ASI 1
SEE IT
by
Bruce
Barton
-AN INDIAN MANIFESTO
I am a Lumbee Indian. That fact it the
focal point of my existence and has
dictated my life to date.
A Lumbee Indian, unlike a reservation
Indian, is free from the restrictions of a
tribal council but a Lumbee's Indianness
is emphasized even more vividly by the
society he (or she) lives in.
A Lumbee Indian is an idea, a
sociological phenomenon, as much as
anything else.
One is what he is, in part, by the
company he (or she) keeps. Like kinds
tend to keep to their own.
Being a Lumbee Indian is to hold a
name-Locklear, Sampson, Lowiy-or to
be a part of a community like Prospect,
Deep Branch, Union Chapel, Saddletree,
etc.
Life style, name, community, idea is
most important in determining whether
one is a Lumbee Indian or not. "Blood"
is important but not as overriding as the
above mentioned.
Lumbee Indians have also suffered
subtle-hut evil nevertheless-discrimina
tion in Robeson County. Lumbee Indians
are mostly products of segregated
schools. Lumbee Indians live in rural~
settings generally.
But Lumbee Indians, in large part
have always been fiercely independent,
proud, unhappy with their rank on the
sociological pecking order in Robeson
County. Lumbee Indians are striven,
goal setters, dream chasen.
Education-mostly at Pembroke State
University-has forged the Lumbee In
dian, given him (or her) a way to improve
their quality of Hfe.
I am a Lumbee Indian, a member of a
good and proud people. Is* what ljun.
f grew up in the Town of Pembroke, ?
poor but proud, as my parents struggled
fiercely to survive. My father was an
enigma, a reader, a writer, a guitar
player, always out of step with the world
around him.
I was educated in the Robeson County
Schools with my Indian peers. Races
were segregated until 1970. I knew no
other race but my own until I entered
service in die early 60's.
Each step beyond my upbringing has
been one of challenge, change, con
frontation. I have had, in a sense, to step
outside myself. I have had to relate to
other races, ideas, places, values.
But my upbringing as a Lumbee Indian
has marked me forever. I remain a
Lumbee Indian forever and always
because pride in my heritage has
replaced my fear of it. Although forced
by segregation and racism to be what I
am 1 remain so now because 1 have seen
the beauty of my Lumbee Indianness.
Now that many of the racial barriers
have been dismantled, 1 remain what 1
am because 1 choose to be so.
Being a Lumbee Indian is an idea, a
way of Hfe, a badge to those around me.
The bddge shouts, "I am proud to be a
Lumbee In "an..yes I ami" ?
And my children will also grow up
strong and proud as I instill Lumbee
Indianness in their bosoms, teaching
them as I was taught...to be proud of
what 1 am-a Lumbee Indian!
My wife, Barbara, our children Brandi
and "Sissy" now live in the Deep Branch
Community. Our children attend the
nearby schools. We attend Deep Branch
Baptist Church, a predominately Lumbee
Indian congregation. Our friends (by
choice) are mostly Lumbee Indians.
But there is a distinction that needs to
be made at this -point. Now that
segregation has been outlawed. 1 am a
Lumber Indian mostly because I choose
to be so. Yes, I am what I am. I am proud
to be a Lumbee Indian!
As the motto of Ths fas aha ladUn
Vsies notes, "one cannot know where he
is going if he does not know where he has
been." I know where I am going because
I know where I have been. |
?? f
-L nuKToa J
(p ?S2ipaM^)
HMTHERE'S SomejGPEAJ R?At>iNG.'
Hw&'v1./*-? Jti?" '?"?? ? k 3
' **.*?*t&2-? w? ?.*??> ? ? -^irri -wiii -m
r
Local Medal of
Honor Winners
t % rv
Dear Mr. Barton:
On June 7 of this year.
Postmaster General William
Bodger unveiled the new
Medal of Honor Stamp, hon
oring all those in our armed
forces who have earned this
distinction. To honor those in
the area who have won this
medal, we will be presenting
an engraved album of the
stamps to the individuals
listed below on August 12,
1983 at 11 a.m. at the Main
Post Parade Field (flag pole
area) at Fort Bragg.
Mr. Roger H. Donlon-Fort
Bragg, N.C.; Mr. Rodolfo P.
Hernandez-Fayetteville, NC;
Mr. Robert L. Howard-Fort
Bragg, NC; Mr. Rut urn 6. -
Hening-Roseboro, NC; Mr. .
Fred W. Zabitosky-Pemr
brok< ltC; aad Mr. Charter
B. Morris-Spring Lake, N? ,
Since 'the military offi- ,
ciala at, Fort Bragg art
assisting with the ceremony,
i.e., band, color guard, eta.,
the occasion will offer photo-,
graphic opportunities. Please |
contact Ed Odom of my office
at 919-486-2363 if you can be '
present aad if you have any
specific requirements.
Sincerely,
Acting Sectional Center
Manager/ Postmaster
Fayetteville, NC 28302-9996
REPORT FROM
U.S. Senator
JE88E ??
HELMS
WASHINGTON?Not even at the very last could
I bring myself to acknowledge that she had become, after all,
an old lady. She had accepted the passing yean as if time
were somehow meaningless. No matter how late the Senate
was in session she was eager for our late-evening stroll when
I got home. In earlier years we had jogged together through
the quiet Arlington neighborhood, but her gradual, growing
shortness of breath took its toll. As the end approached
we just walked, slowly.
Sometimes she would scamper ahead, up the silent
street. But then she would stop and peer backward through
the darkness to make sure I was not far behind. Cataracts
had dimmed her vision, and deafness had begun to set in.
But there was that unspoken determination to continue to
do the things she had so loved in earlier years. The affection
between us grew.
And then, in late July, congestive heart failure ended
her life.
PATCHES?As humans count years. Patches was 112.
One year in a dog's life, I am told, is equivalent to seven in
the life of a human. Her 16th birthday, in June, had been
celebrated with a dinner of hamburger and a scoop of ice
cream. I recall having been so certain that she surely would
be arpund for at tepst another year or so. But it was not tp.
be. Patches went quietly, with a slightly puzzled look in her''
soulful eyes but also with an attitude of resignation.
As pedigrees go, Patches had none. She was mostly,
beagle, but we were never sure?nor did we care?about
the rest. Nor did anybody else. She had the face of a collie;
her bark could have passed for a hoarse hoot-owl. She had
been patted and rubbed by Senators, judges and presidential
candidates?and she liked them all. She had been on tele
vision and in the newspapers, and had been totally unim
pressed by it all.
In 1981, her picture appeared, in color, in Time
Magazine. Almost immediately there came a letter from a
ten-year-old girl in Paris who had seen the picture. The child
enclosed a picture of her dog which could have passed for
an identical twin to Patches.
The little girl extolled her puppy, but added that she
was surprised that there could be two people in the world
who would love "such a mutt."
That little French girl and I became pen pals, because
we know how easy it is to love dogs which may be nonde
script to everybody else, but very dear to us.
YOUNG PEOPLE?I am often asked what I like
most about being in the Senate. That's difficult to answer,
because there are many enjoyable aspects. But if forced to
pick one. I think it would be my contacts with so many
young people and their families who come to Washington
to tour this remarkable city.
I have met families from all over America as they wan
dered about the Capitol, wondering how to go about being
admitted to the visitors' galleries of the Senate. A dozen
or more times a week, I enjoy escorting families into the
Senate Chamber. Occasionally, when time permits and the
Senate is in recess, I take them onto the Senate Floor itself.
A week or so ago, a young family from North Carolina
went with me into the Senate Chamber. The little girl of the
family is eleven. She was awe-struck as she moved around
the desks of Senators.
As they departed, she pulled me down and hugged me.
"I love you," she said. And then: "When I get home, they
won't believe me when I tell them where I've been."
That's one of the nice things about being a Senator. <
Pharmacist
ttv**rd
Pembroke Drug Center ^
ft
The crutch palsy condition
Improper use of crutches can cause a condition
known as crutch palsy, with numbness and weakness
of the hands and arms.
The problem occurs when the weight of the body
rests on the underarm (axillary) pads pressuring the
nerves and blood vessels, rather than supporting the
Ixxiy's weight on the handgrips. It is understood that
crutch length adjusts for your comfort.
From drugs to sickroom supplies, you receive
the most concerned and professional pharmacy
services in the neighborhood from our pharmacy.
Let us be yours?
TrniTTT m nut
?:W -*? Itol to M. M MM MrtVtlM* to<l> MM. <WI Of hU tolly
?toll Haw rlw* el ll?to <Mtor. ?? OlU >toto to M Ito ?Mf1l ?hict
thpy that bo Have on hfca should rooai v?.... ? _
V k ?
; " -1.... .
*
RTC
Grads
Robeson Technical College
paduated 383 student* in the
'embroke State University
'erforming Arts Center
rbnsday night, August 4th.
rhe guest speaker van ETC*
Board of Trustees Chairman,
Mr. A.D. Levis of Fairmont. .
Of the 383 students. 97
eere technical graduates, 161
sere vocationalgenduates,
ind IIS were adult high
ichooi graduates. J
Robeson Tech presented
swards to several students .
which included the RTC Spe
cial Service Award to Richard
Jones, Jr., President of the
1962-83 Student Government
Association, whose leadership
strengthened student activi
ties and implemented many
student projects, and four
Outstanding Service Awards
to Hoyt Booth, Richard Jones,
Jr., Rolf Kellerman, and
Gregory Oxendine who show
ed exceptional service to the
school as outstanding campus
leaders.
Betty Tart and Rolf Keller
man were awarded the Bruce
Boney Stephens awards for
academic excellence in main
taining the highest academic
averages in their respective
technical and vocational pro
grams.
Various businesses pre
sented additional awards to
students including Southeast
Production Credit's award for
academic excellence in busi
ness to Joiene Long; Wall
Street Journal's award for
scholastic achievement in
business to Cedric Thompson;
Robeson Office Supplies'
special awafd to Edwina
Lewis; Acme Electric Cor
poration's special awards to
Robert Meehan, Gregory Ox
endine and Robert Shaw;
McKenzie Supply Company's
special awards to Daniel
Evans and Dwight Murray;
Pembroke Machine Com
pany's award for academic
excellence in die machinist
curriculum to Gene Elvington;
Bryant Supply Company's a
ward for academic excellence
in the electrical curriculum to
Joe Forest Ross; Carolina
King Welding Supply's award
for outstanding performance
in welding to Roger Grass;
and Harvey, Hasco's a
wards for outstanding per
formance in the air condition
ing curriculum to Robert
Meehan and David Kinlaw.
For the first time this year
RTC awarded a one year
scholarship to each of its ten
adult high school graduates
who scored the highest on die
North Carolina Competency
Test. These graduates were:
Barbara Blanks, Jessie Blan
ton, Jr., Anthony Connor,
Earl Jordan, Ramona Jordan,
Kenneth Pait, Monette Sin
gletary, Nancy Strickland,
Donna Thorman and Dale
Thorndyke. In addition RTCs
Alumni Association presented
cash awards to three adult
high school graduates who
scored the highest on the
State competency test. The
recipients were Donna Thor
man, Jessie Blanton Jr. and
Kenneth Pait.
ISN'T THIS A
c,Day'J
THECASOUNA
INDIAN TOICK
P.O. Dm 1975
Pea*nb?,M.2tt7?
u.s. ps. pmkw
Published each Thursday
Established 1973
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE
PMDATPEMBIOKE.NC
2*372
Subscription l?'ev
hi Stats
1 Year *9.36
2 Years IS 60
OVTNAAH '
1 Year S12.00
2 Years 16.00
^editorial4
Wand opinio id
1 page
fim Cannot Know Whovo Wo Arm Going
If Wo Don't Know Won Wo'vo Boon...
So fittingly we honor our Pioneer Fathers
MEANDERING
Keweaibur - thwe vlewa an nine, they
an sat ne ce warily aayaaa elee's; they
WITH GARRY L. BARTON
"BobCor" or "RobScon?"
Some people go through life never
feeling loved or wanted if they're present
or missed if they're not. In that regard I
guess you could say I'm more fortunate
than most. Three different people told me
they missed my column when I recently
went on vacation (if that's what you call
being unemployed) and discontinued it for
a spell. Think about it! I have three fans
out there who shall remain nameless for
the sake of my many detractors out there
who would argue that I shouldn't include
myself in that three. Nevertheless, I
declare to my Cult of Three (Two if I can't
count myself): I'm back I
I'll,be honest with you folk. With the FBI
camped out in Robeson County seemingly
intent upon meeting their quota of pro
mised arrests, I'm kind of jubas about
picking up the pen again. But I have just
got to say this. One of the agents said the
arrest of Chris Antwi was just the tip of the
iceberg. If the flimsy charges against the
recently arrested eleven in die county is
any indication, the FBI haven't even shown
me the tip of an icecyle.
Think about it people. If the prejudiced
treatment of the two Indians arrested
among the eleven is any indication, the FBI
must ascribe to the same sentiments of the
late President Kennedy. Weren't he
the one who said: "I'd rather be dead than
red"?
And NC FBI Agent Pence coined the
investigation "RobCor" for Robeson
County Corruption. Ain't that cute? I think
it would be more appropriate to call the
investigation "RobScam" in honor of the
recent "Abscam" investigation. This is
just my opinion people. Jbut the "RqbCor"
investigation seems to be a scam to me. I
wonder if I can say that out loud.
And did you notice the alleged crimes
charged against the unfortunate eleven?
People pleasel There don't appear to be a
decent murderer or bank robber in the
lot...at least nothing to my estimation to
warrant the FBI becoming involved.
I guess some of the crimes are felonies. I
don't know much about stuff like that. I call
them "miss-the-meaners." The more
culprits the FBI seem to miss in the
crackdown, the meaner they seem to get.
Seriously. Think about the damage to the
two Indians' reputations already done
when they were arrested and handcuffed
like hardened criminals. Then, as if that
weren't bad enough, they were paraded on
TV like they were some hardened criminals
recently escaped from the famed escape
proof Alcatraz prison of days gone by.
They were treated like they were another
John Dillinger or a Machine Gun Kelly.
Now John Dillinger and Machine Gun were
Criminals with a capital "C." That's the
calliber of criminals 1 have come to expect
the FBI to become involved in.
Yes siree! Before "RobScam" when I
thought about the FBI I automatically
thought about former director, the late J.
Edgar Hoover capturing the notorious
J (An Dillinger with die help of the famous
"Woman in Red." But now the FBI's
image is tarnished in my eyes. Now when I
think about the FBI, I think about a "Bird
in Black" chirping his heart out for some
reason. And the FBI dancing to his
discordant tune. Don't know why I think
about that instead of the "Woman in
Red."
Well, anyway. I better shut up for now. I
got the shakes the other day in Pembroke
when I jaywalked, illegally crossing the
street much like the chicken-'cause I
wanted to get to the other side. If a
stationwagon with writing on its side would
have passed while I was in mid-stride I
probably would have had a heart attack.
If you don't hear from me next week
you'll know they had East 3rd Street in
Pembroke staked out and that they caught
me red-handed (or should I say red-foot
ed?).
Wonder if they'd fall for a plea of
temporary insanity?
AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSION
Senator Soles 'Not Guilty'
Portent of Things to Come
in 01' 'Robcor'
The headllaea raag eat Taesday
net grfty." And that verdict aeean to as
very ow^"BebCor'' probe hen la 01*
This newspaper expresses satisfaction
k the net gnlty verdfct expressed by the
Jniy k the trial of Senator B.C. Seles whe
Uvea hi aearby Taber City. The bmb le a
take a ana's ispataHia and drag l|
threagh the andla aiad like the
BspkbBcaa Federal Dktrict Atteraeya
and the FBI have dene. Decency ahsahd,
aeen than any place eln, be shewa k
T m ***" "M<111" ?*
Senator Soke ?w feaad not gaflty of
aMkg and ah ill kg the extortkn of
?eney hear FBI aadnram agonta k
1981 and 1912, the charge behag the oaly
ena loft after Jndgo Janes C. F?* laew
?* charges of |ykg k a grand JNy,
lafhnaikg a pnrliaa netals WB and
preariakg aet k Seattle a ?tool driak
Ban k Behoeea Coanty the fcftlod
anqrhe jaat naybo 814,888 haa been
Ghanka ban Africa, nfl he was
Aatwt has heea teillag preeecatera
everythlag he knows k he pea ef
akee he hae pleaded gr*ty ManaH.
i
the board of commissioner*, end i
usber of others, it doe* seem much ado
about hardly anything. Some aI the
cheeses seem pitiful, hardly worth the
teas of thoaaaads spent by the FBI to
date la the probe.
Even the cBstrict attorneys prosecuting
"BobCor" do ast think the matter h
serioas ff one leaks at the bond set for the
alleged i limiis The charges faclnde
people who Ived la Hoke Coaaty sad
sold they ttved la Bebesea Coaaty,
move Antwf from Us pest If be did not do
as he waa told sad other similar sperloas
As my friend Boh Windsor, the bib
wearing sad wId-eyed editor of THE
LANDMARK, one of the greatest
Hn,lMdd!"...by the way this h the 7Stfa
anniversary af the FBI. I waa given
tecy and Its highlights. They have
pfctmea af Hoover, Kaly, Websyer, of
ailsatlfb labs, fhgmptlnt files, FBI
agnate learalag to shoot and their
tan, the J. Edgar Heaver Balding. They
hove pictnma af Baby Faced Nebea, Doc
BjrMtrjiahn DBMjpsr, Pretty Bey Floyd,
Barrow. They have Bats af these they
have taplmad sad bcnaght to trial
hckdhg Oevnaaa spies, Alger Hoes, the
Rosenbergs, Ciliml Bndelph Able and
many afters. Now they can add to that
Bat af great aHeeta names af Theresa
Beadreaai, Leaale Ceggla, Jeeeph
Ward, Jr., H J. Edwards, Alton White,
We aspect, after HI ft* hoopla, md
aat gaftty verdkts wB remit Beat ear
"BebCer" preha tee. Bat It's going to
oast a 1st, as we eee It. Tea mash.