Maybe I just do not understand but what exactly is all the fuss about regarding the questions asked on the census? I’ve seen more than a few articles and reports criticizing the US Census Bureau for not only asking questions about race/ethnicity background but for the way they asked the questions. Some people are offended by these questions. Well, I have my own question. Why are you offended? Just because they were asked in the first place? Because of the way they were asked? Or are you the type that gets offended for no reason at all?
Look, if you’re offended that the government is asking what your ethnic background is you should also be offended by groups that conduct the surveys that determine what percentage of the “black vote” a certain political candidate has, for example. What percentage of Latino or Hispanic people support this bill or that policy, etc. See what I’m saying? All of the demographically related polling and surveying would have to be thrown out and not used again because it could be potentially offensive. In addition, if you want federally mandated Civil Rights laws, employment fairness laws and voting fairness laws being monitored and enforced, the government will need to know if they need to focus on some areas of the country more than others not to mention a whole host of other federally funded multi-ethnic programs like multiple language support programs for various aspects of society, just as one example.
Maybe I don’t get it because I just viewed the census form for what it is, the government analyzing the make up of the country’s population. It is a statistical tool that aides the government in distributing not only money to spend but also representatives in Congress. Maybe I also wasn’t offended because I’m not always looking at how something could be offensive.
On the census I checked off the box that said “White” under the question that asked about my ethnicity. I didn’t get ticked off because it didn’t ask if I was white with Eastern or Western European origins, Scandinavian origin, etc. I have Irish, German and American Indian roots, but I’m a white guy. I checked off that I’m a white guy and did not think anything more of it.
So what exactly should I have been offended about?
