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WHAT NEXT??? Lumberton Mayor David Weinatein announced he ?wU not aeek a eecond term. According -to our inlwmation thia waa a pretty popular decision for the folfca of Lnmberton. Smart move, Dave! We'll be looking for y? la 1MB ' Doubting Thorn**'' 11m ??taction of Clareoee Thomas to replace Hiurgood Mart hall on the U.S. Supreme Court ia probably viewed by George Bush and a large segment of white conservatives as a measure of poetic justice. Many "Americans" despised President Lyndon Johnson when he appointed Thuigood Mara hall to the court White conservatives were in a fit in their attempt to discredit Mr. Marshall. In those turbulent years some could not accept a black man who would have such power sad influence in our society. Years have passed and now conservative whites, becoming rather sophisticated over the years, have put the shoe on the other foot by putting forth the name of another black man, Clarence Thomas. Mr. Thomas' views mirror those of the white conservative majority in our nation today and therefore, he is acceptable. The fact he ia black is viewed as another bonus, liberals and minorities are now having "fits" as they an put on the defensive. Conservatives must be snickering to them ashes as minorities, moderates, and liberals attempt to dance around the "Thomas issue." Sadly, once again race has become a primary factor which clouds the derision which will affect our country for many years to come. libs Mr. Marshall before him, Mr. Thomas' race, rather than his qualifications, is paramount as groups put their press release machines into service. From the administration'* public relation* blitz we're learned Clarence Thomas, like many, many others in our country, grew up in poverty. Then is no doubt he struggled to get when be is today. But unfortunately, we an told he represents the American dream in that he struggled and fought his way up the ladder of academic, economic, and political success against all odds. We are lad to believe this proves it is possible for anyone if only be or she has the intestinal fortitude to stay the course. But, of course, that is a fanciful myth so often popularized by the right-wing conservatives in our country. This myth is worse than blatant racism because it is a purposeful lie which is used to reinforce the idea of white supremacy. Failure is not a factor of racism, unfairness, double standards of justice, inequality or poverty. Failure, from the conservative viewpoint, is always a personal shortcoming. This idea was roundly dismissed when proposed by reconstruction conservatives in the south of the 1870s. Sadly so many of our nation's conservatives seem to have adopted the ideas of the oT South to lead us into the 21at century, and on the surface, Mr. Thomas seems to be one of their standard bearers. Thomas and many others in our society had a fighting chance, an opportunity because of the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, under the leadership of Earl Warren. Thomas was fortunate in that individuals like William Douglas, Hugo Black, and Thurgood Marshall were sitting on the Supreme Court. But all this is beside the point In the final analysis, Clarence Thomas owes nothing to previous courts. The courts were merely doing their jobs and Mr. Thomas did his by taking advantage of the opportunity provided. Mr. Thomas owes nothing to his blackness. It's to his credit he was able to overcome the barriers which faced him because of the color of his akin. It would be helpful if Mr. Thomas would remember those barriers when he site on the Supreme Court because many still exist today in our society and some individuals do net have the resources or strength to break them down. Mr. Thomas owes nothing to tire powerful conservative movement in this country. Even though conservatives will place him oo the court. Mr. Thomas must realise the movement is just s passing swing of the pendulum which invariably swings back and forth in search of balance. Mr. Thomas owes everything he has and is to the American system. Democracy, in spite of the flaws and shortcomings, in spite of the bigotry and hate of the past, in spite of the fear and uncertainty of the future for some in our society, democracy proves itself each and every day by producing the Clarence Thomas' and Thuigood Mars halls of the world. Mr. Thomas has been chosen to provide a measure of certainty to our lives. Conservatives hope he will do this in one way. liberals hope he will do it in another. He will serve his country on the U.S. Supreme Court and to accomplish this, Mr. Thomas will have to put aside the hopes and dreams of pressure groups. He has been chosen to weigh the scales and insure fairness, equality, and justice aluxiyt win out That is no easy task! But Mr. Thomas need not worry. He will be appointed for life. He has a unique opportunity to make major contributions to our collective future. He need not be s white man's Black man or even a Black man's Black man. In fact we hope Mr. Thomas chooses to decide issues without regard to his sex, race or religion. He has earned this opportunity and he will be judged by history as to whether he was up to the task. He can never All Thuigood Marshall's shoes, but neither should he try. Mr. Thomas' time has come. And while we have serious doubts about Thomas, we bold out hope that he too will surprise his fellow Americans. After all. Justice Hugo Black, once a member of the Ku Klux Klan, went on to become one of the court's staunch defenders of equal rights and justice for everyone. Thomas has the opportunity?hopefully current doubts will be but vague, fading memories! While Thomas might become the judge, we will be the jury! Speaking of the mayor of lumberton, Mr. Weinstein recently wrote a "guest" editorial for a local newspaper. He continued to cry about the re-districting plan which divides Lumberton into three separate districts. But Weinstein exceeds the bounds of intellectual honesty in his vain, self-serving attempt to draw comparisons between Lumberton and the trouble areas of Croatia and Slovenia. If anything, Lumberton could better be compared to Yugoslavia. Control of the future and destiny ot Robeson County has been in Lumberton's hands for many years. Economic and political growth have been defined and controlled by the lumberton establishment while outlying towns like Maxton, Rowland, and Fairmont have been ignored. Things are now about to change. The re-districting plan was approved by the general assembly. So Mr. Weinstein can either grin and bear it, or if he continues his public weeping and gnashing of teeth, we will have no recourse but to dub him: "Sir Whine-stein!" We all know "whiners" will have no chance in 1992! "Battle of the Network Evangelists" A $80 million defamation lawsuit began with jury selection on Monday. Jimmy Swaggart is being sued by Marvin Gorman. If you recall, Gorman is the rival New Orleans "preacher" who released photographs of Swaggart with a prostitute which led to Swaggart's tearful, public "confession" (it would have been more believable if Swaggart had not had to be prompted to make such a confession; if not for Gorman, it's very likely Swaggart would still be sitting in that motel on the Airline Highway). Gorman is now accusing Swaggart of conspiring to destroy his New Orleans television ministry by spreading lies and rumors. It's interesting that during the trial, Mr. Gorman's lawyers wil be ?wb|s to bring up Swaggart'* sex life ~ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 iiin p ? 7-5 c^ftonq <zf^o(jz?on ^Jzai? Ulijf 'u$%. LKtieU, {?>i\*cto\ of its c/Vatio* c/lmt\iean 'Vn?<n? We have seen that Thomas Harriot's visit among the Indians of North Carolina in 1685-88 resulted in some astounding "discoveries." We have also seen that Harriot himself clearly did not understand all he saw and described. It is also apparent that Harriot had little or no idea of his own effect on the Indians. This is especially evident as concerns his impact on the Indians' health and world view. Harriot wrote that the Indians viewed European technology, specifically guns, metal axes, telescopes, and clocks, as "...rather the works of gods than of men, or at the leastwise...given and taught us of the gods." It seemed to Harriot that the Indiana had enormous respect for the Europeans, mainly because the Europeans could manage things with their technology which the Indians could not But we must wonder now whether the Indians were not truly more frigkUntd than they were impressed. Harriot also tells us that the Indians thought that anything which went wrong was due to some infraction that Indians had committed against the Europeans: "There could at no time happen any strange sickness, loss, (or) hurts...but that they would impute to us the cause or means thereof, for offending or not pleasing us." This kind of reaction on the Indians' part made Harriot think that the Indians held the Europeans "...in wonderful admiration." One example he gives of this is especially bitten "There was no town (where we visited)...but that within a few day* after our departure. ?? the people began to die very fast, and many in short space; in some towns about twenty, in some forty, in some sixty, and in one six score (120), which in truth was very many in respect of their numbers...; the dieeasn also so strange, that they neither knew what it was, nor how to cure it...; they were persuaded that it was the work of our God through our means, and that we, by Him might kill and slay whom we would, without weapons..." This caused these Algonkian Indians to ask the Europeans to use this perceived "power" on their traditional enemies (probably Iroquoianspeakers). Har riot says he explained to the Indians that such a request was "ungodly," and that "...God would not subject Himself to any such prayers and requests of men: that indeed all things have been and were to be done according to His good pleasure as He had ordained." M ftis evident from his writings that Harriot did not realise that he and his European companions were the bearers of the germs which caused these epidemics. Since none of the Europeans were killed by the disease. Harriot saw the epidemics as "...the special work of God for our sakes." Imagine the impact which these events and ideas must have had on the world view of the 16th Century Indian. For more information, visit the Native American Resource Center in Old Main Building, on the campus of Pembroke State University. READERS' FORUM A. v.'. ? . .4.. ' v . ? Plan for sound financial base for SATW offered To the Editor Much has been written recently concerning the need to move "Strike at the Wind" drama {rem the current location at the Adolph L Dial Amphitheater in order to improve the financial condition at the drama. I would like to suggest a plan that could establish a sound financial base for the operation of tee drama at the present site on a yearly basis. The plan is sell seasonal tickets at <60 each. The tickets could be laminated and the bearer, his family and/ or friends could attend the drama. The ticket holder would have the ticket punched for each attendance by himself or others. The ticket could be used for each performance or all at once depending on tee number in the group attending. The ticket would eeaeo to be usable after it had been used for the total number of performances for the year. According to the 1990 census there are 106,000 people living in Robeson County. The drains has operational expenses of $128,000 per year, according to published reports. We would sell 8000 seasonal tickets ($150,000). The additional $22,000 plus the art show auction and gate receipts could then be used to give better marketing to the drama. I have discussed this above plan with at least 80 people myself and each one of them said they would buy a seasonal ticket each year. The promotion could start at the end of this season and continue into the beginning of the next season. Samuel Kenu Pembroke , He ScDfeaartfeQ Sams J?0@JB?0-S8S@ FOR SNUFF THATS SWEET ASHONEX GIVE HONEY BE BUY j H. Mitchell Baker, III, P.A. ATTORNEY AT U\W Fighting for victims' rights is what wo do .. .and It's all wo do. IHfcaaasL. ? ? ?? J : ; Ll : U ? Wrongful Death ? Serious Auto Accidents Mm Cheree fmr MyUwiwg YmmrCmam 1-800 542-2664 ?19-739-731?l 4M4 FayMMNto M. I The descendants of Zackeriah and Matilda Locklear; also the descendants of Preston and Emaline Locklear are invited to the annual Locklear Family Reunion, Saturday, August 10, at Preston Gospel Chapel W Maxton. Those attending are. asked to gather at the church at noon for a brief program and lunch will be served immediately afterwards. Those planning to attend should Dring a covered dish at 919/521-1107. / VINYL SIDING V Vinyl Siding Available for ALL HQmmm MSN or (SSHCa Cover the Mood Mork on Brlok Hones ? NEVER PAINT AGAIN!!! 738-5*409 ALL TYPSS OS BUILDING ? REMODELING Room Additions, Enclose Carports ? Porches, Install Replacement Windows, Build Garages ROOFING No Middle Man FREE ESTIMATES I FOR ALL YOUR HOME IMPROVEMENT NEEDS Al's Aluminum S Remodel Ing Me Cover Homes, Ccassercial Buildings ? Churches I ^ RELIABLE ? INSURED J S*f fo# mod it 4h 7/k C+mlkm fttdiaH Voice r . Charsies Boutique 1 Vt&ignen LingtiUe., Nairn Stand. 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The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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July 11, 1991, edition 1
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