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(Observer
MINORITY BUSINESS--------------------------------- September 26, 2001
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Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views
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Larry J. Jackson, Sr.
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Gary Ann Taylor
A sst . P u
hushes
Michael Leighton
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Joy Ramos
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Paul Neufeldt
4 7 4 7 NE M a rtin L u th e r King,
Work for Freedom,
Justice Goes On
Same Flag, Different Look
U ntil m oving to P ortland
som e 20 years ago, I ’ve always
lived on or near m ilitary installa
tions. G row ing up, the flag was
alw ays a focal point and an inte
gral part o f daily life.
As toddlers we held our little
sticks in our tiny fists, waving
‘Old Glory’ on Armed Forces Day
as we swayed to the cadence o f
synchronized marching Infantry
Battalions; As young children
w e’d proudly wave the ‘ Stars and
Stripes’ as high as we could dur
ing the 4th o f July parade so the
Blue Angels flying over, would
see a sea o f flags.
W hen we started school, w e’d
pledge our allegiance to the flag
every morning. It was a privilege
and an honor to be chosen for the
flag team : you had to get to school
early and stay late, but you got to
hoist and lower the flag. You
learned how to do it, so it never
to u ch ed the ground and we
learned not only how to fold the
flag, but what each fold meant.
As teens we knew the day and
place the flag was born: June 14,
1777 in Philadelphia, Pa.
W e knew that the 13 red and
white alternating stripes repre
sented the 13 colonies; the 50
stars, one for each state were sym
bolic o f the heavens and the di
vine goals to which men aspired:
‘Liberty and Justice For A ll.’
We knew the red stripes pro
claimed the courage and valor of
American men and the devotion
o f American women. We knew the
white stripes were symbolic rays
o f light emanating from the sun,
and the color blue represented
heaven’s faith, signifying vigi
lance and perseverance.
1--------------
Now when I look at
the flag, I am reaf
firm ed by the fact
that we are indeed
one nation.
________ k
We grew older, and as young
adults we draped the caskets of
our fallen fellow citizens with the
American Flag during the VietNam
war.
G row ing up, 1 possessed the
histo rical know ledge o f our
nation’s flag; 1 knew the rules o f
etiquette and 1 understood the
indom itable spirit o f determ ina
tion brought to this country by
men like the Buffalo Soldiers,
T u sk e g e e A irm e n , and the
M ount Ford Point M arines. But
not until last w eek did I fully
comprehend love for one’s coun
try. The kind o f love that when
tran slated into actio n sp ells
duty. To dedicate your life to
the protection o f those prin
ciples and privileges that the
flag em bodies: peace and secu
rity, civil and political liberties,
our freedom o f speech, religion,
assem bly, and sanctity o f home.
Now when I look at the flag, 1
am reaffirmed by the fact that we
are indeed one nation.
W hatever our other differ
ences, as Americans we share the
core values o f a love for liberty,
the pursuit o f happiness and a
commitment to a government o f
the people, for the people, and by
the people.
My father loved his country,
through World War II, the Korean
Conflict, and V iet Nam.
Even though the American
Creed did not always apply to him
here at home, he loved America. I
now understand what he knew all
along: Our flag is a living flag; that
every glory that we associate with
the flag o f the United States is the
result o f a duty done.
Now when 1 look at the flag, I
too will be reminded o f my duty: to
value and protect for succeeding
generations the freedom that oth
ers sacrificed and won for us. This
will always be an unfinished task
for Americans.
Jr. Blvd.
Portland, OR 9 7 2 1 1
5 0 3 -2 8 8 -0 0 3 3
Fax 5 0 3 - 2 8 8 0 0 1 5
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P ostmaster :
Reporting Personalizes Attack
Michael and Mark, you can’t
possibly know how much your
Sept 19 article (page one “Son
Escapes W orld Trade Center At
tacks) article has impacted our
community and us.
Many o f M oe’s friends and
schoolmates have called and left
messages o f joy and celebration
for his escape.
I must tell you that the way in
which you conveyed my words
was so vivid that I realized those
hours all over again. People have
told me that even though they
were somewhat tired o f hearing
about the catastrophe, the article
p e rso n a liz e d the e v e n t and
brought home that we never know
how we ’re going to be affected by
news.
Your article had added to my
joy and I’m sure Moe appreciated
not only just being alive but also
having his story told in such a
beautiful way.
Blessings to you and your or
ganization.
Dee Craig-Arnold
Northeast Portland
ers, law enforcement personnel
N A A CP C hairm an Julian
and ordinary c itizens and we her
Bond says the NAACP’s work
ald our public servants for their
for freedom and justice must
steadfastness. We join our fel
continue in order to thwart one
low citizens and people world
o f terrorism ’s main goals - “dis
wide in condemning this hor
ruption o f daily routine.”
rific, savage deed. We pledge
Kweisi M fume, NAACP Presi
our support for national defense.
d e n t and C E O , sa id “ T he
We dedicate ourselves to end
NAACP is strong and resilient
ing terrorism.
in our resolve to help make
“The NAACP was bom to
America a more united nation
fight for freedom and justice in a
during this courageous test o f
nation dedicated to those goals.
tim e. O ur organization was
Those twin towers - freedom and
founded to ensure that all Ameri
’ ju s tic e - still
c a n s have the
stand. B ecause
fre e d o m s and
we believe in free
rights guaranteed
dom,ourworkwill
by the Constitu
go on. Because
tio n . W e are,
we believe injus
unapologetically,
tice, we know the
bound to the civil
guilty will be pur
lib e rtie s
th a t
su
ed and p u n
make this democ
ished.
racy great.”
“ W e v ig o r
In a letter to the
ously
condem n
N AACP fam ily
those
bigots
who
and supporters.
blame
feminists,
Bond said:
Julian Bond, gays and lesbians
“As we moum
and civil libertar
NAACPChalrman
the e n o rm o u s
ians for this hor
losses - personal
ror.
We recoil at
and national - in
how
quickly a few
flic te d on our
yield
to
mindless
prejudice,
at
loved ones and our country by
tacking and killing Muslims and
the vicious attacks in W ashing
persons suspected o f being
ton, New York and Pennsylva
Muslims or Arabs. We praise
nia, we must be careful not to be
President George W. Bush for
defeated by one o f terrorism ’s
his visit to W ashington’s Is
main goals - the interruption o f
lamic Center and his forthright
normal life and disruption o f
stand against hate crimes and
daily routine.
racial and ethnic profiling.
“New Y ork’s valiant Mayor
“We affirm the right o f peace
Rudy Giuliani has asked Broad
ful dissent, protected by the First
way shows to perform again.
Amendment, now, when if is
W all S tre e t o p e n e d . T he
most at risk. We know our Con
wounded Pentagon is up and
stitution can protect Americans ’
running. Baseball is in full swing.
security and America’s freedom.
A merica is back in business
“Our work goes on. America
again.
goes on. We know our work is
“It is not business as usual,
America’s work - as we succeed,
but, with greater determination
America succeeds. America is
than ever.
strongest when her people are
“We all applaud the heroism
strong and free.”
demonstrated daily by fire fight-
1
We vigorously
condemn those
bigots who blame
fem inists, gays
and lesbians and
civil libertarians
fo r this horror.
Send address
changes to
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Portland, OR 9 7 2 0 8
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