Ethnic Voting

Re “Latino Is as Latino Does in Office,” Commentary, Nov. 17: Frank del Olmo asserts that Latinos vote for Latinos who then must do for Latinos. It follows then that whites must vote for whites who must do for whites, and blacks must vote for blacks who must do for blacks.

This is a dangerous, separatist mentality. We need look no further than Bosnia for an example of the type of society it creates. Latinos, Asians, whites and blacks should participate in our society as U.S. citizens, not as part of an ethnic power struggle. We will only meet with conflict if we identify with and work for the advantage of our ethnic group to the exclusion of others.

BONNIE CHASE

Claremont