I am responding to Debra Bell's letter ("Readers respond to column on Multicultural Affairs," Nov. 14). Being a "poor, white conservative male," your letter made me realize that just by being a white male, it's assumed that I don't understand women or anyone different from me. It's assumed that I'm a bigot. And while this is happening, it's believed that we are working toward equality.

Equality is the big word that's been on our nation's lips for a long time. How are we as a society to achieve this standard?

One way that has not worked, and will never work, is to be divisive in our efforts. We should not make the differences between men and women and white and black bigger and more glaring. To exclude one group and to point the finger at the "poor, white conservative males" is only to breed more hatred and misunderstanding.