A contradiction in affirmative action

After September 11  affirmative action seems to me a paltry

    controversy. But George Bush passed a minor character test when he

    reaffirmed his own conviction - against blatant racial favoritism.

             I believe that the desire to be well educated is so precious

    in our threatened  Western Civilization that no kid with this learning

    passion should be allowed to fall through the cracks of  institutionalized

    higher education.

             I say : HARVARD FOR EVERYBODY !  Are not elitist schools a

    mockery of American democracy ? They mass produce a very diversified

    bunch of SNOBS. It is a contradiction that a disadvantaged person

    seeks higher education in order to soon be able to look down on his

    own community from the heights of his newly " earned " social status.

             There is very little passion for equality in the human heart.

    The natural instinct is for advantage. But higher education should serve

    those with a true passion for EDUCATION -whatever their other motivations.

              There is a case here for McUniversity, I admit. But a true

    educational experience reinforces old fashioned American individualism.

    People who frequently visit public libraries have IT more than the

    millions who are hopelessly addicted to TV - and long estranged from

    books and reading - and even my precious daily newspaper !

               So if the kid loves learning - whatever his assigned

    cultural identity - send him to Harvard. Bill Gates will pay his

    tuition. Or perhaps are ubiquitous Mr. Feinstein.