Dear Editor:
In reference to the Nov. 7 News Tribune "RedBlueAmerica" piece "What's the matter with white, working-class men?" both Ben Boychuk and Joel Mathis offer their usual meaningless debate of an issue.
The referenced question is not answered by either person's debate position. The problem with white working class men is not the result of social programs, the economy nor income inequality. These are only symptoms of the disease. The real problem stems from the unintended consequences of the "policy born of the Civil Rights act of 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson's executive order 11246, and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In its 50-year history, Affirmative Action has attempted to rid America of discrimination against minorities and women, sometimes at the cost of what has been labeled "reverse discrimination" towards white men. In its original form, minorities and women were to receive "special consideration" in determining entrance to universities, employment hiring and receiving federal contracts when competing with equally qualified white males." (http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1970.html)
When I was in school we all, boys and girls, were taught to revere our Founding Fathers and were taught all American history objectively with no political or cultural ideology to distort the facts. Now our American heritage is largely ignored or distorted and our Founding Fathers are commonly referred to as "old white guys." In recent years males were pushed aside for the feminist movement, now white supremacy is the buzz word for everything that's wrong with America.
To me the problem is obvious and should be to all psychologists and politicians, but political correctness and the liberal left's absolute determination to create the perfect society of everyone being equal in all aspects will probably continue. As difficult as it is to be optimistic, there is a solution, turn back to the foundation of our nation's success. Return to the requirement of personal responsibility and rewards based on each individual's talents and initiative instead of pie-in-the-sky government laws and programs which invariably result in more societal chaos.
Bruce Jenner, oh I'm sorry Caitlyn, just think how much more attention and money you're making now that you're a woman instead of being a forgotten white male star athlete of 40 years past. Wake up America before you totally fall apart.