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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1983)
Page 2 Portland Observer, December 28, 1963 ___________________ EDITORIAL/OPINION Middle East conflict: U.S. no longer "peacekeepers" by John Blank Next X-mas, peace on earth? Last week we celebrated the birth o f the Prince o f Peace. Though nearly two centuries have passed since his birth in the tiny Palestinian town o f Bethlehem, the world is still at war. Those who celebrate the birth of Christ must remember that he came to earth “ to break the fetters and set men free.” Yet we all— through our tax dollars and our complacency— support policies that keep men and women enslaved. Abroad they are enslaved by oppressive regimes supported by the U.S. and at home they are bound by the chains o f poverty. Let us make every effort to insure that our na tion’s policies are changed so that next Christ mas peace will reign on earth and the only wars waged will be against poverty, disease and ignor ance. Prevent infant deaths The United Nations Children’s Fund (U N I C EF) reported this month that 15 million chil dren are dying each year in developing countries — mostly o f common childhood diseases that are no longer a threat to the industrialized world. Prevention of at least half of the deaths *»nd improvement of many more lives could be made possible by simple means— widespread immuni zation against major childhood diseases, the use o f growth charts to detect hidden malnutrition, promotion o f breast-feeding, and use of oral re- hydration salts to fight problems associated with diarrhea. Case histories demonstrate that these efforts are effective: • In the Philippines, infant deaths in one hos pital dropped 95 percent after a campaign to promote breast-feeding. • In Egypt, deaths resulting from diarrhea were cut in half in one village following a three- year campaign to use oral rehydration therapy. • In Cuba, polio has been eliminated by the use of mass immunization. • in Malawi, measles, the main cause of child death, was greatly reduced by immunization. All of these methods are simple and relatively cheap. All require parent and community partici pation. The U N IC E F report advocates empow ering parents— and especially mothers— to pre vent the death of their children through educa tion and providing necessary supplies. The money to save millions of children’s lives can be made available. The determining factor is the political commitment to divert some of the money being spent on the military buildup to saving children’s lives. SEND BATTtfSHlft... M2CRAFT Ä CACtòECS... A year «go in the M iddle East there was a mood of cautious opti mism; today, that mood has turned to one o f fear, discouragement, and frustration at U S. policies in the re gion, according to Ron Young, Middle East staff person for the American Friends Service C om m it tee. who recently visited Portland. M r. Young, who lives half o f the time in Jordan and spends the rest of his time traveling throughout the M iddle East talking to diplomats and officials on all sides of the con flicts there, as well as peace activists and ordinary citizens, told the O b server that a year ago many people felt that the Reagan initiative provi ded some hope for peace, or at least the possiblity of serious negotia tions; but today, the same people are disappointed over the U .S. fa il ure to pursue that initiative, and in stead to rely on an increased U.S. military role and encouragement of Israeli militarism. Most forces in the M iddle East oppose this posture, according to Young. For example. Young said, Jordan, as well as the Labor Oppo sition in Israel, have been very criti cal o f the U.S.-Israeli military alli ance; and even Israel's National Re ligious Party is worried that Israel is tying itself too strongly to U.S. global interests. Lebanon Around September— with the de- MOCE ADVISERS AND MILITARY AID cision to shell Druse forces in the village o f Souk al-G arb— the U.S. role in Lebanon clearly changed. Young said, from “ peacekeeping” to warmaking. Young feels that this U .S. militarist posture will be a dis aster for Lebanon. W ithout a U .S. decision to leave Lebanon. Young said. Lebanese president Gemayal will not be able to achieve a unified Lebanon and an end to the civil war there. As long as Gemayal thinks he can rely on a U .S. presence, he will not pursue power-sharing reforms that have been offered by the opixjsition. the civil war will continue, and Lebanon will be destroyed. The Phalange— Gemayal’s party— believes that the U .S. will continue to support them, because they are Christian— but the price. Young reiterated, will be Leb anon's destruction. The power-sharing reforms cur rently being sought by the opposi tion are more moderate than the de mands made previously, in the 1976 civil war. The reforms include: Ge- mayal’s remaining as president; a M aronite (Christian) presence in the cabinet; an expanded cabinet (its present composition is six Chris- tia n /fiv e Moslem and Druse); more equal apportionment o f lower gov ernment posts. The Moslem and Druse forces have moderated their demands, said Young, because they view re newed civil war as horrible. Leban ese in general do not want their country divided and torn. The U .S . has been unrealistic, said Young, in thinking that G e mayal would accept reforms without being pressured. Syria's rola Syria's interest in the conflict, Young explained, is .tot to occupy Lebanon, but rather to be recog nized as playing a preeminent role in any negotiated settlement. The Syrians see the U .S . as trying to make the Jordanian-Israeli and the Lebanon-Israeli relationships inde pendent o f Syria. In Lebanon, Syria's goal is for Lebanon to continue to exist as part o f the Arab world. Their main ob jective is not to control Lebanon, but rather (hat it not be drawn out o f the Arab world and turned into a U .S .- or Israli-surrogate in the re gion. Balanced withdrawal Young feels that the key to peace in Lebanon would be a balanced, timed U .S. withdrawal, and the re placement o f U .S. troops by a truly neutral international presence (not one led by the U .S . or Western Europe). Young pointed out that the Soviet Union actually benefits from a con tinued U .S. military presence, be cause Syria needs to turn more and more to the Russia for arms, thus making the Soviet Union more in fluential in the region, rather than less. Washington Hot Line CCM BAT T R O O fé - by Congressman Ron Wyden Medicare: Drastic measures needed S12- DOES THIS MEW WE'VE PCALTiClNúr 6VNBOAT DIPLOMACY? CÔ? cecouvse Over the past several months, I have written about some o f the steps I believe must be taken to cut out waste in the Medicare system. Among the changes I have sug gested are those which would elim inate wasteful practices in the way we pay for pacemakers, lab fees and foot care— and save us some $2 bil lion (over the next five years) in the process. I am as committed as ever to these changes, and will be working hard when Congress reconvenes in Jan uary to see that they are enacted. But even when they ate, they will represent only a small part o f the much bigger task that lies before us— totally revamping the Medicare system to stave o ff financial disaster and lay a base for providing the kind o f health care services that sen ior citizens need at a price they can afford. The implications if we do not achieve this goal are clear: I f there are no changes in policy, no breaks THIS HAS NOTHING 1Ö - DOW N DIPLOMACY NOT... X put on the health care cost w hirl wind. Medicare's hospital insurance trust fund will be depleted by the end o f the decade. By 199?, there would be a $250 billion deficit, and, by 200?, a staggering SI trillion defi cit. In addition to endangering the Medicare system, skyrocketing health care costs arc increasing the already serious financial problems o f the elderly and jeopardizing their ability to obtain vitally important health care. The comprehensive changes that must be made in the Medicare sys tem will affect us all profoundly— we all will have to make tough choices. That is why I have asked a group o f Oregonians noted for their know ledge and experience in health care and in the special issues affecting our senior citizens to work together on a special Medicare Advisory Panel. The panel will include doctors. nurses, hospital administrators and nursing home representatives as well as representatives o f labor, business and consumer groups; in short, a full range of health care experts. I did not organize this panel be cause I believe there are quick or easy answers to the Medicare prob lem. W e are not going to be able to sit down over a pleasant lunch and, by dessert, solve the major health care problem o f the decade. I brought (his distinguished panel together because I believe that we have no time to waste fretting. W e must tackle the problem immediately and begin the search for solutions that will protect our senior citizens from the nightmare which illness is becoming for them. W ith that goal in mind, I would also appreciate hearing your opin ions on this vitally important sub ject. You can write me at 1406 Longworth House O ffice Building, Washington. D .C ., 20515. Letters to the Editor. Police thank citizens for move downtown One prisoner's memory To the editor: To the editor: js B II » •Al MUI • lOreqon New,pat«*' Publishes Association Portland Observer K H ™ The P o rtla n d D h t r r t r r IU S P S 959 6801 1» published eve.» Thu.sdev by £ » » Pubh»hm,j Compenv Inc 2201 N o il6 Killing» MU.th Potllend Oregon 97217 Pott Ott'ce Bo» 3137 Portland Oregon 97208 Second cla»» postage pa«1 at Portland Oregon The Portland Observer we» e»tabli»hed ,n 1970 Subscription» »15 00 per year in the Tri County area Po»t m a tte r Send addre»» change» to the Portland O b w rv tr. P O MEMBER Alfred L Henderson, Editor/Publisher Al W illiams. Advertising Manager Ajiocierion • founded (M S ™ ™ ™ ™ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 283 2486 Boa 3137. Portland. Oregon 97208 ™ 7-wñnTnewspaper. PORTLAND OBSERVER News fo r and about you. N atio n a l A dvertising Representative A m a lg B m itB d Publisher» Inc N ew York Subscribe today! Fragmented People, adrift in a derelict sea— They circle in confusion like windmilling rain with tense, scattered moods seeking solace from mind-storms o f hard falling pain. Anxious glances watch the clock ticking on. Tim e stands still, sullen and indifferent. So, into the eye o f a spinning cyclone an idle fury seethes with rage and frustration. A rtificial poses crumble, as counterfeit models fall from pedestals made only o f clay. Those holding silence amid synthetic assertions are only a few; the unbowed, unafraid and alone — T.J. Graven The Observer welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be short, and must contain the writer's name and address(addresses are not p a n t ed). The Observer reserves the right to edit f o r length. Grenada to th e Portland Observer. (Continued fro m page I column 6) □ I have enclosed my check or money order for *15. for s one year subscription. N a m e _________ __________________ A d d ress _______ ________________ C i t y _______________________ S ta te Portland Police Dept. R O C K Y B U T T E J A IL : A MEMORY Yea. I would Ilk* • subscription PLEASE PRINT Mad io Portland Obaarvet Boa 3137 Portland Oraqon 97706 Over the wekend o f January 6, 1984, the Portland Police Bureau will be moving to the new Justice Services Building at 1111 S .W . 2nd. W e wish to thank all o f the citi zens o f Portland who have made this move possible by providing such a fine work site. We would also like to remind everyone that effec tive January 9, 1984, we will have new, non-emergency phone num bers, all o f which are in the new tele phone book. Remember, however, that for an emergency an d /o r police service, dial 9 1 1. The crisis of impatience creates endless pacing; an interminable waiting takes its toll. Sanity is threatened, as the veneer lifts from realness and reality and weakness goes on display. .Z 'P Happy New Year! to have been developed by the same mentality that assaulted and de stroyed Black and progressive or ganizations in the 1970s. The inva sion is another blow to the self-de termination of people everywhere. In 1984, Afro-Americans must struggle harder. This Kwanzaa let us remember the New Jewel Movement and its slain leaders. W e must carry on the slogan, "F o rw a rd together, backwards never!”
