"Because those motives don't matter. What matters is the end result of the person who has been victimized."

I was trying NOT to continue the quibbling, because, as I said, you & I have different 1st premises & definitions....I, for example, disagree with the juxtaposition of your sentences. I agree wholeheartedly that end results do matter. If a situation unfairly creates victims and causes discrimination and problems, I will help you right it. I was on a picket line in Hattiesburg Mississippi in 1964 when voting rights were being denied to more than half the population. I even was the deciding factor in getting a black state senator elected to office in Kansas against an avowed racist in the late 60s.

But I disagree that the motives don't matter. What I saw in Mississippi was RACISM. It was also wrong! I have since seen people 'dissatisfied' with actions & decisions - some of whom I agreed with and some whom I didn't, who got the short end of the stick because of actions were sometime wrong & unfair, but that were NOT racist, but were simply dumb, economic, greedy or careless. I might also try to right those wrongs, but HOW I do it can differ a lot when I can discern motives! (yes, sometimes you can....especially when the culprit admits it.)

"And what about affirmative action--the practice that denies whites equal access to certain schools and classes--do you favor that?"

As a matter of fact, I have serious problems with the application of some types of affermative action....not with the concept, because I am totally in favor of those who have been discriminated against and who would not otherwise get a fair shake getting the 'break' when things are basically equal otherwise...test scores & such. I just do not favor 'packing' and quotas which do a disservice to the public by passing over those with MUCH better credentials for jobs and school entry.....Special aid and schooling should be given to help the unqualified GET qualified and be able to compete on a level playing field. I'd love to see a society where it was hard to find discrimination and racism, but I'm not going to buy into a setup where all dissatisfaction is labeled racism. Just too simplistic and unrealistic. I assume you disagree....and thus I suggest again that we differ on 1st premises, are are unlikely to be able to debate too deeply.