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How it works...

Going back to the idea of "social inequality", and in all humility acknowledging the benefits I've enjoyed in my life, I offer the following:



It seems to me that this is not about lowering expectations; rather, it's about raising them - for everyone. It's about acknowledging the disparity that exists, the fact that some are given much, while others are given little. It's about affording each an opportunity to succeed, regardless of station.

But this begs the question - how do we acknowledge someone's station without making that a defining factor? I read recently that there are folks who are suing a university because they felt discriminated against in favor of a minority admission. I'm not sure I'm smart enough to comment on the overall benefits/drawbacks of affirmative action or racial quotas or whatever. I really don't think I know enough. But what I do know is that I have experienced in my own life the benefits of being a white male from a relatively comfortable upbringing (both parents present, never much want or need, etc.) and it makes me frustrated that such things are the case. I don't mind having privilege (who would?!?) but the frustration comes due to the fact that my privilege is not based on merit, but is passively assigned by folks to me because I'm a tall white dude. Sigh. 

One of the things I appreciate most from the AICP (American Institute of City Planners - a professional organization to which I belong) Code of Ethics is the following:

We shall seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration. We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs. https://www.planning.org/ethics/ethicscode.htm

This probably deserves its own blog post, and I may someday. But suffice it to say at this point that this is something that I firmly agree with.

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