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Page A4
'Jllortlatth (Obseruer
January 16, 2008
O pinion
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
A Dream Deferred
Reflections on
Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
by
B ishop H. L. H oih . e
Gender or Race First?
shall overcome.”
The Dream seems to be an illu
sion. The name Negro has changed
in use but not in connotations.
African American, black or person
of color, it still reflects the debdi-
tating im pact o f "the
chains” of discrimination.
One has only to take a
cursory glance to see the
black race is still entrapped
and crippled due to the
chains of discrimination
held cap tiv e on a
prelensive island that lim
its the potential and promotes the
shameful condition that make the
dream seem to be a rhetorical chant
that says, "We shall overcome,
some day.” In the words of “the
Rock," it's “time to smell what I ’ m
cooking.”
The Dream is but a shadow; we
are still reading the note that prom
ises "all men, black and white will
be guaranteed their unalienable
rights of life, liberty, and the pur
suit of happiness.”
It is o b v io u s today that
America's so-called leaders have
once again defaulted. One has only
to take a look at our current elec
tions and listen to the theme songs
of the campaign, calling forchange
and overcoming.
Our mind must turn back and
wonder, will we overcome ‘some
day’ or has the dream escaped
once more? Shall we overcome or
have we been overcome (duped)?
— Just one man’s reflection on the
"Dream” of a King.
Choosing between
Clinton and Obama
bs .)i ih ; e G reg
O nce th ere w as a
dreamer who proclaimed.
“ I have a Dream" and the
masses shouted out in
unison, "We Shall Over
come."
One needs only a cur
sory glance to discover
we live in the shadow ofadream er
denied and a dream deterred.
It is true that Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. lived in a time fueled with so
much obvious despair, hate and
hurt that it was easy to perceive
change and/or give promises of
change as an answer to the despair
ing cry of those who were so long
buried over the mask of nullifica
tion.
What happen to the dream?
Where did the expectation "one
day” disappear to? How can we "be
free” when credit and upward mo
bility are nothing more than buzz
words and catch phrases designed
to pacify and deceive. For those
who would dare search for truth
regarding the real reasons for wars
and why the cost-of-living soars,
there is red-lining, boundaries and
other limits.
Freedom is the expression of a
double standard designed to look
as if there are choices to be made,
when in reality w e're like ducks
Bishop H. I.. Hodge, Ph.D. is
following the imprints provided for
us and never breaking through the the pastor o f Northwest Voice for
ceiling, socleverly set by the larger Christ Community Church, serv
community naively believing "we ing Portland and Tigard.
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M athis
Many people vote for what
they believe to be best candi
date. "Best” is defined in dif
ferent ways - some base their
decisions on experience and
qualifications, some look at
the policies the candidate
supports and some even con
sider the candidate’s ‘it’ factor or charisma.
In an ideal world, voters should support the
candidate whose political ideology would help
create abetter life for theirfamilies. In American
society, however, race, gender and religion
also play a role in electoral politics. One would
be naïve to think that it doesn’t.
My question: If all candidates were created
equal, with the only difference being race and
gender, which would you choose?
Historically, both African Americans and
women have been denied access to equal op
portunities. For many years, women were de
nied an education, the right to vote and were
relegated to a life as a homemaker.
( )nce al lowed to pursue careers, women were
denied equal pay for equal work and many had
to endure the unwanted sexual advances of
men in their workplace.
Additionally, for many years, women were
Presidential
election adds
to equation
bv M arc H. M oriai .
With the I l()th Congress con
vening soon, the race for president
is likely to heavily influence activi
ties on Capitol Hill in 2008.
From the president’s annual State
of the Union Address and submis
sion of the fiscal 2009 federal bud
get to formulation of a congres
sional budget resolution and allo
cation of funds to federal
agencies, it all will take
place in anticipation of an
electoral and largely parti
san storm front.
This year's session is "do
or die" time for major bills
introduced last year. Big-
picture policy issues and
unfinished business from
last year will likely dominate the
political landscape, leaving little
room for innovative or break
through dom estic and foreign
policy.
Storm clouds hovering over this
year's session include, first and
foremost, wars in Iraq and Afghani
stan. The costs associated with
them and what course to take will be
major issues in the presidential race
and key influences on funding de
cisions. A new Joint Economic
Committee report puts the total cost
at $3.5 trillion if the nation stays the
course.
The home foreclosure crisis also
threatens to keep the economy
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both groups continue to fight for justice.
In the political arena, candidates draw from
their experiences as members of these groups
to form the basis of their political ideologies.
These value systems are what attract voters.
Many voters support candidates they iden
tify with, candidates who understand their
personal struggles and who have a plan for
easing their burdens.
Knowing this, I’d like to pose a question to
If all candidates were created
equal, with the only difference
being race and gender, which
would you choose?
growth of African Americans, creating an edu
cation and wealth gap between blacks and
whites that is still a reality in today’s society.
Though the Civil Rights Act was passed in
1964, African Americans were still denied ac
cess to opportunities in the workplace and in
the educational system. Furthermore, current
practices within the criminal-justice and school
systems perpetuate a cycle of inequality.
Both groups - women and African Ameri
cans - have overcome seemingly insurmount
able obstacles to get where they are today. And
black women: If you believe Hilary Clinton and
Barack O bam a’s beliefs and policies equally
benefit your interests, who do you vote for?
The white female or the black male? If each
•candidate supports a platform for change,
change that you believe is necessary, who do
you support?
You be the judge.
Judge Greg Mathis is national vice presi
dent o f Rainbow PUSH and a national board
member o f the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference.
Politics Frames Debate in Congress
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denied reproductive rights and, despite the
support of millions of American women, the
Equal Rights Amendment, which would guar
antee equal rights under the law, regardless of
gender, was not passed.
African Americans have endured genera
tions of slavery and oppression and the psy
chological traumas associated with both. After
emancipation, American apartheid limited the
educational, social, political and economic
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under a cloud. The impact of the indexing the minimum wage to
crisis has spurred introduction of the inflation rate will be intro
and action on many legislative ini duced so that poor and working
tiatives, including ones involving fam ilies no longer have to de
anti-predatory lending strategies. pend on the whims o f Congress.
Despite the fact that 47 million
Legislation to address an acute
lack of affordable housing for the Americans lack health insurance.
poor also faces an uncertain fate Congress is unlikely to act on uni
this year. The House-passed Na versal healthcare proposals but the
tional Affordable Housing Trust presidential race is likely to raise
Fund Act of 2007 would assist in the issue's visibility, setting the
the construction, rehabilitation and stage for debate in 2009.
On the education front, after a
preservation of 1.5 million afford
able housing units over the next number of congressional commit
tee hearings, efforts to reauthorize
decade.
A big question mark is whether the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act
presidential politics will spur n.a- are likely tocome face-to-face with
among others.
The »W orkforce Investm ent
Act, which is the nation's front
line em ploym ent and training
vehicle for youth and dislocated
w orkers, desperately needs more
congressional cham pions. W ith
out a reauthorization, funding for
employment and training services
becom es increasingly vulnerable
to the budget ax.
For thousands of low-income
Gulf Coast residents who are still -
after more than two years - trying to
find their way home after hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, the sun won't shine
until Congress completes work on
Storm clouds hovering over this
year’s session include, first and
foremost, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
tional discussion of how to put 36
million Americans living in poverty
on the road to financial indepen
dence. Nearly one-fourth of blacks
and over one-third of black chil
dren live in poverty.
And employment does not guar
antee escape. In 2(M)6.7.5 percent of
working families were living below
the poverty threshold. Those with
a minority parent were three to four
times as likely to be poor as those
with a white parent.
It is the N ational U rban
League's hope that legislation
presidential politicsthisyear. While hurricane housing recovery legis
the law expired last September, it lation.
And finally, supporters o f the
provided for an automatic one-year
D.C.
House Voting Rights Act in
extension.
2008
are going to try to break a
Progress was made toward reau
Senate
roadblock and get the bill
thorizing the Higher Education Act,
the law that provides for expanded on the cham ber's do o r for a final
access of low- and middle-income vote. In 2007, the Senate failed to
overcome a filibuster—on the first
students to higher education.
Key issues include: controlling of a voting-rights bill since the
college costs, simplifying the stu end o f segregation— by a mere
dent-aid process, improving teacher three votes.
Marc H. Moriai is president and
training, increasing the Pell grant
and expanding college preparation chief executive officer o f the Na
programs for low-income students. tional Urban League.
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