Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, August 25, 2010, Page 16, Image 16

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    Page 16
Il!' jpkirthtnh (Obsvruer
August 25. 2010
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the
Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and
story' ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com.
New Prices
Effective
May 1,2010
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CH G
$45.00
A sm all distance/travel charge
m ay be applied
C A R P E T CLE AN IN G
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(fy ) o ç ^ r
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
O ther Services)-. $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool)'.
$40.00 Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
U PH O LSTE R Y
C L E A N IN G
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services)'. $5.00
A D D ITIO N A L
S E R V IC E S
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
In Memory of James Jordan:
A black father
and son who
enjoyed their
bond
by H akim
H azim
S e v e n te e n y e a r s
ag o th e n a tio n w as
appalled and shocked
w hen it learned o f the
death o f icon M ichael
Jo rd a n ’s father, Jam es
Jordan. His rem ains w ere positively
identified on A ug. 13,1993.
O ne c a n ’t help but rem em b er the
bond that M ichael had w ith his fa­
ther and the sheer jo y in his eyes
w hen he saw the affirm ation in his
fath er’s proud, steady gaze.
M ichael and Jam es w ere a rarity
in the sports w orld, a black father
and son enjoying their bond and
seen everyw here together. M any
black a th le tes ro u tin e ly g iv e
shout outs to their m others and
rarely e v er speak o f their fathers,
but this w as not the case w ith MJ
and his dad; they w ere insepa­
rable. J a m e s’ love for M ichael
w as a refreshing testim ony o f
w hat a fath er could instill in a son
and how dream s could soar w hen
they w ere fed.
THE LAW OFFICES OF
Patrick John Sweeney, P.C.
Patrick John Sweeney
Attorney at Law
1549 SE Ladd
Portland, Oregon
Portland:
Hillsoboro:
Facsimile:
Email:
(503)491-5156
(503) 615-0425
(503) 244-2084
Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com
Separation did take place w hen a
callous act o f violence claim ed his
life. T w o m inority m ales w ere con­
victed o f the crim e; D aniel G reen
w ho is black and Larry D em ery,
A m erican Indian, w ere friends w ith
a history o f violence and serious
crim inal offenses. C rim inality set in
at an early age w ith these tw o young
m en and they w ere sim ply living the
life that seem ed, to them , an appro­
priate option.
I have often w ondered about,
not w hat is p resen t in the hearts o f
people w ho do such things, but
rather, w hat is absent? In their view ,
Jam e s Jo rd a n w as ju s t a n o th e r
sucker along the road, easily d is­
posable and o f no m ore value than
his belongings. Predatory instincts
kicked in at this point and Jam es w as
easy prey that had slipped o f f to
sleep.
A nd so Jam es Jo rd a n ’s life w as
snuffed out as a single gunshot
w ound entered through the right
side o f his chest from a .38-caliber
w eapon. Like so m any other victim s
o f m inority on m inority crime, his life
w as cut short. B ut in his case, his
legacy lives on in M ichael.
M ich a e l Jo rd a n is an a m az in g
m an an d his fa th e r had a lo t to do
w ith th at. M J a lw a y s c re d ite d his
fa th e r’s w o rk eth ic as b e in g in ­
stru m e n ta l in h is life. T h e se le s­
so n s live on an d th e y re m a in e m ­
b ed d ed in th e life o f M ich a e l now ,
e v id e n c e d b y th re e m o re title s ,
e n tre p re n e u rs h ip , c h a rity , an
o w n e rsh ip p o s itio n w ith th e C h a r­
lo tte B o b c a ts, an d h is e v e r in ­
c re a sin g g lo b a l ico n statu s. N o n e
o f this w o u ld h av e lik ely h ap p en ed
w ith o u t J a m e s ’ in flu en c e.
T here is a m essag e in all o f this.
The m essage is o f fatherhood and
m entorship and w hat people are with
it, and w hat they m ay becom e w ith ­
out it.
W e often h e ar o f p eople o v er­
com ing great odds in spite o f not
having fathers, but the reality is this
— m ost o f those p eople find a father
figure or a m en to r along the w ay in
the form o f a coach, teacher, pastor,
neighbor, e m p lo y er o r o th e r types
o f figures. T he flipside o f the coin is
this, they also w ill find perverse
m entors w ho are ever-present, and
guiding them in d ecisio n m aking
processes th at ruin th eir lives and
take aw ay from w h at could b e p h e ­
nom enal legacies filled w ith all the
prom ise and potential o f future lead­
ers.
W e need m en to rs in o rd er to
change things; jo in o ur M C 2U C hal­
lenge.
Hakim Hazim is the founder o f
Relevant Now. For more informa­
tion, visit relevantnow.net.