I had a feature, called Julie’s Jewels, on Norns Triad Publications’ blog. I used it to share tidbits about my life, which I tied into book suggestions (because you know I love books). I thought it might be fun to do something similar here. Hence, the birth of this series, #NorthupNews.
The cool thing is that my partners, Sahara Foley and Karen J. Mossman, have similar features on their blogs. It is a way for us to connect with our readers. Hopefully, it is as interesting to you as it is for us.
I grew up in poverty, though many see my skin color and immediately label me as “privileged middle class.” My personal history is never asked nor considered because it is assumed based on my race, which isn’t fully represented by my appearance anyway. See, I am multi-racial, though that, too, is over-looked. I am Native American and Hispanic (Mexican and Spanish), though technically, Hispanic is NOT a race, despite being treated as one (as you see in the college admissions considerations).
I explain this because it illustrates prejudice and shows that racism can exist for everyone.
In addition, I am a female. That means I have also felt the sting of sexism. I have been treated differently because I am a woman, even in the United States. For example, when I joined the U.S. Air Force, I was required to have a LETTER OF PERMISSION from my husband in order to enlist. It was also IN MY LIFETIME that women in the UNITED STATES were given the right to have credit WITHOUT a man co-signing for them (I was born in 1971 and women were not allowed to hold credit until 1974).
The debate about Affirmative Action and it’s ban is on. Before we watch these videos, let me remind you that Affirmative Action is not for race alone. It is suppose “to recruit and advance qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. Affirmative actions include training programs, outreach efforts, and other positive steps.” This means that Affirmative Action was never meant to be solely about RACE nor a “black issue.”
So, where do you stand? Clearly, we can see how Affirmative Action (and by extension DEI) can be used to both help and hinder. Hence, the debate.
The place I stand in life now fits many boxes of Affirmative Action: I am a multi-racial female who is also a disabled veteran. This might make you wonder how I feel. Well, I understand that white women benefited from Affirmative Action, and I certainly see how it can be a benefit. However, I never believed swinging the pendulum from one side to the other solved anything. We need to find a solution, not counter with an equal but opposite reaction.
I believe in rewarding people based on merits. If you are capable and work hard, you earned the right. Standards should not be lowered to accommodate race or sex. For example (Affirmative Action), if a man or woman is unable to meet the standards of being a fire fighter, then they cannot do the job. Period. Their race and sex should not be a factor. If they cannot handle the physical requirements of the equipment and carrying a person from a burning building, then they become a liability and put more at risk. They do NOT deserve the job because they are unqualified. Period.
Another example (DEI): being dependent on medication has ALWAYS been a disqualifier for military service (reference section 1, part B, item 3). Why? Simple. If you are in the theatre of combat, your medication cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, you become a liability if your functionality is dependent upon receiving that medication. If you are transgender, you are dependent on medication – medication that alters your brain function. Opposing transgender persons in the military has NOTHING to do with politics. It is the basic concept that they must take their medication to maintain their new gender identity and that medication cannot be guaranteed in the theatre of combat, which is a disqualifying factor. Period.
When we remove the propaganda and agendas to simply look at the relevant data, things become so much more clear. When we can stop dividing our people based on color and gender, then we are going to be better off. We need to invest in our kids, so they are prepared to meet challenges by the time they get to college. If we worked together, we could not only stop this from being an issue of race and gender, but we could prevent it from being a matter of class division, too.
You shouldn’t get a trophy for showing up. You have to learn how to be a good winner as well as learn how to deal with loss. You have to understand how to identify your personal strengths, and how to invest in yourself to achieve your goals.
You don’t fix the problem swinging the pendulum from left to right. You need to find a common ground for the greater good. There will never be a “perfect fix,” but once we remove race and gender, we can look at what is best for people as a whole. We need to consider our community as humans, not them versus us.
BALANCE is the only way to truth, real justice, and equality because the truth is that we are all unique. That is what makes us stronger and it is our diversity that gives us life!
J.M. NORTHUP 