age,.
rl*^d Observer, August 19, 1987
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Freedom and Social Justice
by Alexander R. Jones
A Psychiatric N ightm are for Children
It sounds like a horror-fantasy story, but it isn't. It's real life. A psy
chiatrist at the Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI), is pushing ahead
with his plans to conduct a shocking and controversial "experiment’' that
will expose young children to sexual molestation, rape, and possible murder
at the hands of convicted child molesters.
The project, which has been widely condemned by police and commu
nity groups alike, will take a group of known, harded child molesters,
screen these to get the most sexually deviant, and then run them through a
series of bizarre sexual behaviour modification experiments. Such proce
dures, already known to be ineffective, will include sexual stimulation with
explicit child pornography, and repeated masterbation. Once complete
with this course of "treatment" these child molesters will be turned loose
into the community to see what they do to young children.
The most chilling aspect of the program, however, is the fact that
while in this program, the child molesters are protected by a "Federal Con
fidentiality Certificate” . If they do commit any criminal acts, the staff of
FMHI that are involved with this experiment can refuse to cooperate with
law enforcement authorities that are investigating such crimes.
IN other words, known child molesters will be given official sanction
and protection to sexually molest and rape young children. Perhaps yours
Perhaps mine. A frightening prospect for any parent. And it will be an un
comfortable nightmare for some unfortunate children.
The officer in charge of the sex crime unit of the Clearwater Police
Department is convinced this program will actually increase the incidence
of child molesting in the area. His concerns are shared by Ivana D i N ov . i
Executive Director of the Missing Children
HELP Centei in Tampa, Flo
rida, the Citizens’ Commission on Human Rights and bv the Missing O
dren Awareness Foundation in Largo, Florida.
The purpose of this experiment is supposed to be the testing of dif
ferent treatment for sex offenders. However, FMHI's own literature on thr
project admits that "there is no method of dealing with sex offenders which
has been demonstrated to be effective in deterring them
Thus this experi
ment will merely test two methods which don’t work, while giving the sex
offenders official sanction to harm young children.
did not know or admit that he knew what his government was doing to
help the Contras.
Many citizens believe that loss of memory may be a sign of senility.
Since the President has been consistent in his support of testing, perhaps
it is "test tim e". A senility test will help us determine whether or not the
President is losing or has lost his zip.
Is the Observer willing to raise this question?
Julius Stokes
The new tax law allows you to deduct, as a mortgage interest expense,
any interest paid on home equity loans up to the original purchase price of
your house less the amount you owe on your mortgage, plus the cost of all
improvements you have made. In mathematical terms:
Purchase price - mortgage balanced-home improvement cost-f amount of
additional debt for which mortgage interest would be deductible.
An example: If you bought your house for $100,000, have a mortgage bal
ance of $70,000 and made $10,000 worth of improvements, you would be
able to deduct the interest payments on a home equity loan of up
to $40,000.
Put another way, you may deduct all of the interest paid on your mort
gage and your equity loan, provided that the total amount owed doesn't
exceed the purchase price of your home plus the cost of improvements
made.
Note: The tax treatment for amounts borrowed above these limits is
dependent on how the proceeds are used. If the amount is used for medical
or educational expenses or to finance a home improvement, the interest
cost are fully deductible.
It is important to keep in mind that, since you're borrowing against the
equity in your home, you run the risk of losing your home if you cannot re
pay. But if you're confident that you are borrowing within your means and
can meet the lender's repayment schedule, a home equity loan can be
a wise choice.
Keep in mind that at some point in the future. Congress may change
the rules on home equity line of credit tax deductibility.
CPAs advise that there are many variables to be considered and
factors to be weighed in deciding how you might best finance your debt,
because everyone's borrowing needs and circumstances are different, you
might want to consider getting expert assistance.
Looking for a CPA in you community? Call the Oregon Society of
CPAs at (503) 641-7200 for free state wide referrals.
Congratulations
*
Dear Al:
Congratulations on the move to your new location. I always like to
see small businesses grow and prosper. I look forward to seeing even
greater things from the Observer.
Sincere best wishes,
Gladys McCoy
Multnomah County Chair
My Country, Right or Wrong
In a dictatorship, individuals presumably are without choice. If a 'law
and superior order's' defense will not hold for them, why should one expect
exemption in a "Democracy" where individuals presumably have the
choice, the right and the duty to resist and protect illegal action of
their government. The doctrine of individual responsibility under inter
national law dates back many years. Hugo Grotuis, probably the founder
of Western international law, wrote in 1645, that an individual's respon
sibility is such that actions done —even if under color of law —to commit
atrocities or show complicity in them, makes one liable for violation of inter
national law.
The individual U.S. soldier who did not go to Vietnam to participate in
those atrocities (documented as very similar to those of Nazi Germany)
found himself in a dilemma. Eventually, the U.S. government found itself
in a dilemma: How to deal with individuals who could only be deemed
guilty of premature morality. U.S. soldiers in Vietnam found themselves
in a position where they had to kill or be killed by people who were fighting
desperately for their freedom from one colonizer after another. If they sur
vived, they returned with dubious distinctions and an array of phsycial,
mental and emotional disabilities that they will have to cope with for the rest
of their unnatural lives.
The absence or presence of resources in our communities forces our
youngsters into the U.S. mercenary military for survival from prisons
around this nation. "Be all that you can (never) be (in society), join the
Arm y!" So goes the recruitment commercials hundreds of times a day.
If one is to be "always faithful," let him/her examine critically that to
which he Ishel attest faithfulness. If one does not examine carefully, he
may find that instead of being a protector of human rights, he (she! is
indeed a violator of human rights. That, instead of serving good purposes,
he [shel is the servant of evil.
"M y Country, Right or W rong." If it fits your country and it's wrong,
correct the wrong in your own country before you go running some place
else to correct some wrong. Don't wallow in wrong or further perpetuate
the wrongs by unwitting collaboration. Remember, silence is consent;
that to do nothing is an act of collaboration, just as powerful as doing
something.
All people of good will must align themselves, concretely, with justice
and humanity; to take responsibility for their Government's daily actions of
genocide and hypocricy, lest we too, be guilty of complicity in war crimes
and our own demise.
Remember Eichman in Isreal? He stood before the court and made the
same claim. This defense did not hold and all were found guilty.
Those involved in the Iran-Contra Conspiracy claimed they were seek
ing peace. Jesus said: "Blessed are the Peace Makers, for they shall be
called the children of God." Who are the Peace breakers; who's children
are they? And if the world is seeking Peace, but cannot find it, if the world
desires Peace, and is unable to achieve it, who has caused man to deviate
from the teachings of those Prophets. Who is the Peace breaker who has
violated the principles of truth? Who is the Peace breaker who refuses to
give man justice? Who is the Peace breaker who has deprived man of the
human right of self determination? Who is the Peace breaker who has de
prived man of liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness? Who is the Peace
breaker who has robbed the natural inhabitants of the earth of their natural
land, and the wealth of that land? Who is the Peace breaker who robbed
the people of the earth of that which they are justly due, and then goes
to war with them to see that they never got what they are justly due? Who
is the Peace breaker who feels that might makes right, instead of obedience
to the will of God making might and right? Who is the Peace breaker who
sits in Washington, D.C., who refuses to give justice to the oppressed?
Who is the Peace breaker who robbed the Palestinians of a homeland?
Who is the Peace breaker, and what shall he be called? If the Peace maker
is the son of God, then the Peace breaker is either the Devil or the children
of the Devil? Once we can identify the Peace maker and the Peace breaker,
then we know what side we will have to take in this great war that is about
to break upon the people of the earth.
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
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XI K \ K I
I M i l I) ( H I R( H <)l ( H R IXt
CO M M ISSIO N IO R RACIAl JIJSTK f
Stop Bork to the Suprem e Court
A le xa n d e r R. Jon es is th e D ire c to r o f M in o rity and T h ird W o rld A ffa irs for the- C hurch o f Si • i
to lo g y IR ) In terna tiona l
MONEY MANAGEMENT
A w e e k ly co lu m n on personal fin a n c e d is trib u te d by
th e O regon S o cie ty o f C e rtifie d P ublic A c c o u n ta n ts
FINANCING YOUR DEBT:
THE NEW MATH
It used to be simple...If your old car absolutely refused to another mile
and you needed money to buy a new one, you went to the bank for a car
loan. If the coat you've been dying to buy just went on sale and you didn't
have enough cash to pay for it, you might charge it to your credit card.
And if the tuition cost at the college your son has selected is out of your
reach, a student loan was the usual answer. But, according to the Oregon
Society of CPS's, the old ways of financing your debt may not make the
most sense these days, particularly in light of the new tax laws.
First and foremost, the new tax law calls for a phasing-out of the de
duction of interest costs for consumer debt. Consumer debt includes credit
cards, personal loans, student loans, car loans and loans against life insur
ance policies. For 1987, only 65% of the interest paid is deductible. In
1988, the deductible amount drops to 40%; 20% in 1989; 10% in 1990. As
of 1991, no portion of the interest paid on consumer debt will be deductible.
The new tax law will make all consumer credit more expensive, but the
most expensive of all will be credit cards. Although the time has come to
reexamine financing tactics, changing peoples' borrowing habits may be
difficult. Let's face it, the American consumer loves plastic. It's easy and
it's convenient and lenders know this. While other interest rates have
dropped dramatically, credit card charges have not. The average credit
card rate at the beginning of this year was just under 18%.
But, with the phasing out of the interest cost deductions, now it’s
wiser than ever to use your credit card as a convenience only. By charging
purchases during the month and paying off your total balance within the
bank's grace period, you can avoid interest charges. If this is feasible with
in your budget, you should look for a card with a generous grace period.
If you plan to pay your balance in full every month, the interest rate the
card carries doesn't matter because you won't be charged any interest. On
the other hand, if you plan to extend your payments over a period of time,
it's to your advantage to shop around for the bank with the lowest annual
percentage rate.
Or, better yet, maybe you should look into a home equity loan. Al
though home equity loans may not be right for everyone, they certainly
have become the hottest ticket in town.
For the uninitiated, your home equity is the appraised market value of
your house less the amount of any outstanding mortgages. A home equity
loan, then, is basically a loan, or line of credit, secured by a mortgage on
your home. You may use a home equity loan for any purpose: to buy a
car, finance a vacation or consolidate your debts.
Generally, lenders will allow you to borrow from 75% to 80% of your
equity. Many of these loans carry a variable rate which changes monthly.
And because the loan is secured by your home, the rate can be quite low.
The index most often used by banks is the prime rate, with most equity
loans priced at 2% over prime. The fees banks charge for opening a home
equity credit line vary. Some banks charge no fee at all, while the fee and
closing costs at others can range from a few hundred to a few thousand.
Once your loan is approved, you can borrow against your line of credit
by writing a check or presenting a special credit card. You can borrow as
often as you like, as long as you don't go over your credit limit. Interest is
charged only on the amount borrowed.
But why, you ask, has the home equity loan suddenly taken on a new
importance as a financing tool? Easy. Since this kind of borrowing is
secured by your home, the interest you pay is fully deductible, as opposed
to consumer credit interest which is only partially deductible. So an equity
loan can provide susbstantial amounts of low cost, tax deductible credit.
O 'P Q i I”
N e w .p a p e r
P u b lis h e rs
A ssn , .ih o n
President Reagai must be kidding He nominates another arch con
servative for the life long position of U S. Supreme Court justice. The he
has the gall to sav I hope that we can keep politics out of the confirmation
process."
The opinions of tne nominee, Robert H. Bork, are more than conser
vative reflections. They seek to take us back to a time when the rights of
African Americans, other racial and ethnic groups, and women were of no
worth.
For example, when Virginia's poll tax, which had been used to stop
African Americans from voting, was overturned, Bork stated the decision
was "wrongly decided." He claimed that "no evidence or claim of racial
discrimination in the use of the poll tax" was present. One wonders in what
remote desert Bork has been living for the past 100 years.
Bork also opposed use of the 14th Amendment to forbid state imposed
housing segregation. Said Bork, "IThe 14th Amendment isl aimed only at
governmental discrimination" and is not "a sweeping prohibition of private
discrimination.
Then he continued, "A ll law discriminates and thereby
creates inequality. The Supreme Court has no principled way of saying
which nOn-racial inequalities are iriiptermissible." In other words, racism is a
given and we might as well accept it.
Then there's the matter of the "one man, one vote" rule for which
civil rights groups fought long and hard. It is partly because of this ruling,
which forced redistricting, that we now see Black legislators in places like
Mississippi and Alabama. What does Bork have to say about the ruling?
That it "runs counter to the text of the 14th Amendment." Therefore he
opposes the "one man, one vote” rule.
Judge Bork also rejects affirmative action. He called it "reverse discri
mination" and claimed it had "no constitutional footing."
According to Bork, all court decisions should be based on what the
framers of the Constitution believed. He said, ' . . . the framers' intentions
with respect to freedoms are the sole legitimate premise” for all decisions.
Of course, the problem is that most of the framers of the Constitution be
lieved that the enslavement of Africans, the massacring of Native Ameri
cans, and the subjugation of women were all legal.
The nomination of Judge Bork should be seen in context. Reagan
has succeeded in packing the federal judiciary. He has now appointed over
half of all federal judges in this country. Yet, of the 300 federal openings,
Reagan has named only five African American judges.
Not only has this administration failed to fairly appoint racial and ethnic
judges, but also the Reagan Administration has created a climate which
has allowed for an all-out attack on the few existing African American jud
ges. Judge Alcee Hastings in Florida and Judge R. Eugene Pincham in
Illinois are but two examples.
With the Bork nomination the Reagan Administration is trying to per
manently shift the delicate balance of the Supreme Court to a rigidly right
wing majority. Long after Reagan and his cohorts have gone, we will still
be saddled with a judiciary ruling as if it was 1776.
Contact your Senators, and particularly conservative Democrats who
are members of the Senate Judiciary Committe: Sen. Byrd from W. Vir
ginia, DeConcini from Arizona, and Heflin from Alabama. The Bork nomi
nation should be stopped.
( o
Int
tisociition - Founded 1885
Sincerely,
Connie Carley
Business Manager
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A ! Williams, G eneral Manager
PassinArt: A Theatre Company would like to thank you and the Port
land Observer for contributing to the production of "Split Second" that
was held at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center July 3-July 26th.
The production went very well, and we received some good com
ments. Your donation of posters, flyers, typesetting, and special discount
rate on the newspaper ads were instrumental in "getting the word out"
about our production, and definitely contributed to the success of this pro
duction.
PassinArt: A Theatre Company will present one more performance of
Split Second as a part of this year's Artquake Theatre Program on Satur
day, August 29th at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (tf:00 p.m.).
We hope you will have the opportunity to come and see the play.
Once again, thank you for all your assistance, and we appreciate your
continued support.
pORTMNDOBSERNJER
Portland Observer
M ira li Henderson, I ditor/Publisher
Dear Al Williams:
During the 1980 Presidential campaign, when age became an issue,
candidate Reagan indicated that he would be willing to take a senility test.
After becoming President, Mr. Reagan still advocated testing. First,
he supported lie detector tests for government employees in sensitive posi
tions (backing down when Secretary of State George Shultz refused).
Second, he endorsed drug testing for those in certain public safety jobs.
Third, he favored AIDS testing for bureaucrats and military personnel.
Now, the Iran-Contra Hearings have indicated that the President was
not on top of things. He was in the "dark", could not remember his stated
policy of not dealing with terrorists, could not remember what he said at
the previous press conference, could not remember reading or having
signed certain documents. The President said that he was a Contra, yet he
•*-
member
Thank You, Mr. Williams
Letters to the Editor
Test Time
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fcrtr
Dr. Jamil Cherovee
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