Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 19, 1978, edition 1 / Page 2
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cmiofiiiii c coimhi) | Non-Voting And Why by Hoyle H. Martin Sr. Post Editorial Writer , As the November elections ' approach us, we are reminded that this column has devoted more words to explaining and suggesting why people should vote than any other topic. In retrospect, we have begun to wonder whether it has all been worth the effort. This is not to say that we are any less enthusiastic about the importance of voting, but rather, to note our feeling of discouragement when we receive increasing reports of non-voting and equally important, why people don’t vote. Ratification of the 26th Amend ment to the U.S. Constitution in 1971 was expected to bring heavy voting by 18-to-JO year olds. Yet, in the 1972 and 1976 presidential elections, the youth vote was far lower than any other age group. Furthermore, the youth vote has declined even more since 1976. In addition, widespread voter apathy has appeared among blacks and some other minority groups. All this adds up'to what political analysts call voter apathy that runs deep. These experts con tend that this year’s election turn out will be at tiie “discouraging” level of 1974, despite public outrage about taxes and inflation. Voter apathy, or better, wliat explains who votes and who doesn’t vote is seen in the basic factors of the extent of commitment ot the voting process, the degree to which one’s interest is affected and the level of our faith in the American political system. These have been put to the acid test in recent years and none has ' fared well. For example, ti»livpaNO£ California's Proposition IS tax revolt and the reported 10 million Ameri cans who are refusing to pay their income taxes are examples of a declining faith in our political sys tem. Secondly, a group of Charlotte nightclub owners who supported the liquor-by-the-drink vote are now threatening to seek an injunction against what they think is discrimi natory in the proposed news rules. This relates to a concern about personal interest and the failure of the system to protect such interests. Lastly is the loss of favor President Carter has experienced with blacks for not keeping his political pormis es to lead the fight to reduce unemployment and aid black busi ness. He has, for example, failed to act on the Small Business Administ ration (SBA) legislation that would restructure the “Black capitalism” program initiated during the admin istration of Richard Nixon. These developments have created a credibility gap for government and the political process. Thus, it will take more than television ads, news paper editorials and voter registra tion drives to turn the tide of the growing voter apathy. Thus, to get non-voters to vote, they must be able to see that elections can and do make a differ ence in their lives. “To get these people to vote,” Mel Ravitz writes, they’ll have to be persuaded that the system of voting can work for them ^and-or that their critical interests will be adversely affected if they don’t vote.” You vote, don’t you? If not, try it, and make the system work for you, and it will work. UMy The t i Need Apply A week before the mixed drink vote, we wrote, “exactly how ttquor by-the-drink will affect Charlotte lu^^wiU^d^pgad^laigely be stirct, it appears I to vote on an issue when you don't know the ground rules under which that issue will be implement ed. Thus, it’s difficult to believe that rational citizens will vote blindly on the mixed drink issue, yet that appeals to be what wilL.happen.” in fact, that is just what dRT happen, and now a group of dtizens nightchib owners-are threatening to seek a court injunction to prevent the adoption of the new ABC board Justice Eludes “10” We received with sadness the U S.Supreme Courts refusal to hear , v an appeal in the Charlotte “3” case of T. J. Reddy, James E. Grant, and Charles Parker, having exhausted all other appeal avenues, th eonly hope for the “3” now is a pardon by Gov. Hunt. We hope that Gove. Hunt will proposed rules. The dubowners, members of the Mecklenburg Club Owners Association, claim that the new rules are only suitable for the ordinary working people will be denied mixed* drink privileges. The dubowners believe the proposed rules are so discriminatory against them tht most would be put out of business if the rules stand. The lesson to be learned from this is to ote, but be sure you know what you are voting for on any issue in any election. Never give someone a signed blank check and never let the blind lead the blind. To do so is to vote or adt against your own best interest. grant such a pardon because there is still considerable doubt in the minds of many people, in spite of the court 'decisions, that the “3” are guilty of firebombing the Lazy B Riding Stables that killed 15 horses. There appears to be here a real argument that the “3” are true political prisoners, however defined. You Can Help Keep The Black Community Qearr^ LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR A Vote For Park Bonds Dear Sir: The enclosed position paper represents the stand taken by the Central Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club on the November 7, Park Bond Refe rendum. I am passing this out to all the news media, city and county officials, other con cerned groups and people. If you should have any questions concerning our position, please contact me. 4 ‘‘Not blind opposition to pro gress but opposition to blind progress" has long been a motto of the Sierra Club. With this in mind the Central Pied mont Group of the Sierra Club has decided to take a stand in support ..qf fhe Noy§jjiber, 7 City-Council Parks Bond Ref e reaum. ! , Charlotte-Mecklentxyg has the lowest acreage used for recreational purposes per cap ita in the state and yet we remain the largest and the fastest growing area in North Carolina. This is shocking, as we compare Charlotte-Meck lenburg with Asheville or Greensboro and find 87 acres and 27 acres respectively per 1,000 people being used to that of just 7 acres in Charlotte Mecklenburg. We can easily see the day when another energy crisis is going to become far worse than the last one. People are going to be looking withm their own communities (■ -r recreation. These areas are already overcrowded and there exists a great demand for more parks of all types The need for parks has nevei been greater as the influx ol new businesses, industries and people are creating a demand for more amenities. We also feel that the goal of planning for natural preserves should be to locate and acquire those areas which exemplify the best and mo6t representative examples of the natural heritage of Char lotte-Mecklenburg. Natural areas are defined by the presence of biological fac tors such as species diversity and richness, lack of distur bance and - or rarity. Unfort unately, many of the potential natural areas in Mecklenburg are yet unidentified. Thus, the first priority of a comprehensive park plan must be to fill in the gaps of our knowledge of the county’s natural areas. An inventory of the potential park-natural pre serve sites in the county would be the best way to remedy those omissions. Once comple ted this study would allow the city and county to do compari son shopping, evaluating areas on the basis of environ mental quality, topography, location, cost and biological importance. A further factor for consideration should be the ability to acquire the site as it was when evaluated and not after it has been altered by timbering, dredging or filling. This inventory should be a careful and thorough study, but by using local university and colleges expertise and manpower, it does not have to be expensive. In addition, knowledgeable volunteers from conservation groups in cluding the Sierra Club, could be effectively used. We feel that it is important that this prime land be acquired now before its desirable natural characteristics are altered. , The Executive Committee Vrf the Central Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club urges its members to support and vote for both the City-County Park Bond Referendums on November 7, 1978. Susan E. Seaver Chairperson of Parks Committee Pant Bond Referendum, utmicmcii; I write you in regards to a very important Bond Refer endum which the residents of Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte will be voting on December 7,1978.1 person ally feel the County as well as City Park Commissions have done an excellent job of plann ing and developing a program to establish future parks and recreational areas in the City of Charlotte plus Mecklenburg County. Being President of the North Carolina Rugby Football Un ion, I know of the drastic need of various fields and facilities for amateur athletic non ui((aiiiMuu(». i perso nally have had several con flicts in trying to obtain fields for various Rugby Clubs to practice and play their games. I personally feel the Bond package that has been propos ed is a good one. I feel that the allocated monies that will be assigned to the various neigh borhood school parks, district school parks, greenways, and natural preserves will be a tax payer’s money well spents. 'Thank you lor hearing my comments. Dan Guandolo President North Carolina Rugby Football Union — - DY VdTlUUA. ■ TO I BE 1 EQUAL “Olympic Jail” A Mistake Relatively few Americans are aware that, under the guise of building housing for athletes participating in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, the U.S. is building a prison. Construction is under way on the prison right now, but it is not too late to change the intended use of the facility. The athletes will be there for a few weeks, but after they leave plans call for their rooms to be converted to cells that will hold poor, largely minority offenders from inner itself, this is a mockery of the Olympic spirit. Just think what our reaction would be if Russia planned a similar conversion of Olympic facilities. Here’s another instance in which our verbal hacking for human rights is contradicted by actual practice. Not only is that prison the wrong facility in,My? wrong place at the wrong Jtime, but it is in violation of the U.S. Bureau of Prision’s own guidelines. Hie origin of the prision lies in Congress’ mandate that any facilities built for the Olympic games be convertible to other use. It has been suggested that the Lake Placid, N.Y. facility could serve as a permanent training site for athletes. But that idea gave way to another one-turn it into a prison. There are two major reasons for this. First, the region around Lake Placid is economically distressed, and a permanent pri son would open up well-paying jobs for prison guards and other workers while boosting the town’s economy. Second, the Bureau of Prisons has been looking fra: places to build new prisons as part of a huge prison-building program that’s sweeping the nation. The shrill cries about rising crime actually the crime rates are beginning to slow down-has resulted in new prison facilities. The Prison Bureau admits that most of the inmates will come from big cities in the northeast-New York, Boston, Philadelphia and others. And it also admits that its own regulat ions stipulate that prisons be built near major population centers to enable family visits and to utilise nearby supportive servies. - frail 'ifyn > o ra> •» milesffwamajwrdii^ and serviced by only one bus a day from the city, the Lake Placid site effectively me*, is imitates will be cut off from their loved ones. In addition, a large portion <1 the inmate population is expected to be black and Hispanic while the local population and the guard* d-awn from the region will be rural white'. This introduces a racial factor that has resuilv.d in earlier prison tragedies-friction between - uards and inmates who don’t understand ea< other and the inevitable surfacing of racism. The Olympic prison is just the tip oi the iceberg-visible because of the Olympic connec tion and the gross violation of a federal agency’s own rules. But the problems is na! ewide. Politically-inspired calls for getting tough with offenders have led to longer sentences and the adoptions of determinate sentencing. > These have increased the number of people in prison, resulting in massive overcrowding of exisitng facilities. Authorities are building prisons as fast as they can, although the best that can be said about prisons is that they make it easier for youthful offenders to learn illegal trades. THE CHARLOTTE FOOT t “THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER” Established 1918 Published Every Thursday By The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc. 1524 West Blvd.-Charlotte, N.C. 28208 Telephones (704) 376-0496, 376-0497 ^^^^^^^^Circulation^OjOT^^^^^^^^ 60 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE , Bill Johnson.Editor-Publisher ’ Bernard Reeves.General Manager Hovle H. Martin Sr.Executive Editor Julius Watson.Circulation Director , Albert Campbell..Advertising Director. I Second Class Postage No. 965500 Paid At 1 Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878 Member National Newspaper Publishes* i Association North Carolina Black Publishers Association i " 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) 460-1220 Calumet 5-0200 _ i Freedom: Not For Whites ( ly Dy Bayard Rustin Special To The Post For many Americans, parti cularly poor people and blacks, the idea of “Freedom” has become something of a hoax. Faced with high unem ployment, steadily rising prices, and rather uninspiring political leaders, many people have conduded-erroneously, I think - that baisc civil righto and constitutional govern ment are nothing more than fancy icing on a stole, crumb ling cake. "Freedom,” they insist, is meaningless for the oppressed But those who so readily despair of freedom forget one central reality - in today's world the worst oppression, worst discrimination, and worst deprivation all exist in societies which decidely lack freedom as we know it. Indeed, the absence of free dom is almost a certain guar antee of wretched poverty, scandalous inequility,' and rampant political repression My point about freedom is not based on impressions, or a casual reading of the newspa per. Rather it is based on a carefully researched study en titled Freedom in the World: Political Righto and Civil Lib erties. (available from Free dom House, 20 West 40th Street, New York, N Y. 10018) A brief examination of the unfortunate situation in Post Colonial Africa helps to illus trate my point. According to the Freedom House study, the vast majority of black Ameri cans continue to endure discri mination, brutal exploitation, and quiet - almost unnotice able-political subjugation. While we all know and abhor white minority rule and the apartheid systems of South Africa and Rhodesia, we sometimes ignore the self-ser ving and occasionally grue some dictatorships which seem to cover the African Continent from shore to shore. Because of Idi Amin and Ms well-publicized excesses,, much media attention has been diverted from the less colorful and slightly more hu mane African dictators, such as the rulers of the Central African Empire, Angola, Hur undi, and the Congo. All these countires, according to the Freedom House report, are roughly on par with Uganda, South Africa, and Rhodesia in consistently violating bask civil liberties and human rights. Consider for a moment the situation in Burundi. This small, inland country of 4 million people is ruled exclus ively by members of the Tutsi tribe, a group which repre sents only 15 percent of the $ overall copulation. Meanwhile members of the majority Hut us tribe have no rights what soever. In a sense, Burundi has established a governmen tal system as cruel and as discriminating as the oppres sive white minority in South Africa A similar situation exists in the Congo (Brazzaville) where virtually the entire ruling elite is drawn from a single tribe representing only IS percent of the population. Similarly, small military or civilian cli ques rule in countries like Banin, Togo, Somalia, Rwan da, Niger, and Malawi. In most instances, these relative ly young African nations have only one political party; elect ions usually involve only one political slate; and debate is closely monitored, if not for bidden altogether. Addition ally, independent trade unions face severe 'restrictions, and all types of citizen organiza tions are carefully controlled. This distressing movspbent^ toward one-party dictaUrship has been resisted by some sturdy-and commendable anti-authsritarian states like Gambia, Senegal. Kenya and a handful of others. Yet the prospects for freedom and constitutional government in Africa, as well as other parts of the third world, are far from promising Some people, of course, keep telling me that my con cern about the state of human rights and civil liberties In Africa is misplaced, and even unwarranted. African people, they assert, cannot Handle the complexities of democracy. Nor can Africans hope to achieve a modicum of econo mic prosperity unless they willingly accept iron-dad aut horitarian rule. These arguments-or cliches -hearken back to the days when Southern blacks had little or no pouucai power. White segregationists cans tsntly argued that blacks could not he trusted with the vote. Black people, they said, did not understand democra cy. And some whites even tried to prove that blacks faired considerably better be fore the destruction of the degrading slave system. Now, many African lsadars have unfortunately adopted the irr ational arguments of our own seorogatiootets. AsiansK, black Africans Must be freed from the op pression of white minorities, as well ss black minorities Without some degree of liber ty and democratic rule, u<9» great mass of Africans wiH never break the terrible Chaia of slavery. As black Apaeri cana, we have a special re sponsibility to help foster and defend human rights in Afri ca. To da anything leas would be p betrayal of our African brothers and sisters. ASC Administers “City Arte” Program Charlotte is one ot only 10 cities in the nation that has been Invited to participate la a new experimental program called "City Arts." Sponsored by the National (Endowment for the Arts, "City Arts" wai made possible by a $30,OOd grant from NEA’s Expansion Arts Program which has been matched with an additional $30,000 from the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte. "City Arts” is the first pro gram of its kind in which the Community plays a direct rok in distributing federal fundi for community and neighbor hood arts development Sine* Charlotte is the only common ity arts council participatini in the program, that has had $ previous experience in sub granting funds, Katherine Prior, a representative from the National Endowment for Uw Arts, will be in Charlotte for the granting process. , The type of groups that will bo eligible to receive “City Aria” funding include Spirit Square, the Summer Pope, the Community School of the Arts, and the Afro-American Cultural Service Center In discussing the program, Ms ioyRaeh. President of the Arts and Science Council, elated, “I think "City Arts ■ one of the moat exciting program in which we have been able to participate becuaee it will enable our groups to develop new and creative programs to serve new audiences that have never had an opportunity to experience the Joy that the arts can brtag.” “City Arts” funds are a part oi the Arts and Science Coun cil’s Project Pool
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 19, 1978, edition 1
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