Preferences

Frank del Olmo corrected his mathematical error regarding UCLA Latino enrollment statistics (“The Affirmative Action Case Isn’t Closed,” Commentary, Nov. 9) but he still can’t distinguish between apples and oranges. He equates government-endorsed veteran preferences in hiring and the admission of star athletes into public universities despite lower grades with race-based and sex-based preferences.

He misses the point that even a white guy like me managed to find my way to three wars, and at 5 foot, 7 inches it would be difficult but not impossible for me to win a basketball scholarship. But sex-change surgery isn’t an option (I’m ugly) and I can’t change the color of my skin.

GEORGE H. McCARTY

Hemet