Letter to the Editor

Use character as basis for judgement, not economic status

Dear Editor,

Sometimes you have to censor what write or print. But since the writer and The Breeze did not, they both will have to endure the backlash of the "scumsucking lowlifes."

In Monday's "Darts & Pats," a self-proclaimed upper-middle class person decided to send a dart to all middle class white people — and for no apparent reason.

I don't know who you are, or how you were raised, but that statement was groundless, uncalled for and downright ignorant.

I happen to be a middle class white person, born and raised in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. There, I learned acceptance and friendship with people of many different races, ethnic origins and socioeconomic backgrounds. You cannot judge someone by the way he or she looks, the color of his or her skin or the situation in which he or she were brought up. These are things that no one can control. They also have no bearing on the content of character — the only thing on which a person ever should be judged.

I have worked for everything that I have ever gotten. Nothing has ever been handed to me, like it so obviously has been for you — unless you count the hand-me-downs of a struggling middle class family just trying to make it in this world. I'm not saying that all upper-middle class children have had the world handed to them, but by putting yourself on a narcissistic pedestal such as you have, to be disgusted with any person you deem to be "lower" than you on your own self-declared hierarchy of the social system, you are cutting off your opportunities to be exposed and influenced by many, many people. I am disgusted and appalled by people who think they can't associate themselves with those who they think aren't as good as themselves, for any reason.

Your ignorance and unfounded hatred toward others will only breed intolerance, for you, your children, and the people around you.

Chris Kaminsky
senior CIS Major

Letter from the Editor

Dear readers,

I would like to thank you for the e-mails concerning one of the darts in Monday's issue of The Breeze to "middle class white people in general." You are not alone in questioning the dart that ran. I assure you that steps have been taken to make sure the problem will not occur again.

Unfortunately, it was a problem that slipped through the cracks. There is no doubt the discriminatory phrase should have been removed. However, it wasn't. I hope you accept
my personal apology for this mistake.

I, myself, am a member of the white middle class that the dart targeted. However, I did not take offense to it because I feel it so ridiculous that no one should take it seriously. Yet, I realize that is not the case for everyone on this campus.

Again, I apologize for the mistake and I assure you such an incident will not take place in the future.

Drew Wilson
editor in chief