European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                I our Imus quotas ride to the Rescue in racist America Rob Tate t i am tired of Reading letters to the editor about racism and reverse discrimination. All these letters have shown that there Are a lot of closet racists out there both Black and White. I guess however ill go ahead and add to the growing list of articles on the subject. The most sickening thing about All of the controversy is that we Are All americans supposedly Savior of democracy fighters of wrong and fighters for truth Justice Liberty and so on. We Are americans living in Europe and All we can seem to do is Bash each other in the ground. How disgusting. Blacks seem to be blaming Whites for most of our misfortunes while Whites seem intent on denying that Many injustices occur or have Ever occurred. My solution is for both sides to Wake up a Little bit and Start to accept a Little responsibility for each of our own actions. One letter on reverse discrimination called for a response. It is sad that there Are plenty of people who honestly think that discrimination does not exist in America. It really does t Surprise me because i know that there Are some people who think the nazi holocaust never happened that internment of Japa Nese american citizens during world War ii was justified and necessary and that women done to really deserve equal Opportunity in the Job Market. As the saying goes if ignorance is Bliss then there Are some very Happy people in the world. For the record i am a Black male and a Pilot in the . Air Force. So you can imagine where this letters Point of View will originate. Also i believe that discrimination of any kind is not Only wrong but is also detrimental to the values supposedly so highly held by the american people. Everybody deserves a fair Chance and i believe the most qualified people should ideally get the Job or promotion they Are either seeking or deserving of. But lets face it historically America has not been known for its fairness in Job hiring. If All americans were fair in their hiring practices quotas would not be needed. Period. I am in favor of quotas Only because there Are Many qualified minorities and women who would not get certain jobs and or promotions because of their race or gender if certain employers were not forced to hire them. Until America wakes up and stops the racist sexist game its playing quotas will be a Nec essay part of the american employment system. For those who think the most qualified person for a Job should be hired i agree. Because of that lets go Back into the record books and nullify the records of people like Tycobb babe Ruth the four horsemen of notre Dame and some other famous White athletes. Why because they never played against some of the greatest athletes in the country. Since Blacks were denied an equal Opportunity to play in professional and collegiate athletics outside of negro leagues Many famous athletes competed against sub Par Competition and thus never truly proved their greatness. That would be like a healthy to Jackson running for Ramstein High school and setting Rushing records galore. Would those records really be valid i think not. Of course that would be silly. But what is Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander. Discrimination is not just bad when it is against Whites its bad when its against anybody. Unfortunately the loudest and most publicized cries of a a foul i seem to hear about Deal with the a a terrible injustices of reverse discrimination. One letter noted a a giant Case of reverse discrimination on its americans  if this is the Case then discrimination against women and minorities is surely one of biblical proportions. Whether people Are willing to admit it or not it does exist has always existed and will continue to exist right in the Middle of the american dream. Another interesting thing about the letter on reverse discrimination was that it was written by a woman. She talks negatively about Black history month miss Black America and the existence of other Black organizations. What about women a groups and women a history month women realized discrimination existed years ago and thus was born the women a suffrage movement. My question is if discrimination is not a fact then Why Are there in existence these groups organizations and holidays that Aid the cause of women Are there quotas for women too you bet there Are. Have men Ever been denied employment because of their sex in a sure you All know the answer to this question. The main Point Here is that it is not Only minorities that seem to get Breaks when it comes to employment. To make it appear to be a a Black things is misleading and  you think reverse discrimination As the letter opined a causes a lot of bitterness and adds to the racial tension in the . Today a you should realize that reverse discrimination cannot possibly add any More tension or bitterness than the racism that is evident in everyday american society. America is historically a racist nation a period facts Are facts and All one needs to do is take a trip Down to your local Library and the facts will be sure to overwhelm even the most ignorant of critics. Now done to get me wrong like i a sure most of you already did. I try not to blame anybody for the setbacks i have personally experienced. I will also be the first to admit that if More Blacks spent their time learning in school and working toward careers in Medicine engineering Law and the sciences instead of spending so much time playing sports our situation in America would be better. To blame Whites for the entire Black condition in America is wrong and unrealistic. There Are Many Blacks More racist than most Whites in be Ever encountered. They Are the ones who fail to realize that if All Whites were As bad As they would have the rest of us believe then Blacks and other minorities would be absolutely nowhere in America. For me to blame Whites for All of my problems is for me to deny responsibility for myself and this is often used As an excuse for underachievement. This too is unacceptable. The Best Way to end this re verse discrimination debate is for women and minorities to become so Good at everything that the excuse a reverse discrimination will become extinct. Blacks we must quit blaming All of our misfortunes on other people. We Are better than that. We must accept responsibility for our actions and most of our failures. Only then can we As a whole Start to move Forward and leave our negative past where it belongs in the past. To you White Guys whom in be heard say racism or discrimination does not exist get a clue. If you really believe this then i do feel sorry for you. Does it exist in the civilian world yes. Does it exist in the military yes. Have i As an officer in the United states air Force Ever experienced it a resounding yes lastly if anyone is bothered by All Black colleges and the like Check out americans All White clubs and organizations. For starters there Are the Kun flux klan the aryan nations the Neo nazis and loads of All White Gold clubs. As of 1983 there was Only one integrated fraternity at the University of Tennessee. A traditionally All Black fraternity gladly accepted a White member. The traditionally All White fraternities on the Knoxville Campus were repulsed by the idea of allowing Blacks to join and thus kept their. A a clubs segregated. Of Well so much for the statement of no All White organizations in America. You know what discrimination does stink capt. Rob tata la stat Load at Gallan Kirchen Garmany. Send in your column plus a photo of yourself to be our guest sunday Magazine the stars and stripes Apo 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37, d-6100 Darmstadt 11,  laugh Levin Usa Iii it r a  \ i i get very depressed around the holidays. Com i \ i from the cover .4.7 the Malcolm xfervor.sidelights.9 Clarence Page Calls on Clinton to remember votes Odds amp ends. Emta Bombeck joins Bliss a banners on  tune. The French Mark on Quot Wayne s  week s films .12-13 Chuck Emch on night and the  cafes circuit listings. Television radio.14-17 local Cable and satellite schedules. Home entertainment 18 Rar and a Way reaches video. Voices .21 Linda Ellerbee cheers Clinton voters. Words amp wit.24 William Safire grows the usage debate. Books .25 the fury s sound in Malcolm x package. On parade.27 trying to Rise with rap. Last laugh .28 Dave Barry s alarm system goes to the dogs. Sunday is a weekly supplement of the stars and stripes _ editor Bucky Fox Art direction Peter Jaeger production Mon Trice Presley editorial assistance Marian Hamilton Louis Pierce Page 2 a sunday november 15. 1992