6 The Daily T.r H.vi Mond.iv n toner 27. 1980
I
Gtcscfc Shadkoui. Editor
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Dinita James, KUnacitt Editor
Brad Kuteow, Associate Editor
Thomas Jessiman, Associate Editor
Karen RasaiLY,, News Editor
Pam Kelley, University Editor
Mastha Vaggoki2, City Editor
Jim Hummii, S&: ani National Editor
B:u Fizlds, S??ri E&ar
Marx Murreix. Features Editor
Tom Moce, .irt Editor
Scott SrrxtPE, Photography Editor
Milanie Sill, Weekender Editor
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ne tax reierenaum
Three times during the past several years Carrboro residents have
voted against referendums that would have levied a tax on property
owners and stabilized the public transportation system in this area.
This year, such a defeat must be avoided.
If passed, the referendum, which calls for a property tax of up to 10
cents per" $100 valuation, would add about $80,000 to the
transportation fund. Carrboro presently finances its transportation
operations with federal revenue sharing funds. Repeatedly, Doug
Sharer and other members of the Carrboro Board of Aldermen have
emphasized that these funds might not always be available.
The tax revenues generated would allow the transportation system
to expand in the future if necessary, and it would free revenue money
for making capital improvements in the Carrboro area.
While there is some opposition to the referendum in Carrboro, we
do not believe the counterarguments warrant its defeat. Most
opponents, including Carrboro Alderman John Boone (who cast the
lone vote against having the referendum vote), complain that the tax
would force residents who don't use the bus system to pay for it. In
fact, students probably will pay as well through increased rents. And,
after all, the bus system is available to all residents. That some don't
use it only indicates another problem in the attitudes of people who
refuse to deaJ with the realities of national gas shortages, and traffic
congestion in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
It seems somewhat ironic that conservative members of the
Carrboro community would oppose this referendum. After all, those
who would call themselves conservative generally oppose the incursion
of the federal government into their lives. By refusing to pay for public
transportation and similar services on a local level, they only invite the
federal government to move into the neighborhood.
While we are aware that increasing taxes are a real concern, we do
not see a stable public transportation system in this area as anything
but a necessity. The tax referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot should be
massed.
For commissioners
Most students care little, if at all, about this fall's race for the
Orange County Board of Commissioners. Although there is a
tendency to separate the campus from the "real world," it is in fact
part of Orange County, and the commission's decisions affect
students as much as they do the people of Hillsborough or anywhere
else.
There are three candidates for the two open seats on the board:
Incumbents Don Willhoit and Richard Whitted are both Democrats,
and Josephine Barbour is a Republican. All three agree that county
government can be run more efficiently, but they differ on the means
to improve it.
Willhoit and Whitted have been members of the board for the last
four years, and in that time it has taken significant steps to broaden
the range of services the county offers. It has begun a county health
department,, and a recreation department. It has expanded human
services and made efforts to improve the county's schools.
These changes have been expensive, but the incumbent board has
thought them worth the tax increases that have been required. That
view has been challenged by a number of conservative county leaders,
Barbour among them. .. .
The Democratic primary pitted Willhoit and Whitted against
challengers Ben Lloyd and Bo Dunlap, who called for reduced county
spending. They face the same argument in Republican Barbour. She
points out that the county's tax rate has increased for five consecutive
years and that the higher tax rate places a heavy burden on rural
landowners who own large tracts of land. Barbour's call for more
efficient, frugal government should not go unheeded.
However, Willhoit and Whitted seem to be aware of the need for
fiscal responsibility as they work toward more responsive government.
The present board has taken a more progressive stance toward county
services than that proposed by Barbour. It would be a mistake to alter
that course now, or to remove Don Willhoit and Richard Whitted
from the seats that they have filled for the last four and eight years.
By MATT COOPER
Imagine sitting with a friend on one of
ike stone wells on campus. As you
contemplate the autumn leaves covering
the cobbled walk, he nudges you to look
at something. You look up to see what
he's pointing at. It's an interracial
couple. Shrugging, you look back to the
leaves.
"Hey, didn't you see that?"
"So?"
"Man, that really burns me up!"
"Why?"
"I don't know, it just does."
Sex. Racism. Two totally unrelated
subjects, right? Wrong. The more than
40 black and white males and females
interviewed for this column all agreed
that there are definite relationships
between the subjects.
This may seem to go against the
attitudes of sexual and social awareness
that we, as members of the "now
generation," are characterized as
having. However, the fact is that even
here, on a campus considered one of the
most liberal universities in the South,
attitudes seem as conservative as ever.
Even the myths we've created about
each other through the years persist.
"I think sex is a major draw, but
whites don't admit it to themselves,"
one black woman said. "We all know
that white men aren't as well-endowed
as black men are, and that white women
are experts in bed, and black women will
spread their legs as soon as you ask
them; stereotypes,"
"Sure, I've heard myths about blacks
being so-called sexual supermen," a
white male said. "I'd like to know more
about black women. I heard they're
good in bed."
Everyone interviewed had some
comment about areas strongly tied to
sexuality and racism. The most
immediate concern was interracial
relationships.
Among white males there were mixed
views about this issueAbout a third of
' those interviewed shared feelings similar
to this: "I'm for people doing what's
good for them."
Another third fell somewhere in
between: "Although I wouldn't let a '
sister or daughter become involved in a
mixed relationship, I still believe in
individualism. Because I come from a
closely knit family and because I want to
get to where I'm headed in society, I
wouldn't become involved in one."
At the other end of the spectrum came
the last third: "I don't think races were
meant to be mixed. I just consider mixed
relations to be unacceptable in this
society. But a friendship between a black
guy and a white guy or a black girl and a
white girl is OK."
The majority of white males
interviewed, it seems, would rather
maintain a separate but equal
relationship with blacks.
One thing is certain. If the reaction of
the white males interviewed reflects the
mood of the white male population on
campus, mixed relationships are not
viewed favorably. And the myths about
black sexuality persist.
Black women on campus are even
more set against mixed relationships
than white men. With only one
exception the black women interviewed
said they looked down on mixed
relationships, at least when black men
and white women were involved.
"I become irritated when I see a black
guy with a white girl," one black woman
said. "I feel like I understand him better
and have more to offer him than she
does."
While this resentment to black-male-white-female
relationships is almost
unanimous among the black women
interviewed, so is their tolerance of
mixed couples involving white men and
black women.
"When I see a sister with a white guy,
I think she's got to be strong to do what
she's doing... but with a black man and a
white woman, I see this and can only ask
why?"
Why indeed?
A few black women said it could be
The Daily Tar Heel
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an J Mark T5oe.
1 r i ,J i i 1 . . '!, Idi a Cury. Ic . G .-:.-r. Maui !laorth, Susan Hudson,
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love. Most, however, said it was sex.
Many black women (and many white
men and women) believe the goal of
every black man is to make love with a
white woman. They believe that white
women become involved in mixed
relationships because of myths of black
sexuality.
Most black women interviewed agreed
that many white women would like to
become involved with black men, if only
to talk to them, but don't because they
feel pressure from society.
Some white women, reluctant to
pursue communication with black men,
turn to black women as a source of
information.
"They want you to confirm or deny
their myths because they are afraid to
find out for themselves," one black
; woman said.
White women hesitated to respond to
? questions about their attitudes toward
black men or to accusations made
about them by black women.
But white women took a more liberal
stand on mixed relationships than the
other groups.
"I treat interracial couples just like 1
would treat any other couple," one
white woman said. "Sometimes I think
what a struggle that must be, but it
doesn't bother me to see a mixed
couple."
Only one white female clearly
opposed mixed relationships.
"Friendships between blacks and whites
are fine, but I was raised against mixed
relationships. I try to ignore them when
I see them," she said.
Almost all the white women agreed
they felt better about relationships
involving black men and white women
than they did about those with white
men and black women.
One might be led fo believe that black
and white women are rival groups, but
this isn't true. The black women and
white women interviewed share at least
one view that the white male has
placed the white female on a pedestal.
This is not a pedestal of equality; it is
one reserved for a special kind of
chattel, the sex object, beauty incarnate
and the mother of man, all wrapped up
in a neat little bundle called "woman."
Both black and white women agreed
that white men tried to put women,
particularly white women, in a separate
and unequal position. Women
interviewed made several references to
the beauty market and to TV shows like
Charlie's Antls as examples of how
white men promulgate their
specifications of beauty.
White males generally responded to
this image females have of them by
saying, "Other guys are like that, but
I'm not."
Black men interviewed were more
reserved than other groups. Though the
black men Egreed sexuality and racism
are closely related, most said racism, by
itself, is still their overriding concern.
"1 agree that there is a relationship
between sexuality and racism, but racial
oppression is my bete noire," one black
man said. "The eeor.crrJc, social and
political situation of black people is as
severe now as it was 20, 30 cr however
many years you want to go back. A let
of people fail to realize that it does siill
exist, only in more subtle
manifestations. Most of the advances
that people claim to see are nothing
more than mirages to soothe the angry
masses."
An outsider, a black student from
South Africa had a different view. He
said race and sexuality could not be
separated.
"Until recently we had legal
segregation. Mixed relationships are
new. It's a novelty to see them here in
the U.S. In South Africa we're told that
mixed relationships won't work. I think
mixed relationships are beautiful if they
can work. I think they can.
"I came here from South Africa. You
come here and learn that there is no legal
segregation, and you expect paradise.
But there are problems here, problems
that will never be resolved. Blacks here
have to deal with much more than their
color. They have to deal with
themselves.
"We must ask ourselves if it is better to
have legal segregation, and know what
we can and cannot do in this country."
One black male made a statement
about the uncertainly black American
men face. When asked of his feelings
about mixed relationships, he paused for
a moment and then said, "There are still
a lot of trees out there."
Sexuality. Racism. Race. Sex.
Prejudice. There are relationships.
Strong and subtle. It would be nice to
draw a clear and concise conclusion full
of rhetoric and hope, but that would be
too simplistic and such analysis would
only be meaningless.
What could be said anyway? That
even in the minds of educated people,
the rational human animal, there is a
vein of irrationality? Perhaps. Or maybe
it's just that we as humans give ourselves
too much credit. Maybe it is because
we've written a lot of rules that sound
nice and labeled them morals, that we
have to act differently from how we feel.
This could explain the way we talk or
don't talk about subjects like sex or
racism. This could explain the "ignore.it
and it might go away" attitude that
caused most of the students who were
interviewed for this story to hesitate in
their responses.
After reading this, one might be
inclined to believe the social situation
between black and whites, and males
and females, is bleak. But there is hope.
Communication is the key.
Conversation could kill the myths and
sterotypes that plague this thing called
human relations. Communication
could still the waters of fear and
uncertainity that surround subjects like
sexuality. Communication could do it
all. But without sincerity,
communication is useless. And sincerity
comes from the heart.
KD 3 Hire iL
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You kick at the leaves under your feet
as you sit back down on the wall. You
wonder if you should say anything to
'your friend about his reaction to the
mixed couple that got him so excited.
"Maybe you ought to go over and talk
to the guy, "you suggest. "At least you
might be able to find out why you hate
him. "
Your friend laughs. "Me? Talk to
that . You've got to be
kidding.!"
You shrug, and tell yourself it doesn't
matter anyway.
Matt Cooper, a junior journal bm major
from Littleton,, is a staff photographer
for The Daily Tar Heel.
rrr rrj rrj rr? rrr rr? rr?
By DA VID POOLE
A friend asked me during Tall Break what I planned
to do right after graduation. Most people, he told me,
spend a little time traveling cr just sitting around
before tackling their long-prepared-fcr careers.
I had no such plans at the time, and his query get me
to thinking. I have since decided that for one month
after graduation I am going to do something I haven't
been able to do much of vshile in school.
For 30 dsys, I am going to sl:ep. Good right wcrli,
vake me up in June.
' On many ccca;icns since hive b;en a stud :nt at thii
hallowed institution, I have wanted to do cruel and
abusive things to my ahrm clock-radio. In the
moments when I am ration;!, I real!:: that th'i
appliance hes served me w:3 and that without it I
would have never mads it to a elm en tine. I am
ssJJorn lucid hcn it rings at 8 a.m.
For a'l cf l t. t I z cf tie proce-s thai
cs.r,:u:l!y deprives us cf rrd;i tz t ii the freshman
dreaming about a ski weekend with the Dallas Cowboy
Cheerleaders and I don't particularly want to be here,"
in Spanish. I'd always say "muy bien," which meant
very well, and I would always be lying.
One morning, she threw me a curve. "Sen or Poole,"
she chimed, "Donde es su casa?"
At 8 a.m. I have trouble remembering where my feet
are, much less my house. I squinted at her through
sleepy eyes and thought a minute. My mind formed
what I thought to be an epprcprhtc re-pen e.
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gci lu icep, no matter what time thai happens, 1 simply
can't get up.
If I had a dollar for every time 1 have missed a class
because I wanted to sleep "just 10 more minutes," I
could buy all the clock-radios ever assembled. One of
the first tricks 1 had to learn was putting my alarm
completely across the room from my bed. That forces
me to get up out of bed to throw the alarm clock on the
floor.
Once I'm out of bed, I can usually make it the rest of
the way.
I
ays get paranoid around finals time about
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hughe J hysterica!!. It U:r.i ct V .1 I 1 S j
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when I cen t f tt to t'.-.p t . : s t e re a
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falling back to sleep and v.otir.z my way to an F. It
r.early happened once. I had set the fclarm for 7 a.m. o
I coalJ shower and eat treakfa-.t tefw-re an 8:30 exam.
X.'l.-Ti the alarm went cff, hyriene and r:-..tr;:;..;n were
suddenly a I :r;? way don the rr. I t. 1 dcveJ cff
and then wcke t -;k up at K:15. Have oj ocr seen
ar.ycr.e jurr-.p frc;n his Fed a:-i in'o a r--' 1 f r-n
one mot;on?
With thr.e f;.'!s b r- 5, 1 ..t d.ma srj C.l some
c,..:.i cc-r:.putat;ar. I f ; -el' '. t'H the a ere;?, teir.g
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wr:k. A I 15 weeks I : : : 'cr. th.t 4f:::es t.) 12)
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