Coming from a poor family with many members who either have served or are presently serving in the U.S. military, I believe I can answer John Bodor's challenge of why blacks join the armed forces (Feb. 6).

In his letter he states that he becomes angry when he reads that "minorities question role in military" and feels that saying that "many blacks join the military to get money" ignores the fact that some whites do so as well.

Mr. Bodor, whether or not whites also join the military for college money is not the debate. What is in question is why a greater portion of blacks do. I seriously doubt that this is a reflection of some higher "patriotic sense of duty," in blacks.

The truth is that cuts in educational and other domestic programs cripple underrepresented groups more so than the white majority. As a result, most whites have more opportunities to "be all that you can be" without the help of the U.S. Army. With 12 percent of the black race (statewide) being tapped by the 25 to 30 percent representation of the Gulf troops, it would be unreasonable to think that every black does not have a reason and a right to question, with or without anger, why.

Is this question of justice racial rhetoric? Yes. Is it, as you implied, racist rhetoric? No.