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Making Christmas Real
By Hoyle H. Martin Sr.
Post Executive Editor
Nearly 2,000 years into the past,
God sent his greatest gift to man
kind. As a forerunner to this, the
Greatest Event in human history,
God commissioned an angel to tell
the troubled and sinful world, “For
unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Savior, which is Christ
the Lord.” (Luke 2:11).
“Suddenly,” THE LIVING BIBLE
tells us, “the angel was joined by a
vast host of others - the armies of
heaven - praising God: ‘Glory to God
in the highest heaven,’ they sang,
‘and peace on earth for all pleasing
him’ ” (Luke 2:13, 14). We must
however, note that there has been no
“peace on earth” because neither
the ancient masses living when
Christ was born nor modern man
has fully accepted the real meaning
and significance of Christ’s birth,
and thus embraced a real Christ
mas. The ancient masses, to para
phrase one Biblical scholar, did not
desire to be saved from sin, their
iniquities or vices, nor did they
intend to love their enemies or
receive a Savior. They wanted to be
saved from political oppression and
economic inconvenience and they
wanted a strong king who would
crush their Roman enemies. The
fact is, in spite of the prophecies
proclaiming the coming of Christ,
ancient man was so preoccupied
with his sins and vices that he
rejected the Savior from the very
beginning. Luke (2:6,7) says “and
she gave birth to her first child, a
son...and laid him in a manager,
' because there was no room for them
in the village inn.” In effect, these
riotous living people turned away
from Jesus.
Modern man appears to be no
different, no better nor no more
committed to making Christmas
real than was his ancestors from
bibilical times because many of us
too have rejected the Christ. Writer
Sydney Harris has eloquently ex
pressed this view in an often reprin
ted article where he asks the ques
tion, “If there should be, on Christ
mas night, a second coming, would
there not be soon a second crucifix
ion? And this time, not by the
Romans...but by those who proudly
call themselves Christians?” Harris
asks further, would we not “attack”
the Christ, “castigate Him...de
nounce Him...despise and reject
Him” because his preaching and
actions might be “threatening to our
ways of life”?
Way Of Life
The way of life we are referring to
is reflected in the absence of true
brotherhood and human rights a
mong men. The Christ himself cau
tioned man about this when he said,
“If anyone says ‘I love God’ and
hates his brother, he is a liar” (I
John 4:20) and “Inasmuch as you
di(f^ it to the least of these, my
brethren, you did it unto Me”
(Matthew 25:40).
Jesus’ words have so much more
meaning at Christmas time
when we are so eloquently talking
about brotherhood and “peace on
earth” when in fact on the holy
ground where Jesus taught and
preached there is hatred among
men, death, killing, hunger and
violent crime in the streets.
Therefore, while the Christmas
season is one that unites families,
friends, and neighbors for warm,
affectionate brief periods of toge
therness, forgiveness and thankful
ness, we wonder is it all real or just a
meaningless ritual. We wonder a
bout the realness of Christmas be
cause we allow hunger to exist, we
have a heated passion for war, we
put politics ahead of principle, we lie
and cheat and we abuse our fellow
man at every opportunity.
Acts Of Violence
Evidence of our failing is seen in
the many acts of violence and crime
in the streets of America, in our
inability to say “I love you,” and in
our hell-bent passion for glorifying
all that is evil, immoral and wrong.
The Holy Bible warned us of such
wayward living by saying, “...and
the earth was filled with violence”
(Genesis 6:11). Worst yet, we act as
if this Bible verse is a self-fulfilling
prophesy that we must live by. Not
only does the news media clearly
inform us of crime and violent
behavior, movies ana television gla
morize and glorify rape, murder,
robbery and the like on the assump
tion that it is entertainment and,
more significantly, because too ma
ny people appear to have an appetite
for violence, crime and the exploita
tion of th#»ir follow man
Therefore, in this Christmas sea
son as merchants exploit the fuller
meaning of Christ’s birth, and we
eagerly respond, let us pause at
some point in the hustle and bustle
of it all to ask, what can I do in my
own way to help make Christmas
real again? A kind word or thought
to or about someone you think you
dislike, expressions of encourage
ment to a child, some act-no matter
how small-to reduce someone’s hun
ger, acts of love and brotherhood,
and prayer for thanksgiving ana
forgiveness, these are the symbols
of a real Christmas.
Thus, as we experience the joy and
good tidings of another Christmas,
let us begin anew to embrace the
courage of true brotherhood, peace
on earth and good will toward men
and in so doing contribute to making
Christmas real again.
I ' T\«MW
They Would Rather Have Jobs, Mr. Presidents.
Inhere Will It End?
Prices And Taxes Are
Wreaking Havoc With Us!
Millions of economically up
ward-bound Americans have
been caught in a bind between
their dreams of a good life and
the harsh realities of an abnor
mally persistent inflationary
trend with its increasingly
erosive effects on purchasing
power. And there is no depen
dable sign of an early change
for the better.
Current events on the econo
mic scene are not unexpected,
of course. For several years,
prices and taxes have been
going up faster than wages
and salaries. The inevitable
result of that imbalance is
reflected in the fact that dol
lars which once afforded com
fort, with something to spare,
now barely provide for neces
sities.
iiuii wu inn is maue appa
rent by recent statistics. Ac
cording to the government's
latest study of how much a
typical family needs to live at
“an intermediate level” in
metropolitan areas, precious
little is left over after the
necessary bills have been
paid.
An “intermediate” house
hold budget, devised as a
model by the U.S. Labor De
partment, allows practically
all or more than $16,000 family
income for essential goods and
services such as food, cloth
ing, transportation, housing
and medical care. Unfortuna
tely those are the five costs
which have skyrocketed most
unmercifully.
Further scrutiny of that an
alysis reveals another shock
ing truth: Leaving out trans
portation, price of the other
four essential items rose 7.5
pet. each year between 1970
and 1975. That annual rate of
increase was 44 pet. higher
than any recorded for “non
tssemuai commocuues.
But aspirations of those at
the income level under consi
deration here extend beyond
needs classifed as “basic.” A
college education, or some
technical skill training beyond
high school, is regarded not as
a luxury but a must. Yet the
price of higher education puts
it almost out of reach.
Depending upon one’s choi
ce of an institution - state-sup
ported or private - the College
Entrance Examination Board
estimates fees ranging from
three to five thousand dollars
each year. And those figures
allow only for what is required
by the school - after one gets
there.
Tklr ..4_1.. 4U.
young but elders as well. On
frequent occasions, a person
already equipped with a sub
stantial measure of expertise
and experience seeks further
training for promotional pur
poses - or a new role in a
constantly evolving work wor
ld.
One of the more poignant
aspects of our economy’s
cruelty is its nullifying effects
on progress made by Blacks
and other striving minority
group members. For they got
as far as they are despite
deeply rooted prejudice and
blatant acts of discrimination
which cluttered the paths they
trod.
But, with luck and perser
verance, an appreciable per
centage of these disdained
minorities finally made it to
middle classdom only to find
the lustrous promise of that
exalted realm heavily be
clouded by the uncertainty of
making their new ends meet.
When added together, these
constantly reoccuring inci
dents of stress and strain give
due cause for the revengeful
anger lowaru an miiauonary
trend which has run rampant
through human hopes. And
that urge for revenge explains
what one observer has called
unmistakable signs of a “mid
dle class revolt.”
That turn ot events, and its
politically troublesome conse
quences has not escaped at
tention in a White House al
ready beleaguered by a multi
tude of high priority problems.
Under these circumstances,
President Carter finds himself
deprived of satisfying answer
such as those once offered by
Roosevelt’s “New Deal.”
It is not so much that
today’s Democratic hierarchy
lacks the humaneness exhibit
ed by yesterday’s leadership.
Rather, facts of the matter
suggest that sharp changes in
the economic game point to a
need for drastic new rules
designed to protect human
health and development at all
vulnerable income levels.
Economists are in general
agreement that real income is
not likely to rise again soon. If
that is the case, this nation is
headed for an era of political
turmoil the likes of which has
never been seen.
Sanitation Division
Collection Schedule
Whether you were home for
the holidays or out of town,
you probably have extra
household trash this week and
no place to store it.
On Thursday and Friday of
this week only, the Sanitation
Division will collect refuse
from the curb and provide
your regular backyard ser
vice. Be sure trash is at the
curb at 7 a.m. on your collec
tion day.
—iBy Vernon £. Jordan Jr. SSSS
TO
BE
EQUAL I
Vernon E. Jordan Jr.!
Season’s Greetings
The Christmas season is in full swing and
everyone’s out with their gift lists in hand. I’ve
got a list too, a little list of gifts beyond the ability
of one person to bestow, but gifts that would
make this a happier country.
My first and foremost hoped-for gifts is jobs
for the jobless.
Without getting into the statistical morass of
how many people are really jobless today, the
best informed estimate is about 13 million. They
need jobs and the country needs their productivi
ty and their human resources.
bo here s a societal gift - jobs for everyone ^
who wants to work. Income for people whose
living standards fall beneath the minimum
standards. Opportunities for those without them.
For white Americans - the gift of freedom
from racism, freedom from the self-engendered
fears that imprison people in suspicion and
irrational dislikes.
Everyone knows the terrible price imposed on
black people by racism, but too many people
remain unaware of the full costs of whites.
Historically, racism has operated to give majori
ty Americans a false sense of superiority,
weakened their communities and labor move
ments, and deprived them of the full range of
human expression.
So the gift of overcoming racism and its habits
is just about the best package most people could
get.
For black people, perhaps the most relevant
gift is continued perserverance in the face of
discrimination and poverty - the will to keep on
fighting the odds.
This is a familiar gift for black people; it’s the
one that helped us survive and even to progress
despite oppression and now, indifference. Per
haps this is the year to use the gift of
perserverance to overcome the ills that afflict
our communities - the bad schools, the street
crime, the failure to register and vote, and
others. Perserverance ought to mean redoubling
•* our efforts, both to pressure the larger society to
change, and also to make our own communities
more liveable.
For President Carter, there is the gift of
remembrance. It’s been a rough year for the
President, but maybe next year will be better if
he remembers the hopes and beliefs he engend
ered in black people and other minorities and led
them to vote for him in overwhelming numbers.
Remembering the promises that led to this
devotion, and fighting to fulfill them, is the best
gift he can have.
For Senator Hubert Humphrey, two gifts. One,
good health. His courageous battle against
cancer has won him the respect of all and those
of us who are his firm friends, who remember
how he stood by black people and decent causes
throughout his phenomenal career, pray for his
full recovery.
His second gift - passage of the Humphrey
Hawkins Bill, is a fitting milestone to a great
legislator who always fought for jobs for the
jobless.
And for the rest of us, peace on earth, plenty
and DrosDeritv for all a
THE CHARLOTTE POST
“THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER”
Established 1918
Published Every Thursday
By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc.
2606-B West Blvd.-Charlotte, N.C. 28208
Telephones (704) 392-1308,392-1307
Circulation, 7,185
58 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE
Bill Johnson.Editor-Publisher
Hoyle H. Martin Sr.Executive Editor
Bernard Reeves.General Manager
Julius Watson .-.Circulation Director
Albert Campbell..Advertising Director
Second Class Postage No. 966500 Paid At
Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878
Member National Newspaper Publishers
'Association
North Carolina Black Publishers Association
Deadline for all news copy and photos is 5 p m.
Monday. All photos and copy submitted becomes
the property of the Post, and will not be returned.
, -- , . *—
National Advertising Representative
Amalgamated Publishers, Inc.
45 W. 5th Suite 1403 2400 S. Michigan Ave.
New York, N Y. 10036 Chicago, 111. 60616
(212) 480-1220Calumet 5-0200
i I
Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Anvmnrf*
By Gerald O. Johnson
Due to popular request, we are
re-running this Xmas article
of last year.
It is Christmas time again
and everyone is going through
the hustle and bustle of shop
ping. To moot people this is
what Christmas Is all about. It
is not the people's fault. The
society is a capitalistic one
whereby stimulating the eco
nomy takes precedence over
everything else. This fsct has
caused Christmas to be more
unbearable than merry.
1 would like to say though
WGIV and other organizations
are doing a fine job in helping
those people who can't afford
the hoopla of Christmas. I am
one of them.
Anyway we have gotten so
wrapped up in trying to ap
pease those people on our
shopping list that it makes
shopping a chore rather than a
joy
Asking everybody what they
want for Christmas takes the
element of surprise out of the
entire event I mean, knowing
what you got before you get it
is "Merryless "
Who ever said that "IT is not
the gift but the thought that
counts” should have my shop
ing list.
I think it foolish for people to
force themselves to shop for
items that someone said they
wanted. If you don't like what
I will give you this year, then I
can remedy that problem for
next year. I will give you my
prayers.
As I said last Christmas,
Christmas will not be Christ
mas until we put “Christ”
back into it.
WHAT’S IN AN EDUCATION
A lot of people have been
misled by the fact that a
college education prepares
one for the job market. No
thing could be further from
the truth. A college education
prepares you for nothing If
you can not be content with
knowing that you know, then a
college education will not be
nefit you. If you are consider
ing being rich, then a college
education is not for you A
college education does one
thing It provides a means of
evaluating your learning ca
pacity in an array of subject
matters as compared to your
peers
The most educated people in
the world can be found on a
college campus The poorest
Gerald 0. Johnson
people in the world can be
found in the same place. QED
What going to college will do
for you is make you accessible
to the job market. It is still the
place where businesses go to
select prospective candi
dates But there is a big
difference between being pre
pared and being pooled fof the
job market
The former indicates that
you are able to perform im
mediately whereas the latter
indicates an apitude to be able
to learn to perform
All of this seems simple
J
enough yet it is precisely this
difference that has caused
turmoil in the education com
munity.
This is the primary differ
ence between a trade school
and an institution for higher
learning.
Many students graduating
today and not finding jobs are
blaming the schools.
The schools are only to
blame because they tend to
give people this Impression It
is a drawing card; to tell
people that you get a better
job if you are well educated
This does not guarantee a
better job.
For example, a student ma
joring in Black Studies will be
hard pressed for a job upon
graduating. I mean who needs
an expert on Black Studies?
This is a case of a well
educated person who can not
do anything. The school did its
part. So who is to blame? This
and other points about what is
in an education will be exploi
ted in future articles.
IRONIES OF BLACKS
I have a friend that told me
that while he was working the
other day a client of his told
him "I deals with the white
man downtown.” He told her
“Lady who do you think sent
me down here.” 1 thought the
story had a light side to it, but
I realized the seriousness in
the story, also.
Here we have a young
black man in a position that
ten years ago no black man in
Charlotte held. Do to the affir
mative action programs that
came about through a period
of turmoil and racial unrest,
black people are getting op
portunities that never before
existed for black people. Yet
as black people we fail to
support the very things we are
fighting for. This irony is one
of the reasons that programs
designed to benefit blacks ul
timately meet harsh criticism
because blacks fail to support
the programs.
Another example to eluci
date the point happened to me
last month. I called four black
contractors to do some repair
work around my house. The
job would have amounted to a
substantial sum of money
Each contractor told me he
would get back in contact with
me to set up a date when he
could come out and look at the
house I haven't heard from
any of them vet The irony of
this is the black contractors of
the country are lobbying con
gress to guarantee that so
many of the government con
tracts are given to blacks.
They claim that this is neces
sary to keep them in business.
Yet the very same contractors
lack the business protocol to
remain in business.
It doesn't take a Ph D. in
anything to realize that our
thrust for equality is not firm
ly secured with out support
and responsibility for equali
ty.
It appears as if we are
fighting for a black airplane,
pilot and once we get one, we
as black people fail to fly with
him.
The question that must be
asked, is, why bother to fight
for equality? It is Ume we
start accepting the responsibi
lity of equal rights and start
doing for ourselves.
What better way to start the
New Year than with indepen
dence.
Keep your out-of-town
friends informed on what's
happening in Charlotte by
sending them a copy of the
Charlotte Post each week. The
cost is only 110 per year.