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Yours Truly by Lew Barton Krflght of Mark Twain It's kind of funny to look about Cu and see the many changes that ve taken place since you began your trek through the world in 1937. People have entered the scene-and departed. Some have failed, some have succeeded. Some have lived and others have died. The grave yard looks much different today than tt did just a few years ago. You have changed too. You are not the same man who walked the streets just a few years ago. Contrary to what some lawyers thinlr each business changed a lot. I have changed alot. And one day before long, each will have to give an account of what he has done in life. Amassing a quick fortune at any cost, is going to cost too much in the end. The same is true of every thing else. I don't know why I got off on such a subject, but however it came, it is serious to consider. NOW-every man has to satisfy his own conscience as before a just God which is easier said than done, believe me. I hope every thing I have done will come out right somehow. Still Waiting for Common Sense from O.H. Lewis As one who has read all of the letters to the editor that The Robesooian was willing to publish on the subject of the Morgan mari juana possession cases, I am com pelled to respond to the letter ofO.H. Lewis, Jr. (who apparently signed an earlier such letter as H. Lewis) which appeared in the 2 July 1992 edition ofthatnewpaper. As I read the letter of the Robeson County Bar Associa tion if Warren Junior Morgan had hadaprior criminal record that would have been an aggravating factor whcih could have been used to im pose a maximum sentence. In his case, however, not only were there As far as the "brain teaser" posed by Mr. Lewis where he questioned whether he would be better off fac ing murder charges with or without an attorney, please allow me to quote the old adage that "He who repre sents himself has a fool for a client." I am sure Lewis will agree that being a fool is certainly no ran for anyone, especially if one is "no match for... lawyers." As far as "beating the rap" that would depend, as always, upon the facts. If Lewis were a Baptist Deacon who shot an aimed intruder into his home (who was wearing prison clothing) while protecting his family, I would say that be has a pretty good chance. Especially since he would have the benefit of the presumption of innocence to protect him against jurors who decide cases based upon what they read in the newspapers Since Robeson County has the highest rate of not guilty verdicts in the state it would appear thai being charged with a crime is not the same as being guilty. There is the small matter of the trial. In closing, while I ponder the smoke and the substance, I am re minded of the old adage: "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt" This is why so many of us, including the writer, should be a member of the" silent majority" Case dismissed. Yours Very Truly, J ante Maynor Lock] ear Pembroke Where's the golf course cultural center controversy? To the Editor After a recenttnp to Oklahoma with my famiy to visit Dr. J.T. Bell, I am compelled to write regarding teh so-called golf course controversy. Dr. Bell gaveme an inspirational look at the way Native American tribes * crf!%ork together for the good of the entire Native American community. Each tribecontinually tries to im prove their lot in life, economically, educationall and spiritually. The needs of the tribe, the people, are considered to be important! Unfor tunately, this is not and has not been the case in Robeson County for a longtime. What is gmg on in the hearts and minds of the supporters of the golf course? How can they justify stop ping or even holding up a project that will bring jobs ami much needed economic growth to Robeson County? How can playing 18 holes of golf on a course locally known as the "cow apasture" compare with the educational opportunity the NC In dian Cultural Center offers? At a recent luncheon with a mem ber of the Chamber of Commerce from die Lumberton area, I was in formed that the Lumberton area busi nesses would do whatever they could to help keep the golf course contro versy alive in die hopes that the Cultural Center would be moved to the Lumberton area. It washis opin ion that the Cultural Center as well as Strue at the Wind and PSU would thrive bettwr along the area around Interstate 95. He felt that the Lum berton area could offer more support and being on the interstate would draw a larger crowd. He further stated the local Native Americna popula tion would never be able to pull It would seem course , supporters have aligned flKmselves with the greater Lumberton eco nomic bloc to move the NC Cultural Center to Lumberton and keep the golf course at its present site. The golfers do not want to drive to the new course in Lumberton or to the other courses in the area. The Lum berton economic bloc wants the fi nancial benefits of the cultural cen ter in Lumberton They can see the dollar signs this project can bring. For them, the center would be an other South of die Border. A place for tourists to stop and spend money. They would reap the financial re wards while local Native Americans would be allowed to sell fry bread, tickets and clean up after the tourists. 1 do not think so! They say the present site is just too far from 1-95. No (me will drive 12 miles to go to the center. This is another example of pure propaganda designed to further split the Native American community. Look at other tourist attractions across America, the outdoor drama Unto These Hills" as well as The Trail of Tears" are LIFE The following poem was writ ten and read at the funeral ser vices for Mr. LeRty Kerns, July 7, 1992, at Deep Branch Baptist Church. It was written and read by his granddaughter, Radella Locltlear. Choosing life begins with death for only through death does one experience life. .An eternal life that's never de manding but comforting and relieving of the world below. For Papa loved his lifetime through with children, grands, and greats his family grew. Many feces forgotten and misun derstood but he strived to remember as best he could. As a grandchild, I watched the changes from the beginning to the end. One knew the chances to recover and live life again would never happen, but to pray for it could ease the pain. I've seen what matters most, lost the ability to communicate and live, but even though your memory of us is gone You'll have someone waiting for you on your return home: Glenn and June to reunite. And never again will you forget but everything that was taken away will be returned many times greater and life again will begin once fcA Cony ccR o& tion 1&5 2>t. ?t+m. D(nU&, tbitniox iP?rU ?V+Uvi cAmtxUa* *R UO*\** C imhx I When Europeans came to the Americas, they were looking for a "New World. Their "Old World" had proved to be a place with limited opportunities: for religious and po litical freedom; for economic devel opment; for life without devastating plagues; and for land on which to live. Thus the idea of sailing away to a "New World" of unlimited oppor tunities seemed to be the perfect way out for many ordinary European people. The "New World" also offered the kings and queens of Europe new and greater power. The country which could control trade with the vast resources of the "New World" ? would have an immense advantage over countries which were left out of the trade arrangement. Spain and England wanted power over each other. France wanted power over both. Portugal and The Netherlands each wanted their piece of the new 1 trade pie. < I In the colonial view, the Indi ans would just have to get out of the i way. Never mind that there was 1 really nothing new about this "New 1 World"; that people had been living j here for many thousands of years with their own governments, Ian. guages and customs. European dis- 1 ease, wartare, assimilation, termina tion, compensation and relocation would do the work. The Indians would just have to get out of the way of "progress." In the process, virtually all the land in the Americas was taken over by the outsiders. Indians were forced either to live on reservations (land that the Europeans thought was worthless) or to isolate themselves in remote areas in order to survive The Indians wound up, in many cases, living where no one else would. So why is there still, 500 years after Columbus, a desire to take what is left of Indian land? Why, for example, would the American Farm Bureau Federation resolve at its 1983 convention to "support legislation to establish the rule that all people have equal rights and responsibilities un der the raw?" This sounds harmless enough, doesn't it? Why would the Farm Bureau Federation be inter ested in "equal rights and responsi bilities under the law?" The Farm Bureau Federation's resolution goes on to clarify: "The nation unto a nation' treatment of Native Americans should be abol ished. We favor abolition of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and ter nination of special treaty rights to Hirchase or negotiate for fair com peusaUun. 1 nese wept will end spe- I rial treatment of Native Americans I and bring everyone to full equality I under the law." Despite the subtle wording, it is clear that the Federa tion is interested in easy access to I Indian lands for the purpose of its own economic development What is there to be "devel oped" on Indian land? Reservations in eight western states have huge amounts of coal, oil, natural gas, timber and uranium (according to I Olson and Wilson, in NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE 20TH CEN- I TURY). More than 40 percent of our country's easily-accessible low-sul fur coal reserves are under Indian land! Approximately 80 percent of America's uranium is under Indian land! According to NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE 20TH CEN TURY, the Navajo (Dineh) Reser vation alone contains "100 million barrels of oil, 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, 80 million pounds of uranium, and 50 billion tonsof coal." The 500-year-old search for resources and power in the lands of the "New World" is apparently not quite fin ished yet. For more information, visit the Native American Resource Cen ter in Old Main Building, on the campus of Pembroke State Univer sity. READERS' FORUM ? defense of my friend, Dr. Joy J. JohnsonaHHHM Dear Editor: After reading the 18 June 1992 editorial of Scott Bigelow and the 22 June 1992 column ofBo Biggs, I feel that 1 must defend my good friend, Dr. Joy J. Johnson, who I have known for at least 22 years. Al though he is the leader of the Black Caucus I have never found him to be "simgle-minded" or concerned only with the problems of Black people. I have always found him to be a fear less and tireless champion ofhis God and his fellow man. Becuaseof his unselfish efforts, Robeson County is a better place to live for all of us white, Indian, or Black; and rich or pootr , , i ? Lest we forget, h was Dr. Johnson Who' ifc afaifl^ new legislator, intra*. duced the original bill to eliminate the double-voting system for elect ing the former county school board even through the other members of the local legislative delegation were strongly opposed. Although power fill people contested his actions, the courageous and forthright stand by this Christian gentleman set in mo tion a chain of events that eventually led to the merger of our local school systems with resulting benefits for all of our citizens. When Jimmy Earl Cummings, an Indian, wa skilled by Deputy Sheriff Kevin Stone, early on Dr Johnson much further from a major interstate than the he center will be. Look at Branson, Missouri, the fastest grow ing tourists area in America. It is nowhere near a major interstate. Once the cultural center is open, it will open directly onto North Caro lina Highway 74. While 74 is not an interstate, it is a major North Caro lina highway. People will drive to go to an attraction worth seeing. How many times haven't we all driven to Myrtle Beach or to White Lake? Obviously there are closer places to swim! Living in Raleigh, I am not privy to the theatrics of the local power brokers. I see no controversy. I see an opportunity for economic, educa tional and spiritual advancement on one hand. On the other hand, I see the opportunity to play agame. Where is went to the aid ot the Cummings family in their quest for justice. No, Mr. Bigelow, my friend is concerend about the problems of all of God's children. As a memberof the Board of Education of the Public Schools of Robeson County, and its first elected chairman, I did not find Dr. Johnson's remarks to be "inflammatory" nor his demands "absurd" or "ludicrous." He was simply exercising his consti tutional right to petition a public body for redress of what appeared to be legitimate grievances. Rather than "supporting) unqualified candidates for critical jobs" he was complaining that (qualified Blacks were seem ingly beingdiscriinatedagamat. Any objective person who examines the facts, including rings and the ra cial makeup of the work force, could reasonably arrive at such a conclu sion. As an educator it is my consid ered professional opinion that lesser qualified whites have beenhiredeven though more qualified Blacks or In dians were available for the same positions. Although the board is see ing to "shrink its overweight staff surely this would not be justifica tion for retaining whites at the ex pense of more qualified minorities. I did not hear Dr. Johnson call Superintendent William Johnson a "racist" as stated by Mr. Biggs, how the controversy? I urge the powers that be, the Robeson County Com missioners, the LRDA Board of Di rectors, Indian Solidarity, the Com mission of Indian Affairs, the Guilford Native American Associa tion, the Pembroke Chamber of Com merce, the Lumberton Chamber of7 Commerce and others to publicly support the building of the North Carolina Indian Cultural Center at its present site. Sincerely, Rtek Barton Raleigh, NC Tis Wise Ti Advertise i?<u4 ? ?rial* netlt ever, in my opinion, one could rea sonably draw that conclusion based upon the factual evidence. The Superintendent's record was " not defended" by myself because one cannot defend that which is, in my opinion, indefensible. Unfortunately, most of our local people do not have the wealth of Mr. Biggs so they cannot simply flee to a "private school." We must, like Dr. Johnson, seek to improve the public schools. I do not understand Mr. Bigelow's concern about the Black Caucus go ing "public with their demands." Is he trying to say that the county should not wash its dirty laundry in public? If such be the case, then how does he explain the attacks emanating from the front page of his newspaper against esteemed public figures such as Commission Chairman Bobby Dean Locklear, Commissioner Noah Woods, and Resident Superior Court Judge Dexter Brooks? Why would be allow Sheriff Hubert Stone and his minions to make "inflammatory" charges, which no one believes to be true, while seemingly bemoaning Dr. Johnson having simply protested the treatment of Black people by the administration and board of the school system? In closing, I must say that 1 sup port the principle of equal opportu nity for all, special treatment for none. This was the message that I received from Dr. Johnson's presen tation. Although it appears that Mr. Bigelow and Mr. Biggs missed the point, the vast majority of Robesonians understood exactly what Dr. Johnson was talking about J and where he was coming from. The victory is^ near Brother J.J. Soldier cm old friend. Soldier on. Sincerely, Dalton P. Brooks, Ph.D. Route 2 Pembroke, NC 28372 Miss Lumbee Pageant was disappointment to guest This past weekend's Lumbee Homecoming Celebration was the resuh of many months of planning ad effort. It is a shame that all the effort was a waste of time. The parade and celebration in the park were much less attractive than in previous years. Even the crowds seemed smaller. The pag eant, which should have been a show case of Lumbee talent, was a big disappointment. The music, per formed by a non-Lumbee band, fell far short of what people have come to expect at the pageant. The vulgar ity of the person imitating Michael Jackson belonged in a nightclub, not in a pageant to select a representa tive of the Lumbee tribe to cany our banner for the coming year. I don't know who was respon sible for selecting the musical group or the imitator for the pageant. I would like to ask the peraoo(s) who made the selection why Lumbee tal ent was not used. This celebration is to show the world what, and who, the Lumbee people are. Why, in that case, was the talent of our own people ignored? I was left feeling that there is no longer pride in our ethnic back ground and that the Lumbee celebra tion has become a half-hearted effort by people who are forgetting who we are and what we stand for. We are in the process of trying to become federally recognized as an Indian tribe. If we stop recogniz ing our own peoples ability and tal ents and turn to those of other races we are not helping our own cause. There are many other oppor tunities for us to utilize the talents of other races, but during Lumbee Homecoming we should use the God given talent our own people have. I would ask the people wno decided on the talent to be used this year to rethink their concept of what the celebrationis. If the emphasis is not on us as a people, and if our peoples talents are not used, the celebration stands to lose even more people than it has already. Let us take pride in ourselves and celebrate our ethnic differences, showing the world that we are a people who hold their beads high and are on an equal footing with every one else in this world. SINCERELY DAWN D. GIBSON RALEIGH ROTATE A COMPUTER WHEEL BALANCING Robeson TIRE AND AUTO CENTER 508 EAST THIRD STREET - PEMBROKE, N.C. 28372 BESIDE PROGRESSIVE & LOAN (919) 521-8674 ?AT A DEBORAH IOWRY !?*!?.'.. B1M t _ - . ?~" . M 49i RAY INVITES ALL Of HIS FORMER CUSTOMERS TO HIS NEW PLACE OF BUSINESS FOR THE BEST CLEAN USED CARS * THE BEST PRICE ON TIRES IN THE COUNTY! 600D USED CARS! INSTANT CREDIT AVAILABLE! COMPLETE GARAGE SERVICE TRIES RIMS ? Brake Service ? Transmission Service ? Tune-lips ? Ofl, lube, Filters ? Suspension Work ? Drivetrain Work ? Computer Wheel Balancing ? Dayton* ? MicheRn ? Uniroyals ? Goodyear* ? B.F. Goodrich ? Performance G.T ? Road Hugger ? Progressive ? Eagies ? Rocket Free Brake I Check irtj r^irhifrffrTfF1*^ StI i|i| P??*r?lt Dn* Ct?(?r. (Mm mI *. Jri fiaWtlit. WCOj^MI-4IM* iTIT h'narmacisi. tITI tIT! JSj du,m' .?lj! Don't douse the fainter Till a?|a?fl ?|?l i|m|? Splashing water in the face of a lady who hai!l?|> ?1-1 fainted may add color to an old movie, but in real UfeTjTj I'tl the victim may inhale the water and choke on it. ?i|<*| ?l?l" Instead, place the patient on the floor face up with ijij her feet slightly elevated, to aid circulation to the il?l'j ?J?JI brain. Then, gently bathe her face with cool water Jjiji ItJT This will help comfort her and relieve any nausea |"l"l |*|- she might have from fainting. But if she doesn't fflTj! regain consciousness and appear awake and alert 'I?I" h-T?l1 within a few minutes, seek medical attention. 'T?T" Lfi.7 As your Personal Pharmacists, we're Interested in jfl?! ItiT to?'"hta"d fol] jtit r** ?: frj lr{7 | Meadir EuUIX. Ifr'Tf ?l?l* P We Take the lime to Ansiver Your Questions j fljl fewt TKmumv I Ih ?a.[L'Jo Jay Jo u/jicxi&e! BECK OVER 15 YEARS CHIROPRACTIC I SPECIALIZING IN CENTER AUTO ACCIDENT INJURIES unoT IUPIID1MPC APrCDTCn mud i inauwiviwK r*wu ? "APPOINTMENT PLEASE" ?MMUCVHMKNUMMR /N^ M.WOOMOWWMCC <* 7M-I1M OFFICE _ ? AA .... FRCEMVU. 739"57? I CONSULTATION
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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July 16, 1992, edition 1
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