‘Minority Education’

I have read Rodriguez with interest and some reservations.

The article is well written, as well as being permeated by a knowledge of history and great sensibility, but at the same time the central idea makes no sense.

The author, following the present superficial trend of the so-called “me generation,” stresses this idea: “The perceived success of one ethnic group should never be made to serve as a critique of another ethnic group. Cultures are different.” The author does not seem to realize that what differentiates a man from an animal is reasoning, and the essence of reasoning is to compare. Does he imply that a culture where cannibalism is a religion, is as good as a culture where humane values prevail? Does he imply that a culture where vices are rampant, is as good as a culture where virtue prevails? Or to use Rodriguez’s illustration: Is the Mexican culture, in which to honor one’s parents means “not getting too much education,” is as good as the Chinese culture in which to honor one’s parents means “getting an education?”

It seems to me that Rodriguez is “non-judgmental” because he wants to be tolerant or broad-minded, when he is actually contributing to the confusion of American society.

ANGELO A. DE GENARRO

Los Angeles