@ndjs,
I think the term is appropriate if you look at it as "reversing discrimination". I agree that discrimination is discrimination regardless of who's doing the acting. Affirmative action is good when used appropriately, but its relevancy went out the window a while back. When it's the determining factor in a very tight points decision, or when quotas are used, then it becomes wrong in my book. I don't like going into any random government building and seeing all black women behind the counter, and I don't think veterans should get extra consideration when applying for those jobs either. I do believe that fields in which black people would be left out are better off for using affirmative action though.
We're not in the 1960s anymore, and all black people don't live in run-down projects.