Portland Observar February B, 1S81 Page 7 Legislature hears welfare complaints C a p ta in Leslie M o rris , E astern A irlin e p ilo t recently appointed manager of flying at Kennedy Representatives o f the Oregon Human Rights co a litio n te stifie d before the House Human Resources Committee in Salem Thursday. The C o a litio n is b ringing together welfare recipients in local areas throughout Oregon. Beverly V errett, a M ultnom ah C ounty representative o f the C oalition to ld the committee that more than 100 people from around the state had organized the group to "w o rk together to help ourselves.” "W e are all very concerned about the liv in g situations o f w elfare recipients today” she said. Linda Johnson, a spokesperson for Portland’ s C .R .I.B ., and Black U nited F ront said the c o a litio n wants to bring legislative attention to “ the devestation o f the statewide cuts.” The result o f the cuts, she pointed out, is that “ women and children receiving Aid to Dependent C hildren G rant cannot pay fo r clothing, shelter, and basic necessities o f daily life .” The Coalition "is largely made up o f people who understand the welfare problem firs t-h a n d ,” ac­ cording to Nancy Bender a coalition representative fro m Coos Bay. It was formed on January 20th when over 100 persons from throughout the state met in Salem. Restoration o f all welfare cuts is one goal, she said, as well as im proved jo b tra in in g , medical coverage, and better supportive services. A special hearing on the welfare budget w ill be jo in tly conducted by two legislative committees in Salem on February 17. The House Human Resources C om m ittee and a sub­ committee o f the legislature’ s Ways and Means C om m ittee w ill hear testim ony on the im pact o f the welfare cuts. The Oregon Human Rights Coalition is working to bring welfare recipients from around the state to testify. Further information and local contact people fo r the coalition can be obtained through Sandie Hoback at M arion Polk Legal Aid, 1244 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301,581-5265. International Airport, prepares for ta k e -o ff. Morris flying manager for Kennedy Airport New York - Eastern Airlines has appointed Boeing 727 Captain Leslie Morris to Manager o f Flying at John F. Kennedy Airport. Captain M orris is tem porarily responsible for re-qualifying Ken­ nedy-based Boeing 727 captains for line duty, in addition to his normal flying duties. Captains, or pilots in command, must undergo a recurrent check ride and a simulator training session or proficiency check during each year o f their flyin g status with the airline. Captain M o rris was prom oted from first o ffice r to p ilo t in com­ mand on July 2, 1979. He joined Eastern as a second o ffic e r in November 1965, when the airline s till flew Constellations. P rior to joining Eastern he was an air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration for six years. Captain Morris flew the McDon­ nell Douglas DC-8, Boeing 727 and Lockheed 1011 as firs t o ffic e r before his advancement to captain. He served w ith the New York A ir National Guard from 1957 to 1961, flying F86 and T33 jets during his military service. Cell Talk By Asmar A bdul Seifullah A ll praises is due Allah, the one God, G uardian, evolver and sustainer o f all the worlds. Peace, mercy and blessings upon Prophet M uhammad. We thank A llah fot our w orld leader the M ujaddid or Restorer o f religion, the Honorable Imam Warith Deen Muhammad. This article pretains to the suit that we (Muslims) have pending in court. Insha-Allah I will convey the most crucial or decisive points that incarcerated Muslims are seeking are re lie f from atmosphere o f repressive religious discrimination and the biased treatm ent that we suffer in the Oregon State Peniten­ tiary. The Holy Q ur’ an, our guidance states: “ This book there is no doubt (in) it. It is a guide to those who keep their duty.” Using the Q ur’an as our guidance I would like to quote a few verses to use as a foun­ dation for the views conveyed. The second chapter o f the Holy Q ur’ an beginning with verse 168 states, “ O men, eat the lawful and good things from what is in the earth and follow not the footsteps o f the devil. Surely he is an open enemy to you.” 170: “ And when it is said to them, follow what Allah has revealed, they say: ‘ Nay we follow that wherein we found our la th e rs .’ W hat! Even though their fathers had no sense at all nor did they follow the right way. A lla h teaches us to eat what is (H a la l) or perm itted or la w ful. W hen Allah prohibits certain things it is not because he wants to deprive us o f anything useful. It is because he wants to protect us and allow us to develop a sense of discrimination, a refined taste fo r the best things and a continued interest in moral excellence. Good care must be taken o f our spirit, mind, soul and body; conscience, sentiments, wealth and morale. Therefore, p ro h ib itio n is not deprivation but it is enrichment not suppression but discipline, not lim itation but expansion. What we eat, drink and think is the essence of our being, therefore, when we act in accord with the laws o f Allah (God), A lla h blesses us and guides us to himself. Many o f us are not aware o f the fact that we were born in a natural stale o f purity (fitrah), that Interested in current books about African Liberation? Visit: JOHN REED BOOKSTORE In the Dekum Building 519 S.W 3rd Avenue Sixth Floor Or call 227 2902 we are born M uslim or in sub­ mission to the w ill o f Allah (God). Whatever becomes o f us after birth is a result o f home environment, ex­ ternal influences o f society. As Bilalians (A fro-A m ericans) we’ re taught to eat the wrong foods physically, mentally and spiritually. We continue to do what we found our fathers doing without seeking right guidance. A llah says in verse 173 o f the second chapter: “ He has forbidden you only what dies o f itse lf, and blood, and the flesh o f swine, and that over which any other (name) than (that o f) A llah has been in ­ voked. Then whoever is driven by necessity, not desiring, nor ex­ ceeding the lim it, no sin is upon him. Surely Allah is forgiving, mer­ c ifu l." The Holy Q u r’ an states that the reason for the prohibition o f what dies o f itself (Bible Lev. 17:15) and blood (Bible Lev. 7:26) and swine’ s flesh (Bible Lev. 11:7) is that they are unclean -- while the reason for p ro h ib itio n o f animals on which other than the names o f Allah is in­ voked is because it is a transgression o f a Divine Commandment which requires all things associated with idolatry to be avoided. The unclean­ ness o f swine and the other injunct­ ions are invoked because they have pernicious effect on the physical, in­ tellectual and moral systems. We are striving to develop ourselves into an upright course in life, to become a healthy unit in the structure o f the family, society and humanity. Our progress is being impeded by a negative response by prison ad­ ministrators. "A n d who is more unjust than he who prevents (men) fro m the Mosques o f Allah -- from his name being remembered therein, and strives to ruin them?” This is the evident purpose o f prison administr­ ations. i.e., Robert J. Watson, Hoyt C. Cupp; J.C. Keeney, etc. Their eyes are blind to our struggle to bet­ ter ourselves and they are dumb to the fact that they’re not Gods -- that there is only one God, whose per­ sonal and proper name is Allah. On numerous occasions we the Muslim s have advised the prison administration o f our needs; that we are Muslims striving to practice the laws o f A l-lslam . We’ ve met with denials, racial and religious slurs, threats and intimidations. Our con­ stitutional rights are being violated - we are oppressed and discriminated against. Therefore we seek declaratory relief in order to become constructive and productive ingredients in future society, which is apparently adverse to the penal cycle or circus. The impish conduct of Mr. Cupp and Mr. Keeney in refusing to com­ ply w ith our reasonable request displays a racist disregard for people striving to achieve a righteous life in accord w ith that o f the C reator. Allah (God) protects the believers therefore they have gotten them ­ selves in a contest not only against us but they’ re also fighting against Allah (God) -- they will be defeated! “ What possible harm can be done to M r. Cupp or M r. Keeney by providing Muslims with a non-pork (H a la l) d iet?” Why shouldn’ t Muslims be provided with a Muslim Imam (M inister) on sta ff to serve the religious needs o f Muslims and those requiring or seeking knowledge o f the religion o f Islam, rel'gious m aterials — Q u r’ ans, Haiths, etc., equal time on par with that o f Catholics and protestants? There should be no discrim ination a in religion. Yet we are threatened and intimidated for seeking equality — we are in a state o f oppression behind these walls. M r. Cupp and M r. Keeney have R O on numerous occasions showed themselves to be racists, hateful and disrespectful -- they have displayed a strong impish desire to impede the growth o f Al-lslam. It has been A l­ lslam w ith a proven track record that has transformed the character and mental condition o f thousands o f inmates. In his book “ Natural Pschology and Human Transform ation,” Dr. Na’ im A kbar w rites -- one o f the key concepts which has emerged from Iman W arith Deen M uham ­ mad’ s teachings is the importance of grow th in the understanding o f human development. I t ’ s through the growth process that crude p rim itiv e substance becomes refined complete matter. The possibilities for human change in Western Society are restricted and this is reflected in the rapid increase o f mental illness, criminal and anti­ social behavior, drug and alcohol addiction indicate human waste and • deterioration. Western Society has produced an unnatural human being based on unnatural conjectures. This unnaturalness is rooted deep into the mentality of the people and is the cause of many o f the social ills o f society. The H onorable W arith Deen Muhammad has brought the human being back into his natural self. He has brought inspiration and direc­ tion for improvement into the lives o f the despairing. His teachings o f the H oly Q u r’ an is a pow erful liberating force -- a source o f trans­ formation into a hunchback world. G row th is the answer and the message is contained in the divinely revealed book o f A lla h -- “ The H oly Q u r’ an and A llah is the A b­ solute tru th !” We the M uslim s in O .S .P ., thank you for reading these words o f truth and we pray Allah for your support in our struggle for religious equality. May A lla h reward the deserving and strengthen the righteous. l5O3> 78,’ 4O?S For Funeral Insurance Information Call C. Don Vann at 281-2836 «X» N ( 8r