CflMirtÇOM • " - "■ —- «■ —V^=T! V A Feeling Of Familyhood ..Certain events which take place ——throughout t^js time of year cut through the particular religions, ec— onomic, political and other beliefs we may hold individually, carrying "with them messages mtmningful to all Black people. ..Looking beyond the surface of these messages can offer us sub stance and direction totally relevant to the times and conditions in which we live. ..The family is very important this time of year, as all those fortunate enough to be together generally are granted the warmth so longed for by those drawn apart, often by circum stances beyond their control—sick ness, imprisonment, poverty, work, misunderstanding, etc. An luipui taut family to he reme mbered during this time should be our larger, extended family-The Black Community—a family too of ten torn by internal strife pittipg ~ bruthei—anainiit brothsc, husband against wife, gang against gang, one against another. , ..This family too has been drawn apart by external forces, Taut not by forces which cannot be changed through our own continued efforts. . .The greatest crime committed a gainst this family, it was once said, was teaching it to hate itself. And with that in mind, the most universal Black gift this time of year-in a tradition of the family-might be the rekindling of respect, pride, concern our undying love-for one another as a people. ..Such a gift, manifest in concrete deeds, and terms throughout the year, could go a long way in warming that many more Black family cir cles-large and small—in years to come. . Christmas Greetings .. It is once more that time of year - CHRISTMAS · the time when chimes are heard, carols sung, joy, wonder, and even that little lady standing outside of stores (no matter how cold) begging for alms for the poor. Often we give but all too often, we are in too big a hurry getting to where there are many things about this particular time of year that none of u$~understands nor are we suppose to understand. .. Do we understand the magnetism nf Invp or why on occasions we humbly say "Heavenly h ather. Heip— us," and we receive help, no matter how unworthy we may feel? Do we understahd the mystery of birth or the magic of sleep - the effect of death or the rebirth of spring, with all of nature's flowers bursting forth in glorious colors? The answers to all of the above questions are an emphatic "NO." Man has been searching for such answers for cent uries, but God tells the answers to all of these questions to those who know and trust Him. .. The 25th of December has been set aside to observe the celebration of our savior's birthday. Do we really ■ need a date for such a celebration? I think not because knowing Jesus is really a glorious celebration every day if we truly love and serve Him. ..This Christmas, 1974, let us all reslove to rededicate our lives to\ Him who came and died for us so> that we might have the opportunity to be with Him throughout all eternity. Loving Him means loving our enemies, the poor, the un wanted, and all others that we might classify as "undesirables." Our economic situation Is critical now. so give Him a present this year by sharing with some of His "undesir ables." You will receive a true <. blessing, I can promise you. ..Now, as you face your many 'holiday festivities, Mrs. Battle and our son join'me in wishing for all of you God's richest blessings. May His love guide you safely throughout the holidays and into the New Year. MERRY CHRISTMAS, especially to the CHARLOTTE POST PUBLIS HERS who have been so gracious to us throughout 1974. Yours in Christ, by Rev. George E. Battle, Jr. Public Officials Must Live Above Suspicions ..*Tc nave pro ana con arguments about the issue of capital punish ment. We have had two recent accounts of crime covering several states. One started in the far-west, bloomed into several killings in the mid-west and it did not end until a highway patrolman and a citizen were kidnapped and killed in Florida. And he was a released out-of-state felon. .. Some questions are, what must be done to get our state legislatures. Congress and the courts to end this kind of thing, either by reinstating capital punishment, or tightening parole practices? As has been seen in the first phase of the Watergate incident, the convicted persons lived in air-conditioned, carpeted, play ground-equipped, TV lounges. But we think this is not satisfactory rehabilitation. ..Suppose ex-President Nixon had been convicted for his alleged part as an unidicted conspirator and placed under confinement. Would he have been put in cell with an ordi nary felon? No. indeed, he would have had air-conditioned comfort able quarters. At least, this is our belief. . .Must citizens again bear arms for protection? CJuest Editorial from The Carolinian The Carolinian ^PORT mom >ϋ&··.$fashingfon } Foreign Aid By Cong. Jim Martin .. As the 93rd Congress rushes to ward a Decepiber 20th adjournment, it should be noted that some signifi cant legislation ' has seen final ac tion, or should, before the Members go home. .. Included in that last minute surge of action are Foreign Aid Assist ance, (which I opposed, but which passed by a vote of 201 to 190). .. While I voted for some of the amendments to the Foreign Assis tance Act, 1 voted against the com plete package. I think my position on the subject is known to my people, but I want to reiterate a couple of points. Tk« Λ A *- 41 1 * putting money down a rat hole and ' getting nothing in return. Other nations owe this country nearly $60 billion, and there is little hope of getting much of the money back. .. American tax dollars have heavily subsidized our adversaries for many years. Time and time again, we have made loans or given outright grants to countries which have de clared and maintained an anti-Ame rican stance in world diplomancy. .. Foreign aid can be justified in many areas of the world on the basis of a buffer to Communist expansion, which military àid has provided;or on humanitarian grounds in the case of timely disaster relief. But I think it is time the rest of the world gets the message that a strong growing tax paying minority is tired of foot ing the bills. The one-way street is going to have to carry two-way ' traffic. .. The Foreign Aid Assistance Act, which won approval this past week does carry one strong measure which I co-sponsored. It allows the United States to exchange (or bar ter) its foreign aid for the minerals - and critical raw material? this cou ntry will need in the future. Now, more than ever, this country needs to get something in return for mili —lary. ηηή fnrpifln aid. Recipients of our aid must not tunFaround and refuse us their mineral resourses at a fair price. • »»■ Τ t-i* .. In another serious matterv final action on a proposal cutting off importation of chrome from Rho desia may come before December 20th. Sponsors of the measure" would have this country follow the lead of others and the United Nations, by imposing complete sanctions aga inst Rhodesia because of their racial policies. I cannot support this propo sal. Lest my intentions be misunder stood, my position is not based on affection for the Ian Smith govern ment, but on some hard economic realities. ..Rhodesia has 67 percent of the _ world's reserves of chrome. Another 22 percent is in the Republic of South Africa. That doesn't leave much, with the remaining 8 percent divided between the Soviet Union with 6 percent and Turkey with only 2 per cent. Turkey's limited production is already under contract. South Afri ca's is of lower quality. It would be a grave mistake for us to rely solely on the U.S.S.R. as our only source of supply. And I will tell you they have already raised chrome prices in anticipation of a U.S. ban on Rhode sian chrome. .. The chrome issue could be con sidered a sleeper issue by today's mass communicatioiis standards. TO BE EQUAL Goodwin To All Manlynd . .Christmas is the time for joy, for neighborli ness, for goodwill to all mankind, but this Christmas just doesn't firthe bill. .. All the forced gaiety in the world can't obscure the hunger and misery rampant on the globe of this season of joy. , .. All neighborly will in the world won't cover up the fact that neighbors, here and abroad, are now more concerned with their own survival than with lending a helping hand to the fellow nearby. ..And we sing "goodwill to ail mankind," but what-most of mankind needs more than goodwill is food, and hundreds of millions won't even get that. — — . .Yes, it's a sorry world this Christmas season. It's a world torn by strife, stalked by hunger, facing global recession or Depression, and apparently without the leadership to see it through. . .This Christmas half a billion people-the num ber is almost beyond our ability to comprehend it-will go to bed hungry. In huge parts of the world, and especially in the African Sahel. in South Asia and in Latin America, people, hundreds of millions of people,