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