Published: April 21, 2009

The Supreme Court hears arguments on Wednesday in a challenge to the New Haven Fire Departments promotion policies. A group of white firefighters argue that the citys decision to throw out the results of a promotion exam on which the whites who took the test did far better than the blacks and Hispanics was racial discrimination. The city says it invalidated the results to avoid discriminating against minorities. The court should affirm the well-reasoned decision of the appeals court, which foundthat the city did not discriminate.

New Havens Fire Department administered an exam in 2003 for promotion to captain and lieutenant. A significant number of the 118 firefighters who took the test were black and Hispanic, but their pass rates were far lower than those of the white firefighters who took the test. If the Fire Department had promoted based on the test, two Hispanics and no blacks would have been eligible for the seven open captain positions. No Hispanics or blacks would have been eligible for the eight lieutenant positions.

Faced with a test that had such a strong adverse impact on minority applicants, New Haven decided to throw out the results and leave the supervisory positions open. In their lawsuit, the white firefighters insist that there was nothing wrong with the exam. They argue that the citys refusal to rely on it was an unconstitutional race-based decision, motivated by a preference for promoting minority firefighters over white firefighters.

New Haven was in a bind once the results came in. If it had used the tests to make promotions, it would have opened itself up to a lawsuit by minority firefighters. When it decided not to use the results, it was sued by white firefighters.

If ANY profession should be completely devoid of political correctness, it should be firefighting.

What happens if you pass out in your sleep due to smoke inhalation? I'm right now on the 2nd story. Last thing I need is someone who can't do a chin up to carry me down the ladder and drop me two stories because he or she isn't fit to be a fireman.

Yet another example of PC gone awry.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

ya know it's funny (in a not so funny way) that you mention being a white male & having no rights whatsoever cuz an incident happened recently & i completely understand reverse discrimination for the first time.

a 9 year old GIRL fondled a 6 year old BOY (they both attend my boys school) & the judge ruled that they were "experimenting" & did NOTHING!! his pee pee was so sore his mom thought he had a urinary tract infection, took him to the doctor to get his urine tested, & when they were cleaning off his pee pee, he started crying because it hurt so bad. yeah, experimenting my friggin arse!!! i am SO upset by this!! and to top the whole thing off, this girl is the boys father's girlfriends daughter. so he has to see her on a weekly basis & the judge STILL wouldn't do anything. the boys father said "too f-in bad, i have visitation rights, & i don't care - he's STILL coming here when she's around"!!!!!

our judicial system is an utter & complete failure when it comes to protecting our young children. our school systems are no better. when did it become ALL about protecting the people who DID the crimes instead of the victims? i will be going in front of the principal, superintendent, & school board to voice my concerns. i will NOT sit idly by & allow this child to molest someone else. it's sickening.

"4PackGirl" wrote:

Cheesey - That actually hurts us "colored people" too because when they see we get promoted, they wonder if it was because of our efforts or our race. Imagine working your ass off for a company and everyone around you is under the impression that the ONLY reason you got promoted is because of your skin color.

I prefer a colorblind society. Don't ask, don't tell when it comes to race/color/national origin. There should be 3 levels of questions and that's it:
1) Are you an American citizen?
2) If not, can you legally work here?
3) Can you prove you can legally work here?

Or something along those lines. That's it. No race/gender/sexual orientation/religion/or whatever.

4Pack - Wow. That's so sick. That may be one of the more extreme examples of reverse discrimination I've ever heard.

"zombieslayer" wrote: