Page 4 Portland Observer, November 24,1982
1
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Another View
EDITORIAL/OPINION
by Herb L. Cawthorne
0 King Of Peace, help us make war
“ O God o f love, O King o f peace, make wars
throughout the w orld to cease.” These were the
closing w ords o f R onald Reagan’ s plea to the
Am erican people and Congress to spend $27 b il­
lio n to b u ild an ever m ore deadly nuclear wea­
pons system.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches and
thoughts turn to religion, to fam ily and friends,
we m ight contem plate not only on how fo rtu n ­
ate we m ight be to live in the land o f “ freedom
and justice fo r a ll” but on our responsibilities as
the m ightiest n a tio n on earth. W ill o u r n a tio n
continue to be the b u lly that denies freedom to
large segments o f the w o r ld ’ s p o p u la tio n
through m ilita ry and economic oppression? W ill
our nation be the one to destroy hum anity fo r ­
ever?
Aside fro m the headlong race to destroy the
w o rld in order to make p r o fit and pow er fo r a
few U.S. industrialists and p o liticia n s, there is
the question o f use o f resources. The M X missle
system, i f it even w o rks— and m any nuclear ex­
perts say it w ill not— w ill be obsolete before it is
completed.
Can we a ffo rd to spend over $27 b illio n on a
questionable weapon when m illio n s are unem ­
ployed, when p ro visio n o f fo o d , housing and
m edical care are rejected as being “ in fla tio n ­
a ry ,” when the elderly are in fear o f losing their
skim py retirement benefits?
The entire w orld is in a state o f depression, in
large part caused by m ilita ry spending that uses
up a n a tio n ’ s resources and returns no th in g to
the econom y. T h ird W o rld nations are on the
verge o f b a n k ru p tc y , una ble to cope w ith the
high interest rates, in fla tio n and in dustrial stag­
nation caused by U.S. economic problems. Peo­
ple are suffering and dying all over the w orld.
Ronald Reagan’ s answer to the serious pro b ­
lems that face the w o rld is a new nuclear wea­
pons system. He subscribes to the id io tic notion
that m ilita ry m ight brings peace.
O nly the Am erican people can stop this farce.
Congress must be delayed w ith the letters, tele­
grams and telephone calls o f Am erican citizens
who really seek peace and freedom.
U.S. supports racism
Vice President Bush has returned fro m A fric a
where he failed miserably in his attem pt to gain
support fo r the U.S-South A fric a n proposal fo r
N a m ibia n independence. The A fric a n nations
have refused to equate the illegal occupation o f
N am ibia by South A fric a w ith A n g o la ’ s right to
have Cuban troops on its ow n soil.
The United States has become a tool o f South
A fric a through this issue. The W o rld C o u rt de­
termined in 1971 that South A fric a ’s occupation
o f N a m ibia is illegal. South A fric a spurned e f­
fo rts o f the C a rte r A d m in is tr a tio n , B r ita in ,
West Germany, France and Canada to push to­
ward independence. Instead, South A fric a w a it­
ed fo r the more friendly Reagan A d m inistra tion
to take office.
S outh A fr ic a then seized on R eagan’ s idea
that w ith d ra w a l o f South A fric a fro m N am ibia
should be linked to w ithdraw al o f Cuban troops
fro m A n gola. N either A n gola nor the other in ­
dependent A fric a n states are w illin g to buy this.
Rather than support the United N ations’ resolu­
tions fo r liberation o f N am ibia, the Reagan A d ­
m in is tr a tio n c o n tin u e s to tr y to sell its o w n
flawed proposals.
This action— along w ith the “ constructive en­
gagem ent” p o lic y o f increased trade w ith and
investment in South A fric a , once again dem on­
strates the U n ite d States’ dedicated support o f
dictators, killers and racists.
Youth offenders our obligation
The N ational C ouncil o f Jewish W om en’s re­
cent juvenile court m o n ito rin g project that veri­
fied the fa ct that m in o rity yo u th are arrested,
c o n fin e d and sentenced at a h ig h e r rate th a n
white young people and that their sentences are
harsher is n o t news to the c o m m u n ity o r to
many people who w ork w ith youth. It does ver­
ify w hat m any have suspected o r believed and
should provide a call fo r action.
The study does not reveal why m in o rity young
people suffer disproportionately at the hands o f
the law . Is it a c o m b in a tio n o f lack o f educa-
tio n a l and em ploym ent o p p o rtu n itie s? O r is it
racism in the police bureaus, social service agen­
cies and legal adm inistration? W hatever the ba­
sic causes the situation must now be addressed.
It is the responsibility o f the police and justice
system adm inistration and the social and educa­
tio n a l agencies to meet w ith m in o rity parents
and c o m m u n ity leaders to determ ine how the
com m unity can best serve the legitimate interests
o f m in o rity youth and prevent their being lost in
the unending cycles o f the justice system.
Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
Thank you for the perceptive, en­
couraging and discerning e d ito ria l
entitled “ Accentuate the Positive”
in the November 17th issue o f the
Portland Observer.
O bjective c ritic is m can be
healthy, but the tenor o f m any o f
the recent articles in The Oregonian
was not o f th a t ca lib e r. A n o n y ­
M f MBt H
mous persons p u rp o rte d ly in te r­
viewed, w ho allegedly made nega­
tive statements about the progress
and lack o f com m itm ent o f blacks
in our c o m m u n ity , should not be
q uoted , m uch less be given cre­
dence.
It is my firm conviction that in the
ensuing years our youth w ill go on
succeeding in making their mark.
P. S. — The C ivic A u d ito riu m is a
large concert hall, and thus counting
the number o f blacks who attend the
superb concerts conducted by Maes­
tro James D ePriest is an im possi­
b ility . C ontrary to the letter w riter
who stated there were but tw o
blacks in the audience on November
7, 1982, there are several who attend
re g u la rly d u rin g the e n tire Sym ­
phony season.
Mercedes F. Deiz
“ It is tru e that black people in
P o rtla n d do not have p o litic a l
pow er,” said Charles Jordan, P ort­
land C ity C o m m issio n e r, in last
week’ s Observer, adding that, “ the
power o f any black political official
is restricted. The ‘ power structure’
sets a lin e — a line I cannot rise
above. W hen I sta rt pushing
through that line, things w ill happen
to put me in my place."
I must say that this is o n ly one
perspective, the tru th according to
one m an’ s view o f politics. It is not
necessarily the only truth.
It is clear that the black people o f
P o rtla n d do not have ‘ ‘ p o litic a l
pow er," in the sense that black peo­
ple c o n tro l the c ity governm en t,
manipulate the funding systems for
various governmental bodies, or en­
sure that who we want elected to any
political position at any time actual­
ly gets elected. But when does only
seven percent o f any p o p u la tio n
achieve such a fete—except through
terror and violence?
Given our numbers and given the
boldness o f some o f our leaders, the
black community is extremely in flu ­
ential in the w orkings o f this city.
The problem is we d o n ’ t th in k we
have much influence at all. Conse­
quently, where we can make a d if ­
ference, we abdicate. We th ro w
away o p p o rtu n itie s fo r organiza­
tion, activity and change. “ We can't
change the system, anyw ay,” seems
to prevail as a philosophy.
P o litic a l pow er does not come
fro m a g ra n t-in -a id . Power never
concedes anything w ithout a strug­
gle, Frederick Douglass often said.
s ib ility o f fa ilu re in o rd e r to suc­
We learned the tru th o f this state­
ceed. Though his s k ills and back­
ground may be lacking, he w ill be
ment in the struggle to change the
schools. As long as we were submis­
able to succeed if he has determina­
sive and quiet about the inequity o f
tion and purpose. In education or in
the bussing system, the officia ls o f
politics, the struggle is the same.
the school district defended it, end­
There is no reason to be naive
lessly. They tried to “ set a line” and
about P ortland p o litic s . T rue, we
put us in our place. They tried to
are not the most pow erful force in
discredit those who opposed the un­
the city. But we have something very
fa ir system. But when we said,
few groups possess. We have the
“ T his is going to change,” it
ab ility to u n ify fo r action. There is
changed.
definitely an attempt by others to set
The Police In te rn a l A u d itin g
a line on the level o f achievement o f
commission? This commission only
black folks. We do not achieve as
came about through pressure and
individuals in the same manner as
struggle— not through some soft-
w hites. T h e re fo re , we have to be
toned meeting in a downtown hotel.
clever. We have to be ingenious.
W hen we decide som ething m ust
And, most im portantly, we have to
change, and we u n ify around that
stick together on the issues.
decision, no one can put us in our
Does anyone put Ron Herndon in
place. The fact is th a t no human
his place? Can anyone set a line on
being or group o f human beings can
Reverend Garlington? W ho believes
“ set a lin e ,” by v irtu e o f pow er,
that the “ power structure” can tell
that another human being or group,
Reverend Jackson w hat to say?
by virtue o f determ ination and v i­
Does someone put Frcddye Pcttet in
sion, cannot force them t& reset
her place? These individuals act on
again and again.
their own principles.
The most destructive thought we
Charles Jordan was stripped o f
have, given the conditions we face,
the Police Bureau at a crucial time
is that someone else keeps us in line
because he took a stand on p rin c i­
and prevents us fro m progressing.
ple. For any black representative,
Let me illustrate this another way.
acting on principle doesn't guaran­
Have you ever tried to teach a young
tee that one w ill always win. It only
c h ild who is dejected, fu ll o f low
means that one w ill have the chance
self-esteem, and has a negative con­
to w in. O therw ise, it's certain de­
cept about him self? I t ’ s hard to
feat.
i
m otivate that child to do anything,
It is not true that we d o n ’ t have
much less make him believe that he
political power in Portland. We just
can change his c o n d itio n and
don’ t have a ll o f it! And we w ill not
achieve something. Achievement is
use as much as we have i f significant
possible only when this youngster is
black leaders keep saying we d on’ t
willing to try, w illing to risk the pos­
have any.
Later for Thanksgiving
by Ronnte Herndon, Co-Chairman, Black Untied Front
For many years I felt Thanksgiv­
ing was one o f the most b arbaric
and paganistic ritu a ls ever p ra c­
ticed. According to the story white
people landed in A m erica and
nearly starved to death. Indians
stepped in. shared food and taught
the Pilgrims how to plant crops. To
show their appreciation the Pilgrims
held a Day o f Thanks on which they
had a big feast with the Indians and
thanked God for their survival.
A fte r the gracious P ilgrim s got
the w rinkles out o f their stomachs
and half-way knew where their next
meal was coming from , they began
murdering and stealing from the In ­
dians These early white settlers be­
gan enthusiastically taking part in
the age-old European custom o f
scalping. Yes, scalping was started
by whites; as a matter o f fact those
so-called great purveyors o f civiliza­
tio n , the Greeks, were one o f the
earliest practitioners o f scalping.
Scalping got so good to early A m ­
erican settlers that they began to put
a bounty on each Indian scalp. Gov­
ernor Kicft o f New Netherland orig
inated the idea of paying for human
scalps, and with this p ro fit motive,
the Dutch virtu a lly cleared what is
now southern New Y ork and New
Jersey o f Indians before the English
move in . By 1703 the co lo n y o f
Massachusetts was paying the equiv­
alent o f about $60 for every Indian
scalp.
In the mid-18th century Pennsyl­
vania fixed the bounty fo r a male
Indian scalp at $134; a female's was
worth $50. It was only in the mid-to-
late 19th century that Indians them
selves began scalping, and this was
in response to massive exterm ina­
tio n e ffo rts by whites. This was a
ce n tu ry -a n d -a -h a lf a fte r the firs t
white man had scalped the first In ­
dian.
A ll o f this can be found in Peter
Farb’s book, Man's Rise To Civiliz­
ation. When Farb wrote the book he
was cu ra to r o f A m erican Indian
C ultures at R iverside Museum in
New York City.
In view o f this history that reeks
with the stench o f murder, massacre
and mayhem, I found Thanksgiving
to be the epitome o f hypocrisy. Now
I learn the true history o f Thanks
giving is far more satanic tiia n I
th o u g h t. A U.S. C om m ission On
C iv il Rights p e riodical, The C iv il
Rights Q uarterly Perspectives, dis
cusses an article written by W illiam
B. Newall, a Penobscot Indian and
form er head o f the U n iv e rs ity o f
Connecticut's anthropology depart­
ment. Newall recounts what really
happened at P lym outh C olony in
1637.
English and D utch mercenaries
came upon a group o f Indians dur­
ing one o f their religious rites—the
annual green corn dance. Ordered
out o f the b u ild in g in w hich they
had gathered the Indians were shot
down as they ran. Those slaying be­
hind were burned alive. “ The very
next day the Governor (of the Mas­
sachusetts Bay C olony) declared a
Thanksgiving Day |and) for the next
100 years every Thanksgiving Day
ordained by a governor (was) to
honor a bloody v ic to ry , thanking
Ciod that the battle had been won.”
Most white Americans w ill prob­
ably continue celebrating this Indian
massacre; since its in ce p tio n this
country has all too often wallowed
in sanctim onious falsehoods and
tric k e ra tio n . Black people should
call a halt to taking part in this ritu ­
alistic abomination. W ould we par­
ticip a te in T ha n ksg ivin g i f it cel­
ebrated murdering Black people?
One alternative is using this h o li­
day to celebrate Black Family Day.
a practice developed locally by the
Black Educational Center. They felt
this tim e could be used fo r us to
come together and give thanks and
show special appreciation fo r our
families. We do fight so very hard to
stay together; most i f not a ll we
achieve is because o f the strength,
courage and intelligence we learned
from our immediate fam ily and our
extended fa m ily , the Black com ­
munity.
Use this day to reflect upon how
hard our ancestors struggled keep­
ing just the concept o f fam ily alive
w hile this c o u n try condoned our
m others' being raped and treated
like brood mares. T h e ir ch ild re n
were snatched screaming from their
arms and sold like livestock. In spite
o f this hell on earth our ancestors
miraculously clung to the notion o f
fam ily Our thoughts and sincerest
thanks should go out to m illions o f
single Black women who today by
themselves care and provide fo r a l­
most h a lf o f all Black children in
America. A ll too often we take their
daily heroism for granted.
Now we can’ t say we d id n 't
know, hope most o f us w on't con­
tinue celebrating a w h ite holid a y
that m arked the beginning o f the
end for m illions o f Indians.
The Observer presents:
Community Forum
"The Legislature and You "
Senator Bill McCoy
Rep. Ed Leek
Rep. Wally Priestley
Rep. Gratton Kerens
D ec em b e r 4
10 00 a .m .
The Rustler
G rend A ve.
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