P•t• 2 Portlend ObHrver June 11. 1al0
EDITORIAL/ OPINION
'W ar of lib,e ratio,n 1in Lesetho7
By N. Fun1ai K umbula
Firing indicates power shift
The termination of Robert Blanchard as
Superintendent of Schools has a greater
significance than the future of one man. It is
an indication of increasing power in the hands
of the people. For the first time, the down-
town business establishment is not running
the school district.
The effort of the "establishment" to main-
tain control was great - with some represen-
tatives speaking before the board, others at-
tending the meeting Monday night, a still
others making high pressure phone calls in-
dicating that they would not support a needed
school levy if Blanchard was not retained. But
their efforts failed and four members of the
Board voted to terminate Or. Blanchard.
The efforts of the Black United Front - its
successful Boycott, its fingering of allegedly
incompetent administrators, its call for Or.
Blanchard's resignation, its laying the respon-
sibility for the miseducation of Black children
at his feet kept the issue before the public and
kept the pressure on the Board to resolve the
issue - the issue of who runs the public
schools.
The Black United Front and the Black com-
munity are being credited - or blamed - but the
real decision was Or. Blanchard's. He found it
impossible, or unacceptable, to work
cooperatively with the new Board - a board no
longer dominated and controlled by the
representatives of the "establishment." As the
• four members of the Board most closely iden-
tified with and most responsive to the people
. coalesced it became more and more apparent
that Dr. Blanchard could not stay . As the
Oregonian so aptly stated, he was a
"businessman's educator."
It should be carefully noted that if a
threatened recall vote materialize it will come
from the downtown business establishment.
The disatisfied West side parents who
threatened to recall the "old" School Board if
they adopted the Coalition's pairing plan are
now threatening to recall the "new" Board .
But this group has no vested interest and will
fizzle.
The real recall effort will come from those
who have always controlled and who believe
they still know what's best for Portland.
Although the termination is being ref ered to
as the "end of an era," it is also a beginning -
an opportunity for a new Board to begin a new
decade with a new administration. Many
problems - opportunities - need to be ad-
dressed in the coming years. The Board will
find a dynamic new Superintendent who will
prepare our children for lite in a multi-cultural,
rapidly changing world.
The "new Board" is now firmly in control
and it must retain its unity in spite of the
threats and criticism that will come . Ter-
mination is sad for any person and the
Superintendent, whatever his faults, is a man.
But it happens every day. The great disaster
predicated for the district will not happen - no
more than it happened to PP&L when it fired
its leader ltwice).
Those staff members and dissenting board
members who truly care about children will
join together and work with the Board and
with Or. James Fenwick as they launch the
district into a new, more sensitive and caring
era.
Fenwick's success, and that of the district,
depends on his and the Board's desire and
ability to address the educational needs of
Black children.
The real " discord, fragmentation and
tumult" will occur if the white community con-
tinues to use Blanchard's termination to heap
racist recrimination on Blacks.
Letters to the Editor
The uses of student power
ro the Editor:
I have had the pleasure of having
several articles published in the
"Obstntr" while bein1 confined at
OSP, and now that I am soon to be
released, where I will enter the
bi1gest arena of confinement, I
would like to see this article
published, as my aood-bye and
hello.
Three para1raphs from the book
"Tht Studtnt as Nir,tr" by Jerry
Farber.
"How do you raise hell'l That's a
whole other article. But Just for a
start, why not stay with the
analo1y'l What have Black people
done'! They have, first of all, faced
the fact of their slavery. They've
stopped kiddina themselves about
an eventual reward in the Great
Watermelon Patch in the sky.
They've oraanized; they've decided
to get freedom now, and they've
started taking it.
"Students, like Blad peo ple,
have immense, unused power. f hey
could, theoretically, insist on par-
ticipating in their own educa11on .
fhcy could make academic trecdom
bilateral; they could t each their
teachers to thrive on love and ad-
m I rat ion, rather than fear and
respect, and to lay down I heir
weapons. Students could discover
community, and they could learn to
dance by dancing on the IHM card,
they could make colorina books out
of cataloas and they could put the
grading system in a museum; they
could raise one set of walls and let
life come blowin1 into the
classrooms; they could raise another
set of walls and let education tlow
out and flood the streets; they could
turn the classrooms into where it's
at a "field of action" as Peter
Morin describes it. And believe it or
Supports two commissions
Dear Mr. Henderson:
I applaud the insi1ht of the Ob-
server shown in the editorial of
April 2"', "Two Commission: Not
one," pointin1 out the need for two
special minority commissions to
examine the needs of Black and
Hispanic communities.
I endorsed this idea as a State
Senator and continue to endorse it
as Commissioner of the Bureau of
Labor and Industries.
There already exists a Governor's
Commission for Women. And the
Black and Hispanic communities
badly need a similar aroup 10
uaminc the economic, community
and social barriers they face.
I openly oiler the services of the
Bureau to facilitate the formation of
such a commission and would be
more than happy to meet with
community members interested in
spearhcadin1 the effort.
Very Truly Yo urs,
Mary Wtndy Roberts,
Commissioner, Oregon Burea u of
Labor and Industries
no t, they could study eagerly and
learn prodiqiously for the best of all
possible reasons, their own reasons.
" They could, theoretically. They
have the power. But only in a very
tcw places, like Berkeley, have they
c~en begun to think about usin1 it.
For students, as for Blad people,
the hardest battle isn't with Mr.
Charlie. It 's with what Mr. Charlie
has done to your mind."
And in closln1, I would like to
continue quoting and quote the
words of Portland's own, Georae
Page, "Back what you believe in!"
Nathaniel Scott 41877
Thanks
Dear Editor:
A most sincere and warm thank you
is extended your way from the
Community Services Proaram, U.S.
Census Bureau, for contributina
outstandin1 printed covcra1c of
IIJ80 Census related materials. this
altitude is reflected t'rom the
Director's office downward
throuahout the staff.
I am cnclosina a Certificate of Ap-
preciation, si1ncd by our national
Director with this letter to add to the
numerous awards, plaques and
trophies that you already have
received.
About the size of Maryland and
surrounded on all sides by South
Africa, Lesotho is an independent
Black republic that has been
s1ru88lin1 to stand up on her own
since a1tainin1 independence from
Britain in 1965. Her peculiar
geoaraphical
location
has
necessitated her danaerous depen-
dence on South Africa, Free
Africa's Public Enemy Number
One.
Consequently, despite her small
size and relative .. obscurity,"
Lesotho has been one of the mos1
successful African countries when it
comes to soliciting international aid .
Both East bloc and Western coun-
tries seem to think that providina
aid to Lesotho will reduce her
dependence on South Africa.
That as ii may, this has tended to
overshadow Lesotho's shameless
repression and Prime Minister
Leabua Jonathan's authoritarian
rule. A brief look at the country's
history will suffice to show this
authoritarianism and a total
disreaard for the people's political,
civil and human ri1hts.
Durina the time when Europe was
shamelcsly raping Africa and
placin1 virtually the whole continent
under colonial domination, Kini
Moshoeshoc placed the then
Basutoland under British "protec-
tion." The idea was to forestall any
colonial designs on Basutoland; the
King intended to revoke the
"protection" agreement as soon as
the threat of colonialism was
removed.
Following the end of World War
II and as was happenin1 all over
Africa, Basutos began to agitate for
self-rule also and to demand the
ouster of the British. A party called
the Basutoland Conaress Party,
BCP, wa~ formed in 1952, and over
the years managed to pressure the
"brutish" British to arant the
Basothos local autonomy. The BCP
managed to sweep village and
district council elections and 30 of
the 40 scats in a National Council.
The BCP platform stressed local
participation in self-aovernment
and opposed chieftainship which it
saw as a tool of continued British Corporation. Between 200 and 500
domination.
of the protesters were killed.
In the meantime, another rival
The only option left open to the
oraanization, the Basotho National opposition was 10 launch an armed
Party, BNP, had been formed and, stru11le; to try to overthrow th
alona with the Marema-Tlou Jonathan rc1imc by force. In April
Freedom Party, MFP , had con• 1979, 8CP leader Ntsu Mokhchle,
tested the 1%0 election prior to in- then in e"ile in Botswana, announ-
dependence in 1%5, elections were ced the formation of the Lesotho
held 10 determine who was 1oin1 to Liberation Army. Jonathan has
form the new nation's aovernment. tried to portray the LLA as the
By this time, the HCP and MFP had creation of South Africa, intended
demonstrated their popularity and to "destablize a lc1al Black aovern•
Britain, ever fearful of a "radical" mcnt. " This claim has succintly
African aovernmcnt comina to been rel'utcd by Ed1ar Motuba,
power in a former colony, opted for editor of a Lesotho Evanaelical
the Kenya solution: this calls for Church newspaper call Leselinyana
back ins a less threatening faction.
(" Little Niaht"). Araucs Motuba:
"Jonathan's aovernment was put
In Lesotho that fact ion was into power with the backina of
Jonathan's BNP; si1nificantly, South Africa." Others also charac
Jonathan also received the en- that 35 HCP members were arrested
dorsement and backina of South by South African police as they
At'rca and the Roman Catholic crossed the border and handed over
Church. Thou1h the elections were to Lesotho authorities in e"chanae
heavily rigged and there was a lot of for South African refuaccs hidina in
intimidation, detention of known Lesotho.
HCP supporters, entire (HCP
The week of June 1st saw a fierce
strongholds) villaaes not counted, day lon1 battle ensue between HCP
the BPN mana1ed 10 win by only auerrillas and government troops.
two scats: 31 scats to the BCP- In the end the aovernment displayed
MFP's 29.
nine bodies, alle1edly of the HCP
Jonathan was in and both South 1uerrillas and huae quantities of
Africa and Britain sighed with relief weapons captured. What this
as did the Catholic Church. demonstrated was the seriousness of
However, the drama was far from this lled1lin1 war of liberation in
over. The Basotho merely waited this unlikiliest of places. After
the five year period to the next elec- Jonathan's naked usurpation of
tion. In the 1970 elections, the BCP power followin1 the "70 election,"
was winnina handily when Jonathan some African leaders are havina
suddenly called to halt the elections, second thou1hts about how closely
declared a state of emeraency and they want to be allied with such a
suspended the constitution. to date despot.
there have been no more elections
Even with the happy resolution of
and the con st it ut ion remains the Zimbabwe problem and the
susoended.
projected imminent peoples victory
in Namibia, it appears Southern
The HCP aovernment then moved Africa will continue to be a hotbed
in with a vcn1eance to crush HCP of revolution at least for quite some
resistance. Hundreds of HCP sup- time to come. Lesotho's war of
porters were arrested and others liberation also underscores one most
forced into exile but, support for the important point: suppression._
BCP has been arowin1 rather than repression and oppression will not
dyin1. The Jonathan regime went so be tolerated any more, whether it is
far as to bomb miners who were practised by a Jonathan (Black) or a
protcstina the reaimc's decision to Botha (white).
arant minina rights to the South
African based Anglo-American
Pamberi Ntchimuren1a!
Notes from City Hall
By Charles Jordan
Commissioner of Public Sq/tty
VICTIMS.
"You 'vt just cashtd your
paycheck and you are walking 10
your car. Suddtnly, someone grabs
your arm, hits you 011,r lhe head,
and when you rtco11er from tht
blow, your monty is gone and your
arm is broken. "
"A polict o//ietr or ambulanct
takts you to the hospital, and you
rralir.t you will bt unable to work
for awhile, but you ha11t many
financial nsponsibilitits. "
The Portland Police Bureau will
send a report to the Victim's
Assistance Pro1ram, or you can call
them at 248-3222.
This proaram will help you make
financial "arranaements" to cover
your obliaations, as well as lend
emotional support throuahout the
Court ordeal.
If a suspect is apprehended and
socs to trial, the Victim's Assistance
Program helps you understand the
Criminal Justice System in a
Criminal Case.
They also offer community re-
source referral, so that your im-
mediate needs can be assessed and
filled -- from emeraency food, to
shelter, to someone who can fix a
window.
This proaram aids all assault
victims whose major needs are
referrals, comfort, and case infor-
mation, however, no financial
reimbursement is made. The
Victim's Assistance Pro1ram will
inform you of other service agencies
available to help you.
One such program for victims is
sponsored by the State of Ore1on
Department of Justice.
Under a law passed by the 1977
Oregon Le1islaturc, v1cums,
physically injured durin1 a crime,
can receive financial assistance. The
law reco1nizes that brinaina the
criminal to justice is not enouah.
Crime victims suffer long after the
crime has been committed, due to
physical disabilities, loss of income,
and perhaps even the death of a
Joved one.
This program will compensate in-
nocent victims of crime by payina
medical bills up to SI0,000 (or the
amount not covered by insurance up
to SI0,000). In addition, the State
will pay up to 5200.00 per week for
loss of wages up to S I0,000. If
physical therapy is needed for your
rehabilitations, SJ,000 is available
to cover that cost.
Aaain, thank you for your concern
and assistance.
Louis H. Drakt
Community Services Specialist
1st Place
School Board dumps Blanchard
(Continued from Pqe I Col 6)
commitments 10 real educational
opponunity, improved elementary
education, equitable and effective
discipline, and much increased
openness in communication with the
public and the dedicated teachin1
staff of the dillrlct.,.
In response to questions whether
his statement wu proper at the
time, Sc:ott said he wanted to call
public attention to what Is hap-
penina. "Too much is at stake to
chanae the hones at this time.••
He said throu1hout his su1
months as chairman, the Boud has
not 1tvt11 adequate attention to
1sa11CS. "I have tried to use rational
prOCCSICS to trJ to 1et rapontc from
the Board "careful decision
makina." He also said the com-
munity is not focusina on the critical
problems.
"I am nabber1astcd that he
would do this," Steve Buel said. "I
don't believe personnel decisions
slaould be made m a press
conference. He stepped outside ot· a
process that we wrote and we qrecd
to, and he did so without informin1
r,., ..
Sarah Newhall said the press con-
ference was inappropriate and that
she had not been informed. ••He's
auilty of brcak1n1 away from the
process imposed on all of us and thi1
ts divcrsive. I am very upset about
it."
The Board had adopted five
criteria 11amst which to measure
Dr. Blanchard. These criteria were a
adopted at a public mectin1 June -
which was attended by ad-
ministrators. The criteria arc: I)
personnel manqemcnt; 2) relation-
ship with Board includln1
preparation of materials for Board
mcctinas; J) comprehensive plan•
nin1;
4)
community/public
relations; 5) Curiculum and instruc•
lion.
One Board member added, "Bill
talked about a comin1 crilis; there is
a cram now bcausc of the lack of
cooperation of staff." Aside from
Blanchard's reluctance to par-
ticipate in Board meetinas and his
neaa11vc attitude toward Board
members. the defiance or acl-
m,mstrators has bca>me more open
in recent months.
Thi Porit•ruJ Obwrwr !USPS 9!'J9 IB>I II publiahed every Thura-
day by E•ie Publilhing Company, Inc, 2201 North Kllliligewo,tti
Portland, Oregon 97217 Poat Offtee Bo• 3137, Portland, ~
97D. Second clau poatage paid ■t fl'ortllnd, Oregon.
Subecriptione '7.50 Pllf yqr in Tri County erN; M.00 per YNr
outaide Trl-Caunty ■re. . Poetm■■t■r. Send addr- c;hengN to
the Portt•11d <Jbwrwr, P.O Bo• 3137, Por11■nd. Oragon rnoe.
Thi Port,."" Obwrwr'a offici.a l)Olition ii e111)(NNd only In 111
Editorial c:alumn. Any other material ttwoughout the paper i■ the
opinion of .ltle indivldu■I write, ~ IUbmlttwr and dc>el not ,___
Nrity rellec:t the opinion of the Port1-fld ~ -
283-2-
Nattonal Advertt9lr19 llepreNfltaltV'e
Amale■ m■ ted Publlltlerl. Inc.
ALFRED L. HENDERSON
Edltor/Publlaher
N-Yorli
ONPA 1973
1st Place
Best Ad Rnultl
ONPA 1973
5th Place
Best Editorial
ONPA 1973
Honorable Mention•.
Herrick atitorial Award
NNA 19i3
2nd Place
Best Editorial
' 3rd Piece
Commun1tyl.NdarlhiP
ON,A 1975
== ■ Oregon
I
Newspaper
11
Communl1y Service
e,
I A1soc,att0n
Publishers
3rd Place
Community Lw:Jliat,lp
ONPA 1,978