LETTER: Our Future

Bill Madison addresses some serious issues in his column, "Pass the Sunscreen." He talks about segregation, racism, bigots, fear, hatred and suffering. I am the first to admit that these infectious diseases exist and thrive in parasitic bliss on the ignorant members of this society. However, there is no excuse for the educated populace to succumb to such nonsense. People may have a tough time getting along, but it is we who posess the power, the strength, the knowledge and the potential leadership to overrun these preying viruses. We must assess ourselves honestly and cruelly if need be. We have to stop blaming some phantasmagoric racist conspiracy for our failures and shortcomings and we must vow to do better. We have to combat segregation, and perhaps a great way to begin that battle is to eliminate the racial/ethnic freshman housing option. If the University truly wants to end its disgraceful segregation problem, then people from all races and ethnic backgrounds should have an equal opportunity to get to know each other. Fear creates paranoia, and when one ethnic group, majority or minority, feels threatened, no ethnic group or race is secure. We are the new generation. The future -- a violent noncommunicating one, or one that enables the values of democracy to be orchestrated smoothly, is essentially up to us. Frankly, I'm scared. I'm scared for the militant white supremists and I'm scared of the militant black supremists. Let us become the mouthpiece for our generation -- a moderate, rhetoric-inspired, educated, dedicated collaboration of all who are interested in leaving behind a better world than the one that we -- due to no active participation of our own -- inherited. ALISHA BERGER College '95