Lots of good mail from frustrated readers, along these lines:

This has been fodder for discussion at my house. My wife was born in Texas, the child of two Hispanic parents. Our kids, however, would not be categorized as Hispanic by anyone based on their looks or their last name. We have been able to provide them with a quality of life that includes many advantages. Still, when it comes time to apply to college, they may be faced with the decision to “check the box” or not. I admit that I am conflicted. On the one hand, I wish the system did not offer any advantages for applicants based on race. On the other, should I expect them to deny themselves a perfectly permissible advantage that the kids against whom they compete will use? As part of the discussion with my wife, I was reminded of my neighbor and colleague. He is an active duty physician of Vietnamese ancestry. He literally came over on a boat as a young child as part of the Vietnamese exodus after the war. To be blunt, he is a bright guy who worked his ass off to get where he is. Still, if he were 15 years younger and applying to college, his Horatio Alger story would count for squat. He would, if anything, be penalized when competing for a spot with my children. In what sense is that fair?