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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1986)
Page 2. Portland Observer, August 7, 1986 EDITORIAL/OPINION Apartheid Costing Americans Their Jobs There are two main reasons why Americans should be concerned about the system of Apartheid in South Africa. First, the system is repugnant and immoral to millions of Blacks, mixed races, and Indians. Apartheid comes in tw o sizes, grand and petty. Grand Apartheid provides a frame work for the separate development of Whites and non-Whites from birth to death. Petty Apartheid consists of the rules - over 2,000 laws and regulations - that create or sanction racial discrimination in restrooms, theatres, buses, etc. Secondly, the racist system of Apartheid is costing Americans thousands of jobs in the U.S. Everyday we hear of plants closing and layoffs of American workers. Part of the rea son for this phenomena is the number of U.S. businesses operating in racist South Africa. There are more than 300 U.S. companies operating in South Africa. U.S. corporate in vestment in South Africa has increased nearly 10 times during the past two and a half de cades. At the same time, these companies (5| have failed to develop and update operation in the U.S. American companies doing business with the Pretoria government are there for one rea son — to exploit the system of Apartheid Apartheid provides a cheap pool of labor. Just last week, the Reagan administration signed an agreement with South Africa to in crease textile imports from that country. The agreement would allow a 4 percent increase in textile imports into the U.S. This will result in more American textile workers losing their jobs. Furthermore, while U.S. steel workers are facing severe economic problems, U.S. bank loans have helped South Africa's steel imports to this country grow 50 times greater since 1975. By supporting Apartheid, America's com munities will continue to decline. The loss of U.S. jobs in the private sector will mean a smaller funding base for public service. This hurts public workers and all Americans. Healthw atch by Steven Bailey. N O. COCAINE IN AMERICA Part III I began thia series discussing the present use of co came in America, the new forms of street cocaine called "Rock" or "Crack", and in Part II some of the less com monly discussed reasons that athletes fall into the trap of drug abuse Today's article will deal with some of the programs and services available for the dependent user in Portland. There are a number of programs for drug abusers in the Portland area Cocaine Ananymous provides free evening group counseling sessions 7 nights a week in conjunction with a number of private facilities Many of these well publicized private treatment programs, such as St Vincent Hospital. Bess Kaiser, and Laurelhurst Treatment Center, involve fee schedules that range from $1,000 to $5,000 With one half of cocaine abu sers being inner-city minorities, it is clear that these programs are financially prohibitive to most addicts The Protect for Community Recovery 1281 2804 A combined effort of the Center for Community Mental Health and the De Paul Center, Inc I provides alcohol and drug abuse services on a sliding fee scale Their literature states that "Persons will not be denied needed services because of inability to pay ." Even with the Project for Community Health, there are great numbers of people who are not receiving the care they need. As a result of the limited services available to Portland's indigent, poor, and under insured residents in all health areas, there has arisen an inner city resource center called the Northeast Health Resource Center This center is headed by Aleem Sha bazz, a PSU graduate in Health and Education, as well as in Black Studies. The Center, at 828 N. Killings worth, serves as a referral service to help those in need to contact the appropriate agencies for their individual concerns While the Center acts as a referral base for a wide range of concerns. Mr Shabazz has a particular interest in the prevention and treatment of cocaine abuse in the North-Northeast communities Aleem Shabazz has recently been lecturing around the North/Northeast community on the subject of co caine abuse His lectures include the NBA video "The Cocaine Dram in the N B A ." Most recently he lectured at the King Neighborhood Facility, under the sponsor ship of the Department of Urban Ministries and Sharon SDA Christian Church He hopes to lecture within local sehools this faH. as he feels education and prevention are the key to our growing drug problems. His program is available for a sliding fee to interested civic and com mumty groups Call 285 9621 for more information The answers and solutions to cocaine abuse are not clear cut. In fact, there are a tremendous number of factors involved in our current drug problem. It is my belief that the beginning solution is not negative rein forcement, such as more jail space, stiffer sentences and wide spread drug screening, but a realization of addiction as a disease with clear psycho social compon ants Minority employment, adequate education, social health access and community support are critical to a curative solution. Lectures such as Mr Shabazz's pro gram are a beginning step, but we need to rise to the challenge and provide compassionate support to our citizens in need. Cocaine abuse in the poor only highlights the made quacy of our "safety net" for the underprivileged Similarly, when we create an adequate "net” for our citizenry, the problems of drug abuse should wane. Letters to the Editor To The Com m unity Message of the Utm ost Concern People, with recent release of persons involved in low priority crimes!burglary, theft, forgery, first time offeners, driving while suspended, etc.) from the Justice Center, as well as the upcoming "kick out" of our youths sent to McLaren It is not a secret that the youths mostly affected will be the minority youths who might benefit from programs offered at McLaren and are from the N E Community. These youths and men accused of violations will be back in our community, just as they left, with no viable support system and no consistant concern that would help enhance their net worth to become productive, responsible and account able for their actions. Inside Outside People, located at 5003 N.E 13th, is a self help program that has a half way house. Inside Outside People is also a diversion program and accepts referrals from intense street super vision Inside Outside People recently were donated a fairly new house located at 13th and Prescott to utilize as either a half way house for men or a youth home for At M«f » children who need this valuable service. Inside Outside People is a program that does not pro vide services for violent offenders or sexual offenders The people who are referred to the program are screen ed at the Justice Center by the courts and then by our own specialized intake and assessment process for acceptance into the program. Inside Outside People is composed of ex-offenders who recognize the situation in our adult and youth corrections facilities It is a fact that $300 million to $96 million for prisons was defeated in the failure of Ballot Measure No. 5, and recent pub licity regarding our jail crisis asks for alternatives which are community oriented Needless to say, we often hear W e don’t want criminals or youths in our neigh borhoods." W e say, "People, they are already there." Unless we deal with the alternatives, how shall we iden tify them or their activities? In establishing our altema tive homes, we shall be able to identify them and help them to constructively become responsible and Portland Observer Th« rXM rrvw IU SPS W S «BOI ■ puWWwd « w ry Thurwi», by L a « PuWWxnfl Cooewny Inc . IS O N ( wrxrh Portland Oragon 97311. P o « OfSc« Bo« J137. Portland » a g o n 9 7 3 « Sacond d a « pottage part « Portland, » a g o n s*"oe»i th e P it ilu m iO B trrrw w e t « ta M a rta d et 1970 Subacnpoont »15 00 p « y e « at the Tr> County ara m a tte r Sand a d d « « c h a n g « to the Ptmtartd ( X n m PO 2BB-0033 Boa 1137 Portland Oragon 9 7 3 « AsaeosWee - Fovnrtad teas t Alfred L Henderson. Editor/Publisher A ! Williams. General Manager N a tio n a l A d v a rtla ln g R ep re e e n te tlv a A m a lg a m a ta d P ub lisher« Inc N a w Voiii accountable to their neighbors and community by de developing training, counseling, positive role models and skill building programs, as well as monitoring their activities W e say this is a project for the entire commu nity to address, or shall we allow the rich man living in West Lmn who often times is the source behind illegal drugs, buy hugh low cost dwellings and transform them into their own personal prisons W e say if we could re ceive any percentage of the proposed $300 million or $96 million, we could impact crime to a standstill We could provide pay checks for the needy in the commu nity, creating a positive work force that could also in volve welfare recipients' yearly subsistence instead of depriving a family of the father image for the children, for six months as implemented People, we must come together, address our pro blems together and develop a means to implement these houses together for the satisfaction of the entire community. The community needs the jobs, the esteem that comes from working, and the trust that develops when everyone is working for the same goals Think about it, the pros and cons Inside Outside People exists through community support and, as stated, now has two diverse homes in the same com mumty to set an example of a concerned community thai deals with its problems We are aligned with peo pie who have the same concerns, community churches, politicians and congregations W e are a people s pro gram, a universal program, and our sole director is God Please help us to implement crime diversion and good will The prisoner, whether adult or juvenile, shall re turn to the community anyway Shall we stand idly by or be part of a new concept in community mvolvment. in corrections, that surely is of worth to all concerned If you have any further questions, please contact us Inside Outside People 5003 N E 13th Portland. OR 97211 282 6056 ON SOUTH AFRICA Call For Action The situation in South Africa is more critical than ever. — The p o t has sta rte d to b o il o v e r.— Unless the South African government is re moved soon, it will try to continue its m urder ous grip on the population and violent aggres sion against its neighbors, the cycle of vio lence will then become truly appalling. Com prehensive sanctions by the Untied States would remove a major part of the support it now enjoys. POSAF is an umbrella organization of sever al anti-apartheid elements in the Portland area. Some of our activities: We organized protests that forced the resignation of Calvin Van Pelt, South Africa's Honorary Consul in Portland; temporarily prevented the unloading of South African cargo in front of prominent sellers of the Kruggerand la South African gold coin). This le tte r is a call fo r you to p a rtic ip a te in th e noon d e m o n s tra tio n on Friday, A u g u s t 8 at the Pioneer C o u rth o u s e /P o s t O ffice . The Washington "lawm akers” will soon be debating the "m e rits" of imposing sanctions on South Africa and the Oregon Senators have offices d o w n to w n — they need to be reminded of our feelings on this issue. Please bring your own signs, noisemakers (drums, pots and pans would be good) and slogans to be chanted. (BE SURE TO FOCUS ON IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS WITH NO COMPROMISES.) POSAF organizational meetings are held every Tuesday evening at 7:30 in the King Center, 4906 N.E. 6th. Please plan to attend, inform us of your ideas and plans, and help us organize effectively. W e u rg e n tly need yo u r p a rtic ip a tio n — be sure to in fo rm all m em bers o f groups to w h ic h you belong. Why Not a Helsinki Accord for Black South Africans? Anatoly Shcharansky is free The Western World celebrates, especially Americans and Jews in Israel and around the world Internal protest and resistance in the Soviet Union as well as President Reagan's personal appeal to Gorbachev at Geneva some months ago fttelped turn the key of Shcharansky'« jail cell to let him out. But more importantly, Soviet Jews have the full weight of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment of 1974 be hind Soviet Jewry that grants trade concessions for the release of Soviet Jews (what about other dissidents of non Jewish extraction?) and the Helsinki Accords of 1975 that insists on human rights, including the right to immigration from the Soviet bloc These are powerful instruments at the disposal of Soviet Jews The United States is the prime sponsor and mover of these powerful tools One might well ask Why have not such tools been put in place by the United States to aid black South Africans in their four freedoms, the freedom of movement, and to choose a government of the people, by the people and for the people? The answer to this question is both simple and com plex American and Israeli Jews are very powerful and have tremendous influence in American life and politics Jews are part and parcel of Western civilization Black South Africans and American blacks are not very powerful and have very little influence in American life and politics. They are not a Western civilization people despite the fact they have absorbed a large measure of Western civilization and culture Blacks in South Africa and America historically are a conquered and captive people They have not mastered Western culture and its techniques like the Jews as a group have Blacks are still a poor minority and not a merchant or business civilization cultured minority And the West distinctly does not value the personality and human rights of African descent peoples. These factors blend and have resulted in a limited commitment, if any, to the human rights of black South Africans by the American government. This is a tragedy on a grand scale because the Amen can policy toward the Soviets and Jews is based upon the black American civil rights movement and program It has been exported to the Soviet Union and enshrined in the Jackson-Vanik Amendment and the Helsinki Accords But one must ask Was this primarily a re suit of power politics or a real sense of social justice which this nation claims to be committed to in the East West struggle? There are some very distinct advantages the United States can gain by supporting a human rights program in South Africa for blacks. First, Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela are just as worthy human beings as Anatoly Shcharansky and his wife Secondly, they are not fighting to immigrate from South Africa but to transform it into an oasis of freedom and democracy, and they have the confidence and the will to sacrifice for this vision and goal. They are taking a noble and risky stand for human rights and democracy which the Helsinki Accords and the Jackson Vanik Amemdment claim to be for Then why not for black South Africans? Is preserving white supremacy, a group of whites with high technical skills but low or non existant morals or democratic inclinations, more im|3ortant than a low skilled people with high democratic inclinations? Does a racist Nazi people and state with high power offer more security to American interests than the black South Africans who possess little if any power? Power is more important than human rights and social justice in the present American foreign policy in regards to black South Africans, and sooner or later we will pay a dear price for this position. It's clear that in the twen tieth century a determined people can not be long sup pressed by armed and oppressive minorities No longer can a distinct advantage in skills and arms rescue oppressors from a people's aspirations for freedom and human dignity This is true also for black people despite the fact they don't possess the high culture and skills of European Jews, they are determined to be free of racist dictatorship. The black South Africans have taken a noble stand for freedom, human dignity and democracy. The United States stands for these principles in theory Why not implement a practical and forceful policy in South Africa for blacks comparable to one in the Soviet Bloc for Jews? If we can free Soviet Jews, why not black South Africans? If we can free Anatoly Shcharan sky and his wife to go to Israel and come to the United States to campaign for freedom, why not help free Nelson and Winnie Mandela to campaign for freedom for themselves and their people in South Africa and in America? If freedom fighters in South Africa and Nelson and Winnie Mandela's human rights, personal dignity and human worth are equal to Anatoly and Avital Shcharansky's, then why not? Dr Bruce M Tyler Assistant Professor History University of Louisville
