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EDITORIAL & OPINION PAGE AS I SEE IT by Druce Darron A CLARIFYING NOTE "I am not the Bobby Thompson who wrote the letter in the Robesooian.. There was a letter in the Robesonian Monday. Feb. 5, 1979 entitled "Investigating Trooper What about other man?" The writer of the letter was a Bobby Thompson of Max ton, NC / In the letter Thompson spoke favorably of Trooper Brown saying in part. "The people of Maxton are proud of the performance of Trooper Brown..." That's mostly how the letter is written through and through. Without spending too much time writing about it I will say. personally, aa I see it, that I disagreed with the letter although Mr. Thompson certainly has a right to state his-opinion Hey. afterall. this is America. But another Bobby Thompson wants to say, categorically that "i' am not the Bobby Thompson who wrote the letter in the Robesonian." This Bobby Thompson. 30. an Indian native of the county, lives in the Prospect Community with his wife and young daughter. He presently is a student at Pembroke State University full time. Formerly, he was employed as a postal clerk at the Pembroke Post Office. 4 Mostly, he wants us all to know that "I am not the one who wrote the letter people have been calling me because I live on a Maxton route, but I believe the Bobby Thompson who wrote the letter is a former law enforcement officer from the Maxton township." Anyway, let the record show: there are at least two Bobby Thompsons in Robeson County. This one didn't write the letter in fee Robesonian praising Trooper Brown. SECURITY IS OF INTEREST AS BREAKING AND ENTERING TOUCHES MANY For at least the fourth time, the office of The Carolina Indian Voice has been broken into. This time, however, the would be burglar failed because of a new security lock system by Ted's Lock and Key Co. In the pest, we have lost cameras and money (what little bit we accummuiate from time to time). * It's a horrible thing to be broken into. It must be the same sort of feeling, a woman experiences when she is raped against her will. It's<a feeling of outrage, of being violated. It's a horrible thing. Sir _ lft. ?* ?' IlikWIJl'ifl AM, seemingly, these ere more andhflomasrideecea <4 breaking Wd entering There seems to be little law enforcement people can do about it I guess they try but the breaking and enterings continue. It's like a flu epidemic, a rampant, run-away societal Anyway, we don't keep any money on the premises of The Carolina Indian Voice. Deposits ate made daily. We are usually about two dollars short all the time. Security is of paramount interest to many of us now. I recently interviewed Ted Chavis who resides on Railroad Street right on the outskirts of Pembroke. He's a locksmith. His specialty is the dead bob lock. The Carolina Indian Voice can attest to the fact that a dead boh lock is about at good a locking device as any. But nothing beats a trail lighted business or private residence. But, according to Chavis, the best defense against vandalism and forced entries is awareness about security Most people, according to Chavis, spend little time or money on security Besidei working as a locksmith, Chavis attends Pembroke State Ml time after a stint in the service. His wife, Judy works at University Sportswear. They are the proud parents of a daughter. Chavis has been in business about two months. He can be reached at 521-3323. A locksmith ain't a bad guy to know these days. Below Ted Chavis is shown with some of the keys from his trade. MOU AS I SEE IT FAGS 4 Letters Editor... Disagrees With Chancellor's List Dear Editor Many times i I have been reading the Vole* and wanted to speak out. I had "reser vations" about it because I am not residing there presently. My concern continues, espe cially after reading the Jan. 2Sth issue of the paper con cerning a new chancellor at P.S.U. First. 1 would like to say that I feel it is good for our people to spend some time outside of Robeson County. It is good for us to get exposure ?o various view points and grow and develop as aware Indian people. I think it is good for us to expose ourselves to what other Indian people are doing, their feelings, and how they are coping with the outside non-Indian environment. It is hard to leave the security our home, family, and place of identity. But it is good to explore who you are and grow. .1 Second, many Indian people away and in North Carolina are not pleased with the way PSU is going. You say because of out history we need an Indian chancellor. Is this our token ism? I say stop and look at ourselves. We continually lose our Indian students to other schools, even though they would rather go to Pembroke for their education, if only for the first 2 years. Since 1 have been involved with Indian programs, I have continually heard young people ask where they can go to a college that has a large Indian population, Indian organizations, and a real con cern for Indian students. I never say PSU. Why??? I have never seen PSU extend an arm f M and young people across the United States. At an Indian conference 2 years ago, col leges across the U.S. came to encourage indian enrollment. Was Pembroke there? No. There is a book listing colleges and universities concerned about Indian students. Is PSU there? No. The best education is to learn from one another, with our brothers and sisters across the U.S. For us it is good because we increase our knowledge of ourselves as Indian people. We become secure in inter acting with other tribes. If you say moat of us are already, you're blind. I was not. I was brought up Indian but had no idea of what that meant. I have learned so much from Indians of other tribes. There is a poster that reads: "We are not lost. Our ways are lost. Look hard enough and you will find them." Conclusion: When Dr. Chavis was appointed his position by the governor, people told me that he was being groomed for the chancellor job. I say that is not what should carry the weight of who is chosen. I would cast my vote for Dr. Oxendine because he and his family are involved with being Indian, and not in teaching us how to be white. We know th-t too well. I say this because I care for my people and would like to return some day when I have awakened myself more to what being Indian means besides a label. I want an Indian place to return to and not In name only. junTloweby The Carolina Indian Voice PlIlfcllllMl 1973 f " NihI 1 Publahad Each Thuraday A BRUCE BARTON - tSK2T QAt^iAirroN ?4 lA IMS CASOUNA INDIAN VOICE toaim to to Mtlflto 1 pweytly ?# wvwe to al ?f to reforte. SmmA cUm paH rn hill Si mill Umi fmrn ?n to TMS I CASOUNA SOMAN VOICE *0 Baa 1071, NaMt, N.C ? I A 0 ? ? An Editorial Expra^idn of the Carolina Indianvtfd&e "J J; ' WHY NOT LET AN OUTSIDE - INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY LOOK INTO THE PATROL-INDIAN Problem We notice that the RobesoniJbj the resident conservative daily, estimated that some 600 people attended the rally concerning the problems Robeson residents (mostly Indians) are having with the North Carolina Highway Patrol last Saturday night at the Pembroke Junior High School. The more liberal Faycttevlll# Timet and Fayetteville Observer estimated "more than 1000" were in attendance. The Carolina Indian Voice estimated that "more than 1500" attended the rally and, maybe, "as high as two thousand." If so, approximately 1/15 of all the Indians in Robeson County attended the rally because most estimates list some 50,000 Indians in Robeson County. That is phenomenal, to say the least. More than this, without fanfare, more than $500.00 was collected to help allay costs in securing a competent attorney for Tony Blue, the latest individual seemingly "brutalized" by a highway patrolman while affecting an arrest. It is evident that something is wrong in highway patrol-Indian community relationships. Where there is smpke there is usually fire. There have been too many complaints to treat this matter lightly. Something of a constructive and positive nature should be done about it. Some have attempted to tie the rash of fires (mostly in abandoned buildings) last weekend and previously to tensions resulting from a lack of confidence in the highway patrol by the mostly Indian community. Arson cannot, and should not b? condoned but neither should it necessarily be tied to the problem of patrol-Indian community dialogue (or the lack of it). As noted at the rally Saturday night (see front page story) every speaker preached non-violence as the mode for resolving the current problem. Because of the sensible and level headed approach of the organizers of the rally, no known incidents resulted after the meeting although the highway patrol was overt and visible in the Pembroke area on the night of the rally and since. The Indian community has shown a maturity sorely lacking on the other side. The response of Herbert Hyde, Secretary of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safetv (the department under which the highway patrol is sanctioned and administered) has been political rhetoric and a call for another internal probe. No one can investigate himself, certainly not Secretary Hyde. The Caroline Indian Voice editorially suggests that Secretary Hyde call for an outside investigator to probe the matter and report its findings in a public forum, preferable the state bureau of investigation. Too, troopers accused of "excessive force" in arresting citizens should be suspended with pay until the matter is investigated fully. Common ' sense is what we need now. The situation needs to be defused, not fueled by more fiery rhetoric. MORE EDITORIAL EXPRESSION BY THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE Joe Freeman Brttt Chastieed , Again By The Courts Once, in a national publication, District Attorney Joe Freeman Britt said, to the effect, "I go for the jugularvein" when prosecuting a case. That he does, and sometimes with too much zeal and little regard for people's civil rights. For instance, in Britt's most recent chastisement by an appeals court, James Calvin Jones was granted a new trial by the North Carolina Supreme Court because (according to the court) of an improper comment made by Britt. The court said that Britt lold jurors that if they erred in their decision "the defendant has i x<^53<j5^ ? the right of appeal. The state doesn't hav?. that." In ordering the new trial for Jones, Justice Joseph Branch, writing for the court, said Britt's comment was prejudicial to Jones, incorrect'and requires a new trial. He also said Britt made improper comments in his argument to the jury urging the death penalty. In chastising Britt the supreme court overturned the murder conviction and death penalty meted out to Jones in October 1977 in Robeson County's Superior Court. Jones was tried and found guilty of the July 1977 shooting death of Jimmy Locklear, 68. The jury unanimously recommended the death penalty rather than life imprisonment. Following the conviction, Jones was the first person sentenced to die under North Carolina's . new capital punishment law. Local attorney, Horace Locklear, also a member of the North Carolina General Assembly's House of Representatives, was Jones' attorney. It would be interesting to know how many times Britt has been overturned by an appeals court. More than usual? Has he abridged any laws? How much money has Britt cost the ? taxpayers because of the cost of new trials, etc. ? One thing is sure: the law should be obeyed by all of us, including our zealous district attorney. LETS FREE REV. BENJAMIN CHAVIS The Carolina Indian Voice agreed with President Jimmy Carter's decisionto pardon Patricia Hearst. -She deserved the benefit of the doubt; she was seemingly kidnappedagainst her ' will and indoctrinated by terror. Ironically, she might have had to stay in prison needlessly because officials seemingly were very careful that she not receive preferential treatment because of the wealth of her family. But what about Rev. Banjamin Chavis, the focal point in the Wilmington Ten trial? He is still imprisoned following the aftermath of racial problems in Wilmington in 1971. Last Friday two congressmen called for Chavis' release in Raleigh. Appearing in Chavis' behalf were Congressman John Conyers, Jr., D.-Michigan, and Congressman Don Edwards, D.-California. "Chavis is a symbol -of the injustice which occurs in the law enforcement system," Conyers said. "He (Chavis) represents literally thousands of people who have been incorrectly imprisoned." Chavis, a Black minister, will be eligible for parole next year. He is the only one of the original Ten still imprisoned. The rest have been pardoned after having their original sentences reduced by Governor Jim Hunt. Edwards said, "We cannot rest until this matter is resolved. I was disappointed that Governor Hunt did not issue a ftill pardon." Edwards also said that he had written President Jimmy Carter suggesting that the President issue a pardon to Chavis citing the presidential pardon of Patricia Hearst. Said Edwards, "I only wish North Carolina could be as generous." That is the editorial wish of The Carolina Indian Voice too. Free Rev. Benjamin Chavis and let's work to make North Carolina a good place for free men of all color and persuasion to live and work and play together. Maxton High's Homecoming Queen Mary Ellzabath Clark, a frashman at Maxton High School, daughter of Donald Ray and Edna Barry Clark, was racantty crownad "Miss Homacomlng." ""nwoffthepress I A NEW >OOK ?V SAMY1EWB EAKION. The Life and Times of I HENRY DERRY LOWRY Only $6.19 ($5.95 + 240 Tax) I n* |i iii ?? * ?-? iaygJrJirs to*ipf(7Wlliai ?y uwr." Please send me o copy of The Lie and limes of Henry Beny W lowry," ^ E Enclosed you will finpo check or money order for $6.19 which K includes handling ond mailing costs 6 taxes (24<t in Robeson) cky/9tm z* ca* mm Hi Out It* Coupon and Send. Along WMi Chodi or Money Order To.- W TM CAAOUNA MD4AM VOICK E P.O. Bok 1075 I Nmbfoho, HjC 25972 ? 4
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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