Newspapers / The Carolina Indian Voice … / April 30, 1992, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
WHAT NEXT??? Elections seem to bring out the worst in some people. We have watched many political contests in the past twenty years....Many things have occurred which left us with a bad taste in our mouth, some have left us with deep, abiding wounds; but nothing we have witnessed thus far can compare to the advene reaction we have to a recent ad by David Weinstien, candidate for N.C. Senate. In this ad, Weinstien states that incumbent David Pamell was responsible for the failure of a bill to honor Julian Pierce. Our sources tell us that Senate Rules allow for resolutions of honor for senators. We question Weinstien's sincerity and his concern for the memory of Julian Pierce. More importantly, we question his concern and support for Julian Pierce when he was a candidate for Superior Court Judge, prior to being brutally murdered. If memory serves us correctly. Weinstien was major of Lumberton at the time of Julian's death. We do not recall a public outcry of outrage from the Mayor at the time of this tragedy. We do not recall one statement of sympathy or concern bom the Mayor at the death of a man many Indian people considered a symbol of hope.... * We are outraged that the Mayor will come up foi.r years later and try to determine when an emotional button can be pushed for Indian people and when our emotions can be stined to his own personal advan taged. Apparently, Weinstien has been advised that the mention of Julian's name, the memory, pain and suffering conjured up by an implied slight will result in the outpouring of Indian votes for Weinstien....This is ludicrious and he is more than naive to believe that....It is an insult U> the intelligence of Indian people and almost sacri-religious. Weinstien's actions prove#" anew that he has absolutely no understan ding of Indian people...He neither knows nor cares to learn, in our opinion, those issues that are impor tant to us as a people....We suggest that the May>r return to Lumberton and cease and desist from any attempts to arouse our emotions to evoke Indian votes for himself...It is another indication of h-w very little he knows about Native American* and how little respect I e I as for those thing* we consider sacred? Julian Pierre is our legend, our hero... We made him bigger than life because we needed a hero...As a people we needed a beacon of hope at that time....We await Weinslien's apology to Indian people and his defeat May 5th...He has demon strated, in his feeble attempt to ressurrect the dead for personal gain (in our opinion) the greatest show of insensitivity we have ever witnessed. READERS' FORUM Service better .than selfish airibitionT . t To the Editor Seldom has a condidate running for public office had his or her record attacked more than that of Senator David Parnell. In Senator Parnell we have a man wlose cl aracter is unblemished and whose ability is unquestioned. This is attested to by the fact that he is a Sunday school teacher and has 18 ypurs of public service. Does the crucial situation that exists in Robeson County not need men of his calibre? I think so. Is it 'wise to change horses in the middle of a stream? I think not. In Senator Pamell we also have a man who championed the act by the legislature to create a minority superior court judgeship. In Senator Parnell again we see leadership in having a minority appointed to a superior court judgeship after the untimely death of Mr. Julian Pierce. Robeson County, North Carolina and the nation as well can ill afford to lose the services of men who have the statue of Sen. Pamell. May all who seek public office come to the realization that to serve our fellowman is scriptural and is better than selfish ambitions. JAMESMOORE Pembrulrt. SC . PA's suspended from RHCC To the Editor Robeson Health Care Corp. (RHCC) with clinics in Maxton, Fairmont and Pembroke has poor patient public relations, in my opinion. There have been different primary care providers at Pembroke, Julian Pierce Clinic, for the past six years. This Center's patient care load is comprsied of 80-85 percent Indian. Two Indian providers, Earl Cummings and Leverne Locklear, wish to remain in this area and have an impact on raising the level of health care, but have been forced from RHCC. According to Jim Martin, "The PA salary was depressed to get Earl to quit " and Leverne was suspended for being in the clinic after hours. Curtiss Holman and Charles Stewart said, "Leverne has a chip on his shoulder." The suspension came after four years of faithful service to all clinics and about four years of service to the Kobe son County Detention Center. Hie suspension came without a reprimand. On March 5, 1992, I appeared in court for a civil matter, not related to employer, yet Curtiss Holman and Karen Godwin of RHCC, entered a statement that "I walked away from , a good job." Again on March 17, Jinnie Lowery, Curtiss Holman, and Attorney Murray appeared in court to influence theJudge not to lower child support payments because of an EEOC discrimination charge. The charter and commission of RHCC is to improve health care and it will be necessary to have a medically trained person as an advocate. This note is to inform staff, board and patients. Irregularities may be sent to: George Williams, Public Health Service, 101 Marietta St., Atlanta, Ga 30303. Leverne LockLear The Robesonian is unfair to Judge Dexter Brooks To the Editor. Recently, the Robesonian carried a newsarticle and an editorial critical of the sentences imposed in the cases of a Morgan couple involving the possession of marijuana. Although several law enforcement officers were quoted, the reporter and editor did not even try to talk to the attorneys who defended the couple before writing about the cases, ft would seem that as a matter of simple fairness that the writers ft least talk to both sides before jumping to their conclusions. COMIM HKtM'AOKtl H. Mitchell i Baker, III, P.A. ATTORNEY AT LAW Fighting for victims' rights is what we do .. .and it's all we do. ? Wrongful Death ? Serious Auto Accidents I No Chargo For Roviowing Tour Com 1-800- A 542-2664 JM 919-739-7518 Um 4904 FayrttmlH* Rd. Lumbarton, N.C. I I k I I "l k i *y M * This $300.00 Minimum *6818000 Checking Account Allows You To Write Checks WITHOUT A SERVICE CHARGE As Long As The Balance Does Not Fall Below $300.00. If The Balance Does Fall below $300.00, A $6.00 Monthly Charge And 30e Per Check Is Necessary. I DEPOSITS FEDERALLY INSURED TO $100,000.00 PROGRESSIVE SAVINGS & LOAN, LTD. I MM N. Outturn lamkana^H.C MOOFiynurtblarf Uunbartaa, N. C. TW-I4U T20 Harris Avooao Ha.rord. N C. ?7M4M 410 E 3rJ Sunt IVrabrakti. N. C. 831-4206 \cA Con6Lion ES3J 2>I. Jim U(mU6, 2W?<?*OI tP?*\l <yVa??i cAmtxU+m ^MMtM , ? Sometimes it seems that the government is playing games with Native Americans There's the "Proclamation Game" for example, such as when llie i"resident <>r the Governor "decides" to proclaim some month as "Indian Heritage Month" or some year as the "Year of the Native American." Recently we have had two "Years of the Native American" (1986; 1992) and two 'Indian Heritage Months" (Septem ber; November). I'm not sure what the rules of this game are. but they seem to be political in nature. In any event, then? may be no serious losers in this game. But there are four other "games" the government plays in which it is clearly rassible to win or lost They are the^Jreaty Game," the "Remo val Gai6?v' the "Bkrod Game," and the "Origins Game." So far the score is something like: Goverment 1,000?Indians 7. The "Tieaty Game" goes like this. If your group made a treaty with the government, then you must be Indians. No treaty-no Indians. For get about whether the treaties were actually honored by the government x not. And never mind that your group of Indians was so reduced by European disease and warfare by the time the government started making treaties that there was no need for making a treaty with you (because by then you didn't pose any military threat). Don't worry about these 'little details." If you had a treaty, then you must tic Indian). No treaty no Indians, nice game, el Then there's the "Removal Game," which is sometimes called the "Reservation Game." If your group was removed west of the Mississippi during the early 19th century (i.e. the Trail of Tears), and forced to live on a reservation chosen for you by the government, then you must be Indians. No removal (no reservation)--no Indians. Nevermind if you didn'i want lo be removed. Never mind if you weren't removed because yob lived in a geographically isolated place and got along tolerably well with your non-Indian neighbors. No removal-no Indians. This is a nice game, too, don't you think? The "Blood Game" is also a good one. If you're an Indian, then exactly how much of what kind of "blood you have can make a big difference. If you have a certain amount of "Indian bltiod." then you must be Indian. If you doh't have that certain amount, then you must not be Indian. Never niind if nobody elie m America gets asked how much of what kind of blood they have, in order to identify themselves as belonging to a particular cultural group. Did you ever hear of anyone asking: "are you full-blooded while?' Or, "Are you full-bhxided Black?" Or, "Are you fall-blooded Hispanic? and don't worry about the fart that different groups, tribes, and agen cies have different requirements for exactly how much of that certain amount of "Indian blood" you must have in order to be Indian. Never mind that "blood" is ?of what is transmitted from person to person when babies are conceived. Never mind that genes are the really transmissible stuff. And never mind that All, HUMANS, regardless of "race," share toughly 90 percent of their genetic make-up, even with chimpanzees and gorillas! Never mind that there is really extremely little genetic difference between any humans of any race. And never mind that a person's cultural identity does not always precisely follow genetic make-up. The "Blood Game" con tinues. Even some Indian people like to play it! The fourth is the "Origins Games.' During most of this game, the government says over and over for two hundreds years in a number of very persuasive ways, that it wants Indians to forget their origins. It says it wants Indians to forget the past (language, religion, vral traditions, etc...) and become like everyone else. It wants Indians to he happy (as long as they art like the rest ofj Americans)! Bui late in the game, when the government is_ finally mm * convinced Lh*t Indiana are not going to disappear (even though the Indians may have "given up a lot of points" in the "Treaty Game." the "Removal Game," and the "Blood Game"), then the government ehan ges the rules and decides that Indians must prove m uniting their origins. Quite a game, isn't it? When all four games are played at once, it's no wonder that the score looks a bit one-sided. Maybe as more Indians become involved in policy- making, we will be able to take the "games" out of the relationship between Native Ameri cans and the government. For more information, visit the Native Ameri can Resource Center in Old Main Building, ?n the campus of Pembro- - ke State University. a i s^**"m Help AU The Children Rise To The Top Elect My Daddy Mitchell "Bosco" Locklear Board of Education District #4 "A Proven, Aggressive Advocate for today's children...and tomorrow's" IYour Support Will Be Appreciated May 5 PAID FO? BY THE COMMdmE TO ELECT MITCHELL LOCKLEAft "I was a candidate for the House of Represen tatives in 1978, 1988 and 1990. I was elected in 1990. I appreciate the confidence people placed in me. I believe I served effectively during my term, which will end January, 1993. I believe Cliff Sampson can continue the progress we have begun. I urge all my supporters to vote for Cliff Sampson, the people's candidate. I think he's the best man for the job." REP.ADOLPH L DIAL PAID FOR BY N.C HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ADOLPH L. DIAL
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 30, 1992, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75