Originally Posted by
Itsajob
I’d just like to see all of these groupings go away. An airplane is just a machine and doesn’t know who is in the seat, and most of us don’t care either. People are individuals. I do think that when a school, employer, etc. give extra consideration to an applicant due to some grouping such as gender, race... over another it is just as discriminatory as if they had denied admission for the same reasons. I guess I’m just turning into the crusty old guy.
Sure, an airplane is just a machine, but our society is not. These organizations, as someone said above, are primarily about finding young people from certain specific demographics where, historically, their exposure to the aviation industry is low. Introducing them to the idea that, yes, they too can be pilots even though none of the pilots on TV or movies look like them (well, except for Denzel in "Flight." Oh, an I guess there was that wso, "Sun Down."). Introduction to aviation (school visits, camps), mentorship, scholarship, and resume help are all huge for someone who is a first generation aviator. By the way, those same things are offered to youth of EVERY demographic by these organizations, the point is just who they target. When ALPA pilots in schools starts going to inner city Detroit, Cleveland, etc then I'll be ready to hear your argument that these organizations are not needed. The part you see, the job fair, is a very small piece of what these organizations are about. Perhaps, instead of grumbling and complaining online, you should JOIN and VOLUNTEER for one. Maybe, just maybe, your perspective will shift. I can assure you that your help would be appreciated at any of the organzations you're so offended by.
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