Should a person's race ever be asked on a government form?

[Bandit]

IMHO it should never be a legitimate question. I always refuse to answer that question whenever it appears. What purpose could it ever accomplish? We are all one race... The Human Race and that should be the end of it. It is because of such a question that hispanic felons are not listed on the Florida purge list. What does a persons race have to do with whether that person is a felon or not? Maybe I am just too damn nit picky but this issue really bugs me.

[Walt Starr]

1. I always just check "Other"

and fill in "Human" on the line.

[notadmblnd]

2. I use "Human" too

I thought it was quite funny though, some years back my husband and I applied for a mortgage and I had left the race info blank. When I looked over the papers at closing.. they had been filled in. I informed him on the spot that he was now officially white. He was a good natured easy going guy and just chuckled. It happened one other time also. he was in the U of M hospital undergoing heart surgery... when I read the surgeons report to him.. he was listed as a 45 yr old white man. I really couldn't understand how the surgeon that operated on him could miss that one.. We just joked that it must be due to the fact we're all the same color on the inside.

[mstrsplinter326]

3. Fed. Form: FAFSA

Decides student loans, wouldn't go over well to put down nothing on that federal form. Especially if you are non-white, cause then you would be screwing yourself.

[redqueen]

4. I think it serves a purpose

If we don't track how however many people of which nationality are doing, how would we be able to identify and address trends that may indicate unfair treatment?

[porphyrian]

6. Two-edged Blade

Yes, racial data can be used to track trends benefically, but they can also be used negatively, to herd all Japanese into camps, for example. In general, I believe that more information is always better, but we must be careful with who collects it and what it's used for afterwards. I find it particularly disturbing how much demographic research is done by corporations.

[AP]

5. If you think racism exists in America, and that the government can do

things to improve things, then I think that not letting the Government have data about race makes it harder to make a difference (and to measure the difference they're making).

So, if you like the status quo, by all means, object.

But, if you want to move forward, then help the government do its job.

[Eloriel]

7. Nice rightwing talking points you got there, Bandit

We are all one race... The Human Race and that should be the end of it.

And THAT way, you see, as others have explained before me, racism becomes invisible. If you can't track (and quantify) unfair treatment and discrimination, those who are victims of it have little "data" with which to press their case. THAT lets the racists among us off the hook, free to discriminate to their hearts' content.

Surely you wouldn't want that. Would you?

[seabeyond]

8. depends how it is used. higher in all

i have thought that in past, but personally having all i do, being white and raised middle class a lifetime, i filled a form the other day to get kids in a really good public school. there is limited spaces, but this school excels, demands from kids, have high expectation. we so lack that, so children dont produce.

i have a single father. i have spent three years with his son, going thru divorce, and not a lot of money, living in poor area, and mexican. i love these people. we brought jonnathon into boyscouts, have him over often, just to give dad breaks and give jonathon a space with fewer little ones, quiet ect........

anyway he cant afford private this year and schools poor in his district, i picked up an application for his son for this really good school

husband says, being mexican and poor, he could bump my son out of space

good, that is cool by me, boys will continue to go to their private school, one more year, i can afford

so i bring it to, when the thought of being identified by race or gender bothers me, i think about the positives it is used. such as placing a child with less, over a child that is fine. this is a good thing for me

if it is used to deny, then bad. but i do embrace the seperation on different forms because i know it is being done to help the minority