'Hang out' with different groups

Editor:

After reading Sarah Youngblood's letter to the editor concerning UA students' lack of cultural awareness, I couldn't help but be annoyed. (I am an Irish half-Jewish Austro-Hungarian Russian Lithuanian . well . I guess I'm just "White") It concerns me that she took the behavior of the two "White guys" at Two Pesos to represent the attitudes of the rest of us. While I do not think that they were practicing appropriate behavior, it was brought to my attention that perhaps some people, believing they are Ä as Ms. Youngblood said Ä building "bridges between the different cultures on campus," are doing just the opposite.

By hanging out with people of their own ethnic group, and grouping all of us "Whites" together into one that is out to insult, suppress, and stereotype everyone else, I wonder how the gap can be bridged when people insist on hanging out with only those in their own group. Maybe it's because Whites don't have "beautiful cultures" like the "people of color," as she stated. If Ms. Youngblood is so sure that they "eat, sleep and laugh like everybody else," why does she feel it is necessary to avoid white people? (or at least "not hang around with (them) very much")

I am not saying that forced assimilation is the answer, or that groups for Asians, Blacks, Hispanics or Whites should not be in existence. But if their purpose is to foster an appreciation and understanding for other groups, I am seeing an opposite effect. I enjoy hanging out with people of all races, and don't see their ethnic background as important. I like or dislike people based on their character, not the color of their skin. Maybe if Ms. Youngblood hung out with us "White people" more, she would realize that most of us base our opinions of people on who they are, not what "beautiful" (or ugly?) culture they may represent.

Julie McLaughlin

Creative Writing Junior

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