J uly 26, 1995 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age B2
AFRICA INSIGHT
“ I’m sorry.
I must have
misplaced
your
paperwork...”
Democracy:
Why it doesn’t Work In Africa.
bi
PnOMtsr K ing
Many tongues are wagging about
now inept Africans are in keeping to
i he rules o f democracy . These folks
are quick to point to the hordes of
m 11Story dictators that are ru ling most
African countries. And the senseless
killings that have resulted
In as much o f A frica’s experi
ence witli democracy has failed mis
erably, it does not any way represent
Africans inability to govern them
selves. It means the system is un
workable in Africa. I will tell you
why.
Unlike the western set up, Afri
can societies do not have the corre
sponding social structures that foster
political parties. There are no broad
economic classes and there are no
workers on one side and owners o f
capital on the other side. African
countries have peasant farmers, bu
reaucrats and those who live o ff the
production o f others. On what basis
are you going to build democracy
with these ingredients?
When there are no economic or
political interests to bond people
across ethnic lines and you insist
they form themselves in parties, what
you get are ethnically-based parties.
In effect these are not parties.
These are fronts and gangs. And when
you pit them against each other with
government as the prize the end re
sult is scuffle and clashes And when
this happens some white folks throw
their hands to heaven and say, “ look
at these Africans, they do not under
stand democracy.”
Folks, Africans understand de
mocracy. And we have practiced it
for centuries but in our own way.
African democracy is about individ
uals and no, parties. The individuals
know who can be trusted to represent
his interests. The African allegiance
is to that person and not to the biggest
political party that may not have his
interest a, heart.
And in Africa, without foreign
politics, we make our decisions by
consensus not by confrontation.
Because democracy works in the
western world does not guarantee it
would work in the woods o f Africa.
Give us our chance.
F — -
* # ,
r
1
1
"Your credit report isn't back.”
“Your income hasn't been verified
yet." Don’t be fooled by excuses.
What appears to be a delay could be
discrimination. You can tight back.
If you suspect unfair housing practices,
contact HUD or your local Fair Housing
Center. Everyone deserves a fair chance
là
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
FAIR HOUSING IS THE LAW!
U S Department ot Housing and Urban Development
1 800 669 9777 • TDD 1 -800-927-9275
F ro m a worldly point o f view,
there is no mistake so g^eal as
Promise King is an associate
editor o f the Portland Observer. He
was born in Nigeria, (Vest Africa.
that o f always being right.
— Samuel B u tle r
DR. ROTHMAN TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY
CARE AT SPORTS EVENTS
E d w ard R o th m an , D .C .,
F. A.C.O., a chiropractic physician in
Portland and member o f the Oregon
Chiropractic Sports Council, has
volunteered to provide medical emer
gency care at several sports events in
the next few months.
He will give emergency medical
care at the following events: On July
29, Rose City Relay, Lewis and Clark
College; August 5, he will serve as
medical director for the Internation
al Martial Arts Tournament, Madi
son High School; August 12, Re
gional Open Karate Tournament,
Linn-Benton Community College,
Albany; August 26, Seaside, Hood to
Coast Run; on October 1, the Port
land Marathon.
Dr. Rothman is a leading expert
in chiropractic sports medicine. He
has a long and impressive list c<
awards and accomplishments, has
a u th o re d
and
c o -a u th o re d
chiropractic research articles and has
written several columns in a variety
o f publications dealing with general
healthcare issues, martial arts and
fitness.
He
has
c o o r d in a te d
Mister Rogers Sags “ Everybody’s Special’’
c h iro p ractic and em ergency m ed
ical c are fo r several m artial arts
event on the east and w est co asts
and has serv ed on the m edical
team for the Hood to C o ast Run
and the P o rtland M arathon. P rior
to e sta b lish in g his c h iro p ra c tic
practice in P o rtlan d in 1992, his
p ra c tic e was in F a irfie ld , C o n
n ecticut. He tau g h t fu ll-tim e at
W estern S tates C h iro p ra c tic C o l
lege from 1989-1992, and is fre
quently asked to lectu re there.
He has been featured in elec
tronic and print media.
Left: Neighbor Maggie Stewart shows Mister Rogers bread pudding and uses the leftover raisins and
nuts to make sandwiches - each one different - on program #1686 during the new week of Mister
Rogers' Neighborhood programs about Everybody's Special, premiering on PBS August 28 -
September 1. Right: Blind jazz musician Eric Kloss offers Mister Rogers a musical way to talk about
uniqueness by playing an array of flutes - each with a different sound -- on program #1690 of
Everybody’s Special, airing on PBS August 28-September 1. During this new week of Mister Rogers'
Neighborhood programs, Fred Rogers helps children understand that everybody is special in this life
and that everybody they meet has something special to give and receive.
Photos by Richard Kelly
“ W e’re special because o f who
we are inside...” T hat’s the message
o f affirmation Fred Rogers shares
with children in the upcoming Mis
ter Rogers’ Neighborhood programs
scheduled to air August 28 - Sep
tember 1 on PBS. The series, enti
tled “Everybody’s Special,” encour
ages children to discover and affirm
their own uniqueness.
Mister Rogers tells his young
audience that, “ If you look for it,
you can find something extra spe
cial about yourself, and about your
neighbor.” Through songs (“There’s
Only One Like you,” “It’s You I
Like”) and visits with neighbors —
old and new — Mister Rogers ex
plores the meaning o f “unique.”
Identical twins Kelly and Megan
tell about their differences; we get a
Service
heating oils
THE URBAN
LEAGUE
“Men grow to the
extent that they are
the beneficiaries
of diverse ideas.”
Whitney M. Young, Jr.
THE WHITNEY M. YOUNG, JR.
SERVICE AWARD & CENTURY
CLUB LUNCHEON
PRESENTED BY WEST ONE BANK TO BENEFIT THE
OUTREACH PROGRAM OF THE CASCADE PACIFIC
COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
The Boy Scouts and the Urban League of Portland are joining forces to host a
special luncheon on July 31 at the Oregon Convention Center. The Whitney M.
Young, Jr. Service Award will be presented to individuals and organizations that
have played a leading role in extending Scouting opportunities to low-income,
inner-city and rural youth.
Proceeds benefit the Century Club, which exists to encourage and financially
support minority and low-income youth participation in Scouting.
Our keynote speaker for the event is Dr. Robert Ingram, President of the National
Conference of Black Mayors, Inc. Master of ceremonies is KOIN-TV's Mike
Donahue. For ticket information, call the Boy Scout office at 226-3423.
Dr. Robert Ingram
Mike Donahue
Sponsored by:
MEIER & FRANK
«
7
o
KOIN
him.
How could this happen in the
Neighborhood? Can anything be
done to help them?
Throughout the week, King Fri
day looks for a neighbor who can
help his son see himself in a better
light. It seems that prince Tuesday
thinks others like him only because
o f what he appears to be on the
outside -- a prince wearing royal
robes. Meanwhile, the Neighborhood
plans and prepares a grand surprise
birthday party for the unsuspecting
Cornflake S. Pecially. But because
everyone has been Extra careful not
to mention his approaching birthday,
Corney assumes that nobody cares
about him. Through the week, we
learn what friends can do for friends
at’ times like these.
Dad’s
Speedy Service
Friendly
Call For Quote
BOY SCOUTS OF
AMERICA
glimpse o f the many ways children
and grown-ups use mirrors to reflect
their images; Mr McFeely delivers a
video showing how people craft gui
tars individually to make each one
distinct. According to Rogers, "When
a child begins to see him or herself as
unique, as special, it opens the door
to the possibility o f seeing others in
the same light. This is the foundation
children need for learning to become
caring and competent adults.”
But sometimes people feel bad
about themselves and feeling special
isn’t that easy. In fact, there are a
couple o f “neighbors” in the Neigh
borhood ofMake-Believe who Aren’t
feeling’ Special at aii. We discover
why Prince Tuesday doesn’t like him
self and why Cornflake S. Pecially is
convinced that no one cares about
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