In regard to a letter to the editor written by Randy Ridgel: He stated that liberals called him names for his criticisms of President Obama. I will not call him names. But being called “old,” “fat,” and “ugly” only speaks to your outer features to which you plead guilty.
In 1968 Frank Zappa of The Fugs asked all of us: What”s the ugliest part of your body? He answered: “Some say your nose, some say your toes, I think it”s your mind.” Racism exists in the mind and is hard to see unless one observes the results of racist thinking.
In 1970, I worked for a bank in Cleveland, Ohio, when Affirmative Action came to our attention. As we boys enjoyed several Manhattans over lunch (also called the three-martini lunch) at “America”s Citadel of Free Speech,” The City Club of Cleveland, my fellow female co-workers were banned from the place, because of their sex while only white faces were seen in the dining room.
At that time it was common for recruiters to place a large black check-mark on the applications of minorities seeking our jobs. The executive suites of the bank reflected the makeup of the City Club while the bank touted itself as an equal opportunity employer.
Randy said that the Constitution was written to promote meritocracy and not fairness, where lazy bums fail, risk-takers could succeed or fail, the middle class could keep most of what they earn, and Ford and Gates and their ilk are our smartest and hardest workers. I wish this fiction were true.
I”m sure he objects to Affirmative Action plans for minorities, however I”m also sure he finds merit in the practice of colleges allowing preferences for alumni legacies and faculty children in admissions. I”m sure he approves of family members, friends and neighbors helping to secure job opportunities and I”m sure he knows people, maybe even himself, who were provided “affirmative actions” by friends, neighbors or people already in the workforce. It”s not only the mom and pop grocer who hires their sons or daughters without thinking if they hired the best person for the job.
It”s no wonder that we shy away from public recognition that we engage in Affirmative Action and we deny any public recognition that we are beneficiaries of it. Perhaps it is time to free ourselves from the powerful sway of historical fictions on our moral beliefs.
Greg Blinn
Kelseyville
