One generally expects to be able to go about one's life without facing public intolerance of one's unusual hair and uneven melanin. I was therefore shocked when I opened my Observer Nov. 13 to find myself staring at bold racism in three menacing panels of "The Mobile Party." Needless to say, my weekend was ruined.
Why must our community of higher learning be tainted by derogatory remarks about gingers? My people are important contributors to American society. We provide an elusive high standard for the hair dye industry (have you seen some of those magentas?). Gingers single-handedly keep the sunscreen industry afloat. If we are forced to hide indoors because of shame caused by comments like Hofman, Wade and Rosemeyer's "gross," how will Neutrogena continue to market its 85 SPF Ultra Sheer Sunblock? Our economy is in bad enough shape already. This racism must end.
Some readers may scorn my cries. "Gingers aren't a race," you may tell me, as others have before, "merely a disease upon humanity." I have viewed the sickening South Park propaganda about my people — lies, mere lies. Of course gingers are a race; we have a collection of so many recessive traits that we must surely be descended from a common genetic source. Consider Erik the Red, a hero of our ancestors, a proud and noble explorer. Would history have remembered someone as boring as Erik the Dirty Blonde? I leave that for you to judge as you will. I ask all gingers and friends of the ginger people to join me, however, in judging the authors of the hurtful strip from Nov. 13, as well as The Observer editors who deemed such hate acceptable for publication. We must stand firm until our people are freed from the shackles of bigotry.
Megan Aldrup
junior
Holy Cross Hall
Nov. 15
