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Page 2 Portland Observer April 27, 1989
O P IN IO N
EDITORIAL
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
STOP SOUTH AFRICA’S WAR ON NAMIBIA
by Benjamnin F. Chavis, Jr.
The closer Namibia gels to the date for its official independence from the
racist and violent stranglehold o f apartheid South Africa, the more South
A frica continues to com m it brutal atrocities against the people o f Namibia.
In particular, in recent days m em bers o f the South-W est Africa People’s
O rganization (SW APO) have been hunted down and attacked by South
African m ilitary units and police forces.
The United Nations plan for the implem entation o f U.N. Resolution 435
sets the tim etable for N am ibia’s independence. Since this resolution went
into effect on April 1,1989, nearly 300 SW APO soldiers and an undisclosed
num ber o f Namibia civilians have been m urdered by the South African
military.
W hat South A frica Fails to understand is the undying love and support
that SW A PO has among the vast majority o f Namibians.
O ur concern is that the vast m ajority o f thirty m illion African Americans
here in the United States, as well as millions o f others who support the
freedom and independence o f Namibia, should not remain silent as South
A frica increases its terrorist campaign to deny Namibia its freedom and
sovereignty. It is interesting that there are not m any loud voices being raised
in the Congress o f the United States concerning the situation in Africa in
general and in particular concerning Angola and Namibia.
Too often those o f us who live in the United States, assume a comfortable
distance to what is happening in other parts o f the world.The only caution
now is not to start celebrating the victory before it is actually won.South
A frica has now shown its determ ination to try to hold on to Namibia. It is our
responsibility to join in support of S W APO as this struggle enters the crucial
stage. L et history show that SW A PO ’s eventual victory will be our victory
as well.
To the Editor:
At 6:30 a.m„ several hundred Oregon
State Penitentiary inmates start out to
their respective work areas five days a
week, For 40 hours these men work for
wages that would discourage most
outsiders from getting up in the morning,
let alone maintaining their employment.
Yet prison inmate em ploym ent has its
benefits: it keeps away boredom, helps
one to do o nes’ time, teaches a trade,
and in som e cases, allows a person to
s a y - maybe for the first time in his/her
life—that th ey ’ve done a jo b to the best
o f their ability.
The sad thing is that the best prison
is generally more quality oriented than
the best in the community. Prisoners
have opportunities to be em ployed in
vocational positions which teach
welding, data processing, clerical skills,
product design and m anufacturing, and
a wide range o f other marketable skills.
Many prisoners leave prison with the
thought that they can get a job when
released only to find that, more often
than not, the door o f opportunity is
closed to them due to the unattractive
label “ ex-offender” .
If crim inal activity is a result o f lack
of economic opportunity- in some cases,
and personal irresponsibility, W ouldn’t
it be logical to assume that providing
employment to an ex-felon upon release
would be a progressive solution to some
of the crimes committed in this country?
W ouldn’t it also be logical to assume
that, if you give a man a jo b when h e ’s
done his time, he will not sneak into
your house while your’re asleep and
“ liberate” your appliances? New
prisons, private for profit endeavors,
and the prom ulgation of ignorance, are
not the answ ers to the crim e problem in
this country. Neither is showing a man
that he can succeed if he applies him self-
and when he does (in prison) kick him
every step of the way when he’s released.
In many respects, parolees newly released
from prison find themseleves in a much
more hostile enviom m ent than the one
they ju st left. In prison, he was simply
one o f the men...in the com m unity he
becom es traum atized with the labels k
* ‘ex-felon, * ‘ex-convict’ ’, or* ‘ex-offender’ ’.
The jobs open to him are those with
very little potential. O nce a lead man in
a shop (an inmate supervisor), he finds
that he can easily qualify as being a
janitor or a short order cook when he’s
released. Nowdays, an ex-felon can’t
even successfully be employed as a gas
station attendant. And, if he does find a
good job, he is visited at his workplace
by a parole officer, w ho makes sure
everyone knows that the “ ex-con” is a
“ ex-felon” , especially if the job is more
prestigious than that of the parole officer.
Situations such as the above do not
help attitudes which are already severely
frayed at the edges. Unfortunately, there
are no easy solutions. O ne cannot wave
o nes’ magic wand and change peoples’
biases, prejudices, and attitudes. In order
to do that you would have to stop time,
go back and start all over again.
Personally, I think it’s kind o f odd
that taxpayers are w illing to spend
millions o f dollars every year to keep
some o f us in prison. I fully understand
how you feel. There are prisoners here
I w ouldn’t dare associate with on the
street.let alone see you associate with
u n d er
d iffe re n t c irc u m sta n c e s .
Thankgoodness, those kind of prisoners
are in the minority.
It would seem more logical to allow
us the opportunity to com e into society
with a clean slate. O ur time would be
completed. For the m ost part, w e’re a
costly burden to society by us vacationing
in prisons around the country. Some o f
that money could be spent on mass
em ploym ent for released prisoners who
are sincere about making progress
th ro u g h
the b e n e fits o f fu ll
employment-The theme of this message
could be “ JUST G IV E M E A JOB and
1 W O N ’T BE BA CK ”
Submitted by,
Clifton Wash
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REMEMBERING SCHWERNER,
GOODMAN AND CHANEY
Twenty-five years ago two young Jew ish-A m ericans and an African-
Am erican were slain in Philadelphia, M ississippi. Schw em er, Goodman
and Cheney had joined hundreds o f youthful idealists com m itted to the
propostion that all human beings are created equal. Young Americans by the
hundreds, even thousands put their lives on the line all across the world
fighting to desegregate lunch counters, demanding dignified and equal
treatm ent on public transportation and striving to rally a disenfranchised
people to register to vote.
Indeed Schw em er, Goodman and Cheney were killed because they were
tam pering with the status-quo. They were involved in a dangerous and
subversive activity; struggling to ensure the inalienable right o f every
American citizen to exercise the right to vote as guaranteed by the constitution
o f the United States. There was fierce and violent resistance to the vote in
the south for good reason. Ballots in the hands of Black voters could shatter
the system of segregation for all time. To paraphrase Jesse Jackson, those
who picked cotton would be empowered to pick sheriffs, council persons,
mayors, congress people, senators and presidents. Schw em er, Goodman
and Cheney were killed to strike terror into the hearts of the oppressed and
those who would dare to muster the courage to work with die oppressed in
their struggle for liberation.
It is good for us to remember the resolve o f these young civil rights
m artyrs and Jimmy Lee Jackson, M edger Evers, Viola Luizzo, Rev. James
Reeb... Because o f them, as the old folks put it, we sure a in ’t what we wanna
be, we sure a in ’t w hat w e’re gonna be but we sure ain ’t w hat we were.
Things have changed. Much work remains to be done how ever if we are to
get to the “ prom ised land” that Martin Luther King talked about the night
before that fateful day in Memphis.
1 recently talked with Dr. Carolyn G oodm an, the m other Andrew
Goodm an. She expressed a fervent desire that the work that her son was
involved in continue. She was near exhaustion from criss-crossing the
country encouraging young people B lack and Wh ite to continue the struggle
for human dignity, decency and democratic rights for every American
citizen. She was deeply pained by the racial disharm ony, racial violence and
anti-sem itism which still plague America. Yet she was still full of hope. She
is optim istic that today’s youth will carry the torch passed on by the civil
rights martyrs.
M rs.Goodman turned to the plans for a series o f major events which will
m ark the 25th anniversary of the M ississippi murders. The G overnor of
M ississippi and a host of civil rights leaders past and present, student leaders
and public officials will gather in Philadelphia, M ississippi on June 21 for
a memorial ceremony, and a giant rally. Then a south-north (reverse
freedom ride) will start the long trek northward. The organizers hope that the
caravan will inspire thousands o f the unregistered people to sign up to vote.
In W ashington, D.C., as is appropriate, there will be a major rally in
support o f registration reform legislation being sponsored by Senators
Kennedy and Cranston and Representative Conyers and Swift in the House.
Indeed, the M emorial Coalition has made elim inating barriers to registration
and full voter participation a principal goal o f the four day commem oration.
The final destination o f the South-North Caravan will be New York City,
where organizers hope to register thousands o f the unregistered and conclude
with a memorial service in St. John Devine C alheral. It will be a fitting series
o f events.
In the final analysis, however, it is we who m ust rem em ber what
Schw em er, Goodman, Cheney and all the other martyrs gave their lives for.
They died so that we might live. A Lasting memorial would be our resolve
to com plete the work that they so valiantly pursued; we m ust finish the
unfinished democracy.
BLACKS AND JEWS
by Dr. Lenora Fulani
Earlier this month the New Jewish Agenda, which defines itself as an
organization o f progressive Jew s, initiated expulsion proceedings against
18 o f their mem bers who also belong to the New Alliance Party. (NAP)
“ Although N AP frames its anti-Semetic rem arks in the context o f an anti
nationalist position, NAP is clearly not anti-nationalist , for it supports
without criticism the nationalism o f Louis Farrakhan, who also preaches
anti-Sem itism .”
As the chairperson of the New Alliance Party, I wrote to protest the
proposed expulsion of Jewish members of NAP who were also members of
NJA. This is part o f what my letter said: “ what ‘crim es’ have these Jewish
sisters and brothers committed to so outrage the NJA inquisitors as to
precipitate a call for their expulsion? Beneath all the specific accusations,
there is really only one charge o f substance-they are actively involved in
the B lack-ledjndependent New Alliance Party.
“ I have never been thrown out of any Black organization nor threatened
with expulsion for working closely with Jews. That is because the African-
A merican community is willing to work in broad, progressive non-partisan
coalitions.
No doubt much o f your objection to the New Alliance Party stems from
my support o f and from M inister Louis Farrakhan. W hile I have differences
with him, I am not willing to reject him. That you are willing to do so is a
repudiation not just of M inister Farrakhan but of the millions o f black
people-M uslim and non-M uslim -w h o follow him and respect him .”
* ‘Liberal and progressive Jew s must learn that the Black com m unity will
not be dictated to; we will choose our own leaders, and determ ine our own
agenda, and w hether you like it or not you will have to respect it.”
On April 8 the national steering committee o f the NJA held expulsion
hearings in New York City. The Jewish members o f NAP who were about
to be expelled had been told that they or a representative could appear at the
hearings to sp e a k -fo r a maximum o f four minutes e a c h -in their defense.
Since the real issues was not N A P’s “ anti-Sem itism ’ but N JA ’s racism, each
o f the 18 Jewish sisters and brothers chose to be represented by an African-
Am erican friend or colleague.
Only one person at a time was allowed into the basem ent o f the small
synagogue in G reenw ich Village where the hearings took place. None o f the
“ accused” were permitted to be present. In some cases their Black
representatives w ere asked questions; in others the steering committee
members sat in stoney silence while Black lawyers, teachers, and community
organizers expressed their outrage at the crim e that was being perpetrated
by so-called progressive Jews in repudiating other Jews for the crime of
following independent Black leadership. W ithin a few days, the NJA
steering com m ittee had made its decision. In a letter dated April 11, the
steering com m ittee’s national co-chairs announced their “ final solution” to
each Jewish m em ber of NAP they were expelling: “ ...your actions...caused
serious damage to the M anhattan NJA chapter and the national organization
The NJA is seeking to intimidate genuine Jewish progressivism into
silence and inaction by accusing those who speak out of being "tra ito rs” -
not “ real” Jews, not “ good” Jews. It is, tragically, not the first time that
progressive Jew s have been betrayed in this way.
This is supposedly progressive Jewish organization has shown itself to be
nothing more than a front for the racist, anti-Semitic and anti-progressive
Democratic Party. They have brought shame to the progressive movement
which Jews all over the world have helped to lead and build.
I am deeply, deeply proud o f N A P’s Jewish leaders and b u ild e rs-if the
leaders o f NJA w ere not blinded by their racism, they would be also.
COMMON SENSE ON GUNS
Unfinished Symphony
by John E. Jacob
M ilitary-style assault weapons have been used by drug dealers in shoot-
outs with police and with rivals, and by a deranged man who invaded a
California school.
The public outcry over the increasing use o f those weapons led the
President to ban their im portation and influenced C olt, a major gun
producer, to stop production of at least one such weapon.
Such a developm ent probably w on’t com e overnight. The gun lobby in
W ashington is very powerful, and its chief spokesman, the National Rifle
A ssociation, has managed to torpedo federal attem pts to pass state and local
gun laws.
But the NR A is fast losing support because the average citizen can’t see
any reason to allow free and easy access to weapons that are turning our
streets into com bat zones.
But who uses military assault weapons? The NRA says they’re used for
deer hunting, but as Robert Huges recently wrote in Tim e Magazine:
” No serious hunter goes after a deer with an Uzi or an AK-47'; those
w eapons are not made for picking off an anim al in the woods but for blowing
people to chopped meat at close to-medium range, and anyone who needs
a banana clip with 30 shells in it to hit a buck should not be hunting at all.”
The gun lobby says it’s not condoning criminal use o f fire arms, just
defending the constitutional right to bear arms. But the Constitution says
nothing about any right to stock up on autom atic weapons or walk the streets
with handguns.
The public’s rights and the rights of legitimate gun ow ners can be
protected by a federal gun regulation law whose provisions include:
:a ban on m ilitary-type w eapons such as machine guns and assault
rifles.
¡Licensing o f all guns.
:Tough requirem ents for licenses, including checks and delays so that
you can no longer buy guns over the counter in a m atter of minutes
without even verifying identity.
W e’re the only country in the industrial world where guns are so easily
available and w e’re also the one with the highest crime rate. It’s time for
domestic disarm am ent
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by Stevie Wonder
Reprint, Portland Observer, January 1983
OMEWHERE A CHILD is hungry. Somewhere a nomeless man is cold.
S
Many days people are without shelter and always mankind is in need of
love. It is not an easy time, yet it is not a hopeless time We must uncover the for
mula for survival that w ill refresh our souls and uplift our spirits.
It is in God's plan for love to be life's eternal destiny. What better way to
celebrate God’s plan than by rehearsing the music to the unfinished symphony?
Dr. King knew the score. He had the music and many willing players. He inspired
us to allow our spirits to touch our hearts. He encouraged us to seek greater tone,
better clarity and higher range.
He understood the formula to help the musicians perform. We need that now.
We need that spirit more than ever. We took those spiritual energies for granted.
Yeah, we have learned that spirits never dissipate, they only return in another
space and time.
Let me suggest that the spirit of Dr. King is here with us. It is here in another
space and time, and it is pushing us toward positive peace and love.
Remember how he marched. Know that that spirit still consoles us. Remember
his words. Know that they are forever recorded in God's almanac,-and truly,
they’re housed in God’s almanac of love's universe. Know that our responsibility
is an awesome task.
We are assigned to create positiveness where negativity reigns high. We are
assigned to embrace our brothers when distrust pervades our souls. We are
responsible for maintaining the legacy when many would prefer it to be gone.
As we tune the instruments o, love we can make this symphony work. Our con
ductor, Dr. King, left an uhfinished symphony. We must finish it for him by adding
those notes and chores that create the harmony o, love and life.
There is no doubt that we need a national holiday. We need it as much as we
need nourishment for our bodies. We need a day to celebrate our work on the un
finished symphony. We need a day where we can have a dress rehearsal of
solidarity and understanding. We need a moment to come together in the spirit of
a man who taught this world how to love. We need a day where the dignity of man
is recognized by his character and not his profession. We need a day of unity
because our symphony is music that all lost hearts will hear.
This day is not just for Black people, because love is just not Black. This day is
not just for white people, because love is not just white. This day is not just for
yellow people, because love is just not yellow. This day is not just for brown peo
ple, because love is just not brown. This day is not jus, for red people, because
love is jus, no, red. This day does no, exclude anyone because of the color of their
skin, because love is a rainbow of our souls.
Take some time to re,lec» on how you can finish the symphony. Takea minute
to assess wha, you can do. Let's accept the responsibility for being great musi
cians. Let’s record our rhythms together. Teach your family about our culture of
love. Celebrate this day so we can spread the infection’s germ of love. Celebrate
with all of your heart, and celebrate with all of your soul. And celebrate with ac
tion tha, carries you to new heights. Soar on these new heights through all the
years.
Le, ourfinal movement be tha, o, the dream o, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Le, us
begin by celebrating the day tha, w ill be the beginning of endless days of human
harmony, embellishing upon a universal chord tha, joins in with the eternal sym
phony.
Our firs, performance o, this symphony o, love w ill begin with our collective
expression of respect and commitment ,o the conductor o, this great symphony,
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and all those who in the name of love we honor here to
day. We’ll make the dream come true because our hearts tell us so.
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