There would be no need for an Affirmative action or a Civil Rights program in a perfect world. But in a world where people in leadership positions tend to show favoritism toward their personal racial or cultural groups, laws need to be in place to protect the rights of all citizens regardless of race, color, and creed. History teaches us that when there are no checks and balances in a power structure, the potential for abuse increases. The United States ratified the Constitution in 1789, but initially, it did not protect the rights of all human beings in America. Over time amendments were added to the Constitution to grant rights to all American citizens regardless of race, color, or creed. But even with the modifications, the abuse of power continued in many American communities. Abuse and discrimination are still problems because federal and local governments remain plagued by human error. In addition, some men and women in positions of power listen to their friends and associates when governing. For these reasons, specific laws need to be in place to protect the rights of innocent people of all races, colors, and creeds. The landscape of History highlights racially motivated mistakes. Men of color are being released from prison at an alarming rate due to DNA evidence that has cleared them after losing the most productive years of their lives locked away in prison. Civil rights and affirmative action programs are needed today more than ever. Safeguards embedded in Civil Rights legislation tend to decrease the chance of abuse. John Roberts and Samuel A. Alito became Supreme Court justices within the last two decades. Hopefully, they will be fair and objective when serving on the Supreme Court. They, along with Justice Clarence Thomas, are young enough to influence the court for years to come. Doing away with affirmative action programs would be a step in the wrong direction. I do not speak as one who has the impressive academic credentials of any men and women appointed to the Supreme Court. I come from an elementary, unsophisticated background. My grandfather was a sharecropper who lived for nearly a century and died in 1976. He was the son of an enslaved person. He was a fair and a just man who taught me American History firsthand. If Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel A. Alito could have sat at my grandfather’s feet, they would have learned firsthand why we need civil rights and affirmative action legislation. Their views on Civil Rights would probably be different because they would be aware that those in positions of power need safeguards to decrease the potential for abuse and misuse of power. They would also be mindful that status can disconnect a person of privilege from the concerns and well-being of less privileged people. Civil Rights programs are needed because human beings are subject to make mistakes that affect the lives of millions of men, women, boys, and girls who may not share the common heritage or backgrounds of most Americans. Sound civil rights and affirmative action legislation are needed for America’s welfare and health, and it is essential to note that affirmative action does not mean quotas. It simply means being fair and objective when dealing with persons of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Civil Rights and affirmative action are not conservative or liberal issues. It is a human issue that affects persons from all social-economic backgrounds. Both opponents and supporters of civil rights need to realize that some form of civil rights and affirmative action programs are necessary in an imperfect world where human beings struggle with fairness and objectivity. Source: Affirmative Action – Could Justice Alito’s Vote Change the Game – Yahoo News.html