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By Linda Loi Race Relations in L.A. America -- it's name alone is a symbol for freedom, prosperity and equal opportunity. However, this statement is not the majority view within the land of the free. Many Americans have found that the fruits of success are a bit more difficult to achieve than they expected. Barriers such as racism, discrimination, oppression, and hatred have placed boundaries around the "haves" and "have nots." These barriers have set an unbalance to the scale of equal opportunity. The scale favors the "haves" while the "have nots" struggle for survival. In America, people of color make up the majority of the less privileged or "have nots" group. As a result of their limited resources, they are unable to obtain any type of political power. They are merely left alone to be stagnant and frustrated. The dominant belief seems to be that the white society is a direct cause to their struggles within America. "The bigger problem is the white ruling class who control the Korean, African, and any other oppressed community in America." "The white ruling class who is consciously and constantly finding ways to separate the Africans from any other group." "We must see the white man a separate and the enemy." Although these bitter words are clearly a result from generations worth of pent-up anger from lack of mobility, are they justified? That is, are the whites the only cause for society's oppression and conflict between races? Is race the only issue for the unequal treatment of minorities? If all of these questions can be honestly answered by "yes," then in order for the human race to create a perfect world, the clear steps to take would be to kill all white kinds. The questions at hand are not a matter of race but are subjects of economics. It is not uncommon that within all societies, the ruling class is always the richest class. Nor is it unknown that they have always pursued whatever is necessary to protect their position and status. The wealthy class includes people of all races, colors and cultures, not just the white society, thus every race has had a hand in oppressing their own race to sustain their position of power. This has been seen all over the world. In China, the older party leaders have maintained their position after martial law and massacres. In Africa, after and even before Apartheid ruling, Africans have used similar systems to keep the poverty stricken down. Oppression and mistreatment of the poor "untouchable" class has been within India's culture since the beginning of time. It is even included within their Hindu religion. Unfortunately, the country most known for equal opportunity also has its wealthy suppressers. Since the white society make up most of the upper class in the United States, they are blamed for most of the problems that society faces. However, people of color have been slowly climbing the ladder of success throughout the course of time, thus today's suppressive ruling class does not embody just the white society any longer. Along with the whites, these people of color have been unconsciously repressing their own people as well as other whites. Oppression therefore is clearly the case of economics, not of race. Even if we take a look back into American history, it is clear that the white or Puritans of that era persecuted their own people. With every significant change that occurred within their society, there would be a trial, hanging, or burning at the stakes. Each time a new generation of Puritans settled in Massachusetts or if there was a change of leadership within their governing system, accusations of witchcraft was common. When personal boundaries are crossed, just as when new Puritan enter their already established community, the older generation adjust to the changing times by finding a means to unite. Unity is usually established when the entire group goes against one particular party. This unity brings the established group a sense of security in uncertain times. Human beings do not adjust well to change in fact they fear it because of their own uncertainties. In order to deal with their anxieties, there is a need to point blame. Just as the poorer classes blame the wealthy for their struggles, the richer classes unite in order to sustain their position. While oppression is a matter of wealth, power and stability, the biggest characteristic of the oppressed is the fact that they are different. Whether the difference may be their new arrival from another country or the color of their skin, the already establish community needs to find a way to adjust to the change. That adjustment usually includes oppression in order for those in power to sustain their status. (Linda Loi is a junior majoring in Asian American Studies).