White-privilege talk ignores real issues
As Tristan Reed points out in his column (“Admitting white privilege first step to equality,” March 5) we must be “frank” when discussing racial inequality.
However, instead of candidly presenting the reasons and possible solutions for differences in living standards, salaries and education between races, Reed focuses on trivial aspects of the racial debate.
He does little to advance the discussion when he insists that Hispanics and blacks are not “underprivileged” but rather whites are “privileged” ““ such technicalities are irrelevant.
While racism surely persists, opportunities are overwhelmingly available for one to advance in society.
We can discuss “white privilege” ceaselessly, but until we create a culture that values education and academic studies, racial inequality will not disappear.
Further, an adequate education system that provides students with the tools necessary to succeed in the real world is immensely important.
Reed goes on to assert that recognizing “white privilege” means accepting that whites may have achieved admission to UCLA “unfairly and undeservingly.”
I find this a little difficult to believe given that whites are a minority at UCLA.
We can create equality of opportunity, but if a culture rejects the very tool necessary for advancement ““ academic studies ““ true equality will never result.
Jesse Kobernick, second-year, political science and economics
Reed advocates wrong approach
Tristan Reed’s column (“Admitting white privilege first step to equality,” March 5) epitomizes the hyper-political correctness prevailing at UCLA.
This approach impedes the university’s mission of facilitating the pursuit of knowledge in addition to diminishing the academic and social experience of other students.
Reed’s self-flagellation on behalf of the white race does nothing to help undocumented immigrants achieve better working conditions, rebuild the houses of black Hurricane Katrina victims, expand educational opportunities for minorities or provide the indigent with access to health care.
Instead of looking backward to determine the greatest victims of a society, good public policy would look forward.
It would build the U.S. economy to benefit all, promote underrepresented minorities based on their own merit and not their skin color, fix failing public schools and redesign our catastrophic immigration policy.
While Reed’s totally unoriginal thought may receive a standing ovation at UCLA, those of us actually interested in improving our society will look elsewhere.
Nate Miller, Graduate student, public policy
Do not ignore the other side of conflict
How can David Lazar expect to credibly speak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without talking extensively about the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories (“Palestinians terrorizing peace process,” March 6)?
The occupation is only mentioned in a small snippet in his article.
To say that “the Palestinians are nearly entirely to blame for a lack of peace” is to smear the historical record and attempt to vindicate nearly four decades worth of brutal Israeli military occupation.
To deliberately mislead people about the nature of the problem is a huge obstacle to peace and a way to dehumanize Palestinians as savages seeking to destroy rather than create.
Mohammad Alhinnawi, First-year, political science