Page 4 Portland Observer February 21, 1990
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID
To Be Equal
What Happened to the Peace Dividend?
rr
Jusi a few m onths ago, in the heady days
o f the M alta Sum m it m eeting and the e a st­
ern E uropean revolt, all the talk was about
the ‘peace div idcnd' —the huge budget savings
m ade available by the end o f the C old War.
N ow all the talk is about how the peace
div id en d never existed, d o esn ’t exist, and
never w ill exist.
1 d o n ’t buy that. Sim ple logic suggests
that if the threat o f im m inent superpow er
w ar no longer exists, then the w orld reali­
ties should be reflected in national security
plans and in the defense budget.
T hose realities are that the defense budget
can be cut drastically at no danger to n a ­
tional security interests.
I t ’s n o t as if anyone is arguing to cu t
n ational strength to the bone— after the
huge m ulti-trillion dollar Reagan arms build­
up o f the 1980s, the defense budget is so
sw ollen with fat that even radical cuts w on’t
begin to w eaken us.
D efense Secretary Cheney has suggested
som e cuts in future defense spending, but
they d o n 't begin to represent reasonable
post-C old War levels.
T h e y ’re ju st cuts from earlier projected
estim ated budgets, not real dollar cuts. B ut
real dollar cuts are what the econom y needs
and the public expects.
A N ew York T im es-C B S N ews poll in
January found that three out o f four A m eri­
cans believe the w anning U .S .-S o v iet re la ­
tions can result in cuts in m ilitary spending
and two out o f three w ant the peace d iv i­
dend spent on resolving problem s like drugs
and hom elessness.
An article by Jack B eatty in the F ebru­
ary A tlantic M onthly says that the Stealth
bom ber, w hose m ain m ission is to "hunt
Soviet m obile m issiles“ has already cost
$22 billion and the Air Force w ants to buy
132 o f the planes for $79 billio n — $600
m illion per plane.
T hat alone is enough to fund an Urban
M arshall Plan to revive our cities and p re ­
pare tomorrow's workforce to become competitive.
It w ill take only $3 billion to provide
enough funds to ensure rem edial teaching
for every eligible disadvantage child in
A m erica.
And the governm ent would actually make
m oney on the program , since such educa
tion aid costs $700 per child w hile it costs
$3,500 every time a child repeats a grade in
school.
W illiam K aufm ann, a defense policy
expert at The B rookings Institution, says
that we could save about $23 billion a year
on a reduced nuclear m issile delivery p ro ­
gram that w ould still leave us with the
capability to launch 2,400 w arheads after a
Soviet first strike.
So the real question in defense policy is:
how m uch is enough?
Do we really need to continue to p ro ­
duce expensive w eapons system s long after
the need for them has vanished? Do we
really need to com m it $130 billion a year
for the defense o f Europe and Japan w hen
those allies are richer than we are?
T he real question isn ’t w hether a peace
dividend exists o r not. It is w hether we have
the political w ill to act on changed w orld
realities and construct a national security
system that accords w ith the w orld as it is
and n o t as it used to be.
O nce we realize that there is a peace
dividend, com es the question o f w hat we do
with it. A nd the answ er to that is clear— use
it to m ake A m erica com petitive in global
m arkets w here we are losing out because
we have too many people locked into p o v ­
erty and w ithout the education and skills to
enable us to com pete successfully.
A third o f o u r future w orkforce w ill be
minority, and h alf o f those young people
are grow ing up in poverty today. A fourth
drop o u t o f school and perhaps another
fourth graduate w ithout the skills needed
by a m odem econom y.
In the 1990s real national security is
identical to econom ic strength, and we need
to put the peace dividend to w ork in an
U rban M arshall Plan that gets us on a p e r­
m anent econom ic grow th track.
The kindly word that falls today
may bear its fruit tomorrow.
A man must make his opportunity
as oft as find it.
Sealed bidthe Magruder Hall Reroofing project will be received by the
Oregon State Board of Higher Education until 2:00 PM, local time,
March 15, 1990.
Articles and Essays by Ron Daniels
by John E. Jacob
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the OSU
Physical Plant. Adams Hall, Corvallis. OR 97331-2001 or telephone
503-737-4921.
The Visi°"/, 5 ° uraSe
Wisd° m
of Nelson Mandela
O n Friday, February 2, 1990, F.W. de
hom e to South A frica. This is a rare and
Klerk, President o f the W hite South A lii
extraordinary act o f principle and courage.
can m inority regim e, lifted the ban on the
A t every critical juncture in the unfold­
A frican N ational C ongress, the P an-A fri­
ing o f the liberation struggle, M andela has
canist C ongress, the B lack C onsciousness
also show n great patience and w isdom .
M ovem ent and other previously banned
D espite the rise to hegem ony o f the A frican
anti-apartheid organizations. President de
NanmalCongress within the liberationmovemenl.
Klerk also announced that 71 -year-old Nelson
M andela, nontheless, insisted on lifting the
M andela, w ho has been im prisoned for 27
ban on all anti-apartheid groups including
years, w ould soon be released uncondition­
the rival Pan-A fricanist C ongress and the
ally. T here w as jubilation in the streets o f
B lack C onsciousness M ovem ent. M andela
South A frica as de K lerk ’s dram atic an­
seem s to sense that only a united fro n to f the
nouncements seem to set the stage for negotiations
m ajority o f the anti apartheid forces can
on the future o f a new South A frica.
overcom e the obvious ploy o f divide and
T he sw eeping concessions by the South
conquer to successfully negotiate with the
A frican regim e were a direct result o f the
W hite m inority regim e. A nd over the p ro ­
sustained struggle o f the ANC and other
test o f som e w ithin the ranks o f ANC,
anti-apartheid groups inside South A frica,
M andela has m ade it clear that even the
the tightening vise o f econom ic sanctions
conservative forces o f C hief G atsha Buthe -
and the m ounting pressure o f grow ing in­
lezi should have a place at the negotiating
ternational isolation. B ut in another sense
table.
these concessions were a testim ony to the
It is this kind o f healing, reconciling
vision, courage and w isdom o f the legen­
leadership that w ill be required in the d iffi­
dary sym bol o f the South A frican freedom
cult m onths ahead, if the jubilation o f the
struggle. N elson R. M andela.
m om ent is to ultim ately bear fruit in terms
Tim e and tim e again during his long
o f the vision o f a new South A frica. The
period o f incarceration, M andela m ight have
path to success is certainly filled with enormous
been released from the hum iliation o f harsh
barriers, and trem endous danger. A nd yet it
prison labor and isolation if only he w ould
is precisely the principled, courageous and
have agreed to renounce arm ed struggle or
wise way that M andela has handled him self
if he had abandoned the political goals o f
over the years w hich gives him the stature
the outlaw ed A frican N ational C ongress.
and political capital necessary to guide the
Time after time N elson M andela refused to
liberation m ovem ent through this perilous
make even the slightest com prom ise in the
period.
interest o f his ow n personal freedom , p re ­
The w hole w orld aw aits the release o f
ferring instead to alw ays keep the c h e r­
N elson M andela. W hen he is released, it
ished goal o f one person one vote w ithin a
w ill be com forting to know that here is a
non-racial society at the forefront o f his
m an who did not com prom ise in order to
considerations.
gain his freedom . Freedom loving hum an
It is entirely possible that M andela m ight
beings everyw here m ust be determ ined to
have been released with his old friend and
keep the pressure on the South A frican
com rade W alter Sisulu and o th er political
regim e during this crucial period. N elson
prisoners in O ctober o f 1989. B ut M andela
M andela, the ANC and all the forces w ithin
elected to rem ain in prison, even after 27
the liberation m ovem ent will need the lev­
long, lonely years o f suffering, until all o f
erage o f continued sanctions, and strong
the conditions w hich he has laid dow n for
international public opinion to consum m ate
his release are m et. A nd even now, in the
a ju st political and econom ic agreem ent for
face o f de K lerk ’s concessions, M andela
a new South A frica. T he real struggle has
still refuses to leave prison until the hated
ju st begun.
state o f em ergency is totally lifted, all p o ­
Long live N elson M andela! Victory for
litical prisoners are released and it co m ­
the people's struggle for freedom in South
pletely clear that all exiles are free to return
Africa!
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
The Southland Corporation
(7-ELEVEN Stores)
and the
O regon A ssociation
of
M inority E nterprises
INVITE YOU TO ATTEND
OAME After-Hours Business Networking
FREE ADMISSION
Thursday, February 22, 1990
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(no host bar)
AT
ALADDIN BEST WESTERN INN AT THE COLISEUM
10 N. Weidler (across from Coliseum)
An opportunity for your business to meet buyers and key contracts
from governmental agencies and private businesses.
“ BRING PLENTY OF BUSINESS CARDS”
This will be an informal event allowing you plenty of time to meet.
RSVP: 236-1190
Oregon Association of Minority Entrepeneurs
OAME Center
847 N.E. 19th, Suite 245
Portland, Oregon 97232
Facility arranged and provided through the coordination and cooperation of
Roy Jay Enterprise • Trade-M ark Corporation
Elliott’s Restaurant and Inn at the Coliseum
"Where you are always welcome"
SUB-BIDS REQUESTED
Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute
Phase 10
GEORGE A. GRANT, INC.
P.O. Box 789 * Richland, Washington 99352
(509) 946-6188 or FAX: (509) 946-2355
Member of AGC of Washington
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and request sub-bids from
small business minority-owned and disadvantage business enterprises.
The American Cancer Society Invites You To
Join Us At Our Ninth Annual Winetasting!
VINTAGE & VIBES
//(t
with Lionel Hampton
usiness Opportunities
The Southland Corporation
(7-ELEVEN Stores)
and the
O regon A ssociation of M inority E ntrepreneurs
INVITE YOU TO ATTEND
0A M E After-Hours Business Networking
FREE ADMISSION
Thursday, February 22,1990
5:30 RM. to 8:30 P.M.
(no host bar)
AT
ALADDIN BEST WESTERN INN AT THE COLISEUM
10 N. Weidler (across from Coliseum)
An opportunity for your business to meet buyers and key
contacts from governmental agencies and private businesses.
“BRING PLENTY OF BUSINESS CARDS”
This will be informal event allowing you plenty of time to meet.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 5 ,1 9 9 0
RSVP: 236-1190
Masonic Temple
1 1 1 9 S. W . Park Avenue
Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs
0A M E Center
847 N.E. 19th, Suite 245
Portland, Oregon 97232
arranged and provided through the coordination and cooperation of
Roy Jay Enterprises ‘ Trade-Mark Corporation
Elliott’s Restaurant and Inn at the Coliseum
"Where you are always welcome"
WINETASTING
WINETASTING/DINNER DANCE
Enjoy our traditional international wine and
gourmet food tasting highlighted by a
musical set with Lionel Hampton and his trio
A patron dinner dance will follow our traditional tasting.
Pattons will enjoy a light dinner, special desserts and dancing to
the Big Band sounds o f Lionel Hampton’s 27-piece orchestra.
Winetasting Only
4:00-6:00
Admission $ 3 0 .0 0
Winetasting and Patron Dinner and Dance
4:00-10:30
Admission $ 1 50.00
Order Tickets N o w
Call
I
A benefit for
2 9 5 - 6 4 2 2 or 1 - 8 0 0 -2 2 7 - 2 3 4 5
Coordinated by Karen Hinsdale and
Eurobest Food Industries, Inc.
Seating Very Limited
4
•
-4 A
«1 * ****«'
** -Y
* ■*:
* fá s - m a M
A M E R IC A N
CANCER
SOCIETY*