Cbitoriate
Let The Parties Pay Their Salaries
n _ a m < a • ' • >
'Jucsi CiUituritti
From The Carolinian
The rise of the Republican Party in North
Carolina is prompting some politicians to
put forward something short of their “best
foot.”
When the Democrats perceived them
selves as being the only game in town, they
would discuss and wrestle with the issues
confronting the people of the state.
But now that the Republicans are oh the
playing field, an enormous amount of time
is spent in attempting to curtail further
growth of the new team. This obsession with
limiting the ability of the Republican
administration and its allied lawmakers to
develop the policies of their agenda is
exercised at the citizens’ expense.
Apparently, politicians would prefer a
monolithic political situation with all De
mocrats and no Republicans, or all Repu
blicans and no Democrats. Either one would
be a disservice to the state.
Checks and balances, debate and choice
are as American, allegedly, as the flag and
apple pie. Unfortunately, in this state, we
have believed for so long that the Ameri
can process can only be engaged in within
the confines of the Democratic Party.
If the debate which now engages the
lawmakers was over issues, that would be
fortunate. But much of it appears to pertain
to who has what powers to do what, the
underlying concern being which political
party is to be enhanced.
It might be well if government officials
were elected on a non-partisan basis. The 25
percent of their time which is spent in
promoting their party in the government
process could then be used more effectively
in representing and handling the concerns
of the people.
When the names of legislators are listed,
instead of saying “Dan Blue, D-Wake
County,” just identify the legislator by his
name and where he comes from, i.e., “Dan
Blue, Wake County.”
Dropping the party tag allows an ob
server to evaluate the officials in terms of
- those things which are germane to the
governing process and the people to be
served, not who their ideological friends
are.
One should note also that Often the party
labels are of little significance if they are
intended to indicate consistency in philo
sophy. In the Democratic Party, one can
find a George Wallace, James Eastland or
an I. Beverly Lake Sr. In the Republi
can Party, one may find a Nelson Rocke
feller, G. Mennan Williams or Edward
Brooke.
So for North Carolina lawmakers to spend
25 percent of their time promoting their
parties is in the final analysis a waste of
taxpayers’money.
Other Half Of The Teen Pregnancy Problem!
Guest Editorial
The Michigan Chronicle
Have you sat down and talked to your
teenage son about the responsibilities in
volved in sexual activity and parent- •
hood? If you have not, you should soon.
The teenage male is often the forgotten
piece of the teen pregnancy puzzle. We
adults tend to focus our efforts and concerns -
on the female half of the problem. Yet,
clearly as they say, “It takes two to tango.”
Now, the National Urban League has
broadened the fight against adolescent
pregnancy with a media campaign aimed
especially at young men. “Don't make a ,
baby if you can’t be a. father” is the
common-sense message of the league’s new
print and radio ads. League President John
Jacob thinks that teen pregnancy is an i
“epidemic problem” which has the poten
tial to wipe out all the gains blacks have
made in the last quarter-century. I agree.
The league’s campaign is a laudable
effort to open up a dialogue with the “other
half” of the pregnancy problem: the male
teen.
; These young men need information - and
they are not getting it. The average black
male Is sexually active by the time he is 14
and a half. Yet only 11 percent of big city
school districts have discussed the topic of
contraceptives by ninth grade, and only 17
percent have discussed the responsibilities
of parenthood.
Of course, there is a very good and
obvious reason why many parents and other
adults tend to worry more about young
women. They are the ones who have to bear
the consequences of unintended pregnan
cies. The male can deny the charge or shirk
responsibility, but the female has to re
spond.
But there is another, less valid reason we
tend to focus on the female half of the
problem- The stereotyped notion that
“boys will be boys” while girls must be
taught to protect themselves. But the fact is
that many boys today do make some effort
to prevent their partners’ pregnancies.
According to a recent Urban Institute study
60 percent of all 17 to 20 year old males
either used (or knew their partner was
using) some form of effective contracep
tion the last tinjfelbey had iiiteiicours^7
We clannot expect young males to be
come more responsible if we do not teach
them responsibility - at home, at school and
at church. We also cannot expect them to be
responsible unless we adults set them a
good example. It is worth noting that half
the babies now born to teen girls are
fathered by men who are over 20.
■
As parents, we have just as much re
sponsibility to sit down with our sons and
talk about sex and its consequences as we
do with our daughters. The tendency of
many adults is to look the other way when
their son brings the car home at 4 a.m.
We cannot continue to take this attitude.
If we do, we will never solve our teen
pregnancy problem and protect the future
of the black community.
The Charlotte Post
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' • NY TIMES
Fourth Of July Philadelphia Style?
Fourth of July Philadel
phia style- how is it dif
ferent from 4th celebrations
in, say, Charlotte? The
sentiment is the same but the
festivities are not.
Philadelphia, being con
sidered one of the seats of
democracy, considers the 4th
of July week as a time to pull
out all stops and have a
grand celebration. Not only
does the Fourth represent
independence, but it official
ly kicks off summer. It all
starts with a summer food
festival.
A great many of Phila
delphia’s restaurants set up
tables along the famous
Front Street. They offer then
specialties for little or no
cost. All with the expecta
tion of getting people fa
miliar with their restaurant
and its food. For under $10 a
person can eat some of the
best food the city has to
offer: everything from soft
pretzels to lobster to prime
rib and, of course, beer is
sold. Every Sunday for five
weeks one can stroll along
Front Street sampling the
delights. i;
During the actual week of
the 4th, everything is going
on that pertains to that great
Sabrina
day in history. One'can see
the Liberty Bell and have a
chat with Ben 'Franklin. Or
go to City Hall and have John
Hancock be your tour guide.
Maybe your fancy is to learn
how to make the American
flag by hand - taught by
Betsy Ross. Perhaps one
would prefer a historic tour
in a horse-drawn carriage.
One place of particular in
terest to many is the 4th of
July celebration at the Afro
American Cultural Museum
in Philadelphia. Plays, mu
sic, storytellers, and guid
ed tours make this a fan
tastic place to spend a few
hours of the week if not more.
From Capitol Hiil
Will President’s Actions
Maintains US Support ?
■i ■'
By Alfreds L. Madison
Te The Poet
In his recent press conference,
President Reagan said, “The United
States is a nation being attacked by
international terrorists who wanton
ly kill,and who seize our Innocent
citizeiyhas their prisoners.” Mr.
Reagnrstated that he has Instruct
ed the Transportation Department
and the F*AA to improve their
security conditions and he has
cklled on other friendly countries to
’redouble their airport security ef
forts. The President further said,
"Let me further make it plain to the
assassins in Beirut and their ac
complices, wherever they may be,
that America will never make con
cessions to terrorists. To do so would
only invite more terrorism. Nor will
be ask nor pressure any other go
vernment to do so.*'
The President seemed to have
ruled out military force because
such a route would be cowitar
productlve, since more Innocent
people would be killed Mr Rea
gan appeared frustrated over be
ing unable to. secure the hostages'
release. Yet, he remained calm and
realized that the best retaliation is to
watt until the terrorists are known
and then Inflict a punishment.
However, there are some hot
heads who are bent on exhibiting
American machismo by advocat
ing military power. Morton Kon
dracke, Editor of Newsweek, said on
the McLaughlin talk show that we
should attack Libya because of its
ties to Iran which has religious ties
to Shiites, even though there is no
proof that either Libya or Iran are
anyway involved in the preeent hos
tage crisis.
Henry Kissinger, the former
Secretary of State, iho has really no
'uJr 3 v. ’
_
responded, “In talking to State
Department official! last week they
said that the Syrian officials and the
Algerians had been most helpful. In
a situation like thin, when we are
operating from a position of
disadvantage, we must, (a) choose
to use the route of' military
aggression to get them, the
President has determined that that
is an unfeasible route. The other is
somerform of negotiation to get them
out. And so from the disadvantages,
you simply reach out to as many
forces as you can.” Replying to
Wattertberg’s statement that the
President is taking the proper stand
now, but that after release of the
hostages, we should take military
action against Syria arid Iran,
Jgckaon said, "It’s wholly unwise to
sey to a man with a gun at your
nack, once you release me, l’bi
going to shoot you. Our approach
ought to be, release and
revaluation, as opposed to release
and retaliation.”
Since Rot. Jackson' seared the
release of Lieutenant Goodman and
more than forty Cuban prisoners,
many of the American people have
the conficence that he has the ability
to deal with tha Third World
countries, so they call upon him to
aid them in gkting their fstailHee
and friends released. Jesse was
asked by some of the families for
help in their present crisis
I was informed by an
Administration official, that when
Jackson talked with the State
Department about the matter, they
left the door open for him to give aid
if he could Even though, the
Administration official, that when
Administration is talking about not
negotiating with terrorists, there
seems to be serious negotiations
taking place,, and Jesse Jackson Just
migftt be one of the key players.
..Newsweek listed sane options
that can be taken, one la to make*
several airports that are considered
dangerous safer, the U.S. should
beef up Its own security around its
airports and embassies, U.S. should
improve its intelligence gathering, it
should better prepare its diplomats
and officials who might find
themselves ip a terrorist crisis, the
U.8. should cooperate with other
countries in supporting the Hague
treaty, which calls for punishment of
terrorists; safe rescue of hostages
should be the top priori#
Conservatives, liberals, women
and men of both parties in Qongress
support Mr. Reagan’s present
handling of the hostages.
Representative Charles Range
said, "I agree with the President’s
■tend, and that Jesse Jackson said It
a? when he said it is wholly unwise
tfltaay to a man when he is holding a
gkn to your neck, once you release
me I'm going to shoot you. The
United Stateb has made a mistake
by only learning about European
culture, without attempting to learn
anything about the Third World
cultures. There is no one in the State
Department that can be relied on to
understand theae people.
Representative George Crockett,
said, "The President is not dealing
with the hostages properly since he
knows that Israel la holding more
' 1*0 Shiites hostages, whom he
should require It Jo release
immediately, then the Americans
Will be released It’s our support of
Israel in its invasion of Lebanon ’’
, Representative Julian Dixon said,
"I support tbs President’s action
now, but any military action later
will be a mistake." Congressman
Mirvyn Dymally Supports the
President ?
The Independence Day pa
rade is colorful to say the
least. Most of the ethnic
groups participate showing
things or playing music
common to their cultures.
Bands from across the U.S.
participate, drum and fife
corps, U.S. Naval Academy
Band and much, much more.
The parade ends at the steps
of the Art Museum which
stands at the end of the Ben
Franklin Parkway. Once the
parade has ended, the Philly
Pops plays on the steps of the
Art Museum - usually fol
lowing a local disc Joofcay
playing Top 40 music.
Meanwhile, down on the
river, people are sculling,
barbecuing, drinking, play
ing volleyball, baseball or
frisbie, or just hanging out.
There are also the brave and
devoted few who spend the
day fishing in the river. And
back at home people are
enjoying family barbecues in
a more private setting.
Plainly put - 4th week is
party-hangout week in and
around Philly!
The main event of the week
as it is across the U.S. is the
fireworks display. About 7:30
on that evening people start
thinking about moving the
fun down to the Art Musuem
steps to get a good Spot to
watch the fireworks. The
fireworks are scheduled for
10:15 p.m. The Philly Pops
begins playing at about 8:30
p.m. to get everyone in the
spirit of things. The fire
works are imported from
lands far and near > from
China, France, Italy, the
United States, and South
America, just to name a few
Breathtaking is the best way
to describe the event. To
close the extravaganza the
“Star Spangled Banner” and
“America The Beaetiful”
are played by a ba$d con
sisting of at least iso re
presentatives from each
ethnic group in Philadel
phia. The event turns flesh
into goose flesh.
In Charlotte, the festivi
ties are here but in a dif
ferent sense. Fourth of
July here is more family
oriented than a city-wide
celebration. Here, people
take pride in having the
family together and the
family going to the fir*
works together. This too is
indeed a special, unique c*
lebration: it is a celebra
tion of independence and
family cohesiveness.
The scale is not as grand
but the hearts and sentiment
are. So whether the holiday is
spent in Charlotte or Phi
ladelphia, all are celebrat
ing for the same cause -
independence and freedom.