Affirmative:

adj.
1. Asserting that something is true or correct, as with the answer "yes"
2. Giving assent or approval; confirming
3. Positive; optimistic
4. Of, relating to, or being a proposition in which the predicate affirms something about the subject

n.
1. A word or statement of agreement or assent, such as the word yes.
2. The side in a debate that upholds the proposition

Action:

n.
1. The state or process of acting or doing
2. Something done or accomplished; a deed
3. Organized activity to accomplish an objective

It's amazing how the creative useage of language can cover things up. What is affirmative action, in the political sense? Does it have anything to do with the act of asserting a correct statement or any of the direct definitions above? No, it doesn't, not in a lexiconological sense.

In reality, it means legally supported arbitrary discrimination. In the twisted sense it means today, we use the power of government to interfere with the public/government job and education markets, with an emphasis these days on education and how students are accepted to public universities and colleges. We do this in order to atone for, make up for, and redress past wrongs, typically slavery and institutional racial discrimination. And to "rebalance" in a sense the system so more people in the Wronged Class can go to a place of higher education. Additionally, we do this in order to give the Disavantaged a better chance scholastically by making it easier to enter higher education.

But why were those wrongs "wrong" in the first place? Assuming we stick with the public/government sphere here (where most of these laws impact), the government decided it was wrong to discriminate people on the basis of their race. In brief, the disgusting arbitrariness of the choice to deny blacks from entering certain schools funded by taxpayer money. It is wrong to judge someone simply on the basis of their skin color and absolutely wrong to actively prevent them from furthering their self-interest.

So...why do we support affirmative action? On it's face, it is a system which actively discriminates against others based on their race. If the goal is to stop discrimination, why replace a previous discriminatory policy with another? Why should a black person get preferential treatment over other people of different races? And why should other applicants suffer in order to redress past wrongs?

I deeply hope the Supreme Court ignores all the politics and the bitching on both sides and simply sticks to this fundamental question: If it was wrong in the past, why is it right today?