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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1978)
Page 2 Portland Observer Ihursttoy, June 22. 1971 We see the world through Black eyes Our F a to : A Memory aad A Fatare Herb L. Cawtborwe Last Sunday we paused to honor our T a x lim ita tio n r ip -o ff One would almost believe the Oregon press was in unanimous support of California Proposition 13 type tax limitations. judging on the undo publicity given the co-authors Mr Jarvis and Mr Gann. When Gann was in Portland last week he was feated by the press at hts airport arrival, was followed around the state, and was hosted on talk shows. The other night we happened to see a TV interview with Harvey Akason — former Oregon legislator and real estate agent — pushing a 1 Mr percent tax limitation for Oregon, one of a senes of interviews of proponents of limitation. Judged on the local performance, it could be that much of the so-called “tax revolt” is a media event. It is unfortunate that the facts are not presented with like fervor. The fact is that if Oregon were to have a 1VY per cent property tax limitation as proposed In petitions now being circulated, business and industry would reap the benefits, not the homeowner Business and ndustry p*y 62 percent of Oregon# property tax and homeowners pay 38 percent If the funds collected from property tax were limited, the money would have to come from income taxes, so the homeowner would be hit again. The average homeowner federal and state income tax would already be high because he would not have the deletion from local taxes paid. A clause in the proposed amendment allows only two percent income per year in assessed evaluation — until property is sold. Then the property can be '©assessed at current value and the new owner will be paying at the higher rate Since homes sell mom of ten than business property, the burden of the tax will soon shift to new homeowners, who will be paying higher taxes than their neighbors. The theory is that the person will know before he buys that his taxes will be higher, but in reality this will shut young couples and pe'sons with tow income out of the housing market. The property tax limitation has been ceiled racist by Senator George McGovern, Reverend Jesse Jackson and others, and that it is. Persons inter viewed about their vote on Proposition 13 mentioned the services they would like to see cut — welfare and social programs that they view as aid to minonties and education. They want to keep their police, firemen, streets and water — just protect their own lit tle nest and let the rest of the world be damned. Elections coming How will the appointment of Forrest “Joe" Rieke effect the possibility of the appointment of a Bieck person to the School Board? Appointment is usually the best method for minonties to gam public office in a state like Oregon with a small minority population — then, after the public exposure of being in office, they are able to run for election and win. Gladys McCoy will win a seat on the Multnomah County Commiss on in November and probably will resign from her position on the School Board. A new member will be appointed to serve until July 1, 1979 and will undoubtedly run for election in April of 1979. Although this position could feasibly go to a Black, the foul up over the last appointment — the election of Rieke by the Board when the plan called for Bill Scott — means that the next appointment should go to Scott. So perhaps Portland's Black com m unity was cheated twice — once when an obviously superior cane date was not selected and again when that can didate must be given the next appointment to com pensate ‘or the emor But regardless of the inevitable, Portland’s Black community must begin thinking about that appoint ment and the April -9?9 election when four positions Y— — - z r m EMPLOYMENT] * fathers. We paused un (he rush o f the will be up for election. It is imperative that Black candidates be chosen busy daily affairs, o f the scramble for and supported by the Black community and — dollars and deals, and we took time to although they obviously cannot be elected by Black “ see” our fathers. In our Black community, our father voters alone — that they remain responsive to the is one who cares in a very special way. Black community and its needs. The danger is in the bringing to us a unique contribution selection by white politicians of Black “leaders". Too often these people are not responsive to the Black On his strong back, our father accepts communities they perport to represent, but to the a heavy burden — a necessary aspect o f making a way in racist America. Our white politician. The time to prepare for the next School Boam elec father can “ see" into tomorrow, for it is only with such vision that he can tion is now. faotkM taken from The Observer. La Grande, Oregon guide a new generation into a world less prejudiced, less intent on destroying what he has labored to create. Our father is full o f the spirit of caring, he accepts his responsibility. and be holds fast to a positive vision. Our father has depth and perspec tive. He is sharply aware of yesterday, and yet he dearly sees tomorrow. Our father has both a memory and a future. What has been the background of the father we acknowledge today? What of our father's memory ? The man in our community remem bers with pride in the warm th o f African sun. When the majority of the world still hid its frightened face in the dark caves o f the earth, the Black African lived in marvelous splendor. The A frican melted iron, created rhythm and music, invented currency, made p o ttery, developed tools o f brass, bronze, ivory and granite. Richard Wright says o f our fathers: “ in short, centuries before the Romans ruled, we lived as men.’’ From the brotherhood o f African living, the father we praise today was stolen by the evil system o f slave trading. Those who lived to see America’s shores mourned the passing The Latter-day Saints church (Mormon) has stirred controversy almost from the day it was bom. Holding a belief that it alone has the full measure of truth as a modem recreation of Christ's original church, it was bound to make some people unhappy. Catholics particularly, who feel a simitar Inheri tance directly from Christ via St. Peter, have challenged the assertion. It should come as no surprise then that many people have greeted the most recent Mormon policy change with skepticism. The change, announced last weak, gives Bieck members of the church the privilege of being or dained into the priesthood, provided they are qualified. Labeled a revelation of convenience by dissident Mormon, Douglas Wallace, the change was given with no elaboration by church leaders except that it was the will of God Although the church has been under great pressure to change its policy on Blacks for years, to call the change politically inspired as Wallace has done seems petty and unfair. In our secular age. tt is difficult for many people to understand Mormons, the more so for their missionary zeal in gathering new converts, which can turn people off. With Christ and his time of miracles separated from us by miliema, some individuals see a church claiming to receive revelation directly from God as an anachronism. However the Latter-day Saints church has been the victim of much unfair criticism and persecution over the years, to the point where a positive step like the one they have not taken is met with misunderstand ing. To the Editor: The change is in fact a major policy shift, which could have a significant effect on making the church The recent passage of Proposition 13 more palatable to minorities. in California has created considerable However it will have little weight unless ail worthy excitement among Oregonians. The Black members are given the blessings of the idea of a limitation on property taxes priesthood as promised has significant appeal particularly to The key phrase in the letter released by the church middle income homeowners who urges ail priesthood leaders “to follow the policy of receive no state property tax relief carefully interviewing all candidates . . . to ensure because their incomes are above the that they meet the established standards of worth SI 6.000 limit. iness." 1 strongly support property tax relief Whether the church will use these stipulations as a fo r low and middle income way of blocking Blacks from the priesthood, despite homeowners and renters. During the the announced change, remains to be seen. last session o f the Oregon Legislature, If such methods are used, the church Indeed we earmarked over $200 million o f deserves the criticism which have been made against state money for property tax relief and it. But if Black members are admitted into the also voted to give people this relief in priesthood on an equal basis with others, the church October, just before they receive their is equally deserving of praise for taking a positive property tax b ill. The House o f step. Representatives voted to raise the in At the very least church leaders should be given come limit to $20,000, but the Senate the chance to make good on the promise, before judgements are made. The promise may turn out to be an empty one, but until it does, they deserve the benefit of the doubt. HIDING CAH F0R A of the numerous ones who did not The vicious slave trade bargained a great and seasoned people into slavery Our father's memory is grounded with the experience o f slavery He remembers the attacks on his manhood He cannot forget the dismemberment o f his family . And he quite proudly recalls that through it all he remained a man. The memory o f our fathers is marked with high achievement. After the Civil War. reconstruction began Black people could not read or write. They knew little o f politics, for the slave system had no need to allow for such learning. In spite o f this lowly beginning, our fathers learned to read, learned politics, learned So represent themselves. Schools opened. Blacks took the charge o f their own self development, and a remarkable race of men uplifted itself. About thirty years after the Civil W a r. reconstruction ended and “ deconstruction” , as 1 have called it. began. Our fathers had moved too fast. They had too diligently applied the tools o f education and democracy. Through vicious racism and official neglect, white America told our Black fathers: A nigger’s a nigger. Yon ran tea by Ms face; And be got no basiness In a white man’s pince. children. He marched, he protested, he negotiated, he spoke o f revolution, he stood without a whimper before the frightening odds. We honor our father because we know his memory. W e know his caring, his acceptance, his vision. We remember what he remembers. We praise the Almighty God everyday, all the tunc. We praise our fathers on Father’s Day because in him we see a small instance o f the goodness o f the God we worship. We know his memory. We honor it. And what of our father's future? The fathers o f Black children face more struggle, not less. The success of the past is the good credit rating with which Black men borrow positive visions o f a new day. The struggle today is backed by knowledge, wisdom, and courage. There is a new sense o f brotherhood among brothers. To our sons and daughters, the spirit o f our fight for human nghts must he given. They can be strong if they know the strength from which they have come. Our fathers are one element o f this strong com m unity. T o the children, we must pass on the new sense o f the brotherhood we bring to the struggle's struggle. On Father’s Day, the Black com munity pauses. We note our father’s memory, and we see his caring, his ac ceptance. We glance at his future, and we see a sparkling vision. 1 hope we will let no half-witted pessimist, misguided by ignorance of the past and a fear o f the future, lead us to dimly view the courageous strides of our father. I hope we never forget his memory or his future. The dark strong man we call our father has stood his firm ground. He fought gallantly in the wars o f this cen tury. He learned the la w . and petitioned to gain re lie f fo r his Opposes property ta x forced a cutback to S 16.000. I present ly advocate raising the income limit to $25,000 or $30.000, and at least doubling the number o f state dollars earmarked for homeowners and rent ers property tax relief. Presently petitions are being cir culated to place the C a lifo rn ia initiative on the Oregon ballot in November Before Oregonians support this initiative with their signatures or their votes, 1 hope they will take a close look at who is supporting it. and who will get the relief. The California initiative was spon sored by two real estate tycoons, M r. Jarvis and M r. G ann. Paul Gann recently visited Oregon, pushing his proposal here as well. It is no accident that these men are in real estate, because under their proposal, business and real estate interests will receive 63 percent of the relief. Moreover, due to the reduction in the property tax deduction. Oregonians will have to^ay more State income tax, and $90 million a year more Federal income tax. This proposal will mean more tax dollars for the Federal Government to spend and will mean a huge w indfall o f p ro fits to big businesses, land developers, and real estate interests. Not a penny o f relief will go to renters. A t the same time, our local govern ments, that are closest to the people, and that provide the essential police, fire, and school services, will be ab solutely devastated. We need real property tax relief for homeowners and renters, not a big business rip-off. Don’t Californicate Oregon! Rod Monroe State Representative District 12 Coalition success To the Editor: BUCK WÉ SKowrNG AT The Metropolitan Human Relations Commission would like to take this o p p o rtu n ity to congratulate the Coalition on the success of the Coali tion banquet and o ffe r special recognition to the numerous people who devoted countless hour? of work in arranging this well-received social function. thathaacpcohv ^ ktio H .- so go to ------------------5Ohl y., Clearly, the Coalition banquet was one of the most successful community events held in Portland — successful in o f working together over so many terms of participation and a showing months for the higher goal of achieving of wide support for the work o f the a truly democratic, m ulti-cultural Coalition. community. The kind of unity that was both ex W o rkin g and dining together perienced and expressed by the dining illustrates that the C o m m u n ity together of people from all parts of this C o alitio n for School Integration City is one o f the highest forms of exemplifies what it advocates. communal living. This simple act of Sincerely, sharing a meal manifested the mutual James R. Sitzman. respect and human enrichment that Chairman this diverse group of people have gained from each other in the process Nick Barnett. Executive Director P ortland O b server Published every Thursday by E rie Publishing Company. 2201 North Kiltingsworth. Portland. Oregon 97217 Mailing address P O Box 3137. Portland. Oregon 97206 Telephone 283 2466 Subscriptions: 17.50 per year ir. the T n County area. 18.00 pei year outside Portland. $7.50 $8.00 T r i-C o u n ty A re a N am e _ __ _ _ _ O th er _ __ __ __ __ __ _ __ __ __ 5th Place Best Editarial N A P A 1973 The Portland Observer a official position i r ex pressed only in ,ls Publisher s column I We See The W orld Through Black Eyes». Any other material throughout the paper is the opinion of the individual writer or submitter and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Portland Obaerver Honorable Mention llerrich Editorial Atraed N Ä Ä 1973 Aatianal Advertising Re yresratative New Verb C i» T ----------------------------------------------------------- Observer Box 3137 97208 1st Place Beat Ad Kesältä O APA 1973 h er and Class Postage Paid at Portland Oregoo A L F R E D L H E A D E R 6O A Editer/F A d d r e s s ________________________ I at Place ommunitv Service OAPA 1973 Misas«» Oregon Newspaper I Publishers Association Nt 2nd Place Best Editaría! 3rd Place ty Lnaderabi.i ONPA 1975
