High Life. A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Color Is Only Skin Deep, So Live and Let Date
In celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. this past Monday, the question of civil rights ,remains one of the greatest concerns throughout the world.
Getting along with one another is one thing, but dating somebody from another race is quite another . . . or not.
Hot Topics asks, “What are your feelings about interracial dating?”
“Color is something you use to describe an object, not a person. One’s race should not matter in a relationship. If someone thinks race is a factor, then they do not understand the meaning of love.”
Maggie Brown, 18, senior, Rosary
“Everybody should notice people for who they are inside, and not for the type of person that they are outside. Skin color or what country you’re from shouldn’t matter when it comes down to dating.”
Ashley Milbrat, 18, senior, Mission Viejo
“Interracial dating is a personal choice for the people involved. They must, however, take into account the various problems and pains involved with the situation. In any relationship it is necessary to weigh how much you will benefit from the relationship compared to how much it will cost you.”
Peter Stradinger, 16, junior, El Toro
“When you like someone, you see through the color and you don’t notice that you’re in an interracial relationship. It’s allowed, it’s your choice, and it’s a great choice to have.”
Cindy Park, 18, senior, Villa Park
“Interracial dating is OK, but we should be careful or all the races would disappear into one culturally mixed race.”
Yong Choi, 15, freshman, Kennedy
“I have been in an interracial relationship for over a year now. Both my parents and my boyfriend’s parents disapprove. I believe their generation is extremely racist and they need to wake up. This country is not dominated by just one race anymore. My parents think our children would be made fun of, but I disagree.”
Jodie Fister, 18, senior, Sonora
“I do not see anything wrong with it. At times, society may not see it that way, but sometimes we need to take a risk.”
Christina Hall, 18, senior, Orange Lutheran
“If you feel a certain way about someone, then it shouldn’t matter.”
Ryan S. Smith, 17, senior, Servite
“People should be colorblind when it comes to emotions toward someone else. Race and skin color should be meaningless.”
Brian McCance, 17, senior, Ocean View
“I don’t see any difference between interracial dating and non-interracial dating. If people can’t see it’s OK, then they have the problem.”
Sarah Lentz, 17, junior, Fullerton
“Interracial dating should be accepted among today’s generation as normal.”
Kim Leiby, 14, freshman, Southern California Christian
“It adds a unique twist to a relationship and also helps teens to learn about other ethnic backgrounds and not be narrow-minded.”
Julie Malteer, 17, senior, Woodbridge
“Interracial relationships are great, if the two people love each other to the extent that they don’t care what people think about their relationship.”
Mark Aranda, 16, junior, Santa Margarita
“It should only matter what they think of each other as people.”
Megan Glasgow, 16, sophomore, Newport Harbor
“People should be able to date anyone they want in a country made up of different cultures and backgrounds. If two people really want to be together and the differences don’t bother them, then they should be able to date each other no matter what anyone else thinks.”
Lori Francisco, 16, junior, El Toro
“I’m not really against it, but some people like to say that it shouldn’t matter. But a lot of times it does.”
Tom Bradley-King, 17, junior, Villa Park
“Love sees no color.”
Chermeen Elavia, 17, senior, Woodbridge
“It doesn’t bother me to see interracial dating, but I would never do it. Not because I’m a racist, but I know there would be a lot of controversy within my family if I did it. I just think that one race should date their own race so they don’t end up hurting themselves or their family.”
Mike Hoeft, 14, freshman, Sonora
“It’s perfectly OK, and they shouldn’t let their friends influence them.”
Pat Kennedy, 17, senior, Servite
“Anyone can find true love if they learn to look beyond the cultural differences and focus on what’s really important: what’s on the inside.”
Oren Ahoobim, 16, junior, Ocean View
“The color of your skin shouldn’t matter.”
Shannon Cernek, 14, freshman, Newport Harbor
“It’s more unacceptable to those with an outside view than those within the relationship.”
Nicole Koklok, 14, freshman, Rosary
“There’s nothing wrong with interracial dating. One should strongly consider the other’s personality, rather than their race.”
Sandy Fung, 18, senior, Kennedy
“It’s what’s inside of the people and the love between them that matters, not what race they are.”
Tylene Pommer, 15, sophomore, Santa Margarita
“It doesn’t matter what a person looks like; it matters what their beliefs are.”
Rachel Jenkins, 14, freshman, Fullerton
“I don’t think interracial dating should be viewed as wrong.”
Lori Harrison, 17, junior, Southern California Christian
“Interracial dating shouldn’t even be an issue. Why does it matter?”
Casey Fiedler, 15, sophomore, Mission Viejo
Next Week’s Hot Topic:
If you saw someone cheating on a test, what would you do? Why?
Responses gathered by Traci McCrimmon (El Toro), Brian Singer (Fullerton), Abby Fung (Kennedy), Kent Jancarik (Mission Viejo), Dan Eastmond (Newport Harbor), Susanna Lee (Ocean View), MaryAlice Perez (Orange Lutheran), Lara Lagos (Rosary), Katie Elftmann (Santa Margarita), Henry York (Servite), Aimee Johnston (Sonora), Rosalind Blames (Southern California Christian), Darice Liu (Villa Park) and Mamata Kene (Woodbridge)
