[Linux-aus] linux-aus Digest, Vol 47, Issue 45

[elliott-brennan]

> Noel Butler <noel.butler at ausics.net>
> Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:03:47 +1000
> I also see David Newalls comments:
>
> "I'm generally opposed to discrimination on the
...So called "affirmative action" policies fall 
clearly
> into this area in

They don't. There is no two ways about this and to 
claim otherwise is merely an expression of 
personal belief and not one which is agreed to by 
current legislation or policy.

If comments such as this are made they should be 
prefaced with "I believe without any evidence 
whatsoever".

> We are all in this now because we want to be, I'd
> stop short of saying "it's in our blood",

You should stop short too. Such comments are 
merely rhetorical and slyly infer some 
'naturalness'. There is nothing 'natural' about 
it, ie. there is nothing in the nature of men 
which leads you to this. Furthermore any claims 
that you just 'kept trying' due to interest and 
that's why you are where you are is pure hubris 
and fails to recognise the intersection of a whole 
collection of cultural and historical factors 
which preceded your birth and provided 
opportunities which you personally would not be 
able to create, as well as those factors which 
existed following your birth and during your life 
time.

Additionally, the 'we're all in this because we 
want to be' ignores the people who would like to 
change careers but cannot because they either: 
have no other skills, need the money, have 
commitments which require them to remain, feel to 
depressed or lack confidence to 'move on' or 
cannot work out where else they'd rather be.

There are many sly ways of inferring some 
superiority or naturalness to a circumstance and 
the 'we're all' and 'in the blood' throw-aways are 
good examples.


> could be seen as an attempt to entice people who
> currently have no interest, to gain an interest.

No. It's not. It is to create a circumstance 
within which people who feel excluded, who have 
few opportunities to become engaged and who are 
actively discriminated against will feel these 
opportunities speak to them.

>
> The Human Rights commission who deal with such
> things as discrimination, could find it
> interesting,

Nope. Seriously. No. I don't know why people who 
have no information or experience in these matter 
continue to throw out queries and questions 
without checking some basic facts.

I suggest the following: do exactly what you are 
suggesting could possibly bring about this 'query' 
from HREOC (Human Rights and Equal Employment 
Opportunities Commission), receive your 'knock 
back' and then contact HREOC.

I've seen enough 'queries' like yours to be 
confident about the outcome.

If like thinkers have some evidence, please 
present it as this thread is sorely in need of 
examples of reputable theoretical and research 
studies which provide a counter balance to the 
'projects like Ada are necessary' argument.

All I've read in the counter-arguments so far are 
some personal airy-fairy throw away lines which 
don't pass muster and which are evidence only of a 
lack of education and reading in the area under 
discussion.

For the sake of clarity: I'm not familiar enough 
with the LA policies and practices to comment on 
how the donation has been made, but I am educated 
and experienced enough to pass comment on whether 
the project has worthwhile goals and meets a need 
and whether discrimination against women exists. 
There is enough evidence for a blind man to 
find...if he has the skills, ability and interest 
to find out and the 'natural inclination' to put 
in the effort that 'all of have'.

Regards,

Patrick