American society
I want to say thank you for your insights into the structure of American society. I like your inclusive definition of affirmative action as including various programs that benefit different socioeconomic and ethnic groups differently.
I am doing a web page project at the University of Texas at Austin on the rhetoric of affirmative action. Check it out.
A good friend and wonderful person
On Nov. 12, 1996, I thought of Toni Cade and decided to look her up on the internet and to my great shock I found that she had died last year! I have not been able to stop the sadness and loss that I am feeling since I leaned of her death. I went to high school with Toni and she was a good friend and wonderful person, so outspoken, even then. Over the years, I thought often of her - at odd moments and for no particular reason - as if our lives were meant to have some sort of connection. I was so proud of her works and even bought "Gorilla, My Love" when I saw it in a bookstore. Our lives crossed several times, through mutual friends, although I never saw Toni again after we left high school. (She rushed ahead to graduate 6 months earlier than the rest of our class, so eager was she to get on with her life!) Somehow, I felt happy knowing she was there doing her thing and I really did think fondly about her quite often. I don't know why I'm telling you this because it can't possibly matter to anyone how I am feeling about Toni Cade, except that I must tell someone. I hope that a biography is in the works about this remarkable little lady!
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Burkhardt McGrath
Rambam Medical Center
Haifa 31096 Israel
affirmative action
I agree with you totally. Your message on affirmative action is very good and it should be as widespread as possible.
When The Well Runs Dry
The biggest problem will be to get Clinton to do something since Tyson is one of his (along with the ever increasing Walmart) main political contributors.
Comentario de Venezuela
Mi nombre es Belkis Briceño y soy estudiante de educación preescolar del Instituto Tecnológico Monseñor de Talavera en Maracaibo Venezuela. Este e-mail es de mi hermano, pero puede enviarme correspondencia allí. He leído con atención y detenimiento su artículo sobre los mitos de la educación pre-escolar y es facinante ver como algunos padres aún creen en ellos. A nosotros, los maestros se nos ve como alguien que "le tiene a los niños" mientras ellos van a trabajar y al preescolar se le ve como una guardería mas grande.
Es mas difícil en países subdesarrollados donde no exite la posibilidad ni los recursos para modernizar las escuelas. ¿Qué podemos hacer frente a la falta de recursos?
Together we stand
I respect what you and your magazine are trying to do. I am a very large supporter of racial and sex equality. I have written many essays and poems on the subject. Here is one of my most recent works:
Together we stand
There comes to me
a thought that be
not good nor bad
nor one been had.
And I once thought
For it I fought.
But I did not,
For I've been caught.
It once did seem
I did not dream,
Until of course,
I had remorse.
This thought I had,
I realized bad.
This thought would stop
Needs for a cop.
It would put ends
To fashion trends,
To gangs and wars,
And Hallmark Stores.
This thought began,
and with one man
dispersed the bull,
Because all men,
are created equal.
Thank you for your time.
Patrick August Andrew White
... here in Southern Colorado
Was just playing on the net and found your site. Enjoyed the articles on farm families and areas of the country that are doing something about corprate farming chemical use, water protection, and co-op developments
I'm here in Southern Colorado and have been working over the last few years on small town rural issues. We have recently opened a Cooperative "Ranchers Choice" To process Kosher Beef and supply the natural beef markets. I would be interested to know of other sites that are working in new cooperatives and more specific board members roles and responsibilities.
Thanks,
Richard
"... frighteningly true"
Thanks for your insightful article "Leverage Lost: Nonprofit Arts in the Post-Ford Era." Your assessment of where things are in the non-profit arts world and where they are going all rings frighteningly true. I feel it will take a high degree of entreprenuerial talent and creative thinking to position arts non-profits for a leaner, healthy future.
Thanks for a good place to start the dialogue.
Sincerely,
David Southgate
--
Intermedia Arts Minnesota is a multidisciplinary center dedicated to engaging the power of the arts in addressing social and human issues and to supporting the work of contemporary artists. Our Mission is to serve as a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art.
We believe that art is essential to and integrated in daily life, and that art has an important and under-recognized role to play in affecting change. Our priorities are to support culturally diverse work by regional artists which is artistically, socially, and politically challenging. We act as a focal point for collaborative efforts between and among artists and organizations.
http://www.IntermediaArts.org
that Jose Torres Tama is a righteous man...
that Jose Torres Tama is a righteous man... humor & all! keep up the good work... as this is not my computer you can try to send me your ' half off coupons but I will not be here to recieve, but trust in the fact that his words will be spread in my own 'little' ways...
VIVA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"...they need to aid those disadvantaged FINANCIALLY,
not racially"
As I read Paul Rockwell's arguements for Affirmative Action about how "white men" were the beneficiaries of preference programs I couldn't help but laugh to myself. First off, Rockwell points out that if you are a veteran you get preferences. What is his point? Veterans served in the armed forces of the United States, protecting our country. Also, not ALL veterans are white males, as, of course, Rockwell assumes. So, are veterans being hypocrites about receiving benefits and opposing affirmative action (AA)? No, because there is no "race" (a category white males have been put in to) that has collectively earned preferences. Veterans have. They have served our country in their lifetimes and should be served in return. Minorities are no longer repressed in society today, so how have they earned preferences? The same tenent goes with seniority (who's to say MINORITIES can't earn seniority?).
Also, I find it particularly offensive that Rockwell once again assumes that all homeowners are white males. Give us a break, already! "Women and minorities, even the poor are helping to pay off your house note.", he says. They are also helping to pay off their own house notes, Mr. Rockwell. Besides, aren't white males also paying taxes? Last time I checked they were still paying their tax dollars to fund welfare recipients who can't support themselves.
"Affirmative action is not unique to people or color.", Rockwell says. Well, yes it is. It SHOULDN'T be, but it is. Yes, the need to help those who are disadvantaged is a basic concept in American society. That is why programs that help those who are FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED, not programs that aid a specific race or gender, are needed in America. Why should a rich latino girl with a 2.5 be accepted to college over a white boy living in poverty who has managed to earn a 3.5? Programs like AA are needed, but they need to aid those disadvantaged FINANCIALLY, not racially. If this doesn't make sense to you, Mr. Rockwell, maybe you should join the "Confused White Guys for AA" group.
-Jeff Brunner (Freshman at USC)
the speaking of spanish
My opinion wich will be deleted as quickly as you are able, is that the speaking of spanish is for Mexico and Mexican's not American' in America.In your mag-rag you aid in the disharmony we already encounter by not helping legal immagrant to our country learn our custom's and language.They left there country for our's,for a reason,and we already have our own culture we do not need there help, they need our's.They need to be incorporated as quickly and painlessly as possible.
A farmer from South Dakota
I am a farmer from South Dakota and am very much looking forward to growing Round-Up Ready Soybeans.
The use of these soybeans means much less pesticide use, not more. Also I wish all those Greenpeace members would get real jobs so that they don't have so much time to bother people who work for a living.
Ronnie Cummins in Minneapolis, of the Pure Food Campaign responds:
Farmers who plant Roundup Ready soybeans are hurting themselves as well as other soybean farmers economically, they are extending their bondage to Monsanto corporate America's chemical treadmill--that is the increasing use of expensive, ultimately ineffective, toxic chemicals on America's farmland--and they are further eroding the trust between family farmers and consumers that must exist if we are ever to see farmers get a fair price for their products and consumers get food like our grandparents took for granted--that is chemically free, healthy, and natural food.
Although the 2-3% of farmers who planted RRS soybeans this year believe that they have saved some money on their herbicide bill, actually they lost (and caused their neighbors to lose) far more money, since the European consumer boycott has already caused US soybean sales to Europe to fall by at least $150 million (and helped drive down the farmgate price for soybeans). And the way things look now there will be almost no US sales to Europe in 1997 if genetically engineered grains continue to be mixed with regular grains--against the wishes of 90% of all consumers. In addition it is just a matter of time until weeds develop resistance to Roundup (as is already happening in Australia) and become superweeds.
At this point US farmers will not only have lost their $2 billion dollar market for soybeans in Europe and Japan and be receiving a lower price for their harvest, but will end up spending even more for their herbicides as well. Finally Roundup is not some harmless chemical. Its active ingredient mixed with its even more toxic inert ingredients have been registered as the third most common cause of pesticide poisoining for farm workers in California and the number one cause in Great Britain. As farmers know there is a cancer epidemic in America's heartland--partly resulting from exposure to chemicals like Roundup, and partly from ingesting contaminated food and drinking water.
80% of all consumers in recent polls say they are sick and tired of herbicide and pesticide residues on the food they feed their families, while 75% are alarmed about the health hazards of genetically engineered foods such as Monsanto's rBGH or Bovine Growth Hormone. Consumers, according to polls, are willing to pay a fair price to family farmers for healthy, natural food--but farmers must be willing to sit down with consumers, look them straight in the eye, and tell them the price they must receive in order to grow food the way we know it all should be grown--with low or no chemical inputs. (From thePure Food Campaign)
"At least the next 100 years"
Dear In Motion Magazine,
I was searching the web for some information on Affirmative Action for my term paper and I was absolutely fascinated by your web page. As a black hispanic woman I know what it feels like to be discriminated both ways by both the African American people and Hispanic people. I have been looked down upon by my hispanic brothers and sisters for being proud of being black. Most of the people from my country (Dominican Republic) feel that if you are white you are the greatest thing in the world, and if you have the misfortune of being born too dark then you should suffer for it or at least marry someone white so your babies can have a decent color. Most of the people in the Dominican Republic are brown and they are the first ones to be racist against one another. It's pretty scary, but it's true. If you tune into the hispanic channel you will NEVER find black hispanics, unless they are playing the role of a maid. My hispanic friends think that I am strange for loving my dark skin color. Somehow I am not suppossed to love myself for being black. One time my 7-year-old cousin told me that he was not black he was hispanic, trying to erase the ignorance I told him that even if he is hispanic he is still black. Before I could blink he turned around and cried all the way home. Not all hispanics are like this, but there are too many that do think this way. It is a scary type of brainwashing that has been practiced too long.
I have been told by some of my African American brothers and sisters that I am a "red bone" and not black enough for them. Sometimes people will be mean because they think that because I am light skinned that I am stuck up. I don't consider myself a light skinned woman, first I consider myself a daughter of God, then a human being, and then I consider myself a black hispanic woman.
What I am trying to say (and have been trying my whole life to say) is that we should stop the racism. We need to stop the racism within ourselves and with our own people before we can do anything about the discrimination the white people have against us. I have friends from every race you can possibly imagine and when I talk to them I don't see a color or race I see a friend. Life is too short to be hating everyone - before you know it your life will be gone and you'll have wasted it hating instead of loving. Please don't disrespect someone because they aren't "black enough" or don't look like a stereotypical hispanic person. It is wrong and it hurts.
Thank you, In Motion Magazine, for the beautiful articles you have. You have truly inspired me. I can almost bet money that I will get an A+ on my term paper. As far as Affirmative Action is considered, I pray that the government keeps the program for at least the next 100 years. I already have a hard time finding a job, if it weren't for affirmative action we'd probably be back in the 50's all over again. I wasn't born in the 50's but I am sure that I would not want to see "colored bathrooms" and "no ni--ers allowed" signs everywhere.
Maria Peguero,
Massachusetts
Navajo miners received the worst treatment
As I realize that the Navajo miners received the worst treatment of all uranium miners I would like to contact any living Navaho miners that have actually received the so called"compassionate payment" of $100,000 that is provided in 1990 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
I also wish to contact the qualified miners that have been denied these funds for a comparison of medical proof demanded to receive this payment.
In my case, Dept of Justice repeatedly denied my claim until I was finally able provide definate proof that I exceed every qualifier that was specified in the Uranium Mine Employees Guidebook to receive the "compassionate payment".
I have been diagnosed with silocosis and pulmonary fibrosis as far back as 1950 as shown in army records and I exceeded all time and exposure levels specified.
Dept. of Justice demanded further proof of injuries that I do not believe has been required of other living miners that have recieved this payment.
I had to submit to either a lung biopsy or arterial blood/oxygen test.
I refused the lung biopsy but submitted to the arterial blood/oxygen test but did not qualify for who knows what standards.
Either of these tests provide great risk for blood clots or infections and any invasion of the body can cause cancer and the Guidebook states only that you have had to have been diagnosed with one of several deseases listed.
Has anyone had to submit to these tests or is it just a ploy to cheat injured miners of their rightfull benifits???
Contact me: E-mail cages@oz.net
phone 1-800-668-2243
Thanks,
Lloyd G. Trail
Washington
What's going on in Black Britain?
Please can you help me plug in to what's going on in Black Britain. Your magazine is very helpful on the Americas but I need to know more on the UK.
Many thanks.
gerard
Send web site suggestions to: gdavies@guate.net
From Vegans in Scotland
I read your article about 'roundup ready' soy beans on the world wide web today, and am dismayed. No sooner have my partner and I started to be vegans than we hear an increased intake of soy products will probably be poisoning us. We'll no doubt turn to organic soy products only, but in the meantime, who knows what we're eating? It sounds terrible for the growers, too.
Richard Griffiths,
Clydebank, Scotland
Toni Bambara's books help to mend the world
Dear Ms. Lovelace,
We enjoyed your poem about Toni Bambara in which you praise the work of this great writer. Recently, in English class, we read "Blues 'Aint No Mockin Bird." We learned about the characterization in the story and we want to share our knowledge with you.
One of the characters we learned about was Grandpa. Through Bambara's description of him looking like a king, with large hands, and wearing workboots, it showed that he's a powerful, strong, hardworking man who deserves respect. We also think he is a soft-spoken, gentle, wise man who is protective of his family. We determined this through his speech, apperarnce, actions, and the feelings of the other characters. He is shown to be calm when he exposes the film of the camera instead of trashing the camera.
We think Grandma is an outspoken, aggressive woman who is frustrated with the cameramen, who are described as looking like wolves. She is a strong-willed, protective, sensitive person.
Finally, we come to Cathy, who is playful, enthusiastic, and also moody and inconsiderate. She is also sometimes not likeable, and acts like she knows everything--we see this mostly through her speech and actions.
We read the poem you wrote about Toni Bambara, and we think you're saying the world is broken because of prejudice and racism. We also agree that Toni Bambara's books help to mend the world, because she points out the things that other people can't see.
Sincerely,
The Willamina High School Class of 2000
Willamina, Oregon
Big Mountain
Does anyone have information on the progress of the Big Mountain Alliance?
I know many people in the Sierras who want to support the people of Big Mountain in their struggle against the Peabody Coal Company. Does anyone know the addresss for the Big Mountain Alliance?Thanks.
Rodger Orman,
Murphys, California
Send responses to rodgero@goldrush.com
Thoughts on Affirmative Action from Australia
I'm a 17 year old first year Uni student from Adelaide Australia. I don't agree with affirmative action, only on the grounds that I believe it would promote more racism within society. For minorities to be treated as equal, it must begin in the elementary years of schooling. If minorities are treated as equal from the beginning of their lives, affirmative action would not be necessary. I believe that we should aim at preventing the problem rather than finding a cure for it.
Advantages of Affirmative Action
The paper that you wrote on the advantages of affirmative action was wonderful. I am doing a persuasive speech in my speech/debate class on affirmative action, and i am one of 2 students in my class that are for it. Your insights and beliefs in this will greatly aid in my speech, and i have also learned more about the benefits of it, and what it does for people. Anyway, thanks again.
men behind the madness
Y'all make some excellent points. But BE CAREFUL about just how nasty and sarcastic you are, even if the people you're talking about deserve it. You good guy, they bad guy, comprendes tu?
Passage of California Prop 209 prompts:
The proposition did in fact pass despite the lies and spins you bastards tried to put on it. Finally we are on the road to a level playing field. It's not surprising that a large population of blacks, hispanics and women don't want to be included in the groups of inferior folks needing the governments help solely based on skin color and gender. You are all pathetic! Poor little victims! Kiss my ass!
... a legal remedy for past state sponsored discrimination.
As a married white male, Republican, 52, living in Orange County, California, Dr. Noguera would no doubt consider me part of the "opportunity imbalance" problem. His article reflects a fundamental redefining of the historic purpose of affirmative action - to provide a governmental remedy for institutional discrimination.
Affirmative action was rooted in the need to overcome government, not private, sponsored discrimination in employment and education. The policy can be traced to Brown v. Board of Education (Brown I) wherein the U.S. Supreme Court held that separate but equal was not constitutional. Government's refusal to provide an equitable remedy in light of Brown I gave rise to Brown v. Board of Education II wherein the Supreme Court held that it is not enough for government to ban institutional discrimination, it must take "affirmative action" to eliminate it.
Affirmative action was created by the courts, not government, to overcome state sponsored discrimination, not, as Dr. Noguera proffers, to facilitate social equality.
Dr. Noguera, like virtually all liberals, particularly those of color, attempts to equate "equal opportunity" with "equal success". But they are not the same. Government has a duty - both moral and legal - to assure that government not impede the efforts of any person, regardless of race, in achieving his or her goals toward prosperity. That duty does not now, nor has it ever extended to assuring economic success for any person by mandating favoritism or preferences in the absence of proven institutional discrimination toward the particular person.
Despite my demographic status, I came from a very poor, illterate family from Texas, with no appreciation of education. I ran away from home at age 15, but successfuly lived in the back seat of a 1947 Chevrolet, finished high school while working 30 hours a week, served in Viet Nam, earned a B.A. Degree and a law degree. And no one ever - and I mean ever - gave me a thing.
As a school board member, I voted to support affirmative action in our hiring because I sincerely believed that our district had consciously discriminated against minorities. So, I am not opposed to affirmative action, generally. Rather, my opposition extends only to those such as Dr. Noguera who believe that affirmative action should serve as an instrument of social and economic equality, rather than a legal remedy for past state sponsored discrimination.
Thank for the opportunity of expressing myself.
Respectfully,
Dale Hardeman
Dr. Pedro Noguera responds:
As a member of the school board it should be obvious to you that even when overt forms of discrimination are eliminated, that poor children and rich children are not provided anything close to an equal education. If you truly believe in meritocracy, should that be based upon access to the very best education for all children especially at the early grades? Many children are less able to compete for jobs and slots at universities due to circumstances beyond their control (i.e. the school they attended was just not very good). In order for the equal opportunity to be more than just rhetoric it must be matched by a commitment to quality education for all. That my friend remains a far-off goal, in fact its not even mentioned as a goal by the advocates of CCRI. How about you? -- Pedro Noguera
Click here for a further response by Dale Hardeman.
Environmental Justice
I teach a course on Environmental Justice and have found much on your website useful for the course. Thanks.
J. E., West Virginia University.
An "A"
I accessed your information on Affirmative Action as I now attend a university and needed to compose a term paper on that subject. The material I read was VERY informative and helped my write an "A" paper.
Thanks...
U.S. Americans like you
Paul,
I was touched by your articles and had to let you know. I hope there are more U.S. Americans like you and members of your organization that would come out in support for such an important program that includes and not exclude people of every race and gender.
I wish you and yours well!
B. F.
"Harvesting" of animals
I would just like to say that this type of "Harvesting" of animals is repulsive. Myself, as so many others, are meat eaters...however, I find that the complete disregard for the humane treatment of livestock, is not only repulsive, but intolorable.
Angry White Men
I just read your article, "Angry White Men for Affirmative Action," and I think you have missed the point. Yes, minorities have been specifically dicriminated against in history. That is wrong. But I didn't do it, my peers didn't do it, my generation didn't do it, and it certainly was not done to the minority generation that lives today. Slavery, black civil rights, Jim Crow, and all of the things that minorities of today complain about are moot because they don't exist today and they were not imposed by whites of today. I'm not naive; I acknowledge that racism is still prevalent today. However, minorities want to have their cake and eat it to. They want society to not judge them because of the color of their skin, yet they support affirmative action, which does just that. "Hire me because I'm black. I may not be nearly as qualified as this other person, who just happens to be white, but hire me anyway because my people have been oppressed and we deserve a break. So what if this is a government job and national security is at stake. I'm black and you have to hire me."
Yes, there are laws that happen to benefit whites, but nothing is stopping a minority from taking advantage of them too. Work hard from a young age, go to college (borrow money if you have to; I did and I'm white), get a job that earns you a living, and buy a home that will give you the tax breaks. Affirmative action as it is practiced today specifically dicriminates against whites. That is wrong. Laws that specifically discriminate against minorities also are wrong. Two wrongs don't make a right, and a person should not get a job that he or she does not deserve.
The Process of Social Change
Estimados(as) Companeros(as);
I think that "In Motion Magazine" is a wonderful tool that can be used to built civil communities in the net and beyond. Great work!!
... I am interested in your work in Spanish. ... I can use Spanish materials in my work. I am also
interested in all that has to do with community organizing (i.e., testimonies, transfering skills, conferences, books, videos, movies, TV programs, etc)... I also think that a very important component is the role of the church (any denomination) in the process of social change.
Que Dios les brinda muchas bendiciones!!
psp cccc@aol.com
Child Care Coordinating Council
Parent Services Project
San Mateo, California
Racist Web Pages
Although my initial reaction is to be angry when I see racist web pages like yours, I have confidence in myself and I can respond in a logical way. Well, I guess logic doesn't mean much to someone who would support government mandated racism just because it has a politically correct name. You people continue to persist in your efforts to manipulate the American people and feed them propoganda that would lead the vast number of uneducated people to believe they need government programs to protect them. Affirmative action is a morally disgusting program that is demeaning to minorities. It doesn't help them a bit; rather, it FORCES people to look down upon minorities in colleges and workplaces as mere "affirmative action hires". Clarence Thomas, like many other educated Americans, is committed to ending this gross racism because it has been a blow to the black community and to America.
Please find something else to do besides advocating RACISM in America!
-Scott
Greetings from Switzerland!
Greetings from Switzerland!
You have a very interesting, lovely web page. I'm going to recommend it to several parties around the world immediately.
Friendly,
Michael Boren Williams
Subject: Teen Violence
I am very interested in this subject, I'm interested in kids. I agree with the analysis of the cause being dysfunctional families-a term well known in the 90's and used far too loosely. I come from a very dysfunctional family. My parents divorced when I was 11 and my brother was 9. Both my brother and I were very rebellious, we've both had encounters with the law, we have both had an uphill battle.
We have been fortunate however, with having counseling and after many years of being misunderstood, finally being somewhat understood and even being sympathized with. Of course our innocence and youth was taken from us and will never be replaced. We are both scarred but know we will both be better parents for what we have been through. Neither one of us have kids presently. My point is this: HOW CAN ANYONE DOUBT THE ABSOLUTE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATED PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Search no farther for your answer. I realize we are in mid stream and cannot go back but the focus has to be on parents. There has to be a break in this deadly, heartbreaking pattern. I realize a small percentage of these children may have something chemically wrong, like I said , I am sure that is a small percentage.
The question of whether or not the focus should be on spending money on juvenile detention centers is a very naive question . Of course not. I believe I read that only 6% of the juveniles in the centers had conducted a major act of violence. These kids need guidance and some understanding. The punishment should fit the crime. I'm not saying let cold blooded murders go free, unfortunately these kids are more than likely already lost from us, however the kids with repeat crimes need to be seperated. If you kick someone when they are down they are not getting back up, they can't. Once a child is labeled within society as "bad" it is very hard for him to see himself as any differently. I know I have been there. I could have went either way and like I said, I was fortunate. It's a shame we have white collar workers speaking on such an issue when there is no way in hell they could even remotely know what they are speaking of. They have read text books on other peoples pain and suffering, they have visited these dangerous areas but at the end of the day they go back home to there prestigious neighborhoods and watch the news and shake their heads. We that care about these kids that are ruining their life before it has even begun have to start campainging for them. There have to be more counseling centers, more activities centers, and like you said protection for them in THEIR neighborhoods.
A lot happening in South Africa
There is a lot happening in South Africa in terms of Affirmative Action at present. Just a bit of biographical info, I am a 29 year old white, English speaking male. I guess I am what you would call an average white male!!! SA has in the past had a system that worked to the benefit of people like myself. We had free schooling, cheap university education, and easy entrance into the professions. The civil service have been up until now almost totally staffed by white people.
There is a huge movement in SA to try get all companies and state departments looking more representative in terms of race and gender. Many companies are just hiring black people so that they can say they have them!! There is a huge shortage of skilled black people, and in some industries black applicants can demand up to 30% more pay!! But there are many positives. For the first time people are getting employed on the basis of merit, and some companies are doing a good job.
The Government has just published draft legislation on Affirm Action. (From the publisher: This is a gopher link to South Africa.) I hope to get a copy of this so called "green paper" and email it to you.
I am not an expert on Affirm Action, so please do not quote me out of context. (From the publisher: this letter is published in full, with permission.) I am a self employed insurance salesman, who has chosen to deal with people who have been hired on AA programmes, so I follow the topic closely. I will try to find out who the SA experts are, and make them aware of your publication. I enjoy your publication a lot, and hope that you keep it up. I also enjoyed your positive stories about AA and gave them to some friends of mine to look at. Unfortunately not too many people in SA are linked to the internet, things still work by fax around here!!
