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Show Page II Monday, Oct. /, 2007 Decline: A nation of have nots U continued from page 10 declined by 12 points. This equality of declining opportunity, however, isn't matched by an equality of perception. The percentage of Democrats who say America is divided between haves and have-nots has risen by 31 points since 1988; the percentage of Republicans, by just 14 points. Indeed, though that 13-point decline in Republicans who call themselves haves has occurred entirely since they were asked that question in 2001, the percentage of Republicans who say we live in a nave/havenot nation has actually shrunk by one point since -2001. (It had increased 15 points from 1988 to 2001.) Apparently, so great is Republicans' loyalty to the Bush presidency that they're willing to overlook their own experience. And, in many cases, to attribute the nation's transformation solely to immigration, rather than to the rise of Ill \ a stateless laissez-faire capitalism over which the American people wield less and less power. Which helps explain why Republican presidential candidates bluster about a fence on the border and have nothing to say about providing health coverage or restoring some power to American workers. But the big story here isn't Republican denial. It's the shattering of Americans' sense of a common identity in a time when the economy no longer promotes the general welfare. The world the New Deal built has been destroyed, and we are, as we were before the New Deal, two nations. \ s Harold Meyerson is editor-at-large of American Prospect and the L.A. Weekly and is a special to The Washington Post. Workplace: Beating stereotypes [ I continued from page 10 religion and national origin), bolstered Diaz's con- to put an end to Pan Am's discriminatory policy. fidence that Pan Am would at least consider his Eschewing the airline's preoccupations with gensecond job application in 1967. When they again der and sexuality, the justices concluded that a flight attendant's job was to transport passengers refused, Diaz brought the airline to court. Through four years of legal proceedings, Pan safely, not reassure passengers' masculinity. For Am, supported by its fellow airlines, steadfastly the court, whether a job candidate was male or asserted that being female was a "bona fide female, masculine or effeminate, was not a "bona occupational qualification" for the job. A bar- fide occupational qualification." rage of newspaper articles likewise expressed Diaz's taste of victory proved bittersweet. The incredulity at the idea of "male stewardesses." Of case wasn't resolved until 1971, by which time course, the airline had a tough time proving that he was too old to re-apply . However, since Diaz men could not actually do the job. vs. Pan Am, thousands of men - gay and straight With little else at its disposal, Pan Am relied - have served as flight attendants. on prejudices against gay and effeminate men to Today, when passengers look up from their justify its discrimination. The airline's lawyers laid SkyMall and see a man serving their Sierra Mist, out a doozy of a Catch-22. They argued that, on nary an eyebrow is raised. Yet other employers the one hand, real men would prove too mascu- continue to elaborate on Pan Am's discriminaline to provide the nurturing, maternal essence of tory logic to explicitly deny jobs to people they flight attending. On the other hand, the men who suspect are gay. could excel at the job would be effeminate and Title VII, alas, provides no protection from therefore unacceptable. discrimination based on real or perceived sexual Pan Am's expert witness, psychiatrist and best- orientation or gender identity. In 31 states, it is still selling author Eric Berne, testified that effeminate legal to fire or refuse to hire people for reasons male flight attendants would make a male passen- that have no connection to their talent, education ger "uneasy" because they "might arouse feelings and dedication. in him he would rather not have aroused." Berne Now that Congress is discussing the merits went on to opine that the airlines should cater of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act , to "standard American prejudices" against men which would prohibit job discrimination based who were associated with femininity - in short, on sexual orientation and gender identity, we who might seem gay. would do well to remember that there are plenty The district court in southern Florida actually of men and women like Diaz who are still strugperpetuated these prejudices. Ruling that being gling against prejudice and stereotypes to attain female indeed constituted a requirement for their dream careers - no matter how lofty or being a flight attendant, the judge's decision reit- earthbound those happen to be. erated Berne's argument that "male passengers would generally feel more masculine and thus Kate Johnson is a writer based in New York. more at ease in the presence of a young female Albert Garcia is vice president of the Association attendant." of Flight Attendants for Northwest Airlines. It took the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ICON Health & Fitness is bringing back our swing shift Assembly Line M o n d a y - Saturday 5:30pm-11:30pm. Line anticipated to run through January 2008 Perfect for a second job or for students! Great pay and benefits from a job that works well with most schedules. Our Assembly positions are currently paying $10.00/hour plus shift differential. BUY A BIKE FROM SUNRISE CYCLERY TODAY AND KICK YOUR OIL ADDICTION. 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