ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTION:

Never – Absolute question (Stand: Disagree but ultimately ineffective)

Attempts – Current Measures/ Policies/ Legislations

Define discrimination- it could be subtle or overt (done or shown openly; plainly apparent)

Combat- fight

Synonyms of discrimination: prejudice and bigotry

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INTRODUCTION

Albeit concerted (planned or done together for a shared purpose) efforts have been made by nations to combat discrimination, hitherto, discrimination – be it subtle or overt, still exists in our society, often unconsciously, and it is an inequitable (unjust) and immoral barrier to human freedom and flourishing. Therefore, it is highly improbable (unlikely) to totally eradicate discrimination.

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ANTITHESIS 1

POINT:

Much progress has been made to achieve equality under the notions of social justice.

ELABORATION:

Part of the education process is learning to interact with people of other races and nationalities. History has shown that some venerable (deserving respect because of age, high position, or religious or historical importance) tertiary institutions previously admitted predominantly all-whites and males.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The passing of The Civil Rights Act 1964 in America proscribes/ outlaws discrimination based on race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin.

EXAMPLE:

Affirmative Action (AA) is a set of laws, policies, guidelines, and administrative practices “intended to end and correct the effects of a specific form of discrimination.” These include government-mandated, government-sanctioned, and voluntary private programs that tend to focus on access to education and employment, granting special consideration to historically excluded groups, specifically racial minorities or women.

One of the beneficiaries of AA is Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the Supreme Court of the United States. She shared with Oprah Winfrey that she was admitted into Princeton University on the basis of being a Hispanic/ Latino.

EVALUATION OF EXAMPLE:

If not for AA, Justice Sonia Sotomayor would not have been admitted into an Ivy-League University and subsequently, it paved the way for her to Yale Law School and her appointment by President Barack Obama, once again, underscored that she was the first Hispanic to be appointed to the highest apex of US Court.

LINK:

Today’s US Supreme Court is indubitably more representative of America’s society than ever before and it goes to show that collective efforts to combat discrimination work.

REBUTTAL TO ANTITHESIS 1

However, in spite of AA being around for years, discrimination still subsists (Law: remain in force or effect)

POINT:

Certain minority groups had to work twice as hard and still could not be admitted to top universities.

ELABORATION:

Despite statistics showing that this particular racial group is burgeoning, correspondingly, the intake at top universities did not follow suit. More crucially, this group of students met the minimum admission criteria.

EXAMPLE:

A pending lawsuit, brought by a group called Students For Fair Admissions, claims that Harvard University unfairly weighs race when considering an applicant, forcing Asian-Americans to meet a higher bar in order to be accepted. They claim Harvard uses a quota system or a system of “racial balancing” – practices that are illegal under federal law – to limit the number of Asian students on campus in an effort to maintain space for other racial groups.

The plaintiffs say that if race was not considered, and if admissions were only based on grades alone, twice as many Asian pupils would be admitted because they perform well academically. The case is expected to shed light on admissions practices at universities. Courts have previously allowed universities to examine race as a factor in order to promote diversity on campus, a practice known as affirmative action, or “reverse discrimination”. Some unexpected revelations could also come out of the trial, such as how the university considers the children of alumni or donors or the applications of other pupils who are not admitted through the typical process.

EVALUATION OF EXAMPLE:

The education system is intended to uphold equal opportunity, but too often, as in Harvard’s case, it also entrenches racial disparities by its design.

LINK:

Despite the ab initio (from the beginning) legislative intentions were to stamp out discrimination against the minority groups in America, discrimination still exists. Attempts to combat discrimination cannot be effective because some pockets of discrimination are staunchly embedded within societies.

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THESIS 1

POINT:

People who suffer from mental incapacitation are highly stigmatised and mental health still remains largely a taboo subject in many countries.

ELABORATION:

Mentally ill patients are viewed by others with circumspection and face employment discrimination.

EXAMPLE:

Seven years ago, Ms Hafizah Kamarulzaman was diagnosed with Schizophrenia after giving birth to her son. She started hearing hallucinations and delusions in her late teens and for four years, she struggled to get a job. She shared with The Sunday Times that during her job interviews when she declared, bona fide, that she suffered from mental illness, her applications would be abruptly rejected.

EVALUATION OF EXAMPLE:

The truth of the matter is Schizophrenic patients if they are taking their medication regularly, are not a threat to society. Many a times, whenever an indiscriminate shooting happened in America, the media would erroneously report that it was perpetrated by a Schizophrenic.

LINK:

Therefore, it decidedly (clearly) shows that efforts to combat discrimination can never be truly effective.

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THESIS 2

POINT:

Prevailing racial discrimination evidently shows that attempts to combat discrimination have been a futile effort.

ELABORATION:

Despite legislations enacted decades ago to outlaw discrimination and the unprecedented appointment of a minority race to helm a country, racial riots have still erupted.

EXAMPLE:

The city of Ferguson, Missouri, has been a flashpoint for nationwide protests, a global symbol of racial and economic inequality since the killing of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown, by a white police officer in 2015. Right after the killing, demonstrators nationwide violently protested for more action to be taken following the killing and the release of a federal report that alleged overwhelming racial bias in the town and US authorities vowed to reform the police force and put a stop to racial discrimination at Ferguson. However, 4 years after the unrest, virtually all development is concentrated in the more prosperous and whiter parts of town, bypassing the predominantly black neighbourhood where Brown was shot.

EVALUATION OF EXAMPLE:

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LINK:

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THESIS 3

(Write on Islamophobia: dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force.)

[The following paragraph has been intentionally left out to protect the intellectual rights of The Rationale Thinking Learning Centre Pte Ltd.]

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CONCLUSION

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