I find this fact to be particularly disgraceful because much of modern American culture that these large corporations make obscene amounts of money from comes straight from the African-American community. African-American purchasing power is enormous, and contributed to the growth and creation of many fortunes in the U.S. (ie. Timberland boots, Karhart jeans, and Tommy Hilfiger clothing…just to name a few) yet some of these companies balk at the fact that African-Americans made their fortunes for them.

I know the one that will win will be the wolf I feed.

A famous line I read on a motivational posters which says "Some dream of great things. Other stay awake to realize them."

Lets all awake from our collective dream state and be wide awake and alert to realize them.

Affirmative action programs do ot now, and have never stipulated that the person MUST be African-American. Affirmative action made it possible for ALL minrities in this country to enter profession they were previously denied entrace to because they weren't white. Civil rights laws never stipulated the protection of any specific minority group and only protected the civil right that any American should have been able to enjoy regardless of thir race.

your reference to the civil rights movement 40 years ago is laughable. African Americans were oppressed for the 367 years before the civil rights movement that we've been on this contintent. Prior to the civil war 75% of the world cotton came from the US - this country got rich off of the backs of black slaves. After the civil war powerful political machines were built by breaking up budding alliances between blacks and poor whites, and denying black people their constituional right to vote. White Americans have enjoyed 400 years of affirmative action, yet some of you complain about the 40 years that you that you've convinced yourselves that you've been oppressed.

Even with affirmative action African Americans aren't getting over on white people. I'm sorry that you feel like your being oppressed or discriminated against, but affirmative action is simply trying to pay a debt that is long overdue. Maybe you personally didn't own slaves, but the society that slavery helped to create made Caucasian Americans the recipeint of affirmative action by allowing them access to opportunities simply because they were white; other people who may have been more qualified were denied because they weren't white.

Furthermore, affirmative action will continue to be necessary until this nation commits to providing all children - regardless of their race or sociaeconomic circumstances - with a high quality education. Minorities are disproportionate recipients of substandard education in the United States.

Noshir M. Lam B. Com; LL.B; F C A

Chartered Accountant,

23, Merry Niketan, 4th Floor, Flats 22 / 23, Mount Mary Road,

Bandra, Mumbai—400050, India

Telephone: 00 91 22 26553935 / 00 91 22 26407671 FAX 91 22 26558600

E-mail nmlassoint@powersurfer.net

The Editor,

National Geographic

FORUM

My One

October 2004 issue of National Geographic has Henry Wright’s “ My Seven” endangered treasures of the past.

Here is “My One” endangered culture of the world

.

Zoroastrianism is a monotheist religion founded about 3,000 years ago by Prophet Zoroaster in Iran. It was the state religion of the Persian Empire that was second (area wise) only to the British Empire.

Twice in the past, this culture almost vanished, like Phoenicians who actually vanished from history 2,000 years ago. First time, Alexander the Great in 330 BC sacked its capital Perse polis and burnt its library. For the second time, Arabs, soon after the demise of Muhammad in 632, attacked Zoroastrian Empire. They defeated them at Nehavand in 641, and this empire ended forever.

When Arabs started converting Zoroastrians to Islam, few Zoroastrians, like Pilgrim Fathers, left Iran, about 1,200 years ago in five / seven fishing boats, as the first boat-people of the world, in order to save their religion and culture. They landed in Western India and rose like Phoenix, becoming Parsis, bringing glory to India, its industry, commerce and charities.

Parsis of Bombay are the main followers of Zoroastrian religion and culture in the world. 50 years ago they numbered about 100,000, but since then their population is falling year by year so that in 2004 there are only about 40,000 left.

For the third time, will Parsi Zoroastrians survive or end up as Dodos? If scholars in Zoroastrianism study their problems in greater details, its lessons can ensure that the surviving Parsis and few other Zoroastrians of Iran and else where, can survive forever, like other major religions.

National Geographic published in 1905 an article on Towers of Silence of Parsis of Bombay and for the last 100 years there is absolutely nothing on Zoroastrian culture. Why not commission this article now?

As far as I am concernced, I consider such brave people like Charlie Cobb or Martin Luther King as role models.
These people were willing to risk their lives in hopes of a new, better world in which everyone is truly created equal.

It shouldn't be forgotten, however, that we must not tire until "racism" no longer exists.
A lot of work remains to be done --- in spite of the outstanding achievements of the year 1964.

Without affirmative action, I suspect there would be many Caucasian-only schools in this area . . .

I grew up in the country very near a little town in North Central Texas in the 40's and 50's (my teen years).
The main work place was the railroad shops where the races worked, ate, and drew the same paychecks together. People were always frieldly, though segregated, and harmonious. The one bad thing I can remember is, after 1954, the Texas Interscholastic League was intergrated. Our Ame. History teacher proceeded to lecture those of us in Journalism also on the way we should have behaved towards "those coloreds" who, for the first time were at "our" state meet. It made our very loved Journ. teacher and all of us students quite angry. We only helped the kids around the big campus and pointed out the rooms of their contests----just as we would have any "new kids". She said we should have ignored them.
This is the only bad memory I have. the schools and everywhere else in town was blended smoothly. We suddenly found what the railroaders had known all along--they're like us (or we, them) and just---people. I'm glad I lived during this time to see true equality--where there always should have been--in one small piece of the world.
Martha

To those who point to the discrimination of 40 years ago, I point to the discrimination of today. Indeed, even the poll is biased, clearly stating that "Affirmative action was
designed to ensure
equal opportunity for
all individuals" before even asking for your opinion.

I am glad that National Geographic and other media remind us of our past, but I am disappointed that people use it to promote their often destructive and selfish social and political agendas.

If we want to put racism behind us, then we need to stop supporting programs that divide by race, but support programs that unite us as one people, one species. Only then will we ever defeat racism.

Protesting against injustice through legal means in the US gave me the impetus to speak out against corruption and for good governance and rule of law in my home country of Thailand, where I have had over 800 letters to the Bangkok Post newspaper published over the last 4 years. When I was introduced to him, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin, one of my frequent targets, said, "Oh, you're the letter-writer!" -- which greatly encouraged me.
The best compliment I've received came from a friend, who said, "I don't know if you're for or against Prime Minister Thaksin". The answer is: neither. I strive to stand on principle and be constructive, praising PM Thaksin when credit is due and seeking to nudge him back to the straight and narrow when he strays. I learned this focus on principle, and to be constructive, during the civil rights movement in my student days.