The massive rally in Washington stirred many emotions, especially being only a couple weeks after the O.J. trial. Any change that occurs in life begins with the ventilation of emotions, just like a relationship with a loved one, if real communication is to occur, both parties must freely express their feelings and emotions without any judgments on either part. Once everything is on the table, we can finally begin accepting one another and maybe become friends and learn from each other.

There is so much richness to learn from other cultures. Try it, you might like it. Maybe to certain of you out there, the words of Farrakhan hit a few chords. It's OK! REALLY! Face and deal with those emotions on your own and move on. As students, faculty and staff of a university, what can we do? Well, here are a few steps. They might sound simple, but they're not.

1) Find it in your heart somewhere to have the will to do these steps.

2) Face your own racism. Ask yourself: What scares and intimidates me about the other person?

3) Talk about racism. Don't try to ignore or deny it.

4) Educate yourself: Grab a few books, take some multicultural classes, or participate in workshops.

S) Educate the ignorant with sensitivity and love.

6) If you believe in GOD, you will realize that God created all of us. If you can see the other person as a creation of GOD and created in His image, you can begin to heal yourself from your hatred and begin to love other human beings different from you. Whatever color you are, first start loving yourself and healing yourself.

7) Make some friends with people of diverse cultures, learn about them and help them learn about you.

8) Take a stand against racism. When certain people around you make stupid remarks or jokes, educate them with sensitivity and love.

Telling your children you owned two houses, four cars, five gold cards, etc, is meaningless. It just means they will be economically stable. But telling them that you participated in a historical event: the abolition of racism and the march toward peace, the qualities and values you will transmit to your children are priceless and last for a lifetime. Why don't we begin to grow up and become adults about this? Whether black, white or other, men must take responsibility for their life and mistakes.

Neither whites nor blacks should assume the responsibility for the elimination of prejudice and its effects belongs exclusively to the other. We must begin at once to heal old wounds. We need educational programs emphasizing the values of tolerance, appreciation for cultures other than one's own and respect for differences. We must try to understand each other's pain and struggle. Albert Einstein in Notes on Pacifism says, "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

This will be the most important step towards the elimination of racism. The economy will certainly benefit from this. To build a society in which the rights of all its members are respected and guaranteed, both races, we must be optimistic.

Racism runs deep. Its effects are devastating. Both groups must realize such a problem can neither easily nor immediately be resolved. We must be patient with each other yet vigilant in this journey. Being a woman, I can say I'm proud of the men involved in the march. They are real men.

They are taking responsibility towards the improvement of their lives, relationships with others and the end of racism. Seeing so many people in Washington uniting, some leaders are scared of black people's acquisition of power and the religion.

Saying there were only 400,000 instead of 1 million is just a media tactic because they want to downplay the abilities of groups or minorities to congregate. Another media tactic is how we only see the interpretation of what Farrakhan said. We heard what he really said maybe once live; the rest is all interpretation.

How can we not expect people to adopt these attitudes of ignorance, denial and negativity and expect people to look at all the factors and be objective about this issue? We must begin to realize the media controls our points of view and how we experience things, we must look at all the pieces of the puzzle and start thinking for ourselves. Any individual who is a racist is also a coward. Clinton said it: "Whites' racism might be black people's burden, but it is white people's problem."

Try to visualize getting rid of your hate, accepting another human being different from you, learning from someone different from you. Visualize looking at someone's heart instead of the color of his or her skin or shape of his or her eyes. I will end with the words of Leo Tolstoy: "I now understand that my welfare is only possible if I acknowledge my unity with all the people of the world without exception." Definitely something to think about folks!

Brinda Runghen is a graduate student in human relations who wants to help you understand the things you hate to be reminded of.

Tuesday, November 14, 1995