Warp wrote:
> Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> I'm not sure why everyone would be required to ask your race, either
> 
>   Sometimes your appearances may be crucial for certain jobs, and it
> doesn't necessarily have anything to do with racism. A film role would
> be a prominent example.

Yes, but in the USA, you're not allowed to discriminate based on race 
for employment. (Where "discriminate" is taken to mean "discriminate for 
no good reason." Certainly you can distinguish between appropriate 
actors.)

For example, you're not allowed to ask someone their race during a job 
interview. But you're required to report on their race if you hire them.

In addition, the law says employers must report how many of each gender 
and race they've hired, supposedly so they can be punished if they *are* 
discriminating.  And the census asks your race (altho you can put down 
anything you feel like.) Apparently "Jedi knight" is a rather popular 
write-in religion on the census, for example.

You're also not supposed to discriminate based on religion, *plus* you 
don't have to try to guess someone's religion.

I'm just saying it's a screwy system, and while I understand the 
motivation, I think it sends the wrong signals to the new culture 
growing up, which is really the only way to get rid of discrimination.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

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