Equal Opportunity in the United States (2003)

WHEREAS, The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has maintained the right of all citizens of our country in terms of earning a livelihood, to be educated to their maximum capabilities and interests, to participate in the political life of their country and generally, that discrimination based on ancestry, color, religion are antithetical to Judaism as our Movement understands it, and alien as well to the principles which undergird our country's constitution and spirit,

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the USCJ 1. affirms that equal opportunity in all these areas should be granted to all citizens of our country and 2. that those who may have been or are deprived of the opportunity to participate by virtue of inadequate education or other preparation, be provided with such preparatory programs as will enable them to so participate -- with the clear understanding that ability and performance and capability are the determinants for participating in such alleviating program(s) and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the USCJ rejects any program/position/argument which seeks to rectify the absence of this training and/or capability by developing double standards for enrollment in educational institutions, political participation, employment or any other area as such double standards represent discrimination in the full sense of the term, and do a disfavor to those who have the lower standard applied to them, in addition; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The USCJ views the application of equality as a standard which cannot be eroded by any other determinant, race, religion or history. Our Faith Members are not unfamiliar with discrimination and worse... we will reject it, however garbed and rationalized, will fight for equality and will be determined in our stance by genuine equality, neither discrimination per se nor discrimination garbed in the dress of double standards.