THE PUBLIC MIND: UNTIL WE STOP SEEING COLOR AND START SEEING PEOPLE, OUR COUNTRY FACES DETERIORIATION

To the Editor:

Racism, prejudice, and segregation have not ended in Cape Girardeau, Mr. Michael Sterling, president of the Cape Girardeau NAACP, said in his "Be Our Guest" column in the May 24 issue of the Southeast Missourian.

I dealt with prejudice and racism for the nine years, 1982-1991, that I worked in the city of St. Louis. Those nine years shattered my naivete a~nd belief in the "Golden Rule". People do indeed need to band together and start challen~~g~ing discrimination, as Mr. Sterling said.

I, too, did not "speak up" nor defend myself because I was scared I'd lose the job I needed to survive. I, too, did not know how to defend myself adequately against unjust actions and behavior. I am not, nor have ever been, good at confrontation. So, I swallowed my pride and did nothing to correct the injustices I endured.

Prejudice hurt my sense of dignity. Humiliation eroded my self-confidence and self-esteem. Discrimination diminished not only ~my ability to do my job, but also nearly eradicated the enjoyment I had in doing a job and doin~g it well.

Yes, Mr. Sterling was on target. Until we stop seeing color and start seeing people and value them e~qually, our country and society face further deterioration.

I am white.

Shirley Hopper Carosello

Cape Girardeau