Personally, I think the issues are more varied and complex than just affirmative action. Also, white women have benefited from affirmative action over the years.

In any case, your comments were interesting on the topic of Asians and AA. I'm surprised that your high-school friends viewed UC as "against" Asians. Were they talking as students or prospective employees? At the UC campus I attended as a grad student, more than 45% of undergraduates were of Asian descent, surpassing caucasians. However, most were of Chinese origin-- Indians were a small percentage.

I've always been impressed with Asian academic accomplishments at all levels, especially among Indians. I have never viewed them as "disadvantaged" in terms of educational opportunities here in the US, and they certainly seem to dominate the technical, engineering and science-oriented fields. I also understand that many Indians are recruited from overseas for engineering and other tech jobs under specific work visas requiring their expertise. But perhaps I will have to learn more about the educational and hiring preferences vis a vis Asians.