WHAT NEXT???
One would think an organization which suggests it
exists for "community change" and "justice" would set a
shining example for the public, community service and
non- profit agencies to follow. We now know one's words
and one's actions can be diametrically opposed. Too often
some are content to hold others to a standard but are
unwilling to submit to the same standard. Some appear to
feel they hold all the answers; they have the one and only
correct" vision" and therefore they are somehow superior
or better than others. Unfortunately, going solely on the
lack of response by Revs. Walker and Legerton, we sadly
have concluded they are candidates for the " do as we say,
not as we do" award!
This newspaper publicly called on the executive
director of The Center for Community Action, Rev.
Legerton, to provide the last two audit reports and current
budget of CCA to this newspaper so we could share this,
what we feel is public information, with you, the public.
After all, Legerton and company have petitioned,
marched, demonstrated, called for public hearings,
challenged the various elected and appointed leaders in
our county, and pushed for "their vision" of a better
Robeson County for several years. This is in addition to
the fact that CCA has and is raising enormous amounts
of monies from various church and social change
organizations to fund such activities.
Much of this activity has been positive, but serious
questions about sincerity, questions about loyalty, and
questions about imposition of "the vision"
have legitimately surfaced fipm many members in the
Robeson County community. And one such area concerns
the finances of CCA (does nepotism exist?) and how these
funds are dispersed and what benefit such dispersal has
upon the lives of the so-called "target population" (just a
fancy couple of words meaning us Robesonians).
We were assured by the outgoing chairman of the
board of directors of CCA, Rev. Arnold Walker, that
audits were performed and the board was fiscally
responsible and carefully accounted for funds which were
solicited and spent on the various CCA projects. Rev.
Walker mentioned audits as one primary method of
accountability But our efforts have failed to secure one
piece of information which would substantiate Rev.
Walker's claims. Apparently Revs. Walker and Leger
lon's words are supposed to be good enough, but they
hold our county commissioners to a higher standard. And
folks, for us, 'that is the rub.'
Our county has tremendous problems but problems
that we, together, can overcome. Often times we need
help and sometimes we are fortunate to receive this help.
But, Robesonians need to be very careful about the
assistance receive from those who come to 'help us.'
Please consider the words of William Da vies, an English
poet (1871 1940), and be forewarned:
'' The more help a man has m his garden,
the less it belongs to him.''
Robeson County is OUR garden and in the final analysis,
the job of cleaning it up belongs to us!
We will no longer press CCA for information that
should rightfully be yours. We will not seek this
information under the Freedom of Information Act. We
will not contact the N.C. Secretary of State or the Attorney
General's office. We will leave it to others to contact
funding sources and ask "why?". We have informed you,
the public. You are aware of CCA and its activities and
while some of its activities have definitely been
worthwhile (i.e. environmental concerns...), in the long
run, you will have to ask yourself one of the obvious
questions:" why are Revs. Legerton and Walker reluctant
to let the public see what's going on in terms of monies
raised and spent?".
Upfront we want to it plainly understood that we are
unequivocally against drugs and drug dealers and that is
regardless of sex, race, creed, religion, handicap or the
national origin of the dealer. If anything we believe we
have been hitting our own the hardest for selling and
using drugs. This is because we strongly feel individuals
who sell drugs are on par with murderers and rapists
because these individuals not only poison people and steal
their humanity, self-esteem, and spirit, but as a
consequence of this, drug dealers also steal our collective
future, shatter our hope, and turn our dreams into
nightmares (if you doubt this, ask anyone who has been
down this road!). Therefore, in our opinion, almost no
penalty is too harsh, except maybe capital punishment,
for these "dealers of death, misery and destruction."
With that said, we would like for you to think about
this: Jonathan Lowry, one of several Indians who were
indicted on federal charges of drug trafficking, faces a
possible sentence of life in prison without parole and a $7
million fine while Gen. Manuel Noriega faces life in
prison and a $1 million fine. Our question is this---why
didn't President Bush invade Robeson County rather than
Panama? Now we know we are being a bit facetious, but
not much.
Robeson County is a safe haven for drug dealers. But
even more than that, Robeson County is a safe haven for
whites who deal drugs. What is hard for us to understand
is why the public, black, white and Indian, does not see
this fact' One merely needs to examine their newspaper
And they will be repeatedly hit with the obvious fact that
apparently only Indians sell drugs in Robeson County
because that is all that is arrested in our county. Is this a
fact? Do you truly believe that only Indians like money?
Do you truly believe that only Indians are selling drugs in
Robeson County? Really???
Sadly, we have even heard some Indians say perhaps
whites are too scared to sell drugs and that maybe only
Indians do sell these drugs. Can you really believe this?
What does this attitude say about the self-respect and
self-image of some Indian people? Do we, as a people,
truly believe we are the only evil in Robeson County? Do
we, as a people, truly believe other races do not take
advantage of this easy, and apparently if you are white,
safe way of making money in Robeson County? If not,
then how can any thinking Indian, black or white, even for
a moment, consider voting for Hubert Stone for Sheriff!
Stone is in the position to direct the attack on drugs and
when whites might face embarrassment, it seems Stone's
troops then say they "do not have the resources" to do
the job. A rase in point involves the $1 million marijuana
field which was discovered in the Lumberton area.
Remember? That is not ancient history!
The sheriff's department said they did not have the
resources to stake out the field of marijuana and therefore
they just pulled up the crop and destroyed it. No
arrests...no trouble...no embarrassment! What the
sheriff*s department did not tell you is that (according to
our sources) some of the land in question belongs to one
white, who is in sales, and another white, who is in law.
So why do you really think Sheriff Stone did not have this
marijuana field staked out?
It is very distressing to see Indians arguing with each
other over names and not facing up to the real problems
that face us and our brothers and sisters in the world.
Why must Indians seek dominion over each other? Why
must Indians act like Europeans and seek to build empires
even when these empires come at the expense of other
native people? What has happened to our faith in
Great Spirit and our common bond as a people?
mean so little that we gladly undercut our brothers affl
sisters just to receive some grant or handout from
federal government or BLA? Sadly it seems we too o^H
take immense joy and pride in the failure of other Indiafl
just because they do not choose to go by the same nan^|
we choose. Too often it seems some Indians are onl^f
happy when other Indians fail. And rather than ou^|
Indianness binding and bonding us together for supportfl
strength, courage, wisdom, development and growth, itS
seems our diverse names (Lumbee, Cherokee, Tuscarora, I
Hatteras, etc.) become the foundation for prejudice, ?
bickering, jealousy, racial slurs, backbiting, weakness I
and division. With such "Indianness" is it a wonder that I
our people still suffer today? Our future, our children, are I
dropping out of school, are tempted by drugs, are turning j
their backs on their rich and varied heritage because we, I
as adults, do not set the example. We do not set the high
standard. We have lost our way in the futile grabbing of
more and more material things while our brothers and
sisters sit without hope or help.
So while some Indians will join with others in protesting
the name Pumell Swett High School, and some Indians
will assist men like Hubert Stone because he did them a
favor, and while some Indians fight over whether one is a
Tuscarora or a Lumbee, and while some Indians seek high
position, wealth and power and forget to help others, and
while some Indians will sell drugs, and while some
Indians will get high and drop out of school, and while
some Indians will blame all their problems on others---our
future becomes bleaker, our children become weaker, our
destruction as a people becomes more and more
complete.
All of this "ranting and raving" is to say this: think
about your actions; think about the long term
consequences and costs and not just the present benefit.
Help Set examples for our children, encourage them to
remain in school, help those who do not Seek out the very
best, they very best leaders (men like Julian T. Pierce,
John L Godwin, Dr. Joseph Oxendine, and numerous
others-black, white and Indian) and help them to help
bring about positive change for all of us. As a people we
must come together and draw upon our collective
resources to face the tremendous challenges ahead. To
continue as we have in the past more assuredly condemns
us to repeat the past.
" When you have a choice and don't make it,
that is in itself a choice."
Wm. James
READERS' FORUM
? - i
Why Hasn t Kevin Stone Been Arrested?
To the Editor
Recently I heard on the news that a police officer was
cleaning his gun. The gun went off and shot a person, but
did not kill the person. The district attorney said
charges could be brought against the police officer. At
that point there had been no charges brought against the
officer. My question is this: how come charges could not
be brought against Kevin Stone for killing Jimmy Earl
Cummings, a Lumbee Indians. Is it because Cummings
was considered to be a drug dealer?
According to a coroner's inquest the killing of Jimmy
Earl Cummings was in self defense or accidental. Kevin
Stone is the son of Sheriff Hubert Stone. That is what the
Indian unrest is all about There are three races of people
in Robeson County, Indian. Black and white. Many people
do a lot of racial things in this county and get by with it
and they seem to stay ahead. Kevin Stone is just one
example of that in my opinion.
James W. BtU >
IjumbrrUin, NC
KLMitchell Baker, III, PA. K&DBBDB3
ATTORNEYS AT L_ A W
Fighting for victims' rights is what we do
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Offices in Lumberton m
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THE.CQACH'S CORNER
BY KEN JOHNSON
McEnroe's Attitude
A negative attitude to be sure but
he has won millions of dollars with it.
All he has done for years is throw a
tantrum when the going gets tough.
It throws the opponent's concentra
tion off and McEnroe wins. The
Australian Open tennis officials
disqualified him as the result of
cursing and racket bashing. Tliis
strategy is completely unfair and he
has gotten away with it including
hurting the feelings of ball boys and
girls, linesmen when they make the
wrong calls and referee. He would
win a lot more with a positive attitude
which improves his concentration
and playing ability.
winner. Montana does have the skill,
knowledge and the proper attitude of
the winner. There is a little saying,
"The surest way to win is play an
open game, give smile for smile, and
throw one in and friends will do the
same." Air<>!d Palmer is admired by
millions because of his smile and
positive attitude.
One can compare McEnroe's atti
tude of being negative with the
positive attitude of Montana, the
49'er's quarterback. This Montana
attitude plus his three-step drop back
and quick passes has led him to be
unstoppable. I don't see how the
Broncos and Dan Reeves can figure
out a defense for Montana's quick
passes. They can't blitz against it
And Hway drops back five to seven
steps, allowing the 49'er's defensive
backs to cover man to man. Anyway,
the 49'ers I pick to win the Super
Bowl, with superior plav with their
passes. All sports are made up of
skills knowledge and attitudes. Mc
Enroe has the skills, but no know
ledge or attitudes of how to be a |
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
TOWN OF PEMBROKE, NORTH CAROLINA
REHABILITATION OF PRIVATELY-OWNED
DWELLINC UNITS FY89 COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK CRANT PROCRAM
The Town of Pembroke, North Carolina, is
requesting bids for the rehabilitation of
privately-owned dwelling units in its FY89
Community Development project area. Bid
specifications will be distributed at a
contractor's meeting to be held on February
1, 1990, at 2:00 p.m. at the Town of
Pembroke Municipal Building. Interested
contractors or their representatives must
attend this meeting to receive specifications;
bids from contractors who do not attend
the meeting will be rejected. Bids will be
opened and read promptly at 2:00 p.m. on
February 15. 1990.
The Town of Pembroke's FY89 CDBC program
budget is $231,260, of which $195,027. or
81%, is being financed with CDBC funds
authorized by the Community Development
Act of 1971, as amended.
The Town of Pembroke is an equal
opportunity employer and encourages bidding
by small and minority businesses.
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