LETTER: Self-righteous Fantasy

To the Editor: I can imagine what it is like to automatically come under suspicion because of my race. But I cannot understand Smith's attitude that Discovery Discs is making blacks feel like second-class citizens, while fleecing them for $13 per disk. Who is the sucker, I ask? Those who feel an institution stands opposed to their principles need not patronize it. Discovery Discs is a business, established in order to make money for the owners. If it needs to guard against theft to stay in business, it should do so. No one's rights are violated by the replacement of liner notes with photocopies. If only notes from certain kinds of music are stolen, only those notes need to be removed. I do not think Discovery Discs is an enemy of racial harmony. The manager's decisions are pragmatic, and for the greatest good of all. Discovery Discs, after all, provides music for many persons including those who would steal from the store. If the manager cannot prevent shoplifting, he will stop offering the music, and the real losers are those who listen to such music. Discovery Discs is implementing the best solution to a tough problem. It permits the store to stay in business and continue to stock black music when otherwise it might have to discontinue the line. Smith asks us if it is odd "every single Greek house on Locust Walk is comprised mostly of white males." No, is my answer, at least at a school comprised by a majority of white students. I do not think we need a black frat for every white frat, nor do we need frats composed of equal numbers of black and white brothers. Smith is stereotyping whites as racists. White persons are not all racists any more than black persons are all thieves. Smith should shed his siege mentality and understand that in an imperfect world, trying to make an honest living can appear to the benighted as an act of racism. ED GELBER College '95