Legal Commentary

Clegg & Connerly At Conference

Here?s a conference I really wish I could attend. Any of you around Los Angeles on January 19 have an opportunity to spend an enlightening day listening to a number of knowledgeable speakers, including Ward Connerly (the keynote speaker) and Roger Clegg of the Center for Equal Opportunity.

Here?s a preview of some of Clegg?s remarks:

NEW YEAR?S QUESTION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS: IS IT REALLY THAT HARD?

by Roger Clegg

This is my tenth year at the Center for Equal Opportunity. The focus in our organization is on racial and ethnic issues, and we?ve stolen our motto from the rest of you: E pluribus unum.

Identity politics, balkanization, segregation, reparations, discrimination, set-asides, and racial preferences ? all bad.

We?re also pro-immigration: We think the country?s economy needs a relatively high number of immigrants. But with immigration ? and especially with high levels of it ? must come assimilation. That?s not a dirty word: You come to America, you become an American ? and then other Americans accept you as such.

The assimilation that?s needed is not limited to the new arrivals, as it turns out. Sometimes immigrants come here more solidly grounded in traditional American values than the folks already here.

The need for nonimmigrant Americans to assimilate comes up in another way, too. Racial and ethnic disparities are often pointed to as proof of discrimination ? and the need for racial preferences ? when in fact those disparities are the result of bad lifestyle choices: having children out of wedlock, using drugs, committing crimes, dropping out of school, and so forth.

So, for immigrants and nonimmigrants, in the past I?ve listed ten crucial aspects of assimilation. There?s nothing wrong with ethnic pride, and we don?t all have to eat the same foods or listen to the same music, but we do all need to: (1) speak English, (2) respect other racial and ethnic groups, and, conversely, (3) not ask for special preferences for our own racial or ethnic group. We must also not (4) bear historical grudges, (5) believe that working and studying hard are ?acting white,? or (6) have children out of wedlock. On the other hand, we should (7) follow the law, (8) be reasonably polite to one another, and (9) respect women. Finally (10), we should all be patriotic, proud Americans.

Now, here?s my New Year?s question: Should any of these rules really be that hard for individuals to follow or that controversial for politicians to endorse?

I know there are some loopy professors who really hate the idea of a melting pot, and some poor souls who just can?t seem to follow the law, and some demagogues who make their livings through false accusations of racism. But I?m talking about the overwhelming majority of Americans, of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and both political parties.

What presidential hopeful, in particular, and what American has a problem with this vision?:

An America in which no American refuses to accept another American because of his race or national origin, and no American asks for special treatment on that account, and no American carries a grudge because his neighbor?s ancestors did something to his own ancestors. And no American treats women as second-class citizens either, whatever the culture or country or ?hood he came from.

Likewise, Americans are reasonably polite to one another: Treating each other as human beings is required of us all with whomever we deal and is not viewed as being an Uncle Tom; being sullen and truculent is not being authentic or tough or cool. Studying hard and working hard is not acting white, and it is expected of everyone. People don?t self-destruct by breaking the law or having children before they are married.

We must be able to communicate with one another, so we all must learn English and use it as our principal language.

Finally, we are proud of being Americans, and accept and welcome those who follow these rules as Americans, too.

As a conservative, I know that it is foolish to expect Heaven on earth ? even in a fresh New Year ? and that there will always be poverty and crime and bigotry and ignorance.

But, on the other hand, the country as a whole would prosper, wouldn?t it, and our society would be pretty tranquil, wouldn?t it, if these rules were followed by most of us? And are they really that hard?

Just asking.

Happy New Year!

Full post as published by Discriminations on January 11, 2008 (boomark / email).