Discrimination at Texaco
* Re “When Bad Manners Goes Hand in Hand With Bad Business,” Commentary, Nov. 13: Karen Grigsby Bates calls to mind the nursery rhyme about “sticks and stones breaking bones” to underscore her point that derogatory words and attitudes can hurt. But doesn’t that blade cut two ways here?
Most will agree with Bates that having Texaco managers allegedly refer to black workers as “black jelly beans” or any other derogatory term is unacceptable. But isn’t it equally unacceptable for Bates to then refer to Texaco management as “good ol’ boys” (three times) or “diversity-averse dinosaurs”?
Name-calling in situations like this serves only to inflame the passions. Whites do not like being called names any more than blacks do. I would remind Bates that any time you point a finger at someone, you always point three at yourself.
CHARLES E. GRUBBS
Newport Beach
* Where are those people who voted for Prop. 209? Those who thought minorities were getting an unfair advantage? Those Californians who really believed that CCRI was the right thing to do?
Where are you now when you have the perfect chance to demonstrate your principle of the level playing field? How many of your Texaco shares did you get rid of? How many ways did you voice your displeasure that any citizen of this country could be treated with such contempt and loathing?
Now that your vote has helped make Prop. 209 a reality, what are you doing to ensure that your idea of a fair and equitable society becomes a reality? Gov. Pete Wilson, where are you? Where is that voice of outrage and indignation? I am waiting to hear you.
LEROY CARTER
Los Angeles
* Talk about a “rush to judgment.” Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton threatening a national boycott (Nov. 13) of Texaco products “or else,” without due process, is nothing less than racial McCarthyism.
AL ABRUSIA
Los Angeles
* With the recent developments at Texaco, the U.S. Army and Avis car rental (Nov. 14), it certainly makes one wonder if Prop. 209 isn’t about 100 years too soon.
IRENE C. BRIGGS
Huntington Beach
