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August 23. 2006
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
O pinion
Partial Funding
NEWS ITEM •
is Step in Right
Direction
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Increasing Our Political, Economic Power
Unity needed
among people
of color
by
huge difference in the way re-
sources were distributed across
this country - children of color
would have access to a good
education, prisons would not be
overrun with black and Latino
the current Supreme Court have
put this long-debated practice at
risk. Those looking to do away
with affirmative action use fear
tactics and argue that unquali­
fied minorities are getting hired
J udge G reg M athis
In America, basically,
any nonwhite person is
classified as minority. And
not simply because of their
numbers - though that
plays a part - but also
because they often lack
economic and political
power. That can soon
change.
According to the U.S. Cen­
sus Bureau, Hispanic and Asian
populations will triple over the
next 50 years while African
Americans will contribute an
additional 30 million people to
the overall U.S. population. If
these predictions come to pass,
people of color will be the ma­
jority. This can lead to increased
political and economic power, if
we play our cards right.
Across this country various
ethnic groups are falling victim
to political manipulation and
fighting with each other for the
few crumbs that are tossed their
way. If all of these ethnic groups
banned together, we’d see a
Fighting amongst
minorities only
solidifies the elite's
power.
men and urban areas would not
be so impoverished.
Instead, the powers that be
have us all convinced that
Latinos are a threat to our very
existence, that Asians are using
poor people to grow rich... the
list of stereotypes and lies goes
on and on. This type of divide
and conquer maneuvering has
served to repress people across
the globe for generations. It is
time that we break free from it.
Fighting amongst minorities only
solidifies the elite's power.
One key issue a Black, Brown
and Yellow coalition could help
resolve is affirmative action.
The conservative leanings of
or accepted into schools over
more qualified whites.
The reality is that white
women, long considered a mi­
nority because they lacked the
political muscle and earning
power of their male counter­
parts, have benefited from the
practice more than any other
group. The number of white
women attending and complet­
ing college rose substantially
when universities began imple­
menting their legally mandated
affirmative action programs.
N evertheless, affirm ative
action as we know it is in danger
because the majority in power is
determined to keep the status
quo. Unity amongst people of
c o lo r could d ram a tic ally
change the course of America
and buck the status quo.
In Chicago, a unified black
and Latino base elected the
city's first black mayor in the
1980s. More recently, Antonio
Villaraigosa rode a similar
wave of unity when he be­
came Los Angeles' first His­
panic mayor. Without the col­
lective power of the twoethnic
groups, neither men would
have been elected and their
progressive ideas would not
have helped moved those cit­
ies forward.
People of color don’t have
to wait until 2050, the year our
num bers are exp ected to
eclipse those of whites, to come
together. We can begin that
work now.
It’s time we stop looking at
our differences and time to
begin noticing what we have in
common - concern for our
children, ourcommunities and
our futures.
Judge Greg Mathis is na­
tional vice president o f Rain­
bow PUSH and a national
board member o f the South­
ern C hristian L eadership
Conference.
NEW SEA SO N S
M A R K E T
TO
S H O P
•
L O C A L L Y
Charles H. Washington
M ich a e l L eig h to n
D is tr ib u tio n M anager : M ark W ash in g to n
C reative D irecto r : P a u l N eu fe ld t
O ff ic e M anager : K a th y L in d e r
R eporter : Sarah Blount
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P O R TL A N D O B S E R V E R A L L R IG H TS R ESERVE D. R E P R O D U C TIO N IN W H O L E
OR IN PA R T W IT H O U T P E R M ISSIO N IS P R O H IB IT E D
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Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc. New York, N Y , and The West Coast Black
Publishers Association
O W N E D
&
O P E R A T E D
N E 3 3 r d & K illin g s w o r t h P o r tla n d O R 9 7 2 1 1 5 0 3 2 8 8 3 8 3 8
' ’ a n d fiv e o t h e r P o r t la n d a r e a lo c a t io n s
It is now evident that the decision-makers in the Bush Admin­
istration were sleeping in class when basic lessons of civil
courtesy were taught in elementary school. The story about the
boy who cried "wolf' made an impact on most of us. We learned
to be reserved in our use of alarm.
President Bush and his entourage of fear-mongers are pro­
foundly lacking in that civil skill and courtesy. They'll cry wolf at
the slightest signal that their posturing is being exposed for what
it is: fear mongering.
None of the Bush Administration's response to 9/11 or terror­
ism in general has generated truth about our safety. Instead, this
administration has contributed directly to heightened hostilities
and negative attitudes around the world about our country.
It remains sadly, profoundly true, that the first casualty of war
is truth itself.
Republican political attacks during the recent airlines terror
threat are outrageous. Vice President Cheney's ludicrous out­
bursts are shameful.
I am not proud of our country these days.
John M. Fischer
North Portland
E ditor
A R B O R L O D G E : N I n t e r s t a t e A v e & P o r t l a n d B lv d P o r t l a n d O R 9 7 2 17 5 0 3 . 4 6 7 4 7 7 7
C O N C O R D IA
Fear Mongering
E ditor - in -C h ie f , P ublisher :
We eat them in salads, put them in sauces, and top them
with mozzarella and olive oil. We make soups and salsas.
This weekend we'll be indulging our tomato obsession
by offering over 20 varieties of organic tomatoes for your
tasting pleasure. Sample local heirlooms, cherries, traditional
romas and slicers. Experience juicy, tangy, sweet and savory
tomatoes. And what goes better with garden-fresh tomatoes
than garden-fresh basil? If you thought there was just one
kind of basil, think again. We have five distinctive varieties to
dazzle your taste buds. We'll also be serving up fresh pesto for
you to sample. Take home some of our favorite pesto recipes
including lowfat, spinach, arugula, cilantro and parsley-mint
versions.
V is it u s o n lin e a t w w w n e w s e a s o n s m a r k e t c o m
is
L-
USPS 959-680 _________________________________
S a tu rd a y & S u n d a y • 1 1 a m -5 p m
F U N
color.
For the remainder of my term
as chair, and even after 1 leave
office in January, I will continue
to join this community in the
fight to restore, retain and even
expand SUN school services to
low income or at-risk children
and families. I will work closely
with Chair-elect Ted Wheeler
on the long term task force to
explore and recommend im­
provements to SUN.
This community needs to stay
engaged on this issue, as well.
Together, we must be vigilant
and continue our advocacy on
behalf of one of the nation's
premiere prevention programs
for youth. We are not finished
yet. Our children are counting
on us.
Diane Linn is chair o f the
Multnomah County Board o f
Commissioners.
4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211
O R G A N IC T O M A T O & B A S IL T A S T IN G
&
Community Partnerships.
Nor can we forget that
three commissioners have
signaled their willingness
to cut an additional $2.4
million from SUN next
year - in clu d in g the
program's work to close
the academ ic achieve­
ment gap among youth of
3',’r ^lortlaixb Gfrbscruer Established 1970
4 match made in heaven
E A S Y
D iane L inn
County Com­
missioners voted
unanimously last
week to restore
$384,841 to the
county's nation-
ally-lauded SUN
schools program.
These funds will
keep all county-funded SUN
schools open through Jan. 31.
This was an important step in
the right direction. The original
cuts of $1.7 million have now
been reduced.
I want to thank the thousands
of Multnomah County residents
- including parents, students,
teachers, nonprofits, superinten­
dents and community leaders -
who testified, wrote letters, sent
emails or spoke with commis­
sioners in recent months. To­
gether, we have been clear
about the measurable benefits
SUN provides to our children
and their families.
But our work is far from over.
We cannot forget that $ 1.3 mil­
lion in cuts to SUN will still
occur this year, causing real
harm to our SUN Schools, our
non-profit agency partners and
our Department of School and
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