Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I discovered your column this past summer. I quickly became a devoted fan when I noted your ability to look at life without glasses of any color. This is so desperately lacking in this country. I am sorry I did not click on to you sooner.

Like many Americans, I am following the tragedy out of Fort Hood with a heavy heart. As I studied the incident, I read that others around the suspect, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, noted erratic behavior. They were concerned about his mental state, and this has me alarmed.

Are we so caught up in the "politically correct" movement of not racially profiling someone that we missed warning signs that might have been reported had this man been "white"? Are we so scared to report what we see because of skin color that 13 people had to pay the ultimate price?

How do we end the discrimination that keeps certain ethnic groups from being treated fairly, both as good citizens and potentially dangerous ones? — Andrea

Dear Andrea: In our current society, one of the worst labels a person can carry is "racist." This label has destroyed careers and cost many people jobs and promotions. If you work for any form of government, such a charge almost certainly will derail your career plans.

I believe perceived disadvantaged groups have sensitized America successfully, such that agencies will step lightly around any situation in which any possible charge of racism may be hurled.

I believe it is obvious that agencies gave the benefit of the doubt to Maj. Hasan. If there is an investigation, I believe it will be revealed that a supervisor or someone in authority gave the word to back off and disregard evidence.

The only way this climate of fear will end is for people to speak out for fairness.

Dear Larry: I think you have been had regarding the young adult librarian who teaches classes on how to prevent discrimination.

This woman led the class through different exercises — lining up according to the first letters of their names and then according to their birth months. These are benign, so I wonder why, when the class was asked to line up according to skin color, anyone automatically would assume the class had left benign territory and moved to a discriminatory one?

Here is the clincher: Poll a large number of Caucasians, and ask which skin color they would prefer for themselves — pale or pasty white or a more bronzed, tan tone. I'm sure the vast majority would claim the latter. Therefore, I'm sure that the palest ones would be pushed to the back of the line.

What does this exercise prove? Nothing. I'm much taller than average, and if I were in a group that was told to line up according to height, I probably would go to the end of the line, and it would not damage my self-esteem in any way, nor would I think I was any less of a person for being at the end of the line.

It only would bother me if I were last in line to order lunch. — Charissa

Dear Charissa: If you told a group to line up according to height, most people would assume it would be "short to tall" because they have done this many times in their lives. However, being asked to line up according to color is almost unheard of. The question then becomes: Why would you put the lightest first and the darkest last? What factors would cause you to assume white should be first?

Yes, it is possible any given group could have reversed the order. However, whenever it is done, people self-align white to black. Why?

To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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