I think the point the author was making is that yes there are differences,and that one is no better or worse than the other, they're just different.

A enlightened view for 1958.

Some have suggest that government has purposely divided America to either,,

1. Polarize the electorate.
2. Distract attention from the real issues.

There is probably a little bit of truth in both 1 and 2.

If you think about what the author wrote, IMO, she was advocating a acceptance that, yes, in fact we are different, to accept that fact and enjoy the diversity that differences between people afford us.

Legion....my mom must've read that book cuz that is how she talked to me about interracial relationships...they are harder not because of surface differences but because of cultural differences, etc....makes a marriage more difficult than it already is. I think with the watering down of culture/heritage due to breakdown in families, interracial relationships are getting easier.

If I may, and yes it is off topic, but race has been mentioned.

I read a lot of old books, just today I read a passage in one of Edna Ferber s books, printed in 1958, The Ice Palace.

Two of the characters had a discussion one asked "Was your marriage a mistake?

The reply "Yes in its own way.Not because I married a girl who was part Eskimo. She couldn't adjust to my way of life. I couldn't adjust to hers. We were to far apart in training, in what we call morals, and perspective and habit and customs. Marriage is a terrific adjustment at best.People say, oh I wouldn't marry a Negro, I wouldn't marry an Indian, I wouldn't marry a Chinese, I wouldn't marry a Protestant, a Jew, a Catholic, a Mohammedan. It isn't a matter of exterior differences, really, I suppose.Different, color yes. Different religions. But the real difference lies in thousands of years of habit, manners, customs, characteristics, food, standards, morals. All different. Not necessarily better or worse, but different. Perhaps those differences will cease to exist in this world of easy communication. I am selfish enough to hope not-in my lifetime. I love the differences. I'd hate to see a world in which all the people are alike, like the small towns all over the United States now, all the same neon lights,the same movies at the same movie houses, the same drug stores, supermarkets, big glass schoolhouses. All standard and modern and convenient and deadly dull with sameness"

That made me think, I have never heard it expressed that way.

Well said, Riverboat.

As far as I'm concerned MTV and its awards ceremony is as important as Obama namimg his dog, but in the midst of this electonic-village squalor, I think it's notable that one young VERY beautiful woman showed more grace than anyone in that theater was prepared for.

I've always thought Beyonce has a tremendous voice. Her looks are unquestionably, indisputably jaw-dropping. But this one act puts her on a pedestal far beyond the reach of most anyone in the entertainment industry.

I had to laugh this morning, one of the ABC reporters twittered that BO had said "off the record" that "Kanye is a jackass" lmao. Finally the truth comes out! He's really not that talented to begain with. He did the samething at the EMA's last year when he didn't win video of the year.

IBD BigJ.

Coming out of the closet?
Welcome to regular, majority mainstream America.

His apology on Leno was lame! Just like his music.

Guess that's why he was boo hooing on Leno tonight.

"http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0909/did_obama_call_kanye_a_jackass.html"

I never heard of this jerk before, but he has done something very few others have done. He's made me agree with Obama about something.

Amen BigJ!

Kanye West is a privelaged racist baffoon. His music sucks to boot. Poor Taylor Swift, I had never heard of her before but her song sounds good. Beyonce was a class act from what I saw on the news about it.

Just deleted all Kanye's songs from my Ipod.

what an arrogant SOB to do that to that young lady!

anyone can get on YouTube even Pepper!