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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1978)
Page 2 Portland Observer Thursday. May 11, 1978 WH4T ABOUT M ï HU56AH ? We see the world through Black eyes HE'S Möf?£ ÙUALlFIEb FOR T H IS Jô6 y THAN X AM H l It w as no surprise to us th a t it w as fin a lly re v e a le d this w e e k th a t th e C IA w as in v o lv e d m the o v e rth ro w o f K w a m e N kru m a . The Black c o m m u n ity has a lw a y s k n o w n this a n d th e facts w e re p u b lis h e d in the Black press a t the tim e . W e a lso k n o w th a t th e CIA k ille d Patrice L um um ba, d e p ose d C he dd i Jagen a n d a tte m p te d to k ill Ju liu s N e ye re . A n d th e y k ille d M a lc o lm X a nd possibly Dr. King a n d the K ennedys rig h t h e re in o u r o w n co un try. Since s la v e ry days Black le a d e rs h a v e b e e n m a lig n e d — N a t T urner w as " c r a z y " , M arcus G a rv e y a " c r o o k " , W.E.B. DuBois a n d Paul Robeson w e re " c o m m ie s " a n d M u h a m m a d A li a " d r a ft d o d g e r" . A t Jhe p re se n t tim e n e a rly e v e ry e ffe c tiv e Black o ffic ia l Jias b e e n harassed a n d sla n d e re d by th e w h ite press rin d p e rsecu te d by g o v e rn m e n ta l a gencies. N o w w e a re to ld th a t Idi A m in is m u rd e rin g his ¡p e o p le in mass g e n o c id e . Perhaps he is. A n d if he is ¡be d eserves th e c o n d e m n a tio n o f the w o rld . But ¡h o w a re w e to k n o w th e truth? A re w e to b e lie v e th e fstories g e n e ra te d in the w h ite press? A re these re a l or a re th ey a n o th e r C IA p lo t? • S enator M a rk H a tfie ld is a tte m p tin g to o rg a n iz e ¡B lack su pp ort fo r his b o yco tt o f U g a nd an c o ffe e . W e •d o n 't d o u b t S enator H a tfie ld 's sin ce rity — a lth o u g h ¡w e b e lie v e his concerns c o u ld w e ll be d ire c te d a t • Z im b w a b w e or South A frica . W e u nd ersta nd th a t his co nce rn com es fro m stones to ld h im by a c q u a in t ances w h o had bee n to A fric a . But w h e n w e k n o w jt h a t m issionaries, tourists, students a n d jo u rn a lis ts J h a ve been re c ru ite d by the CIA, w h e n resp ecte d 1 o rg a n iza tio n s tu rn o u t to be C IA fron ts, it is h a rd to ¡k n o w w h o m to b e lie v e . A fte r a ll, n e ith e r p re sid e n ts i nor Congress h a ve b ee n a b le to c o n tro l th e C IA or ■even kn o w w h a t if is d o in g . { ; Senate District #10 » The ca n d id a te s fo r this o ffic e - Jim G a rd n e r, C ind y jB a n ze r a nd Paul S oto-S eelig — a re w e ll q u a lifie d fo r ith is p o s itio n . A ll h ave co nd ucte d c a m p a ig n s »designed to discuss the voters needs a nd desires w ith th em , so to be b e tte r a b le to serve th e m in the Legislature. G a rd n e r, on a tto rn e y a n d a g ra d u a te o f Y a le Low School, has had m ost o f his e x p e rie n c e in g o v e rn m en t a nd p a rty w o rk — se rv in g as la w c le rk to S uprem e C ourt Justice S te w a rt a n d fe d e ra l ju d g e G o o d w in . He has b e e n a c tiv e in the D e m o cra tic Party. C in d y Banzer, a g ra d u a te o f OSU in e d u c a tio n w ith em p ha sis in school fin a n c e , has h ad m ost o f her e x p e rie n c e on th e state a n d "g ra s s ro o ts " le v e l. She has w o rk e d fo r the O re g o n State E ducation C o m m it tee, w as C itize n P a rtic ip a tio n C o o rd in a to r fo r the state's la n d use p la n n in g , is a m e m b e r o f th e f A d v is ory B oard on H u m a n Services fo r M u ltn o m a h C ounty, the b o a rd o f d ire c to rs o f M e tro p o lita n F a m ily Services, th e b o a rd o f d ire c to rs o f C itize n s fo r C h ild re n , a n d is on th e b o a rd o f d ire cto rs o f th e M t. Tabor N e ig h b o rh o o d A sso cia tio n . The in c u m b e n t, Raul S o to -S ee lig , w as a p p o in te d to f i l l th e va c a n c y le ft w h e n B etty R oberts w as a p p o in te d to a ju d g e s h ip . S o to -S ee lig , an a tto rn e y , is a n a tiv e o f C uba. He has b e e n a Vista v o lu n te e r a nd w o rk e d fo r th e Lane C o u n ty J u v e n ile D e p a rt m en t. A lth o u g h w e h a ve not h ad the p le a s u re to m e e t S o to -S e e lig , w e h a v e b e e n to ld th a t he is a c o m m itte d p erson , co n ce rn e d a b o u t u rb an p ro b le m s . O f th e tw o ca n d id a te s w e in te rv ie w e d , M rs. Banzer expressed th e m ost k n o w le d g e a b o u t a nd in te re st in th e s p e c ific interests o f o u r c o m m u n ity . W e b e lie v e th a t h e r in v o lv e m e n t in th e p ro b le m s o f n e ig h b o rh o o d s a n d her e x p e rtis e in school fin a n c e g iv e h e r an e d g e o ve r the o th e r tw o c a n d id a te s a n d th e re fo re g iv e C in d y Banzer o u r e n d o rse m e n t. REGISTER - VOTE * House S ocial S ervice C o m m itte e , w h e re she w o rk e d to im p ro v e n u rs in g h o m e care, increa se a lc o h o lis m tre a tm e n t, a n d pass la w s to p ro te c t b a tte re d spouces. She w as in v o lv e d in le g is la tio n fo r Project In d e p e n d e n c e to assist e ld e rly persons re m a in in th e ir o w n hom es a n d fo r e d u c a tio n fo r the h a n d i ca p p e d a n d th e g ifte d . C h ild ca re , w o m e n 's issues a n d h u m a n rig h ts re m a in her p rim a ry concerns. Carol Bryant - C arol B rya nt is a n a c tiv e , in v o lv e d m e m b e r o f the c o m m u n ity re p re s e n te d by D istrict #14. A g ra d u a te o f PSU S chool o f S o cial W o rk a n d o f M t. A n g e l C o lle g e . She has a b a c k g ro u n d o f c o m m u n ity p la n n in g , c o u n s e lin g , a n d so cia l w o rk . C u rre n tly she is d ire c to r o f th e N e ig h b o rh o o d O p tio n s in C h ild C are Project, a p ro g ra m th a t d e v e lo p s , c o o rd in a te s , a n d assists h o m e c e n te re d c h ild care. In this p o s itio n she has n o t o n ly p ro m o te d q u a lity c h ild care, b u t has h ad m uch d ire c t c o n ta c t w ith th e re sid e n ts o f the c o m m u n ity a n d has seen firs t-h a n d results o f u n e m p lo y m e n t, in a d e q u a te e d u c a tio n , p o v e rty , p o o r hfealth, d is c rim in a tio n , etc. C a ro l B rya n t w o u ld ta k e to th e le g is la tu re an u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e needs o f th e p e o p le o f her d is tric t a n d o f e v e ry p o o r a n d w o rk in g -c la s s c o m m u n ity. She a ls o w o u ld ta k e th e a b ility , c o m m itm e n t, in d e p e n d e n c e , a n d " g u t s " to h e lp th e L eg isla tu re m e e t so m e o f these needs. Priestley - Dist. #16 W a lly P riestle y s h o u ld be re ta in e d in th e Legisa- tu re , re p re s e n tin g D istrict #16. C o n tra ry to re p o rts in the w h ite press, P riestle y is a n a c tiv e a n d re s p o n s ib le le g is la to r. His v o tin g re c o rd is such th a t he has re c e iv e d h ig h ra tin g s fro m a w id e v a rie ty o f o rg a n iz a tio n s th a t a re c o n c e rn e d w ith le g is la tio n fo r th e w o rk in g class fa m ily , th e a g in g a n d consum ers. For e x a m p le : C o m m o n C ause, a c itize n s lo b b y , rates P riestle y's v o tin g re c o rd K X T “ on b ills th e y sp on sored or e n d o rs e d . The O re g o n State C o u n c il o f S enior A d v o c a te s rates his v o tin g re c o rd "E x c e lle n t" ; the O re g o n W o m e n 's P o litic a l C aucus — 9 4 ,u; the O re g o n E n v iro n m e n ta l C o u n cil -- 9 0 '° ; the AFL-CIO - 8 4 '° . A m o n g his e n d o rs e m e n ts fo r re -e le c tio n a re th e AFL-CIO a n d b o th p ro fe s s io n a l te a c h e r o rg a n iz a tions. Som e o f P rie stle y's ideas on re fo rm o f the p e n ite n tia rie s a n d c rim in a l justice system h a v e not y e t b e e n a c c e p te d by o th e r le g is la to rs — b u t w e p re d ic t th a t e v e n tu a lly th e y w ill u n d e rs ta n d th a t ch an ge s m ust be m a d e . P riestle y's a d v o c a c y o f p u b lic o w n e rs h ip o f e le c tric u tilite s a lso is not p o p u la r in so m e q ua rte rs. He has b e e n a v o ic e fo r th e c o m m o n c itiz e n a n d has v o te d th e ir interests ra th e r th a n th e interests o f th e business e s ta b lis h m en t. In th e L e g isla tu re a n d on th e School B o ard he has a d v o c a te d b rin g in g c itize n s in to th e d e c is io n m a k in g processes. P rie stle y's w o rk to fu rth e r th e use o f the In itia tiv e a n d R e fe re n d u m -- b o th th ro u g h u sin g the re fe re n d u m to re fe r gas tax a n d licen se fa x increases to the voters a n d th ro u g h p la c in g a C o n s titu tio n a l A m e n d m e n t on th e b a llo t to p ro v id e m o re e q u ita b le re g u la tio n s fo r th e l&R in h o m e ru le c o u n tie s -- are a d m ira b le . P rie stle y's e x a m p le has le d o th e r le g is la to rs w h o a re n ot a p a rt o f th e e s ta b lis h m e n t to use the l&R process to g iv e th e voters a m e th o d to g et d e s ire d le g is la tio n . P rie stle y's successful fig h t to stop th e H ousing A u th o rity o f P o rtla n d fro m s e lllin g th e ir D ekum p ro p e rty fo r h ig h d e n s ity a p a rtm e n ts th ro u g h g a in in g d o w n z o n in g by the C ity C o u n c il is a n e x a m p le o f his d e e p c o m m u n ity in v o lv e m e n t. The O b s e rv e r e nd orses W a lly P riestley. Published every Thursday by rixie Publishing Company, 2201 North Killingsworth, Portland, Oregon 97217 Mailing address: P.O. Box 3137, Portland. Oregon 97208 Telephone: 283 2486. Subscriptions: $7.50 per year in the Tri-County area, $8.00 pei year outside Portland. Second Class Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon The Portland Observer's official position irexpressed only in its Publisher's column (We See The World- Through Black Eyes). Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual w rite r or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the P o r tla n d Observer, National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. New York MEMBER MEMBER Oregon ■ Newspaper ¡Publishers I Association F IHO WORK! G re tc h e n K a fo u ry is o ne o f th e fe w e le c te d o ffic ia ls w h o can re g u la rly be seen in o u r c o m m u n ity. In her firs t te rm in th e L eg isla ure she e s ta b lis h e d an e n v ia b le reco rd . She w as v ic e c h a irm a n o f the Portland Observer A L E R E I) L. H E N D E R S O N Editor/Publisher TAKE THEJOß BA6Y, X ’t L ! Kafoury - Dist. #13 Fact or fiction? L IS A N I XFYôUOôRT TA K t THE JOB WE'lt /HIRE A WHITEIHOHAU1 B WE OHLY MEEb OHE T MlHOQlT/ AMO WE D on ' t HIRE B U C K men Attocialion • Founded IM S i 1st Place Community Service O N P A 1973 1st Place Best Ad Results O N P A 1973 5th Place Best Editorial N N P A 1973 Honorable Mention Herrick Editorial Award N N A 1973 2nd Place Best Editorial 3rd Place Community Leadership O N P A 1975 Through the eyes o f Mr. W . by Harold C. Williams by Harold C. Williams When one thinks of life, understanding, hopes, and dreams there's always a special rose that comes to mind. Il blossoms in the fall, w inter, summer and spring - it's red. yellow, pink, black, w hite and brown. This rose has a special name, it's called "M other " How sweet the fragrance when little children run across the floor to her arms for a hug of love. Husbands, sons and daughters sit around the table to heur her words of wisdom that are always sprinkl ed with sugar of compassion. To know her ears is to share her dreams. To share her dreams is to understand life. To understand life is to have compassion with God. Only the special rose called "M other" understands the code that gets the immediate attention of God. In my house there's a special, special rose that my son Two, and 1 love dearly, her name is Cal. To Cal and all mothers who are truly special roses, "H A P P Y M O TH E R 'S D A Y .” Refugees by Bayard Rustin A new “invisible man" has been born within our midst - the Southeast Asian refugee. Shunted from country to coun try . over 150,000 of these “invisible people" cling to a precarious existence in scores of refugee camps which dot non Communist Asia. They have a simple and solitary message for the international community: “Do not forget us!" Some well-meaning people have said to me: “T h e Black community suffers from record high unemployment. W hy should Blacks be concerned about Southeast Asia refugees? Such an attitude is understandable, but allow me to describe the enorm ity and urgency of the refugee problem. Tw o months ago while serving on a delegation organized by the International Rescue Committee (an organization which has provided much assistance to the victims of apartheid and repression in Africa). I had an opportunity to speak with many refugees currently living in Thailand. They all told the same stories: they all had the same fears. I f they return home, they said, the Communist regimes w ill almost certainly kill them. Many complained about the lack of food in the Thai camps, yet they fear their own governments more than they fear starva tion. O f all the refugee groups I encounter ed, the Cambodians were the most determined to resist returning to their now desolate homeland. When the brutal Khmer Rouge forces seized control of their country over two years ago. more than 15,000 people fled to Thailand, frequently with only the clothing on their backs. A t present, thousands of Cambodians are crowded into four camps in eastern Thailand. Most of these destitute people have lived in these poorly equipped camps for two years or more. Resettle ment programs have advanced at a snail's pace; few foreign countries have any interest in "undesirable” and semi lit erate Cambodians. Moreoever, recent border clashes between Thai and Khmer Rouge troops have made the Cambodian refugees suspect in the eyes of the Thai government. Cambodia's neighbor to the east Vietnam -- has produced thousands of its own refugees, many of whom have taken to the high seas in dangerous little boats. These courageous "Boat People" have suffered heavy losses in their quest for freedom. According to several reliable sources, as many as half of these people perish at sea (about the same mortality rate suffered by Black slaves crossing the Atlantic from Africa) either through starvation, drowning or exposure. M er chant ships which pass these imperiled human beings rarely, if ever, offer assis tance. And the Thai government has become increasingly reluctant in granting them landing rights on Thai shores. Vietnamese "Boat People" who some how survive the rigorous sea journey presently live in two temporary camps near the coastline. Since 1976, the number of refugees in these camps has risen to over 2,000. Another inland camp serves 1,500 Vietnamese who escaped through Laos. I talked to several Vietnamese and they all described the "New Vietnam" as a harsh and oppressive society. Common people, they told me, have been uprooted and forced to relocate in areas far from friends and family. Others have been sent to the so-called New Economic Zones. And still others have been com polled to change occupations. Trade unions, religious groups (both Buddhist and Christian), and student organizations - all of which once flourished in South Vietnam - have all but disappeared. Tw o ethnic groups from l.aos the Lao and Hmong peoples - have even more refugees in Thailand than the Vietnamese and Cambodians combined. A t present, over 72.000 Laotian refugees live in nine densely populated camps in the northern section of Thailand. The refugees com munity includes urban and rural people, as well as a contingent of former military and government officials. Conditions in Thailand's refugee camps, at least the ones 1 visited, are far from uniform. Certain camps have better facilities than others, but none of them deserve to be called "homes". Given its limited resources, the Thai government has, I believe, made an honest effort to provide decent facilities. Yet, most refugees lack toilets, adequate food and clothing, and even personal privacy. All of these amenities, which most of us consider indispensable, have become highly prized luxuries. Indeed, life itself has become a costly luxury for these people. It would be easy and politically expe dient to conveniently forget these belea guered people. We could, I suppose, soothe our collective conscience by send ing a few dollars to the camps. But in seeking a "painless solution." Blacks would ignore a basic lesson of the civil rights movement: the Black struggle for freedom is intimately linked with the universal struggle for freedom, whether it be in South Africa, the Soviet Union, or Indochina. How can we help these people? They 1 do not want hand-outs or a "free ride." Instead, they want a fair opportunity to rebuild their shattered lives and earn a decent livelihood. And there is only one way we can help we must open the doors of America. Black people must recognize these people for what they are brothers and sisters, not enemies and competitors* Consumer Safety Tips S A L E M - Consumer Services Division reminds Oregon consumers that there have been a number of recalls on pro ducts lately, many of which are sold in Oregon. T h e -Consumer P ro d uct S afety Commission reports that C&S Trading Company of Carson, California is recall ing Model 100 "Magic Curl" hand held curling irons because of a possible bum or shock hazard. The defect is in the handle casing which can separate and allow sparks to be released, creating possible shocks or burns. Consumers are urged to imme diately stop using the recalled curling iron and either return it to their dealer for free replacement or mail it to C&S Trading Company, 138 East Savarona Way, Carson, California 90746. Postage will be reimbursed. CP8C also announced the recall of the "W ater Wiggle" toy, manufactured by W’ham-0 Manufacturing Company of San Gabriel, California. The toy is a seven foot plastic hose attached to an aluminum water jet nozzle covered by a bell-shaped plastic head. I t is attached to a garden hose for playing in water, The toy is responsible for the death of a four-year old who placed the nozzle in his mouth and drowned after the head of the toy had become dismantled. Consumers who own a "W ater W’iggle” should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund or credit. W’ham-0 requests retailers to remove all "W ater Wiggles" from the shelves. The Safety Commission also warns consumers of the danger of electrocution when installing or working around CB antennas. Eight persons recently were killed in accidents involving the antennas. Persons are warned against raising an tennas in the area of power lines or driving through power lines in mobile homes with CB antenna attached. In general, persons should be cautious while painting or working around antennas with aluminum ladders or power equip ment. CPSC reported at least 125 electrocutions were associated with com munications antennas last year. About one-half of these deaths were known to involve CB antennas. The Commission proposed a ban on paint removers, rubber cements and all other consumer products containing the chemical benzene because of the serious health hazard it poses. Benzene, also known as benzel, has been linked with cancer of the white blood cells (Leukemia) in man, as well as blisxl disorders and chromosome abnor malities. $7.50 in Tri—County Area $8.00 Other N a m e ------------- <___________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A d d re s s _____ _______________________ __ ______ C ity ----------------------------------------------- Observer Box 3137 97208