So I'm not quite so much the wacky LJer, let me tell you why I reacted so strongly.
A couple years ago, I was talking with my advisor about admissions to the CS program at Berkeley. I said that some women in the department feared that they'd only gotten in because they were women. I can't quite capture his frustrated reaction, but he said something like "That's just wrong. Women have to fight so much in the first place, and then when they get there, they feel like they don't deserve to be there."
The conversation shifted, and I ended up saying something like "Rice shows that being a black Republican is a great way to rise to the top."
I later realized that this statement poisoned the success of black people in the same way the "I only got in because I am a woman" poisons the success of women. It was wrong of me to imply that she got the job because of her race. She's very impressive--and if someone told me that she's better qualified for her position than most in that position, I wouldn't be surprised.
I'm sure the Bush team did see her race as a political plus for exactly the reason you mentioned. In that sense, the Bush team is "using" her. But "using" usually implies that the "used" is somehow duped or unaware, and I think she's as fully behind Bush as just about anyone else in his administration.
Finally, by the accounts I've read, Rice is part of Bush's inner circle. If he'd just wanted a token for political reasons, he didn't have to invite her to retreats, include her in the planning, and sing hymns with her. (He pretty much excluded Colin Powel.)
Btw, I'm definitely a Democrat. I even donated money to Kerry in the last election. (Ask rebbyribs for my last name, and you can even find out how much.)
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-12-16 09:56 pm (UTC)A couple years ago, I was talking with my advisor about admissions to the CS program at Berkeley. I said that some women in the department feared that they'd only gotten in because they were women. I can't quite capture his frustrated reaction, but he said something like "That's just wrong. Women have to fight so much in the first place, and then when they get there, they feel like they don't deserve to be there."
The conversation shifted, and I ended up saying something like "Rice shows that being a black Republican is a great way to rise to the top."
I later realized that this statement poisoned the success of black people in the same way the "I only got in because I am a woman" poisons the success of women. It was wrong of me to imply that she got the job because of her race. She's very impressive--and if someone told me that she's better qualified for her position than most in that position, I wouldn't be surprised.
I'm sure the Bush team did see her race as a political plus for exactly the reason you mentioned. In that sense, the Bush team is "using" her. But "using" usually implies that the "used" is somehow duped or unaware, and I think she's as fully behind Bush as just about anyone else in his administration.
Finally, by the accounts I've read, Rice is part of Bush's inner circle. If he'd just wanted a token for political reasons, he didn't have to invite her to retreats, include her in the planning, and sing hymns with her. (He pretty much excluded Colin Powel.)
Btw, I'm definitely a Democrat. I even donated money to Kerry in the last election. (Ask