High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Interracial Dating Taken Mostly in Stride by Young

With the recent celebration of the birthday of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., one wonders if equal rights have advanced to the point where dating between members of different races is accepted by society or are still a cause of concern.

Hot Topics wonders, “What are your feelings about interracial dating?”

“It’s not a wrong thing because when you’re in love, it doesn’t matter the race or age. What really counts are the feelings in your heart.”

Letty Serrano, 17,

senior, Santa Ana

“As long as he’s male and breathing, it’s OK.”

Tari Phan, 17,

senior, Troy

“I think it’s OK, but there are a lot of stresses with it. It shouldn’t be a fad. You should like the person for who they are.”

Marla Stripling, 16,

senior, Marina

“It is more acceptable by people nowadays and is done more often. I’m dating an Asian girl and I’m white. I love her for herself, not her ethnic background.”

Matt Pogue, 17,

junior, Westminster

“I think it’s fine. People shouldn’t worry about what others are doing, when their lives probably aren’t perfect either.”

Clementine Latimer, 18,

senior, Cypress

“If you want to date a person that is a different race, then go for it. We were all created by the same person, and it makes us equal.”

Monica Mitchell, 12,

freshman, Rancho Alamitos

“People are people, it’s no big deal.”

Chrissy Chaffin, 17,

junior, Savanna

“It doesn’t really matter as long as you know what the person is all about. As long as love is the most important thing in the relationship or just the fact that you like each other.”

Juree Pak, 15,

sophomore, Los Amigos

“I don’t discriminate against interracial dating, but I wouldn’t myself.”

Trang Tran, 16,

junior, University

“Well, I don’t see any difference between interracial dating and just dating within your own race, but I can see how other people can be affected by it. But does that really matter enough to not date the person?”

Bryan Kim, 15,

sophomore, St. Margaret’s

“I’m dating a white girl and I love her for herself, and I am black. I think there’s nothing wrong with it, although her parents do not approve.”

Gabriel Blevins, 18,

junior, Westminster

“I wouldn’t participate, but it’s fine if others do it.”

Mike Larkin, 16,

junior, Troy

“It’s fine as long as two people are compatible. I don’t think people should be prejudiced against other races and confine themselves to their own races.”

Jenny Kong, 15,

sophomore, University

“People can date interracially because people have the right to do what they want to do.”

Laura Katsis, 17,

junior, Troy

“It’s a normal thing. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

Garner Chung, 15,

sophomore, Marina

“A person can and should date anyone he or she wishes no matter what race they are. Your feelings, not your skin color, should decide who you like.”

Leslie Bohner, 15,

sophomore, Los Amigos

“If it is a serious relationship, there could be a lot of problems.”

Todd Henderson, 18,

senior, Huntington Beach

“When you see interracial couples, it’s really awkward from the appearance. But if you’re not concerned with that, then your feelings should take precedence over any criticism from society.”

Aurie Hsu, 16,

junior, St. Margaret’s

“It’s all right. It brings races close together when they get married.”

Joe Alaniz, 16,

freshman, Santa Ana

“Dating someone who is not of your race shows that you are a free person without a bit of prejudice.”

Monica Cordero, 17,

senior, Rancho Alamitos

“It is good for interracial harmony, to reduce racial conflicts. Although I’m more attracted to my own race.”

Liz Rytting, 16,

junior, Westminster

“What difference does it make? Who cares if they are purple, blue, green, gray, fluorescent. . . .”

Victor Kim, 17,

senior, University

“It’s good because you learn about other people and other cultures.”

Neha Shah, 16,

junior, Troy

“Love is international.”

Steve Davis, 16,

junior, Cypress

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

If the ‘60s were known as the “peace and love” generation, the ‘70s the “me” generation, the ‘80s the “materialistic” generation, what will the generation of the ‘90s be called?

Responses gathered by Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Michael Spivak (Huntington Beach), Shelly Insheiwhe (Los Amigos), Lisa Aseltine (Marina), Beth Mueller (Rancho Alamitos), Brooke Lyons (St. Margaret’s), Efrain Islas (Santa Ana), Nghi Pham (Savanna), Layne Mosler (Troy), Claudine Ko (University) and Molly Rutledge (Westminster).