Daily Discrimination

When most of us hear the term discrimination, we think of racial discrimination. Few of us consider or are even aware of the many forms of discrimination that nearly every one of us faces every day.

Many citizens endure discrimination daily from the U.S. Postal Service. We all pay 29 cents for a stamp, but some of us have to walk half a block to our mailbox. Newer neighborhoods are likely to have locked mailboxes (Las Posas North), while some neighborhoods--even though the mailbox is four houses down the road--are the old-fashioned unlocked variety (Mission Oaks). It seems that only the oldest neighborhoods still rate door-to-door mail delivery service (Barry Street), yet we are all charged the same amount for postal services.

Economic discrimination is very evident in our schools. Many high school seniors skipped the prom this year because the $1,000-plus costs are just too much for their family’s budget. Many girls will not try out for the cheerleading or drill teams because of the $500-and-up costs of uniforms and related expenses. Athletic teams are not asked to pay for their uniforms. Why are the support groups required to do so?

Students who come from low-income families are expected to pay for supplies for numerous special class projects, which affect their grade. This trend in demanding expensive projects seems to be increasing rapidly. Teachers, even in grammar school, ask their students to pay for supplies to be used in learning exercises. Many students who qualify for the free lunch programs refuse to use it. They would rather go hungry than face the stigma attached to receiving the free meal.

Discrimination is a part of our daily lives.

LEONA THOMASON

Camarillo