Portland/O bserver
PORTLAND
OBSERVER
Religion in the News
by Father Gordon Dirkey
In "Teahouae of the Au
guat Moon,** Colonel Purdy
states, **I*m going to teach
these native« democracy if I
have to line them up against
the wall and shoot them!**
The present dismantling of
the Office of Economic Op
portunity by the Nixon Ad
ministration represents the
same arrogant, “We know
best" attitude towards the
disadvantaged
and
their
destiny.
According to the acting
OEO director, Mr. Howard
Phillips, the W ar on Poverty
has "eroded the kind of
normal majoritarian demo,
rratic safeguards that are
incident to the electoral pro
ceas," and that it is wrong to
"treat the poor as a class
apart with interests separate
and distinct from those of
society as a whole."
Perhaps M r. Phillips has it
backwards.
The poor have
always been "a class apart**,
and long before OEO came
along.
The poor are poor
and powerless, largely be
cause "normal majoritarian
democratic safeguards" keep
them that way.
From the
beginning of the war on
poverty, programs were de
signed to give the poor
participation in their own
destiny and to bring them
into t h e
mainstream of
American life and electoral
process
According to a Washington
Poet editoral. "Anyone who
has the slightest familiarity
with the program knows that
one of its major benefits has
been what it has done for
people. I t has uncovered -
from the ranks of the poor
themselves
several new
layers of leadership in com
inunities around the country.
It has given people the op
portunity to develop skills
that help them participate in
the management of their own
communities and of their
own lives.
I t has given
thousands a new sense of
their own dignity and worth
and some stake in the so
ciety.
There clearly have
been excesses, mistakes and
false starts. But the gains in
terms of human growth and
th e
institutional achieve
ments documented in the
OEO study destroy both the
factual and the philosophical
underpinnings of M r. Philip's
arguments. In his cheerfully
assumed task, he will be dis
mantling a powerful vehicle
for human hope."
The OEO Study, released
during January, was a test
survey of 591 community
action agencies on whether
the agencies have been mo
bilizing resources for the
poor, and helping the poor
achieve self sufficiency. The
report slates "closer working
relationships between CAA's
and state and local govern
ment, which offer genuine
help in making the decen
tralization o f government
succeed during the next few
years."
The report also
asserts that "even at this
early stage in the utilization
survey, the picture clearly
shows that the administra
tion's re-direction of Com
munity Action was on tar
get."
The report elicta the faulty
reasoning in the Nixon Ad
ministration's n e w
policy.
As Americans, we are an
impatient people. We often
want, and indeed, receive
immediate results.
Unfor
tunately. immediate results
with generational problems
of privation and poverty are
not realistic. Mammoth and
complex governmental pro
grams must be allowed time
and tolerance for disappoint
ment and failure, as well as
success and progress.
And so the W ar on P o
verty is wound down, di
luted, and its most important
part, the Community Action
Agencies are left with a shot
in the bark.
Domestic po
verty programs are not only
stopped, frozen,
o r
dis
mantled, but we are faced
with a complete void of
creative programs to take
■»
a /
Father Gordon Dickey
their place.
All this reduction is in
tended by the Nixon Ad
ministration to help the bud
get.
But what are Ameri
cans to think when the
President tells them reve
ues must be used to rebuild
North and South Vietnam.
I jio s and Cambodia, while
housing and education at
home, social and health pro
grams are dismantled from
lack of money? We are fared
with a four year question
mark to that question.
Another President
has
asked the question of the
problem in these terms:
"The real problem of the
modern world, t h e
thing
which creates misery, wars
and hatred among men, is
the division of mankind into
rich and poor.
“And even more important is
that a social and economic
system nationally supports
those divisions a n d
con
stantly increases them so
that the rich get even richer
and the poor get relatively
poorer and less able to
control their own future.
"This continues despite all
the talk of human equality,
the fight against poverty,
and of development. Some
times this happens through
the deliberate decisions of
the rich who use their wealth
and their power to that end.
But often, perhaps more of
ten, it happens naturally as a
result of the normal work
ings of social and economic
systems
m en
have con
structed for themselves."
(President Julius Nyere of
Tanzania, in a speech to
Maryknoll missionaries last
year.)
Africa could turn into an
other Vietnam if major coun
tries of the world do not help
emerging nations throw off
what was called their “yoke
of colonialism," an A .M .E.
Bishop said
Bishop H. Hartford Brook
ins, presiding bishop in the
17th district of the A .M .E.
Church, said, there is a
"tremendous thurst by Blacks
on the continent for their
freedom . . ."
Bishop Brookins, who re
cently visited Central Africa,
said, “If attention is not given
seriously and if major coun
tries such as ours don't do
something right away, on a
massive scale . . . we could be
headed for another Vietnam."
by Rosalie Boothe
Miss Strong is currently
leaching choral music at Sa
bin Elementary School in
Portland where I had the
rare opportunity to witness
her in action. She is one of
the rare members of the
faculty that has applied the
basic teaching methods to
the fullest. She has natural
vibrations with her students
and they all love her dearly.
W ith Gail's
multi talented
background, she brings to
Sabin much more than chor
al music. Her students are
gelling the basics in theatre
product ion
choreogrophy
stage projection and enthu
siasm.
(iail lakes advantage of
every chance to encourage
cultural enrichment.
She
recently staged the opera
"Hansel and Gretal" with
m sestro Stephen M ind e.
Portland Opera Conductor.
Gail states she owes much of
her academic success to Mr.
Issac W hite who makes it
possible for Gail to creative
ly grow by allowing her to
give birth to many of th<-
cultural contributions s h e
makes as a teacher.
Gail's contribution does not
stop at choral music.
She
is shaping minds at Sabin in
many other subjects includ
ing sports where she inspires
pride and concepts of playing
it by the rule with firm
discipline.
Astrologically, Gail is an
Aquarian which blends with
teaching and projecting into
the future.
Miss Strong is a native of
Tulsa. Oklahoma. After mi
grating to Portland she be
gan her formal music studies
with Jean Knowlton of Port
land, (alter, while attending
Eastern Nazarene College in
Boston, she studied with
New York Opera Company
Star, Robert Hale and with
Robert Brown of Boston.
She made her debut with
the Quincy, Massachusetts
Symphony.
Following her
return to Portland, she pre
pared the role of Aida,
under the direction of the late
Maestca H erbert Weiskoph.
She appeared as guest soloist
in Brahms' Requiem, pre
sented by Portland State
University.
Miss Strong is presently
studying with Mrs. Dorothy
Fisher Jones.
Gail has a powerful So
prano voice and as the ma
turation of her voire is
projected, this is indeed a
soprano that bears watching.
Gail will be heard singing an
Aria on “O ur World Too"
March
21st, on Channel
12. produced
by
Rosalie
Boothe and Jerri Ghiglieri.
MR ’
1
ft
A
¿7
Gail Strong
Gail was a winner in the
Meiropoliian Opera, D istrict
Auditions.
"So check her
NAACP
10:30
(Continued from pg. 3. Col. 4)
p.m.
Gail’s advice to today's
leenagei-s is "Life with its
up» and downs is not easy,
seek >e firs! the Kingdom of
(osl and Ills Righteousness,
and all these things (Fame.
Health. W e a l t h , Wisdom,
Hap|>inoss. ele.l shall be ad
■ led unto vou."
don't have enough firepower
to take this country; we
don't have enough manpow
er to dominate it; we don't
have enough dollar power to
buy it. And we'll be short
of all these powers' until we
develop a lot more brain
power. In truth, that's the
one power we can develop
rapidly, with zeal, without
scaring the dominant group
to the point that it loads on
new oppressions."
out"
March
21st,
at
Page 5
Africa next Vietnam?
Seek ye first
The 0E0 dismantling:
The war on poverty without honor
Thursday, March 1, 1973
YFC plans
rally
Portland Youth for C hrist/
Campus Life presents it's
Spring Rally/Happening on
Saturday. March 3, at Lin
coin High School auditorium
at 7:30 p.m.
The program will feature
the International
m u s ic
group " I nder New Manage,
ment" which represents the
Campus Life program for
high school students through
out the world.
,
Admission is free and the
public is invited.
WELCOME TO
ST. M ARK’S BAPTIST
CHURCH
119 N . E . M orris
Sunday Service 9:15/11:00a jn .
Evening Service 7:30 p jn .
Reverend Edward W ilder
• The NA A C P congratulat
es Dr. DeNorval Unthank, a
past president of the Port
land Branch. N A ACP, on his
receiving the B'nai B’rith
Award.
• The N A A C P encourages
all of its members to attend
the testimonial affair for
Hazel G. Haves on March
2nd at the Ebony Club.
Mrs. Haves, a long time
worker in I he community, is
deserving of such tribute.
Tickets are $5.00.
He said the "dehumaniz
ing” and 'sinful” things hap
pening in African countries
such as the racial apartheid in
Rhodesia, call for immediate
r
i
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and from other nations of the
world.
Racism and oppression
pose a "deadly and serious
cancer" to the world, he said.
n
DAY CARE MOTHERS
CARE FOR INFANTS
IN YOUR HOME.
$3.50 a child per day
AMA
Fam ily D a y /N ig h t Care
J
4 6 3 5 N.E. 9th 288-5091
•o e M i AcitatA
ST ANDREW S CATHOLIC CHURCH
28’ 442»
k x îia n c
«V Mtnuu« &•*♦*«
O ftO O tn .i
MARANATHA CHURCH
1222 NE Skidmore
Church school and Bible class:
Sunday morning worship:
Sunday Evening worship:
Wednesday Evening p ray er
Friday Worship Service:
9:15 a jn .
10:45 a jn .
7:00 p jn .
7:00 p jn .
7:30 p jn .
288-7241
Bob Harrison - Pastor
COMMUNITY
CHURCH OF GOD
Rev. T. N. Noffa
Welcomes you to
2 0 2 N. E. Skidmore
2 8 1 -5 6 7 8
St. Paul
Church of God In Christ
2859 N .E . RODNEY
287-7998
Sunday School
9:45 a j n . YPWW
Morning Worship 12:00 noon Weekly Services
6:30 p jn .
8:00 p jn .
Bishop J.C. F o .t.r, t o . l . r
4635 N. E. 9th Avenue
Sunday School
10:00 a j n .
Morning Service 11:00 a jn .
Breakfast 9:00 - 10:00 s jn .
Reverend Samuel Johnson
Telephone: Evenings 287-5341
SUNDAY SERVICES:
9:45 Sunday School
1 IKK) Morning Worship
7:00 Evening Worship
ALIEN TEMFLE CME CHURCH
C o m er of 8th and Skidmore
Sunday School 9:30 a jn .
Sunday Worship 11:00 a jn .
Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p jn .
(Second and Fourth Sundays)
Pastor V. R. Brown
You are invited to come and
worship with us
Home: 2 8 4 -5 5 5 9
Sunday School"^*" 9:45 a jn .
Church Service
il:00 a-m.
Evening Service
7:30 p jn .
6401
N.E.
10th Avenue
Reverend Thomas L . Strsyhand, M inister
Methodist E
'Come Alive*
'Come to Jesus’
Church of
A,iv*
the Living God
P.G. of T. Temple # 3
4
5828 N.E. tth
A. Lee Henderson, Minister
9 0 0 NE Ainsworth Portland, Oregon
Sunday School 9:43 a jn .
T .U .
6:00 p jn .
P rayer Service
Junior Church
Morning Service 11:00 a j n .
Evening Service 7:30 p jn .
Wednesdays 7:30 p jn .
Friday 7:30 p jn .
Vancouver Av«. Fir«» Baptist Church
3138 N. Vancouver Ave.
Phone 282-9496
School
9:00
Sunday
Morning Worship
Pastor Rev. S. Green 111
M
S *
“
A.M.
1 b 0 0 A.M.
Dr. O. B. Williams, Pastor
**The church with e h eeit-felt welcome"
288-S 429
Ellis Cosson, Associate Minister
Church School
Morning W or »hip
Wed. Noon — The Hour of Power
Wed. Pray., & C iati Meeting
Nurtery Core Provided
9:45 am
11:00 am
12:00 noon
7:30 pm
'W e ere making our Neighborhood A Brotherhood
Ohe „1 frutti Olivet Kapiisi Church
Rev John M. Jockton
Minuter
N E First and Schuyler
Portland, Ore.
Phon. 284 1954
Sunday School
Morning Worship
W n p et
t « u . m a r to worsAtp an d dRparr lo a m *
9 e.i
II a i
5 P '