Times change ?at least, you would think and hope so. However, some people still judge other by their actions of years past. Several days ago I received a phone call from an old high school chum, who said, "Stellbread, (my nickname), I've read some of your articles on the internet and I noticed that about one in five contain the words race', racist' or racism' in the title. Do you still hate white people? ?

I told him "I don't hate white people. I hate racists. To be Timothy Stelly Sr

"Well, I remember back in high school, you were gung-ho about a revolution and fighting the cops and whatnot, ? he replied.

"I graduated high school in my junior year, ? I reminded him. "For the record that was some three decades ago. A lot can change in three days, let alone decades. ?

His statement made me think about what an older gentleman had told me nearly twenty years ago: "If you're in your forties and you're still doing the same things you were in your twenties, life hasn't taught you anything. ?

As a youth I spoke out against racism, but it was with more fervor than forethought. As a middle-aged man my statements are tempered by research and the ability to dissect things based on age and experience. For the most part, everyone is just trying to make this through life without too much drama. I've always had the ability to get along with people. But many times these people have exposed the fact that they have disdain for black people. This ranges from the "slip ? of the lip and their use of "the n' word ? to an actual physical attack on a black person.

I worked fourteen years at a steel mill in Pittsburg, Calidfornia, and for the most part, got along with almost everyone. But I also witnessed overt racism every single day. My bosses and co-workers wondered why I seemed to have a chip on my shoulder. As I've said before, a racist will not self-indict. He will cloak his hatred in euphemistic terminology or rationalize his actions by falling back on some rule, or whatnot. In short, racists don't realize they are ill, or they know it and as the saying goes, "have no shame in their game. ? These are the folks I do battle with.

But as with any ideological battle, convincing one to alter their ways or words is impossible. In short, racism will always be a fact of life. Talking about it is necessary, but it must go beyond that. To what extent depends on the individual.

I believe that this country is full of idealists who would like to mend the racial divide. However, noble their intention, such a task is impossible. Martin Luther King had a dream, but for the most part it can't come true. Many share that dream and refuse to wake up from it. What King envisioned isn't of this world. (As a kid I used to sometimes call him MARTIAN Luther King, for that very reason).

As individuals it takes more than our treating each other with respect and trying to understand the other's viewpoint. Every angry black man isn't that way because it's fashionable. Yet, few people try to find out the reasons why such anger exists. It's easier to "assume ?. Those who do explore the issue must often confront their own racism ?which is painful and sometimes sends the viewer spiraling into denial or an angry diatribe. Many cite flawed data or outright lies. They use such studies and statistics, as the saying goes, "like a drunk uses a lamppost; for support rather than illumination. ? (Shockley and Jensen come to mind).

These are the folks who equate high crime rates in the ghetto to mean that all denizens of that area have a genetic predisposition to law breaking. They believe lower scores on so-called "intelligence tests ? is verification of black inferiority.

Oh, America ?we have seen the enemy and it is us.