Just so we get this straight from the very start, I am not trying to get you to “worship at my altar or partake in my communion.” However, I am going to correct you in some obvious mistakes your letter (Daily, Feb. 25) had … fair enough?

Even though you should never assume anything, I am going to break that rule and assume that you are white, heterosexual, and male because, it is that group that predominantly thinks that all the cries of racism, sexism, and bigotry are just figments of the minorities’ imaginations. Don’t think I’m insulting your intelligence, it isn’t your fault for belonging to a group that doesn’t experience first hand the amount of oppression that is present in this campus and in this country.

Members of the Daily, the Drummer, and the ‘student movements’ aren’t trying to force you to agree with their opinions either. All they are trying to do is make sure that the unsuspecting public is aware that the terrible things like racism, sexism and bigotry are alive and well in our everyday lives. Whether you’re aware of it or not, you made a very sexist comment in your letter. “Cultures are systems of ideas each to be judged on its ability to serve MAN’S life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; which is the only rational standard. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a more-than-significant amount of this population women? I guess that little fact must have slipped your mind.

As a matter of fact, who is it that gets to pursue those civil liberties of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that you speak of? I’m not sure if you are aware, but anti gay legislation on marriage is going through lowa’s legislature in March. If that passes, it goes against approximately 10 percent of this state populations’ rights to those liberties that this country was based upon. So, whether you believe it or not, the only group that really gets to enjoy ALL of those rights is the caucasian, heterosexual, male (at the present time).

Although I agree with you on the fact that race and culture are two separate things, I do not believe that getting rid of the pride that goes along with being a member of a particular culture would solve all the “isms” in this society because, even without people showing pride in their heritages and who they are as individuals, race will still be a factor, sex will still be a factor, and sexual orientation will still be a factor. The only thing that is going to stop all the hate is education and above all a willingness to understand and accept others for who they are.

I don’t know about you Mr. Johnson, but I am very proud of who I am, and I am going to work my tail off to make sure that I and everyone else, regardless of sex, race, orientation, religious affiliation and every other possible difference, gets to enjoy those civil liberties that were promised to everyone for being a member of United States of America. Not everyone gets to enjoy them today sir, but with hard work and persistence, there is always the promise of tomorrow.

Angie Chipman

Freshman

Psychology