If you are more concerned with hiring, or electing, based on some quota system, what job will be left for the biracial, deaf, lesbian, quadriplegic who is legally blind, without any regard to actual ability to preform the job, to be ceremoniously elected or appointed to? At some point, there will always be another _____ to add to the list.
The other side is for the person who was either elected or appointed to a position who is then constantly celebrated for being the first ______ or first _____ male/female, not only are there detractors handed all the ammo they need to question the person's ability and qualifications to even hold the job, but they themselves might end up questioning if they got the job because they earned it or because they could be the first ______. IMO, that is simply not fair to them, regardless of how much someone says it is required in order to "even things out". I say look for the best candidate, regardless of any quota to be filled, celebrate that person's achievements and if they happen to be the first _____ -- let that be a "just so happens to also be _______"
At the very least, respect that person enough so they know that they got the job because they are qualified and they earned it and not because there was some imaginary unfilled quota that they helped you to check off the list. ... js |
