Re: “Questions, lawsuit arise as Va. ratifies ERA,” Free Press Jan. 30-Feb. 1 edition:

Philosophies of the 1960's flash across my memories like drive-in move panoramas, casting the many scrimmages in the fight for civil rights and dreams of changing the establishment's views, comprising of students, lay persons, black and white people marching together in harmony.

Nowadays, the 24/7 newscasts can diminish that spirit of assemblage, enraging instead of encouraging and causing barriers once the naivete clears away. Many of those who survived earlier conflicts are now the authorities of today as they reform the same establishment.

I have noticed throughout life that, like with skin color and/or sexual inclination, the nearer to becoming unified we get, the more our differences are raised purposefully to divide us.

Recent newscasts recounting discriminatory behaviors at a local university bring to mind the bigotry my wife and I both faced in our lives. My wife always wanted to work in the field of carpentry, but the patriarchal culture barred her course during her youth. I also recall judgements from my personal job pursuits, where the matriarchal view excluded mine: "We only have certain jobs for men to do here."

So, as our years begin to dwindle, the realization of using all our heart as we overemphasized diversity, now crushes our spirit as we question today's plight with wonder. Why can't everyone be empowered??!!

Although we have concern that there could be some stipulations, and not everyone would be included in its allocution, we would still like to raise a fist, if only halfway extended, in solidarity for the Equal Rights Amendment.

RICK KNIGHT

Henrico County