Anthony Lewis on affirmative action

I can understand why columnist  Anthony Lewis is relieved by

        a recent House vote on affirmative action . ( May !8 )

             He sees no wisdom in the federal government penalizing colleges

        and universities with active affirmative action programs. Canceling

        these well intentioned programs , he thinks, will quickly result in

        a situation profoundly embarrassing to the very idea of " democratic

        legitimacy ".

              400 black students with 4.0 grade averages are rejected by the

        University of California , I read . But isn't it rather ironic that

        being  rejected by an " elitist " college ruins your opportunities

        for leadership roles in a " democratic " society.

               Perhaps " elitist " schools should be abolished ?  Why

        should  " elitists " professors  make " elite " students their

        exclusive concern ?   Most of their  brilliant lectures, for example,

        can be easily and cheaply marketed for the peasant masses .

            With computers omnipresent in our society , any information or

        wisdom available to an elite can be  made quickly available to

        some poor but intelligent black kid in a South Providence, Rhode

        Island  public library.

             I am convinced that an " elite " education in the United States

        is nothing more than a very undemocratic exploitation of the upper

        middle classes and an affront to the lower classes.

              The Ivy League is just full of baloney !