The perspective of a Caucasian immigrant

First, I would like to commend The Gonzaga Bulletin for having such valiant courage as to oppose Gonzaga's figurehead for the

widely-championed ideology of "diversity," an idea and practice which is inherently controversial and challenging for all parties — whether

or not each chooses to vocalize its perspective. The Bulletin's UMEC article is factual; any wise person who reads beyond the title realizes that the article only sheds light upon a statistical anomaly existent at Gonzaga this year. Although, those so quick to defame the article as hateful or biased can't be expected to read any carefully crafted response opinions, either.

I deliberately remain aloof from Student Life affairs in most cases, but I felt that The Bulletin should be aware of another, more rare, perspective that I share—that is the perspective of a Caucasian immigrant. Perhaps you can guess from my full name that my family is from Ireland. Cookstown, Co. Tyronne, Northern Ireland. American education tends to fail us—I've been shocked to find that most Gonzaga students are unaware of the genocidal bloodshed that Northern Ireland has yet to overcome after hundreds of years of violent conflict between Catholics and Protestants. And it is this religious persecution that drove my family to immigrate to the United States (perhaps you can recall others in history who have done the same?)

Needless to say, I have no bias against those with skin color different than mine. By the same token, I take no responsibility whatsoever for slavery or persecution of any race. I refuse to do so when my own father suffered the same ostracism in Northern Ireland that any African-American faced during the 1960s in the United States. As such, why should I suffer from the effects of affirmative action as they exist today? As white immigrants, we do not enjoy the benefits of affirmative action, though we are just as "fresh off the boat" as any UMEC participant. (Perhaps more!) We are not granted special acceptance into programs to help fill a quota, nor are we given special scholarships. We check the "white" box.

We suffer the consequences of affirmative action. We are portrayed as the perpetrators of racism, an idea whose hilarity is particularly ironic in my case! You're assuming that I possess all of the supposed hatred and closed-mindedness of any other white American against those who exhibit "diversity" imposes the incorrect judgment that I partake in these ideas simply because my skin is white, when, in truth, I bring a completely diverse point of view—my origin is thousands of miles away, and shares historical burdens dissimilar to any white American! However, a racist beholder would assume that my white skin includes me within a cultural tradition of supremacy to which I have absolutely no historical or empirical ties. Herein lies the dilemma with "racism": every oppressed group feels wrongly ostracized by their oppressor, whom the oppressed frame with the crime of hasty judgments

based on skin color.

The truth is, "racism" is just like any other "-ism"; a name given to the hatred that we all feel the "-ist" has unjustly inflicted upon our being. "How dare they?" we could say, or, "You don't even know me!" Which washes out only in wonder, since every human being has felt

these emotions before.

UMEC can do whatever they want—as stated in the article, applications are necessary for entry. The situation is no different than Whitman College (probably) denying me acceptance based on a grotesquely conservative supplement which I vengefully wrote after Obama won presidency, or Gonzaga choosing to deny acceptance to a self-proclaimed Wiccan. Any time we apply to an organization, we run the risk of being rejected. Deal with it!

If Gonzaga wishes to increase "diversity," and reduce "racism,"perhaps everyone should consider an approach closer to home. How about simply smiling warmly at whoever "that girl" is, instead of talking s*** on her clothing choices? Or making a new friend in class? Or joining a club or sport which might be new to you? The problem is not UMEC or MCHS, or The Bulletin. The open-mindedness and unity that such organizations crave from Gonzaga students cannot be solved by a creation or absolving of any group, and quite frankly I would say we are foolish to be battling thereabouts.

Perhaps Gonzaga students ought to take a look inside and suspend that next judgment. Lest we forget (and it's easy to in a sea of 4,500 look-a-likes which appear as competition), that the race is long. And in the end, it is only with ourselves. Perhaps everyone should safely assume that only 5 percent of any given person lies within view — even less if you're making base physical judgments. How are you, and who are you, to condemn or praise an entire life based on 5 percent? Perhaps, if Gonzaga would like to move to a more unified and tranquil student body, Gonzaga students should retreat inward and work to understand their own being in order to incite positive change from within. After all, our deepest shortfalls give birth to our greatest hatred.