From: Steve Smith <SIVM.SI.EDU!SECSI003>
Subject: Interracial Relations
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 16:55:57 GMT

Original Sender: Steve Smith <SIVM.SI.EDU!SECSI003>

From: Steve Smith <SIVM.SI.EDU!SECSI003>
      Institutional Studies Office
Hi Karin. I guess I can respond to your request, since each and every one of
my relationships have been with non-natives. In fact, I've been involved with
most types in the world, but never another native american. White, black,
east asian, east Indian, middle eastern, Latin American, etc. Not for lack of
interest/desire but where I went to school, and where I live, there just
aren't enough of us around! I grew up in Wisconsin, where both the Oneidas and
the Menominees have large populations, but in my high school, hardly any. I
went to undergraduate school in Dayton, and was for many there, the first
native american they'd met. Grad school at Purdue was not much different.
The greater D.C. metro area has only about 3000 native americans (at least
I read that in the paper) out of more than 3.5 million people! To be honest,
I would love to be involved with another like me. I've grown up being the
only one like me, always the different one, except in grad school when I
hung out with the foreign students. There we were all different. Ah...
But I'm quite used to being the only non-white, the only non-black, the only
non-whatever. In the last 2 years, and being on the SI's American Indian
council, I've gotten to know quite a few of us, and socialize with them, and
have been learning a hell of a lot. 2 years ago, if you had asked that
question, I wouldn't have had an answer. In terms of relationships, I can't
tell a difference, because I can't compare. In terms of socializing, it's
funny. When someone on the council throws a party, or if we go out, they
know exactly what I mean, and me them. Someone suggested we make a T-shirt
that says "It's a Native thing, you wouldn't understand." It's really a great
thing to be able to be with others. If for nothing else, not to be the only
non-whatever.

Back to relationships, I've never had any problems. But a lot of people can't
figure out what I am. Most of the time they think I'm South American, or
middle eastern. What effect that has on people when I'm in a relationship with
someone (always different) I don't know. I can be comfortable with any "type"
of person, the external's not what matters. And that's probably why I'd love
to be involved with a native american. The understanding of what it's like to
grow up, see movies, read books, get their portrayals, and then learn the
truth, see sports teams and understand why I don't like certain names, etc.
It'd be nice to be with someone with whom I wouldn't have to explain things.
At least now I have that with some friends. But that's not the end all of what
a relationship is about.
I wouldn't say that I prefer to be around natives, the specialness of real
friends goes beyond that, but I certainly do enjoy being with them. It's odd,
when a group of us is together, it's not all that different, but little things
here and there are. Certain things that my other friends wouldn't get. I
appreciate the diversity of humanity. Until recently I've not known how it
feels not to be the only "different" one. I think the latter makes the former
stronger.
I've not experienced anything negative in relationships for being native. I've
had blacks and whites not want to get involved, simply because I'm not like
them. I've also had whites who would never get involved with a black, but
would with me--I'm not too dark. Conversely, I've had blacks who would never
be involved with a white, but would with me--I'm not too light. I really
don't understand either position, but some things are just felt and can't be
explained, or so I've been told.

Sorry to put this to the net, but it bounced back for some reason when I tried
to send it directly.

Remember, this is only my perspective. I wouldn't extrapolate from it. But
I hope it helps.
                SI SS

---> Show that the definition of a nonrandomized monotone
decision rule is consistent with the definition of a
randomized monotone decision rule. Or is it????

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