Point - CounterPoint

The following headline seems pretty routine, until you read the details.

Ethnically-Based Scholarships Awarded

A University of Texas at San Antonio student has become one of the first recipients of a scholarship offered only to Caucasian males.

The pre-law student accepted the $500 scholarship from the Former Majority Association for Equality on Wednesday evening in New Braunfels.

The nonprofit group, started by a Texas State student, claims to be the first to offer an ethnically-based scholarship for Caucasian males.

"It can get kind of frustrating when every other scholarship you need not apply to based upon your gender or your race," Bohannan said. "There's no reason not to have an ethnically-based scholarship for the hardworking families out there that are trying to put their Caucasian boys through school."

"There's scholarships for African Americans, scholarships for Hispanics, Asians and women and scholarships for people with left hands, so why not have a scholarship for a Caucasian male?"

While some might see this as a white-power type initiative, it should be noted that the board of the organization sponsoring the scholarships contains women and minorities. Its Mission Statement makes it pretty clear that all it's trying to do is provide the same sort of scholarships that other ethnic groups have access to.

The mission is simple: to fill in the gap in the scholarships offered to prospective students. There are scholarships offered for almost any demographic imaginable. In a country that proclaims equality for all, we provide monetary aid to those that have found the scholarship application process difficult because they do not fit into certain categories or any ethnic group. Our goal: To financially assist talented young Americans seeking higher education who lack opportunities in similar organizations that are based upon race or gender.

We do not advocate white supremacy, nor do we enable any individual that does. We do not accept donations from organizations affiliated with any sort of white supremacy or hate group. We have no hidden agenda to promote racial bigotry or segregation. F.M.A.F.E.’s existence is dedicated around one simple principle, to provide monetary aid for education to white males who need it.

While this might seem unnecessary, or even objectionable, to some, at least there is a certain amount of logic underlying it. On the other hand, we have a federal court decision that lacks any trace of logic in striking down a state law that bans the use of race or ethnicity in college admission decisions.

Appeals court strikes down Michigan's affirmative action ban

A divided federal appeals court on Friday struck down Michigan's controversial ban on consideration of race and gender in college admissions.

The 2-1 panel at the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals concluded the voter-approved ban on "preferential treatment" at state colleges and universities was unconstitutional, and "alters Michigan's political structure by impermissibly burdening racial minorities."

A ban on considering race and gender in college admissions is unconstitutional because it burdens racial minorities? Providing a level playing field for all applicants is 'impermissible?' It seems to me that the court is saying certain ethnic groups cannot succeed unless they receive preferential treatment. That's racism of the worst kind.

The affirmative action ban was passed five years ago in a referendum and was added to the state's constitution, barring publicly funded centers of higher education from granting "preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin." That prompted a series of lawsuits and appeals from various groups.

The appeals court has now said the Michigan law violated the Constitution's equal protection laws.

Prohibiting "preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin" violates 'equal protection'? Oh my aching head.

There are so many issues tied up in this case that I don't know where to begin. States rights vs. an overreaching federal government. It's okay to grant some groups preferential treatment, but not others. Treating everyone the same is prohibited.

The mind boggles...