マーティンデール氏と八藤雄一先輩の手紙
| マーティンデール氏と八藤雄一先輩の手紙
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| Oct 10, 2002 |
| Dear Yuichi: Thank you for the corrections to the staff photograph. I want to take this opportunite to also thank you for all of the work you have done in providing me with so much valuable information. I do not mind your asking me about the question concerning discrimination. I will point out that when someone asks for my opinion about a topic, I expect that they want my honest opinion or how I feel about a certain topic.Therefore, I have always tried to give it to them. I have never been what we call a "yes man". That is someone who only gives another person what that person wants to hear ; not what you think. I have never had much respect for a boss who always wants his employees to agree with him and does not really want the employee's personal opinion. A good boss or leader always listens to his staff members and then makes a decision based upon the best information available. My comments are given with this thought in mind. I do not recall that Maher ever made any comments to me about why he had not received a promotion. However, it is a familiar or common concern which most of us has at one time or another. A person's belief that a promotion was not received due to a radical or heritage background was not unusual and it will continue to be a reason, belief, or excuse for why something was not received.I knew several career military officers who blamed their failure to get a promotion or a combat assignment in Europe during the early part of World War 2 upon the fact that their names were Germanic. This may have been true and understandable, but the actual reason may not be known. It is a fact that this did occur during the early years of WW1. Personally, I do not make an issue of it; I usually ignore it because it is just a belief or excuse unless it is proven as a fact ( true ). Discrimination, regardless of the type ( personal, racial or upon a person's ability ) will always exist because every human individual has a sense of ego to some degree. That is, each of us want to feel that we are important. In order to feel important, then we must believe that someone else is less important than ourselves. Our egos ( feelings of importance ) make each of us want to be better than someone else. This feeling often ( and usually ) puts an individual in conflict with other individuals. This human characteristic is also apparent in groups ( social , political, national and etc. ) and it will continue to be a source of conflict. The one place where there must not be any discrimination and everyone is equal is in a court of law. I have limited my comments to what I believe is the core ( center of, bases or the heart of ) of the reasons for why there is discrimination. I have made some general and broad statements which make them subject to or open to criticism. There are always exceptions to general ( all-inclusive) statements and this makes them open to criticisms. That is part of the reason why I have not expressed my opinion about the specific problems which exist today in the U.S. and elsewheres.. I will end this part of my letter with this statement - " There always will be some type and level ( amount ) of discrimination ( differences ) as long as human beings are human. The observations about the various nationalities and races which you noticed in 1952 were correct. Many of these groups were looked-down upon or considered less equal because most of them were very poor when they came here. For instance, the Irish and no money when they came here in large numbers to escape the proverty existing in their homeland because of the "photo famine". Most of them were also lacking in education ( formal schooling ). They had to take the most menial and lowest paying jobs because of these two factors. Some of them became "indentured servants". They agreed to work for a number of years ( as many as seven or more ) for very little or nowages in exchange for someone to pay for their transportation to America and for "room and board" ( housing and food ) during that period. This put them at the bottom of the financial and social levels of society at that time. The celebration of "St.Patrick's Day" is an attempt to enhance or improve the image and feelings that other people may have of the Irish and also for their own self-esteem ( importance ). Similar statements can be made about most of the national and racial groups which came to America during the early years of U.S. history. I hope these philosophical comments of mine will help to answer the questions which you expressed. Both of us must accept the fact that we are getting older and are having problems in doing things,such as, your writing in English and my sitting at my desk for long periods of time. My best wishes to you and your family. Please give my best regards to your family. Sincerely Bob Robert R. Martindale |
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如水会 実務英語研究会
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