gave the man an advance (since it was getting to late to do yard work,) and some food for a Christmas meal, and a few gift cards. As the man was leaving he mentioned his wife was Persian, and my Dad said he hoped she would not be offended because there was a ham in the bag of food. He looked confused for a moment (just as I was) and then told us she was raised Muslim but converted to Christianity and has been reading through the book of Ephesians. Then he was gone. He probably thought we had given him a lot, but to us it was him who have us much. God gave us that opportunity and we all agree that is was the best part of Christmas for everyone in my family. My Dad had also asked the man if he had gone anywhere else and why he had decided to come to our door, and he replied that he had not gone anywhere else, but he felt God tell him to go to our house. My Mom says it was the manger, and you know what… she was right, because Christmas really is all about the Baby Jesus, and he helped both of our families this Christmas. For the man and His family they received the gift, and we gave the gift, but they also gave us a gift, ( they allowed us to be blessed by giving), and we received a gift, ( the blessing of giving). So, I think that it is not so much that giving is better than receiving, but that when a gift is given in love, both the giver and the receiver receive a gift: giving and receiving become one. Next Christmas remember when you and your family exchange gifts that no matter who opens the gift both are receiving, one the joy of giving, and the other the gift itself.

Happy New Year!

 

Joelle Lucas

Book Reviews

Here are some books I read that I would like to recommend:

• Tears in a bottle by Silvia Bambola; This book is what made me deiced to recommend some books. This book does a phenomenal job of addressing the issue of abortion. The writer addresses every aspect from the abortion doctor, to the girl who gets an abortion, the girls parents, the pro-lifer recovering from an abortion, and the family of the abortion doctor. She also addresses how some abortion clinics sell aborted baby parts for money. This is a compelling read, and I believe this book addresses abortion just as Harriet Beecher Stowe addressed slavery in her book "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Because, this book is written in as a novel, where you get to know the characters and because of this, I think the author is able to bring the topic home. I would defiantly encourage you to read it. I would also like to recommend it for readers 15+ because of the nature of the topics.
• Sierra Jensen or Christy Miller series, by Robin Jones Gunn; I think that out of all the Christian fiction books for girls, these are some of the best. Many other books can be "good" because they are not "bad", but these books really make you think, and inspire you to live for God. I also like how they allow for mistakes, and then you learn how to deal with them in a biblical way. There are some things that as a homeschooler would not be as applicable to me as it would a public or privet student. (like school, or being allowed to date at 16) But with things like dating at 16, Robin Gunn, addresses it well I think, because for many girls that is the rule, and how as a Christian should you deal with that. Questions like dating, and how to have a deeper relationship with God, and how to talk to friends about tough issues are addressed well in these fun-fast paced series.
  
  
• Ishbane Conspiracy, by Randy Alcorn; This is a great work of modern literature. Randy Alcorn and his daughters take you into the mist of the lies that surround teenagers today. This is a story about turning from your sin, and living a new life in Christ with no reservations, and also how to love the unsaved. This book touches on all the really hard issues we face today, but it is beautifully written, and very inspiring. Also recommended for ages 14+

• Secret keeper: The delicate power of modesty by Dannah Gresh; This is a non-fiction book. It is nice and small for those of you who want to read non-fiction but are intimidates by big books (even I know this feeling and I love books). (author) lays out very clearly why we as women should be modest. She is very compelling, and also very engaging. When I finished the book, I felt encouraged and special, because I was reminded of how precious I am to God, and what a beautiful gift he has given me as a women. Very good read, and appropriate for ages 12+.
• Before you meet prince charming by Sarah Mally; I love this book! I think one of my favorite things about this book is that 1) she never says the word sex, ( while still getting the point across) 2) it age friendly to younger girls, I mean any girl could read this book, and yet it can still apply to an older girl like me. The way this book is written is every chapter has two parts, one is a story about a princess ( the parable part of the book) and the explanatory part( or the teaching part of the book). So the story keeps you very interested, and the information she gives ties right in with the story, and is very useful, and easy to use and understand. I also like that this book is more for girls who have been raised in a Christian home and are still very pure. Because the book is addressed to this type of audience, the material is more how to prevent a bad relationships from ever starting, and how to instead look for and wait for the perfect marriage partner.
  
  
  
  
• She said yes by Misty Bernall; This book is a biography and it is probably one of my top favorites. Some of you may remember the tragic killings at Columbine High school a few years ago. If not it was a very sad day for many parents and students. If I am correct some students came into school with guns and started shooting people, and scaring many students and faculty. One of the students that was killed was Cassie Bernall, and when gun was put to her head and she was asked if she believed in Jesus, she said yes, and was martyred for her faith. This book is her story as told by her mother. You will probably be surprised like I was when I learned that she was not a Christian all her life, but was in far from it. She was raised in a Christian home, but was not a Christian herself. I will not tell anymore because the book does a better job, but I would defiantly suggest this book for inspiration, and a good biography of a teenage girl just like you and me. As a last note I just found out that the song "This is Your Time" my Michael W. Smith was written for her.
• Gianna Jensen: aborted and lived to tell about it by Jessica Shaver; this is my other favorite biography. This is the story of Gianna Jensen the girl who was aborted and lived! Her story moved me deeply, to see how God had his hand on her, and gave her opportunities to share her story, and the capacity to love and forgive. Gianna is an amazing women and I would encourage you to read her story, I really could not put the book down. I would think this book would be appropriate for girls 13+.

Let's talk about friends

So have any of you ever had friends who just did not seem to get it? Or a friend who was not there for you? Perhaps your friends turned their backs on you. Or maybe you have never had this experience. Whether or not this has happened to you, you will face "friend problems" one day, for some of us more than once. I want to address this issue today. Now the topic of friends is more than a 1 post topic, so I will not get to every aspect, just the part about when you feel somewhat friendless.
I have lots of friends, most people do from my observations. But your friends can let you down. This has happened to me more than once, and it is hard when this happens.
See, I myself feel like I am in a transitional period between friends; I have some old friends going and new friends coming, and so I have a dilemma. Friends I do not hangout with much and friends that are too new to really have good communication with. Thus I can feel friendless if I allow myself. (when the fact is I have both old friends and new friends with is lots of friends). I admit I was feeling down today, but then I God reminded me that I have a friend who will never leave me. So you know what? I put my phone away (I was going to call a friend who lives far away), and just talked to God, my never failing friend.
So just remember that when you feel down and rejected and think no one cares about how you feel; remember the one who came to earth was rejected by those who once praised Him, was beaten and killed. Remember that He is the one who counts as your forever friend. And don't forget to always be a friend. I think if we all tried to be more like Jesus we would all be better friends, and that is what brings better friendships.
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
We do not need a mt. high pile of friends, we only need a few good friends, and Jesus, our closest friend. We also need to remember that God is in charge of our lives and we need to trust Him. If He starts closing doors to friends ships, don't try and hold it open, and if He opens new doors walk through them because He always has our best interests at heart.

I hope some of these ramblings made sense.

Love always,
Joelle

Pendragon Sword of His Father

I just wanted to tell you all about this movie, I have not watched it yet, but we finally got our copy and I hope to see it soon. Anyway this movie was made by a Home school family and just from looking at their website and listening to the soundtrack I can tell you this is professional quality! I am so exited about this movie! It is Christ-centered and well It just looks cool. There is a button to the right of the screen that will direct you to the website I would encourage you to check it out.

Joelle

A City on a Hill

I am an American and I live in a country founded by men who sought after God, and His laws and statutes. I am a descendent of this legacy and many others are or have been grafted into this country and this legacy. Now this legacy goes back even farther than our founding fathers, it goes back to those who really started this country…the puritans. I do not know what you have been taught concerning the puritans, whether they were stuck up Hippocrates, God-fearing men, or nothing at all, regardless of what you were taught the only people who can really tell you the truth about the puritans is the puritans themselves. How can we know for sure who the puritans were? The answer is simple; we read what they wrote. Baxter, Bradford, Bradstreet, and Winthrop were all puritans and they told their stories so we could know the truth. I have read these writers and let me tell you, they are men and women we are to look up to and model ourselves after if we want to be better Christians. In John Winthrop's Arrabella Covenant he claims that America is a city on a Hill ( taken from Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.). Meaning this country is different and we are going to be an example to the world, the world will look to us for freedom and righteousness.

As far as I know almost every president we have had in the United States has made some kind of reference to America being "A city of a Hill" in their inaugural address, even President Obama gave mention to this in his speech. However, I would like to venture to ask the question, is America still a "City on a Hill"? We might claim to be a city on a hill in words, but are we a city on a hill in our deeds?

I believe that to some extent we still are a city on a hill, but if so we are a very dim light that is slowly flickering and fading. We could be so much more, but we choose not to. We have become like disobedient children and have turned from what we know to be right. I am not talking only about "the liberals", but to everyone! Think about it. If we have one a secularly raised child and a child raised in a Christian home, and the secular child goes off and does whatever he/she thinks is right because to them there are no consequences; and then the Christian child goes off and does whatever they like, knowing there will be consequences, which child is most at fault? Well both are at fault, but the Christian child is more so, because they knew better. We as Christians are supposed to be different from the world, not like the world. It the world goes one way and we know that way is wrong we should not just sit back and do nothing, or worse follow them.

We could have another scenario where we have the secular child, and a Christian child and they are friends. The secular child goes to do something wrong and his/her, Christian friend knows they are doing something wrong, but does and says nothing. The secular child is at fault because they did wrong, but the Christian child is also at fault because they did nothing to warn their friend.

Many of us Christians have done the same, we have allowed sin to pass by us without a word or a warning, or we joined them in sin. We are all partly responsible for our actions and we will all have to answer for them, whether we were instigators, accomplishes or bystanders.

Our country has fallen so far from where it first started. Not only have we fallen away from our original purpose and morality, but have turned upside down and backward! We save trees instead of children. We say women are better than men (opposed to equal and different), we say dogs are "children", we talk about world peace (which we know will never come to be), we want to throw out capitalism to make room for socialism!

Just the other day I went to get my license and I could not get one without a birth certificate, my friend went to get a passport and could not get one without a birth certificate, yet our president can get elected without one!

We have thrown down our laws and stomp on them, instead of up holing them. We only have the freedoms we enjoy in America because of our laws in the Constitution. If we throw out the constitution, we throw liberty away too.

President Obama asked stay at home moms to go back to work, while allowing illegal immigrants to come into the US, live on welfare, and do nothing!

People, we need to stop letting our country side down this slippery slope. We have allowed people to come into government positions who are anti- America, and Are trying to make us like everyone else, thus no longer a city on a hill.

Let us not allow this country that our founding Fathers sacrificed their lives, fortune, and sacred honor for, fall into the hands of those who do not honor it, do not have regard for the men who fought for freedom, and who do not hold God's law as Higher than their laws. It was our Founding Fathers duty to fight for their posterity's freedom. Today, as their posterity, it is our duty to fight so that our freedoms will not dwindle into oblivion, but instead that us and our posterity may come back to the cross of Christ, and our light be rekindled so that we may once again shine as a bright light in a dark world. May America forever be a city on a hill.