Forum 1 ? ? Apologizing: Popular With Nations If Bill Clinton really wants history to pro claim him one of the great presidents of this nation, he can realize that ambition by contin uing the great movement toward freedom, jus tice and equality "moved" by Abraham Lin coln and Cape Verde Islands. The Pope apologized, expressing deepjftnyet that slaver> e\isW?Land was tolerated. His message, he said, uas "'no' to discrimination of every kind, 'no* to more slavery of man by man, no more fomis of vio seconded" by Lyndon John-' son. Lincoln in 1863 issued the Emancipation Proclamation that freed the hundreds of MINORITY REPORT By JAMES E. ALSBROOK. Ph.D. thousands ofslaves in the rebelling Jtates. This was the first national legal action jp a move ment to abolish slavery throughouq^ie United States. This was the first "strike" toward counting slavery "out." About 100 years later in the nineteen^ -six ties, Johnson threw the second strike in "counting out" slavery and its abhorrent rem nants. Johnson supervised and engineered the passage of civil rights laws guaranteeing black people equality in public accommodations, voting, educational opportunity, employment opportunity, property purchasing and in other crucial areas. These laws constituted the second step upward for black people and were the second strike in "counting out" the ogre of race dis crimination that plagues black people today. The third strike can be thrown by Clinton, the upcoming "pitcher" in the White House. Clinton, like Johnson and the liberal Jimmy Carter, is a southern white man whose ances tors propagated or at least tolerated slavery and witnessed its insidious,contagious, inter generational damages over many years. Clinton is an intelligent, sensitive south erner socialized by his local culture and his toric tradition that deliberately enforced black subordination and humiliation. Because of this cultural and political heritage, he possesses special insights and a special legacy that give him the moral and ethical authority to seek forgiveness from Black people for the 373 year-old sin of slavery and racial discrimina tion along with their unavoidable afterbirth of social problems and behavioral monstrosities. BilUCIinton, leader of the United States, could take his cue from Pope John Paul, leader of hundreds of millions of Catholics on all continents, who two years ago visited the slave-holding pens of West Africa and the lence that undermine people's Cignity. no more denial of the rights of God over man." Leaders of various big nation* and others have apologized for various crimes recently, including murder, rape, war mongering and other offenses. Some examples: ** President F.W. de Klerk of South Africa apologized to the African National Congress for the injustices of apartheid and white-minority rule, saying democracy will come faster. ** Prime Minister Toshiki Kaitu apolo gized to Southeast Asian countr.es for Japan's pillaging and murdering during A W. II. ** Darryl Gates, formef head -of Los Angeles police, apologized n a television interview for the beating of Rxlney King last April. ** Mickail Gorbachev, before being deposed, apologized to Japan for deaths of many prisoners of war who died m Siberian Labor camps during W.W'll ** Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa apologized for Japan's forcing tens of thousands of Korean wiwien to have sex with Japanese soldiers during W W II ** The American and Canadian govern ments apologized for the interment of thou sands of Japanese during W W II Benefits averaged about $20, 000 per person. Many nations have apologized for various crimes recently. A national apology' to black Americans is long overdue. Clinton should apologize. As an opinion leader, Clinton imparts credibility when expressing his i tip us and values. As a role model, Clinton attracts followers and imi tators in word and deed. As an authority fig ure, Clinton utters words that are respected. His apology would help purge and cleanse the soul of this racist nation. The Fire OfTRacism In Tampa Tragically and sadly, on the first day of 1993 our nation witnessed, another brutal reminder of how dangerous the virus of racism continues to infect the total life of our society. In Tampa, Florida, the New Year's Day tions of Wilson's civil rights. During the past 12 years, under the Reagan/Bush era. federal authorities were not aggresvive in intervening in the growing number of these tCj%2 of cases. The Florida Department of I in force racially motivated attack and burning of Mr. Christopher Wilson, a 31 -year old African Amer ican, by a group of white supremacists exposes the chill ing reality and madness of Ameri can racism.. CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL By BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS, JR. On a^lay that millions of people throughout the nation watched various football games on television where young African American athletes along with others exhibited racial inclusiveness within the spirit of national sports tompeti- - tion, and innocent African American is kid napped from a shopping center in Tampa, beaten mercilessly, and then set a fire and left to die an agonizing death. Thanks be to God that Wilson did not die but managed to crawl on the ground until he found help. A note that was actually left at the scene of the barbarity read, "One less nigger" and was signed "KKK." Amidst all of the national celebrations of the life and ministry of Rev erend Dr. Martin Luther King., the attack and burning of Christopher Wilson demands a renewed commitment to the civil rights strug gle that Dr. King's entire life epitomized. It is historically important to note that while the 1993 King celebrations arc being held, the nation is also viewing the inaugura tion of William Jefferson Clinton as President of the United Statp^ of America. The New Clinton/Gore Administration is going to have a major responsibility as a first order to chal lenge the increasing incidents of racist vio lence sweeping across the nation. Already there appears to be another "blacklash" emerg ing to the stated commitments of Clinton/Gore to having a more racially inclusive Adminis tration in Washington, D C. ? While three of Wilson's assailants have been arrested and charged with kidnapping, attempted murder and robbery, it still remains to be seen what quality of justice will ulti mately be rendered in the courts of Florida in this case. The U.S. Department of Justice should also become involved in this matter because it is clear case of the criminal viola ment has released statistics that confirm that Tampa Bay area has one of the state's largest percentages of racial and hate related crimes. While the Tampa Bay area is only approxi mately 139?- of Florida's population, over 2 5Vr of the state's hate and racial crimes have occurred in Tampa. The tire of racism in Tampa, however, has been kindled hy a nation that refuses to demand racial justice for all people. The drowning of Haitian refugees off the coast of Florida because of a racist immi gration polity is directly related to the racist burning of Christopher Wilson. Toleration <>f one form of racism only leads to the perpetua tion of other manifestations of racism. We remember that it was also in Tampa, several years ago. where an African American baseball star was brutal l\ beaten by six white police officers after being stopped for alleged traffic violation. Dvvight (iooden of the NjV York Mets was a victim of a racially m?p vated attack by Tampa police officers. J The future stability ot deiuoe r;u v United States hinges in part on ho^pnec* tively racism is eradicated. especia?t in its institutionalized formation Somehow the message has got to be sent to the rigid forces of racism that this society will no longer toler ate ideology and behavior. Christopher Wilson was set afire by those who believe that such ai ts are now once again socially tolerable. Silence in the face ot this hideous crime is itself a mandate for reoccurrence. As Christopher Wilson attempts to recover his life from the beating and tire in Tampa, may we all recommit ourselves to reawakening a nation;ilmo\ < hk hi "I .til peo pies unified in the demand tor freedom and justice for every bxxly 1 GCHN6 TO ANGRY' HBAYENS NO, XAR' WHY WOUU> I BE AN 6ft V f ? 'ME YOU STOPPED WORK ' ng FohjHz com mi ttee 1 WHAT POST HA VE ThEYOPFEREV you ? 1/JBLL. IT HASNT96EN ANNOUNCED YET, SO YOU CANT TElL ANYONE, BUT I'M 6C/N6 TO BE PERU 7V ASStSTASfT TO THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL! j GRACIOUS, PEAR! YOU'LL BEAdBCLUTB LYDKiPPtN6 ujrm power! / A UM:. I GUESS SO. BUT I'l>L STILL BE PRJV INGMYCW BATTERED VOLVO. \ SO WHO'S U GOPMOTHER ' OVER AT JUSTICE, PEAR* / SELF, I THINK. ZOE BAiRPANP I MERE IN THE SAME LAW SCHOOL CLASS . NO' HOW PELIGHT FUL! THE OLDG/RL NETWORK' IAJE/RP, I'VE HARDLY SEEN-ANYOFMY CLASSMATES SINCE GZAPUAT/N6... THING I REMEMBER MOST ABOUT LMj SCHOOL WAS BE! NO WORRIED. MY UJHOLE LAST YEAR, I UJAS CONSTANTLY WORRJEP ABOUT.., UJELL.. NQ> A H&GHT PROBLEM. THAT'S OPP, WHY WASN'T I WORRIED ABOUT THE BAR? 50, JOANIE, YOU STILL H EAR FROM 6/NNY* / OH, ALL the z i mb' SHE STILL 5EE1NG THAT \JBRK? WHAT WAS HfS NAME, OEM7 Ciype. its, SHE'S 57 ILL SBEJN6HIM. SHE HAS 70. SHE MARRJEP HIM, HOW ST7LL0N THE AB0U7 HILL. S7 ILL NOT LUOOPRDW7 6ETTIN6 (T. HE'S WHAT'S LEAPJN6 THE SAVE HE BEEN BOBRACKWOOP UP 70 7 'MOVEMENT. Has, Heai perfect/ you KNOW, OPPLY EN0U6H, SO. READY TDTAKE POKUNSQME BAP GUYS? yes, ma'am. MNP IF I 7R/7DFVT MIKE MILKEN BACK IN JAIL? AND THEN, AFTER CARTER LOST, I LEFT PUBL 'C SERVICE ANP WENT INTO PRIVATE LAW... ... ANP ENPEP UP HEAP I N6 THE LE6AL PERART MENT AT AETNA INSURANCE ANP NO UJ THIS1 QUITE A JOURNEY, c toted $22.72 Winston-Salem Chronicle