Newspapers / The Carolina Indian Voice … / May 26, 1988, edition 1 / Page 2
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L. READERS1 FORUM . ; WHAT'S NEXT??? fa previously reported, the d?aih of Mr. Billy McKellar in the Robeson County Jail on January 12, 1988 has boon investigated by Governor Jim Martin's task farce. This task fares was chaired by Mr. Phil Kirk, the Governor's Chief of SUff. The task force seemed to 'walk the middle ground' in its report, but nevertheless took the Sheriff's Department to task for baling to perform its duty adequately. Needless to say. Sheriff Hubert Stone strongly disagreed with the task force's report. Stone attempted to salvage some of his reputation by relying on his own. apparently, contrived "facts." Stone's opinion of the task force's report is obviously a protective reaction because it contradicted Stone's so-called investiga tion. Hubert Stone attempted to whitewash the events that lead to Mr. McKellar's death and as a result, his credibility has suffered yet another blow! We have learned to cringe when Sheriff Hubert Stone investigates and reports the "truth." It has become painfully obvious that Stone's investigations are inept, to say the least, and always clear the actions of his son. deputies, friends, and department. Everything is always rosy to hear him tell it His department is superhuman and never, never does anything wrong. But the Governor's Chief of Staff, Mr. Kirk, stated in the McKellar report "There was neglect but we couldn't fine any reason to suggest that it was intentional. We didn't see anyf criminal intent. Just neglect of duty." One thing troubing us about this matter, other than the needless deathof Mr. McKellar, is the task force failed to entertain or investigate the possible basis for this "neglect of dUty" by Robeson County Sheriff s Department. The McKellar death,in the Robeson County Jail was not an isolated eyem. Several people have died in jail. And before we hear frpm some elements in our society we ask they remember Mr. Bjlly McKellar has only been arrested. He had not been tried or convicted of any crime! He was waiting for his day in court. Thanks to the Sheriff s Department justice was subverted. . Is the "neglect" we have witnessed in the Robeson County (Sheriff s Department and in the operation of the Robeson County Jail symptomatic of a lack of training, lack ol professionalism, lack of funds or a blatant lack of concern and respect for the justice system and the citizens of Robeson County? Is this "neglect" fairly representative of the attitude of the Sheriff s Department towards inmates? Was the fact that Mr. McKellar was a minority responsible for the "neglect" he received? What action has Sheriff Stone taken against the individual(s) who neglected to do their duty? We fail to see how the Governor's Task Force could investigate this cause without doing some work to address ??me the questions above. Hopefully, the task force will reconsider its investigation and come back to Robeson County for a further, in depth look at the personnel, policies, practices, and procedures of the Robeson County Sheriff s Department and its operation of the Robeson County Jail. Sheriff Stone is not happy with the task force's report so do you think he will initiate change? The task force's job is not over. We still need help! How many more must die of this "neglect?" "The assumption that a lot of people seem to be making is that Joe Freeman Britt is not an honest prosecutor. 1 don't know of anything to substantiate that." James R. Trotter General Counsel of Gov. Martin Perhaps Mr. Trotter has heard the old saying, ' where there is smoke there is fire.' We wonder why our District Attorney does not take advantage of the opportunity to talk with attorneys who represent individuals claiming to have information about Corruption and drug dealing in Robeson 4 County. Just recentiy/'Mr. Alin McSurely, an attorney in Orange County, stated he had a client willing to provide information about corruption in Robeson County if he received immunity from prosecution. Mr. Britt could meet and talk with Mr. McSurely and his client and grant immunity only if the information was valuable or worthwhile. It would seem to us that an aggressive district attorney, who was genuinely interested in cleaning up Robeson County, would jump at the chance to receive information that would assist in this effort. Why Joe Freeman Britt chooses to sit back and ignore the situation is beyond us. Perhaps that explains Trotter's observation: "the assumption that a lot of people seem to be making is that Joe Freeman Britt is not an honest prosecutor." Will continued inaction by our District Attorney substantiate Trotter's observation? We wait and wonder! lb the Editor ^ In the put, we have shared concerns and constructive criticism of the Rob* ?anion for printing so-called "facts" before completely checking out the facta. Now, I find myself having to write the Carolina Mian Voice and file a similar complaint As I said to those at the Robetoman in the past it is euy to check the facts out when the will to do so is present The printing of falsehoods, misrepresentations of facts, and the manipulationof facts by not telling the whole story is are irresponsible actions for any newspaper. | Hie facts of May 16 are: ' KHiere was no one at the Gathering Place at 7:45 pm when I came to open it for the 8:00 pm Monday night meeting. You stated plainly that there were "approximately 40 people gathered outside the Gathering Palce." 2( There was onlyone thing at the Gathering Place- a note taped to the door saying the meeting was at the Tuscarora Offi Office. You failed to mention this fact altogether. 3) When I rode by the Tuscarora Office, the cars and people were all there. So when I got to the Gathering Hace, saw the sign, I continued home with my three children. These are the facts, simple and to the point. Your description is a total distortion of these facts. On lop of this, I am criticized and drug through the mud. You analyze my altitude and question my integrity based on your perception of the facts. You neither contacted me about what happened nor asked me about my intentions. It seems that you wrote what . vou felt based on the information you received without checking it all out Mohandas Gandhi, who along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will undoubtedly go down in history the two most influential men in the 20th Century, worked, spoke, and wrote alot about nonviolence and social change. Gandhi explained that the people would eventually learn that nonviolence was I the best strategy and moral basis for social change. He said that the hardest thing for people to learn is "civility", meaning how to be civil towards one another. This, he said, was harder to learn than nonviolence. In recent years, we have focused a tremendous amount of energy and attention on "injustice out there in ole Robeson." While we continue this effort, we must begin just as strong and hist as serious an effort to improve our " values in here." We talk alot about the code of conduct and values we want from officials. We must now do the same with ourselves and do it with honest, self-evaluation. What do we want the code of conduct and values to be of justice-minded leaders, professionals, organizers, journalists, lawyers, doctors, managers, laborers, teachers, principals, etc.? What does it mean to be civil to one another when the official code of conduct is based on so much 9~ /rev. mac lecerton responds "taking work more seriously s ourselves less seriously" dog eatdog relationship*, politics based on favors, and divide and conquer tactics? While we complain about such a system, our personal and professional relationships often exhibit the same conduct . ^ We must change. We must learn how to share our feelings face-to-face instead of throw judgements and rumors at each other. We must learn how to build community better than we know how to tear each other down. So many people don't want to get involved in improving their communities because of what their friends might say or do, not their enemies. We must all take a good, long look in the mirror and see how we encourage disunity, distrust, and victimization among each other. Finally, there is a new hope among the people of Robeson (Jounty, in spite of our recent tragedies and sufferings. People are beginning to believe that good people can now get into politics because there will be good people supporting them. In the past, many good people have even shied away from voting because they said politics is all dirty. Politics is only dirty because we've let it get dirty instead of standing up for the good. Yes, it's easier to stand up against the bad in others than to stand up. support the good that is in ourselves, and help that good to grow. I think the solution is to start taking our work more seriously and ourselves less seriously. There will always be conflicts, personality differences, and differences of opinion in community. We are not told to like everything about each other but rather to love each other. In the final end, how we change and are able to relate to each other more effectively will determine if we are winners or losers. Sincerely, Rev. Mac Legerton Finds D . A . "s Comments I nappropriate & I nsulti ng | To the Editor: Hie recent comment attributed to Joe Freeman Britt after ( his defeat in the May primary was, in my opinion, ! inappropriate and insulting to the citizens of Robeson County and to the memory of Julian T. Pierce. I also believe Mr. Britt's comment reveals a great deal about the character of the < man who seems destined to become a superior court judge as a j result of a flaw in the election law. Mr. Britt came in second on that day in May because more ] people still chose to vote Julian Pierce. Needless to say, this bad to wound the ego of Mr. Bitot, a man who baa never heed real opposition in an election, b this inaunee however. Mr. Britt (need real nppoehioii for the superior court judgeship and even after the uatixnely death of Julian Pbree. that opponion held and actually grewi Mr. Britt waa obviously aurprieed and embarrassed to! dbsever he had won the judgeship but loot the election to Mr.; Pierce. How could he explain hie defeat? How could he save face? Joe Freeman Britt choae to dismiss the vote and will of the people of Robeson County by stating most people voted for Julian Pierce merely out of sympathy. Do you not find this statement somewhat strange? Is it not a self-serving statement from a man with a wounded ego who refuses to face reality? Apparently, if one chose to believe Mr. Bitot's explanation, the citizens of Robeson County are not verv committed to certain principles and ideals so that is why they voted for Julian Pierce. I * >nde how many of Joe Freeman Britt's supporters changed their minds and voted for Julian Pierce out of sympathy? These have to be the voters Mr. Britt is" characterizing because, in my opinion, no supporter of Julian Pierce would change his mind and vote for Joe Freeman Britt. Mr. Pierce's supporters wanted change. They had had enough of "justice" under Joe Freeman Britt! In my opinion, Mr. * Bitot's "sympathy" explanation for his primary defeat is an insult to the intelligence of the citizens of Robeson County and is merely and attempt to nurse his wounded ego. You see Mr. Britt, the availability of a candidate to take office does not automatically make him the best man for the job. The character of the candidate, the principles he represents, and the hope for a better tomorrow guides many voters. In my view, when voters made the comparison between Julian T. Pierce and you, the choice was obvious. The vote of the people of Robeson County reflected that choice even though their candidate could not serve. Mr. Britt, you have my sympathy! But even so, you will not receive my vote in November! I will not compromise my principles especially to one so inclined to insult my intelligence. Lilburn Murray Pembroke, NC Say You. Road Xt In The Carolina Indian Voice Cal I 521-2826 To Subscribe >0000000000000000000000000000000000000009 CONGRATULATIONS TO REV . EH AS ROGERS To the Editor. Congratulations to the Rev. Elias Rogers who has succeeded in winning another battle to regain his position on the LREMC Board of Directors. I sincerely believe as do many others that Rfcv. Rogers should now have some freedom from troubling emotions, inuendos, and distortions of what happened at the October 6, 1987 election. It is amazing to us and sometimes even arouses our sympathy how some people, even board members seemingly forget Rev. Rogers long sacrifices. These sacrifices were made for all of us. I want everyone to know one thing specifically, we have devoured each other long enough. And you can believe thiat I have already asked the same questions you did: are we. the consumers, going to have to pay all these uncalled for legal fees, etc. I say this without an apology, these unnecessary bills ?to Id be paid by the ones who have caused the problems. We all know, and I have stated before, Rev. Rogers is the match that started the fire. He made it possible for minorities to be able to serve on that board. He made it possible for an Indian 1'ewhroke !>?-.(' #mr? Odoa and ? Iril I'riehf okr NC. I >??' 52 I 4 AO A Pharmacist illMaaaagi-S# ??ouimn-amm & 1 ?j L'ftr Farmers: Caution in sun Farmers and others exposed to lengthy periods of direct sunlight. Warning: Repeated over-exposure of unprotected skin to the sun can result in premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. With continuing depletion of high elevation ozone, g, I high d ses of direct sunlight become more I dangerous than ever. Cover up. Wear a hat, i sunglasses, and use a strong sunscreen. Fair-skinned 1 farmers are especially warned. Notice an unusual o* J persistent skin condition? See a Dermatologist. Moat |l ?kin diseases are curable, if treated early. Illjjpfk SUNSHINE I I , hirnurs Ttikc Caution?J ft fyutfiUimaeji i?l Say You Read It I r? The Carol i na I n cti sk n Voice . 4, -v- .. ?.? - to be able to serve as general manager of that co operative. Now is the time for all of us, both young and old, to decide wholeheartedly that we will never let this noble man be forgotten. This should be true, especially for those seated on the board with him, and also the general manager, Mr. Ronnie Hunt. It was not only a victory for them, but for all of us when he proved his defense more than twenty years ago. It is indeed great to have him back onthe baord. He is by far the most knowledgeable board member j that we have. I Rev. Rogers is a man of high opinion, with enduring faith, he is a person with wnom you can consult. He is a very aware commentator. It seems as if our board presi dent, Mr. Ward Clark, some how manipulated the other board members, or at least they proved they couldn't think for themselves. If they culd think for themselves, of if they had n<^ been manipulat ed, this charade woudl never have happened. Sometimes we all learn from our mis takes. I assume that some of our board members didn't understand, but they will Inowl Violet LocHear Route J Pembroke, NC < WILL YOUR NHriii MAD 11 C ?tiv IflUDlLL ENERGYHOG? Buy anything less than m ' a mobile home with CP&L's Common Sense Package J chances are you'll end UP squealing 'il<e a you know-what when you get your energy bill every month. Sure, these homes cost a bit more up front than ordinary mobile homes. But you'll save 30 to 40% on your heating and cooling costs. Not to mention the 5% discount you'll get from CP&Levery month. Winter spring, summer and fall. Plus, these homes feature enemy-saving appliances, storm windows, extra insulation and more. Why you may find you'll even sleep better in a home with CP&L's Common Sense Package, just knowing it's built better than the average mobile home. V\my be a glutton for punishmentrbtop feeding these hungry energy hogs ana insist on the Common Sense a ? Fcickage when you buy your new mobile home. And dont let anybody talk you out of it. The Common Sense Package .?? May it Manufactured Home Month and CP&L salutes all the retailers who promote energy efficieny by selling Common Sense Manufactured Homes
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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May 26, 1988, edition 1
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