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.