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Adams Mark hotel controversy



Greetings:

It is an interesting challenge (which I may not be up to) to speak to this matter in an objective way--not taking sides.

Today governments in the United States rightly attempt full non-discrimination in a variety of matters--including that of heritage (pardon me if I prefer that word and attitude to "race"--a word that continues to polarize this society) Yet while this should prevent government from practicing any form of preference as to one heritage over another, it sidesteps this with a continuing policy of "affirmative action." The latter brings up its own controversy, with good people on both sides.

Best I can tell from what I learn of Adams Mark Hotel from this ListServ, it is likely a franchise outfit with different units having differing levels of both service and corrosive prejudice in the way those services are--or were--administered. 

A further factor may be that of de facto negative prejudice vs. de jure negative prejudice.  That is, actions may have been practiced by hotel employees that were not specifically the policy or intent of the Adams Mark Hotel unit owners.  And once they became aware of such practices, those in control may have felt that making decisive changes to prevent reoccurrences should be sufficient redress. 

It is a difficult matter to please everyone on such a matter when even our own government is not doing so in regards to the very same matter ["affirmative" action seen as preference discrimination].   I suggest that each Adams Mark Hotel unit be judged upon its own merit rather than to brand the whole chain for the actions of only a few of their units.  A parallel here may be that of Name Brand clothing.  A shirt may be labeled, say, Arrow, but actually is produced by a variety of clothing manufactures under contract--and in agreement to certain uniform specifications. It is most unlikely that each and every shirt so produced is going to be of exactly the same level of quality. Selected shirts may even be below acceptable specifications--I am sure this happens.

 If any particular unit is practicing overt discrimination as to a person's heritage, it fully deserves censure and possible boycott.  However, as professionals, we all can understand the economic ramifications that needs to be considered when we are speaking of breaking contracts and the penalties that go with that action. 

I hope an analysis of this matter has been given that has tried to be objective.  As at least one respondent has said, economic boycott is an effective technique--but it should be fairly administered or it too may be unfair.  The problem is in finding an Absolute Measure of fairness--and that gets us into the matter of Belief Systems which is inappropriate here.

Respectfully submitted,

Geof Scott
Gscott@icpr.state.in.us

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