Discrimination is an ugly word. In the city of Shreveport, LA., it is a very common word. The mayor has made a plea for an end to racial discrimination and Congressman Webb has drawn fire for comments made about the gay and lesbian communities.
Discrimination is a hard pill to swallow. What could possibly be a solution to these two problems?
Oddly enough, the last place people would look to for a solution to this problem would be Dr. Seuss. He wrote many children's books about different issues, including racism. His book "The Butter Battle Book" focused on racial equality. But another of his books, "Sneetches" , carries a theme applicable to this subject as well.
If you are familiar with the story, a character in "Sneetches", Sylvester McMonkey McBean, creates a way to make it possible for those discriminated against to resemble those doing the discriminating, the Star-bellied Sneetches. Mr. McBean devises a machine that puts stars on the Sneetches with plain bellies; but charges for his services.
No longer having a way to tell the difference between eachother; the original Star-bellied Sneetches pay
Mr. McBean money to remove the stars off their bellies, so they once again can have their "distinction". This tattoo-frenzy goes on awhile until both sides realize that neither are superior and they begin to be friends,but not before Mr. McBean has made off with a sizeable amount of cash, amused at how silly the Sneetches were.
Well, you might be able to guess who the Star-bellied and Plain-bellied Sneetches represent; but many people do not realize that the character in this book, Mr. McBean, portrays something as well. You see, it is with its constant meddling and instigating that this situation is allowed to grow.
Did you figure it out?
-Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, for only ourselves can free our own minds - Bob Marley
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