Discrimination

“Please teach us that discrimination is unacceptable. . . .” An honest and meaningful plea from Jordan Marsh, the president of the University of Wisconsin’s senior class (“Wisconsin University Faculty Votes to Expel ROTC Program,” Part A, Dec. 5). Marsh’s plea reflects the prayers of all of us who demand the end of bigotry and of the bashing of our lesbian and gay children.

The University of Wisconsin faculty added its petition to that of the students and urged that the Board of Regents expel the ROTC, thus translating into action the widespread feeling on campus that our military’s “longstanding ban on gay and lesbian participation in the ROTC and other programs . . . “ is unacceptable.

Marsh’s plea to his teachers underscores a truth that must be confronted by all of us who are responsible for our children’s well-being. If we expect them to experience the end of persecution, the end of a second class-citizenry, the end of people-to-people violence, we must teach “to bigotry, no sanction.” We must teach our children that differences are interesting, not inciting; that disagreements should motivate discussion, not discrimination; that misunderstandings must be clarified, not cemented into our culture.

AGNES G. HERMAN

Lake San Marcos