nr W WWW* ’R ’W * August 10, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 7 Leaders Must Be Held Responsible For Their Actions Statewide Affirmative Action Conference To Be Held within tne state in providing athleen Saadat, State Direct­ to the state’s citizens and or of Affirmative Action, Office of the Governor announc­ em ployes, through a ed today that a statewide Affir­ program of affirm ative mative Action Conference for action, fair and equal agency a d m in istra to rs, a ffir ­ opportunities for mative action officers, and per­ em ploym ent and sonnel officers is being held on advancem ent in programs August 11 and 12 in Salem. and services and in the Workshop topics to be covered awarding of contracts.” include: Affirmative Action Ef­ The Executive Order goes on to forts in State Government, New Guidelines for Writing Affirmative say: Action Plans, How to Put the Plan Together, Court Decisions and “ Although some believe Their Effect on Affirmative Ac­ that efforts toward tion, Creative Recruitment, and affirm ative action have been Removing Barriers to Upward w eakened at the federal Mobility. Presentors will include level, this should not state executive administrators, weaken the state’s efforts agency administrators, attorneys and should lead state in private practice, and key affir­ agencies to take increased mative action personnel in state responsibility for government. aggressively pursuing the Governor Goldschmidt will be successful im plem entation on hand at the start of the first of the state’s affirm ative day to address the audience and » » to reaffirm the State's commit­ action policy.’ ment to affirmative action in state Statistical information provided agencies. by the Executive Department The Governor has just sign­ reports an increase in affirmative ed a new Executive Order which action hiring for the first six states that: months of 1988. The figures show “ It has long been the policy an increase of 0.1% women and of the State of Oregon that 0.2% increase of total minorities in the workforce, and a 0.3% in­ all branches of state crease of handicapped persons governm ent shall be leaders hired into the workforce. among em ploying entities by SamKahl K e reap what we sow. If I sow good will, harmony, honesty and courtesy, I will have a good chance of creating an en­ vironment of goodwill, harmony, honesty and courtesy in which to live and work. But if I sow jeal­ ousy, chaos, deception and disre­ spect, then my environment will be filled with jealousy, chaos, deception and disrespect. Self-respect and mutual re­ spect are, for me, the cornerstone of good human relationships, whether it be professional or per­ sonal relationships. But respect must be genuine, if it is to be healing, and to be genuine, it must flow from within. This is a matter of discipline — a disciplin­ ing of my conscious connection with myself and with other human beings as well as a disciplining of my outward behavior. For how many times is it that my lack of trust, goodwill and respect will be communicated not in big ways, but in small ways that I do not notice? How many times is it that my efficiency of work is being hindered by little thoughtless ac­ tions which deliver so much im­ pact to the participants involved; actions which emanate from a bad attitude that I may not even be aware of being in me which communicate a blow to or an as­ sault upon the self-esteem of other individuals, soliciting reac­ tions which I had no thought in bringing, and thus unraveling and undermining what is supposed to be a cohesive working relation­ ship in my work, in my community and in my home? Recently, Portland has been confronted with an incident gene­ rated from Portland’s chief of po­ lice slapping a fellow officer, a woman. Sexual harassment or not, what kind of professional and simple courtesy is this? Some persons may argue that this inci­ dent is such a little thing. How lit­ tle is it when the police, our pro­ tectors under the law, are held up to ridicule? But it is not just the ridicule of a thoughtless action made public that I wish to ad­ dress. Thoughtless actions re­ quire not defensiveness and ex­ cuses; they require thoughtful e v a lu a tio n , c o rre c tio n and amends. Let us say that the incident had been kept secret, arid that Chief of Police Walker had consciously meant nothing by it, what underly­ ing attitude delivered this affront to a fellow officer? Is it realistic to W ‘Flirt Band’ On Tour by Danny Bell ell folks, here is some good news from the Black music scene! Randy Starr and the ‘Flirt Band’ is on a six month tour of the Red Lion Inns in Oregon, Idaho, California and Arizona. To refresh your memory ... The ‘Flirt Band' is a local band under the direction of Mr. Randy Starr, and has been burning up the local scene for approximately four years. A pure case of dedication, ambition and vision, Randy Starr has managed to keep in tact the image and original concept of the band-eye appealing costumes; exciting Funk and roll and excellent musicianship. Before embarking on the tour, Randy commended the support the band received from Mary Renound of Mary s Place, as well as, the support of Key Largo, The Long Goodbye, The Tippin Inn and The Royal Esquire Club. In the spirit of solidarity, he gave recognition to those African-Americans and fellow musicians who have and continues to promote an African-American perspective in their music. Having gained valuable experience from the School of hard knocks, Randy and the 'Flirt Band’ is striving to serve as role models for youth throughout the Portland metropolitan area, especially those African-American youth, who are preparing to enter the arena of pro­ fessional entertainment. Congratulations to Randy Starr and the ‘Flirt Band’. W Fourgenerations of Black women: (L-R) Myleen Roberts, age 3; Pauline Locke; Alice Whitney; Louise Whitney. PORTLAND OBSERVER “ The Eyes and Ears of the Com m unity" 2 8 8 -0 0 3 3 PF " /S Your young child may be able to hold onto a drinking glass better if you place two tight rubber bands around the glass an inch or so apart. This makes it easier for little hands to hold. PUBLIC SERVICE ANN O U NC EM ENT The Sabin/Irvington Heights Neighborhood Association is spon­ soring a fundraiser for the neighborhood in order to secure a protection agency for the area near Sabin School. Their event is going to be held on August 25th, Thursday 220 N.W. 2nd Avenue, that s the Northwest Natural Gas Company Auditorium, One Pacific Square from 6:30 p.m. to They will feature a meeting for Oregon Cultural Artist in Visual and Performing Perspectives as well as keynote speakers associated with the Deterrent of Neighborhood CRIME!’ Betty Garner is the Sabin/Irvington Heights Neighborhood Association chairperson and founder. She is an Oregon Cultural Artist in Visual and Performing Perspective as well as a teacher at the Portland Public Schools. She is currently working on the set with the new Burt Reynolds movie here in Portland as a stand-in for the support­ ing role of Lorraine Toussaint - better known as ‘Delphine’ in the movie Dick Gregory, (center), the comedian-turned nutritionist, welcomes two new persons to his campaign to convince the U.S. Government that it should start a war on obesity as a major health hazard. The new, seriously overweight pair, that asked for Gregory's help in bringing their weights down are, (from left), Steve Nellis, 750 pounds, of St. Louis, MO., and Lonita Mitchell, (right), 650 pounds, of Biloxi, MS. Ms. Mitcehll is 15 years old. M R S C ’S W IG S WHOLESALE & RETAIL HUNDREDS OF WIGS B eothe? artist featured for this fundraiser will be Thara Memory, Jazz musician arranger/composer in Performing Perspective, and Visual Artist Charles Tatum-woodworking and sculpture. Support the Sabin/Irvington Heights Neighborhood Association Crime Prevention Program by coming out to this event and communicating your ideas for protection of the commonity August 25th from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Northwest Natural Gas Co 220 N W 2nd Avenue. There’s a $6.00 donation charge. Music, Dancing and Hor’douvres. Tickets for this event will be on sale at the House of FOR YOUR EVERCHANGING LIFESTYLES NAOMI SIMS • BORNFREE • M IC H AEL WEEKS BETTY CABINE PROPRIETOR TUIS-SAT 11:30-6 sOO Remember, that’s August 25th, Thursday beginning at 6:30 220 N.W. 2nd. $6.00 donation for the Sabin/Irvington Heights Neighborhood Association Crime Prevention Event. 281-6525 BEAUTICIAN & STUDENT DISCOUNTS 1 00% HUMAN HAR BRAIDING 4 WEAVMG apsttl FOR 7th & FREMONT (7 0 7 N.E. FREMONT) a SUMMER'S HERE) .THINK THIN! • No special foods • No signup fees • Low cost • Easy • Different from any other program available Hypnotherapy, Dr Spicer s NutriWheat & Nutridrink. 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'* Î.» * • f 2 83 -5 5 7 3 believe that such an attitude will not be communicated to the pub­ lic through the performance of the police as they individually work in our communities? Most importantly, what is the strength of the law? It is not the police persons's weapon. Rather, it is the citizen’s regard for the law working hand-in-hand with the policeperson’s professional regard for the law. The police play an instrumental role because, to many, they embody the law — they make the law sensually real in the same way a person's view of the universe and of its creator is formed during childhood by the quality of parents that child has had. If the police, the soldier in the street, bears through the law harmony, justice and liberation, then the law will be loved, obeyed and cherished as an instrument of harmony, justice and liberation. Our work as citizens will be sin­ cere. We will not begrudgingly obey a system of law that we hate as we would evil parents. In our system of republican self-government, all of us citizens are guardians of the law. We are part of the team that make it hap­ pen. The police are no more the entirety of law enforcement than are the politicians the entirety of self-government. But we must have examples to follow. This is where true leadership comes in. If I am made to feel even a little bit “ less than,” is this not a prescription for setting my ego to war with yours? Will I not carry hidden hostility and resentment with me to satiate a part of me that is uncomfortable with me? Then if a police officer has even a small loss delivered to his or her dignity as a person and as a pro­ fessional, will this not cloud that officer’s sense of mission, as a minister of the law as a historical­ ly developed instrument of civiliz­ ed society? Will this not have im­ pact on the way all of us citizens, police and civilians alike, com­ municate with one another? Will this not undermine the cohesive­ ness of a community that is sup­ posed to be working together? There is more to a word or a gesture than often meets the eye. We ought to be careful in what we think and do. How I treat myself in my private life will have its effect on the public. The last thing our tormented society needs today is another war of egos. That war is triggered by thoughtless disre­ gard for human self-esteem. I - ./ . r* • .’V O A ; ’. ', ', •kV > ¿ 4 L ' f * i’ v«- • • A j t •• —' • •” ; • j ' - x- • * 5. » p • ' ' i ' V »•* * • - *.