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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 7, 2017)
Page 6 June 7, 2017 New Prices Effective April 1, 2017 O PINION Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG. $50.00 A small distance/travel charge may be applied CARPET CLEANING 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: 1 small Hallway) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $50.00 Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area (Hallway Extra) Stairs (12-16 stairs - With Other Services) : $30.00 Area/Oriental Rugs: $25.00 Minimum Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) : $40.00 Minimum Heavily Soiled Area: $10.00 each area (Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying) UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Sofa: $69.00 Loveseat: $49.00 Sectional: $109 - $139 Chair or Recliner: $25.00 - $49.00 Throw Pillows (With Other Services) : $5.00 ADDITIONAL SERVICES • 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 Fueled by Racism and White Supremacy The common thread behind transit murders around their murders. Media coverage and public conversations include terms like, “standing up to hate,” “the alt- right,” “ethnic slurs” and “biased language.” This incident was fueled by racism and white supremacy, by d ante J. J aMes period. To call it anything less is Let’s call it what to ignore the fundamental rea- it is: Racism and son for the murders. Unless we White supremacy. As acknowledge this reality and use we grieve the loss of these words, we will not be able to Rick Best and Talies- address the root causes of the prob- in Myrddin Namkai Meche, many of us have noticed a lem. Words matter. The reality is that people of color common thread in the discussion Providing Insurance and Financial Services Home Office, Bloomington, Illinois 61710 Ernest J. Hill, Jr. Agent 4946 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503 286 1103 Fax 503 286 1146 ernie.hill.h5mb@statefarm.com 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service R State Farm R experience racism and harassment every day in Portland. We fear for our children and ourselves because the current political and social cli- mate has emboldened bigots and white supremacists to be more com- fortable, public, and aggressive with their hate. We are frustrated and dis- gusted when folks are surprised that such overt racism and hatred could exist in progressive, Portland, Ore- gon. We need to be willing to admit that racism exists in our community and explore the root causes of bla- tant aggression. White allies must not assume that they’ve “got this,” just because they consider them- selves progressive or liberal. They must be willing to admit that in ad- dition to the rise of deliberate racist aggression, under Portland’s pro- gressive veneer hide layers of insti- tutional racism and a long history of oppression against people of color. The hard truth is that Portland is progressive in a way that benefits white, straight, able-bodied, Chris- tian men. Look at the data before you jump to the defense of Port- landia. So, what are you willing to do to fight racism and help dismantle white supremacy? Educating your- self about Oregon and Portland’s racist history of exclusion and vi- olence against people of color, and understanding how the ghosts of that not-so-distant past still haunt us today, are good first steps. You can also ask yourself a cou- ple of questions, “Why does it take the death of two clearly courageous white men to spark this huge outcry, while many were silent after young and black Larnell Bruce was run down and murdered by white su- premacists last year in Gresham?” Do you notice any reluctance or discomfort on your part to use terms like, “racism,” “white supremacy,” or “genocide?” “Why or why not?” Connecting with, and support- ing, social justice organizations will make you a better ally, and elevat- ing conversations about racism and white supremacy in your existing networks will also help the fight. If it is a true aphorism that, “If we don’t go within, we will go without,” then we must look within ourselves, and at our governmental actions, to determine why we can- not use the language of reality. Peo- ple of color are going without and dying and we do not have the luxury of talking in euphemisms. We cannot solve a problem that we are unable to correctly define. Dante J. James is director of Portland’s Office of Equity and Hu- man Rights.
