Section Warm-Up

When we speak of civil rights and equal rights, do we all mean the same thing? What do you mean? Respond to the following statements to identify controversial views about civil rights and your views on the issues.

1. If men can be drafted, women should also be eligible.
2. Homosexuals should have the right to marry.
3. We need to give reference to racial minorities in hiring and education to make up for past discrimination
4. Only those who pay taxes should have the right to vote.
5. Pay for women should be calculated so that predominantly "women’s" jobs should be paid equivalent to men’s jobs.
6. Giving preference to racial minorities and women discriminates against white males.

As you can see, these issues are among the most contentious in American public policy. While America’s political culture values equal opportunity for all citizens, we don’t always agree on what this means when it comes to public policy.