Equal opportunity is not same as equal outcome

In Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a Dream" speech, he dreamed that one day his four children would live in a country where they would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. In King's lifetime, civil rights laws were adopted to make discrimination based on race a crime. To be sure we are not a perfect country, but we have atoned in blood to end the original sin of slavery. We continue to strive to be a "more perfect union" and there are other sins that need to be addressed. However, discrimination continues to be a daily occurrence and getting worse.

When we make policy decisions based on race, hire based on race, educate based on race, admit to schools/military based on race, we are moving backward. Reverse racism is racism. Consideration of reparations is racist. Looking backward and revising history is racist. Reducing standards is racist.

We need to look forward and lift those in need regardless of race. Why can't it be that simple? Because people don't want equal opportunity, they have that. People want a guarantee of equal outcome and to gain advantage.

At this point, if people are judged by race it is because they want to be judged by race. People seem to identify as a race versus being an American.

Back in the day, I fell in love with my wife because of who she was and not the color of her skin. In my life, I have seen my children excel not because of the color of their skin, but because of the content of their character (and watchful parenting). I dream that my unborn grandchildren will continue to be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I want them to know that they are where they are in life because they earned it, not because they were the right color. Nothing could be worse than advancement based on race. Would you like to know that there were better candidates but that you were selected because of your skin color?

David Clark

Libertyville