4 * % • » Volum n XXIII. Number 32 “Serving the community through cultural diversity.’ ^purtlanù (©bseriier NAACP Statement On Rodney King Beating Dr Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., execu­ tive director of the NAACP said: "These sentences display a wanton disparity, discrimination and inequity, based on race. Once again a double standard of justice in the United State's legal sys­ tem has been exemplified The sen­ tences represent not only a violation of Rodney K ing’s civil and human rights, but also a violation of the civil and human rights of all Americans. See related story on Page A 3. Hatfield Votes No On Budget Package Senator Hatfield issued the follow­ ing statement after the Senates’ vote on the Budget Reconciliation Bill: "The problem I have with this package is that it simply doesn’t really address the deficit and it fails to deal with a massive problem that makes up the biggest part of the budget entitlement spending.” See related storv-M ctro Section B. President Of Homebuilding To Speak Habitat for Humanity, president Millard Fuller, a millionaire business man by age 29 who divested himself of his wealth in exchange for his health, marriage and integrity nearly 20 years ago, created the successful grass roots organization that’s the stuff dreams are made of. Each Habitat project enables people from diverse cultural, economic and religious backgrounds to work to­ gether toward a common goal. See related story on Page B 4. St. Louis Still Battling Perceptions To set the record straight for trav­ elers, the St. Louis Convention & Visi­ tors Commission is answering ques­ tions about flood on its toll free visitor information number. We have great sympathy for people affected by the flood, but visitors shouldn’t compound this problem by staying away for no reason. See related story on Page A 2. Tandy Corporation In announcing their decision to locate thei r Computer C ity SupcrCentcr in the Portland/Vancouvcr trade area at Jantzcn Beach Center, Computer presi­ dent. Alan Bush said. "The reposition­ ing and re-merchandising of Jantzcn Beach Center makes it an excellent location to attract customers from the entire Portland/Vancouvcr trade area.” Computer City features name brands in personal computer products at the low ­ est retail prices in the market. See related story on Page A 6. Two images from Somalia have been seared into our memories in recent months. The first is that of starving Somalians, as they held out their hands and implored for help with their silent, sunken eyes. The second is that of civilians spraw led dead on the streets, killed by United nations gunfire. Between these two images is a third: the arrival of American troops promising to bring food and peace, bristling with so much hope that the mission itself was proclaimed to the world as Operation Restore Hope. What troubles me is that the third image. A merica’s military intervention in Somalia, is what linked the first image to the second. As an A frican-A m erican 1 am particularly troubled-indced anguished-by the spectacle of United Nation troops, as part of a U S. supported operation, shooting and killing unarmed African civilians and of American warplanes bombing in ways that are certain despite the best intentions and precaution, to wound and kill more Africans. Would the U N. hav e ever killed Somalians had America not wrapped itself around the w hole opera­ tion? I think not. The killing of Africans in Somalia is partly America’s fault Thus there must be a lesson for us in this. It is that America must become much more cautious and much more reluctant than it has been in getting military involved ov erseas. In the cold War. obv iously, it was easy to get involved and just as easy to justify it-a n d to justify the casualties and pain. At almost every dot on the globe we potentially were standing up to a deadly Soviet enemy. I was glad and proud that we did so. And I understand that what then was at risk was American security’. With the Cold War over, we must realize as we did for most of our history, that we simply do not know enough about remote reaches of the world to send American troops or support the involvement of other forces (like the U N.). If we do. the result almost surely will be more of our own dead and of dead among those w hom we wanted to help And help is what we wanted to bring young lives-a unique opportunity to see the land of their ancestors while serving their home, the U S A. 1 had been irritated, as had others, that our government seemed obsessed with the tragedy in white Bosnia while blind to that in black Somalia. Our mission to Somalia was no, conceived in evil. Nor was it executed with anything but the kind of profes­ sionalism that makes Americans proud of our military. The problem was that our mission was conceived in ignorance, unavoidable igno­ rance Our government did not-and could not- -know enough about Somalia to intervene effectively. I do not pretend to know enough Bu, it is clear to me that we are bound to make tragic mistakes when we land our troops far from our shores, pick sides, favor one violent warlord over another, attempt to mediate in­ ternal politics whose dynamic stretches back centuries, and pretend to know enough to separate the good guys from the bad. In retrospect the U.S. military mission to Somalia was a serious mistake. It was, firs, of all, a mistake because African civilians Child at communal kitchen supplied by AFSC - Mogadishu Somalia. As an African-American, in fact. I African-American men and women doing cheered the dispatch of our troops to secure something so honorable and constructiv e w ith the port and the capital and country side so that their lives, as opposed to falling prey to the food could be distributed to the stan in g Soma­ many vices of our inner cities. For most, this lians. 1 was particularly proud to see y oung will be the most fulfilling experience of their every day to live with some dignity under what may be the world’s harshest conditions, without the U.S. and U N. adding to the violence and killing. And it was a mistake because we took lives and risked lives when no American interest was at stake. Let’s not make these kinds of mistakes again. If we want to help Africans and others ov erseas, we must do so without killing them in the process. The world looks to America for moral leadership Consequently, we have a moral obligation to promote the values that have made us the moral beacon of the w orld; but our first obligation is to advance these values directly for the sake o f our own citizenry. American lives should be committed stingily. Considering that the Soviet Union has col­ lapsed. our foreign military entanglements must be directly’ connected to the National Security of our country. In Somalia, this was not the case. Towing For No Insurance Grace Period Ends Insured motorists cited and towed for driv ing without carry ing proof of insurance will no longer have their towing costs reim­ bursed by the City of Portland, as the grace period for the towing for no insurance ordi­ nance ends on Saturday, August 7. Starting Sunday , August 8, motorists cited for driving w ithout proof of insurance will be towed at the motorists’ expense City Council adopted an ordi nance allow ­ ing police to tow the vehicles of motorists who are cited for driv ing with no proof of liability who have insurance but were not carry ing it at insurance in November 1992. the time they were stopped by police. Towing Police began enforcing the ordinance on and storage costs were reimbursed by the city, February 8, 1993. For the first six months, the but will no longer be reimbursed after August city reimbursed towing and storage cost when Seventh. an insured vehicle was towed. This courtesy "This means that insured motorists need was limited to one time per vehicle and one to be more careful to remember to carry proof time per household or business of insurance with them when they drive, as the Police Bureau statistics show that about state law requires,” said Chief Charles Moose 700 vehicles are towed for no insurance each Year To Date By Precinct month. About 100 ofthose belong to motorists • 867 or 20.82% o f the vehicles were towed Spacer A trtufaib fn SarScp CfuMood Centers Openings for fall are still available • Humboldt ECEC - Grades PK-5 4915 N Gantenbein St., 97217 in many of Portland Public Schools' seven 281-8797 early childhood education centers (ECECs) serving 4-and 5-year-olds whose families • Irvington ECEC - Grades PK-5 1320 NE Braz.ee St , 97212 live within school district boundaries. 280-6456 Half-day prekindergarten and full-day kindergarten programs operate five days a • King EEC - Grades PK-5 4906 NE 6th Ave , 97211 week at the centers, which draw Grant and 280-6456 Jefferson high-school-area children and transfer students from other Portland School • Sabin ECEC - Grades PK-5 4013 NE 18th Ave., 97212 District neighborhoods. Transportation is 280-6482 prov ided from most neighborhoods Lower staff-student ratios and a variety • Vernon ECEC - Grades PK-5 2044 NE Killingsworth of enrichment programs including comput­ 280-6415 ers, math, science and cultural studies are • Woodlawn ECEC - Grades PK-5 available at the centers. 7200 NE 11th Ave.. 97211 ECEC offers reopen Aug 23 for regis­ 280-6282 tration Parents should bring proof of birth, For further information, please contact address and immunization records w hen reg­ Marjorie Kerr, communication specialist, istering their children. P ortland School D istrict E C E C s are: Portland Public Schools. 249-2000, Est. 4563 or Jefferson Cluster Director of Instruction • Boise-Eliot ECEC - Grades PK-5 Office 620 N Fremont St., 97227, 280-6171 IVA * ’ by Traffic Division Officers. 660 or 15.85% o f the vehicles were towed by Central Precinct Officers. I,323or31.77%ofthe vehicles were towed by East Precinct Officers. 1, I52 or 27,67%ofthe vehicles were towed by North Precinct Officers. 161 or 3.86% o f the vehicles were classi­ fied as being towed from other or un- Continued on page A2 Oregon Convention and Visitor Seruices Network Inc.* C le g g Reward Fund A press conference w ill be held on Saturday, August 14 at 1pm at Irv ing Park, NE 7th & Fremont to announce the results of the special reward fund and to turn over the proceeds to the Portland Police Crimestopper Unit. The reward fund which was started by Portland businessmen. Roy Jay, President of Oregon Convention & Visitor Services Network and Celebrity Limousine. Harold Wil­ liams, President of CH2 A & Associates and Bernie Foster has generated a positiv e response from community residents and businesses from throughout Portland Oregon and as far away as California. The message is very clear "You C an’, Get By With Murder In Portland Oregon This is a small attempt to make sure that we keep our city safe for our citizens as well as visitors and conventions that arc coming to Portland Jay said that the community is upset by the senseless murder of a Headstart employee and mother of three and have contributed to the reward fund in hopes of leading to the identity and arrest of the suspects inv olv ed The press conference will include attendance by Portland Police Chief Charles Moose as well as other business owners & community residents The total amount of contributions will be announced a, the press conference. The Entire Citv Communitv Is Hereby Inv ited To Attend This Brief Presentation. General News Sports Food & Nutrition M e t r o L ife The O verlooked G em Bacon, Eggs, Pizza: Breakfast A m erican Style Motorcyclists Will G ather In Nevada Needless Deaths In Our Com m unity Continue Delores Dillard a form er retail clerk is now in a position to help people o f color to receive fellowships at Warner Pacific “It’s better to eat anything, rather than nothing at all." Riders will be competing fo r the prize purse worth a minimum o f $25,000. Law enforcement agencies can not solve this crime by themselves. College. 25i B Section PageB3 Page B 6 EDITORIAL RELIGION FOOD AUTOMOTIVE A2 B5 B6 A3 SPORTS B3 Page A 4 ENTERTAINMENT CLASSIFIEDS B2 B8 t