Editor,
Thursday, as I was walking back to my dorm room from class, I stumbled on a group walking by the Duck Pond. They were of Hispanic descent and all were carrying cardboard signs.
As I passed by, I happened to look at one of the signs. On it was the phrase "White isn't right." Now, I do not know what they were protesting about or what the message was that they wanted to get across, but this phrase stuck in my mind. It got me thinking. How can people of Hispanic descent chant slogans degrading my heritage, but the moment I speak out about another ethnicity, I get labeled a racist?
Now, I am not a racist by any means. I try to treat everyone with the utmost respect, but how can a group be allowed to condemn another group just for their skin color? This sounds like reverse discrimination.
How is it that I cannot say "white pride" on this campus, but Hispanics can say "brown pride?" I get labeled as a bigot or neo-Nazi every time I try to honor my ancestors, but people of other ethnic groups can shout sayings like, "White isn't right."
This attitude toward white people having respect for themselves and being labeled racist needs to stop. I am tired of this reverse discrimination towards other people.
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David Stone
UNM student
Editor's Note: The signs were referring to Peter White, dean of University Studies, and his involvement in the Chicano/a Studies program director search, which students were protesting Thursday.
