Editorial And
Opinion Page
I . 1 1 .
AS I SEE IT 1
Bruce Barton
Superintendent of Public Schools of Robeson
County might be toughest job in America ^
Mama and I went to church again Sunday. We had a wonder-/
ful time in the l.ord and were pleased when New Prospect's pastor,
Willie Scott Jr.. called all of us around the alter at the end of ,
the service, including the students and teachers in our church fq/nily. s
We prayed for them and wished them great success duringSjie new
school sear underway.
I prayed privately, too. for Supt. Dr.. Barry 1 larding, who might
have the toughest job in America. There are problems where
ever he turns, and there is never a unanimous thought about anything.
It's a thankless job too. He gets cussed at and out a lot.
Trouble is everywhere. He is assailed almost daily, as I see it.
by the local daily newspaper which never seems to have any thing
good to say about anything, especially when color is part of the
equation.
There are board members w ho do not wish him well. There
are 6-5 votes from time to time that speak of acrimony and danger
on every hand.
And now five of our six high schools have received their reports
cards from the SDP1. They are low performing! It is just
another wake up call, and I suspect that Dr. Harding and his cadre
of staff, teachers and students w ill find a w ay to fix this problem
too. as they have all the other problems that have surfaced. The
problem was inherited, not created last week.
In the meantime, don't forget to pray for the Public Schools of
Robeson County, and its leader-Supt. Dr. Barry Harding. Prayer
is the first building block, the foundation of any good that might
emanate from these troubled times.
The Fayetteville Observer becoming darlv
of choice for many Indian people
It's sad to say but the number one enemy of the Indian people,
in my humble opinion (sic), is ourselves. The number two enemy
is the Robesonian. the daily that speaks often with a forked
editorial tonque when it comes to Indian people. The daily seldom
gets it right and hardly ever writes glowingly about good vibrations
in the Indian community. And when Indian leaders attempt
to explain, or justify their actions about this or that, it some how
gets turned around and inside out. Their explanations become
worst than the original sin. I have publicly suggested to all Indian
leaders that they simply say, "no comment" when the county daily
newspaper approaches them about anything, especially explanations
or questions about their actions. I doubt our Indian politicians
and leaders will listen but they ought too.
On the other hand, the Fayetteville Observer has become
the preferred choice of many of us when we read the daily newspapers.
They are, again as I see it, more professional and less
caught up in the color of things. I often read glowing profiles on
Indian people: the most recent one was a wonderful profile of
Patrlach Marvin Lowry in last week's issue of the Robeson F.xtra,
an insert by the t-avettevi\\e Observer. The article was entertaining
and uplifting. There have been many wonderful features
lately, including a recent one on Ms. Carrie Dial, a wonderful Indian
lady from the Prospect community. There is much positive
good in the Indian community to write about as the Carolina Indian
Voiceand the Observer have proven over the years.
Another failing of the Robesonian. as I see it. is the stark and
very noticable lack of Indian reporters and employees. The
Fayetteville Observer pays attention to demographics. The Lowry
piece and the feature on Ms. Carrie Dial were written by James
Locklear, a reporter who just happens to be Lumbee. Ahem!
Interesting, huh!
in Europe the plant the pimpernel
is credited with the power
to move against the current of
running water and with giving
someone second sight.
E-mail the editor at brayboyconnee@hotmail.com. Tell the Caro- ,
lina Indian Voice what's happening with you. Or write to the Carolina
Indian Voice at P.O. Box 1075. Pembroke. NC 28372. Telephone us
^at (910) 521-2826 or simply send us a fax at (910) 521-1975.
Million Dollar Settlement in Riverside,
California raises interesting questions
lo the Iditor:
I road on page 3\ of the July 28th
edition of the Fayetteville Observer.
' that "The city (Riverside. California)
reached a settlement. reportedly in
the millions of dollars, with the family
of a 19-year-old black woman
w ho was shot to death by police in her
car." As I remember, the police were
called because the car's engine was
running: the windows were up. and
no one could wake the woman. Can
we agree that whether she was unconscious
due to illness, intoxicated
/ on alcohol, or high on drugs, she
would have died ofasphy xiation w ithrfuN^lp?
/ Thdxlast paragraph of the article
' read: "Officprs fired 23 shots, hitting
her 12 times',^saving later that they
did so because "'she woke up and
lunged for the gun as thev tried to
. break into the car to help her." This
^^piay sound like excessive force to
p>?ple who have never fought for
theirVpn lives, as police officers are
subject n>. do any tifne they are on
duty, but nof tojne^ I have fought for
my life more thart once, the last time
against our neighbor's 120 pound
"pet." which was determined to kill
our pets and me for trying to stop
him. Regulating the number of times
you shoot to be socially acceptable
does not cross your mind when you
are fighting for your life!
Of course a dog is an animal, not
a human being. But my uncle was a
human being, and one of the kindest
to ever live, when he was sober -
mean as a junkyard dog when he was
drunk Sometimes officers would
bring him to nt> parents and ask
them to keep him out of the public
until he sobered up. but at times he
was so violent and belligerent, they
had no choice but to incarcerate him.
Sometimes when he was drunk, he
was even violent to my parents - my
father carried a visible scar to prove
it. Mv uncle has been dead for many
years, but if he were living today. and
we were dishonest enough, we could
give him an empty gun the next time
he got drunk, and call the police.
You can bet. in his drunken stupor,
he would threaten to use the gun;
thev would have to shoot him in selfdefense;
and w e could sue and become
millionaires! - If our conscience
would allow.
I have a few questions. Is it legal
for a 19 year-old to carry a gun in
Riverside. California? If the people
in Riverside, who called the police,
were not afraid of the woman with
the gun. why did they call the police?
Why didn't they rescue her themselves?
Asphyxiation does not take
long, whether a gun is visible in a car
or not. Would you have called and
waited for the police, or broken a
window to unlock the car and help
her? Were they afraid she was unconscious.
or were they afraid she
was drunk or high, and dangerous?
After all. she was visibly armed.
Were the responding officers the only
ones to see the woman's aggressive
action with her gun because those
who called the police, sensing danger.
stood out of harm's was"1 And.
did the lawyers who successful!)
played the "race card" in this case
volunteer their services, or collect a
considerable percentage of the millions
of dollars in settlement?
Bv now. some of you have surely
labeled me a racist I assure vou I am
not. but I readily admit that I am
prejudiced - prejudiced against drunks
and drug users with guns, regardless
of their sex or race. I cannot sympathize
with drunks and drug users
with guns, but I can empathize with
law enforcement officers, who have
only a split-second to make life or
death decisions. I could sympathize
with the loved-ones of an innocent
person deliberately hunted down and
shot by racist police officers. But 1
have no pity for people, regardless of
race, who will extort their government
of millions of dollars because
dedicated police officers, while trying
to rescue their relative in a
life-threatening situation, had to shoot
that relative in self defense. 23 shots
by one officer would be excessive. 23
shots divided by numerous officers
acutely familiar with the unreasonableness
of armed drunks, and the
violent nature of drug users under the
influence, equals enough shots to
save the lives of the sober, responsible
people on the scene of the
incident!
Think about it. please!
Robert C. Currie Jr.
Thanks to
"Strike At The
Wind" Cast
The family and friends of Matthew
Lowery wishes to thank
everyone that participated in helping
Matthew celebrate one more birthday
celebration. The cast of "Strike
at the Wind" has gone the extra mile
to make Matthew's list of friend's
grow longer. The first time Matthew
met this group of people, they were
not strangers, they instantly became
his friends.
A simple thank you seems so smal I
compared to all everyone has contributed
to make Matthew's days a
little brighter. Everyone's reward is
still yet tpcome, because in Matthew's
eyes, you are all angels sent from
above.
Matthew is only a child that has
teamed to endure pain and cross
obstacles like an adult. Matthew's
wish to everyone is keep that "childlike-love"
and hope alive and your
dreams will be fulfilled. (Look at me,
I celebrated one more birthday thanks
to you).
Again, thanks and keep smiling
and whispering a prayer so Matthew
will be able to smile!
The family and friends of
Matthew Lowery.
Free Poetry Contest Open
To Pembroke Residents
Owings Mills. MD (USA)?The International Library of Poetry has
announced that S58.000.00 in prizes will be awarded this year in the
International Open Poetry Contest. Poets from the Pembroke area, particularly
beginners, are welcome to try to win their share of over 250 prizes. The
deadline for the contest is November 30, 2000. The contest is open to
everyone and entry is FREE.
"Any poet, whether previously published or not, can be a winner," stated
Fran Campos. Contest Director. "When people leam about our free poetry
contest, they suddenly realize that their own poetic works of art can win cash
prizes, as well as gain national recognition," continued Campos.
To enter, send ONE original poem, any subject and any style to: The
International Library of Poetry , Suite 19909, I Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills,
MD 21117. The poem should be 20 lines or less, and the poet's name and
address should appear on top of the page. Entries must be postmarked or sent
via the Internet by November 30, 2000. You may also enter online at
www.poetry.com
The International Library of Poetry, founded in 1982, is the largest poetry
organization in the world.
f He Loved Me All The More
I There 1 was sitting on a beautiful shore.
Listening hard and praying all the more.
I knew my Lord was across the shore
And He was also listening all the more.
When I would whine He didn't love me less,
But loved me all the more.
Each time I did not make a score
He didn't love me less. He loved me all the more,
Then I asked Him not to let me whine
When my neighbors were unkind.
Just help me pray for them all the more
And put my trust in Him all the time.
Then He would love me all the more.
Now Lord, teach me to take one step at a time.
To pray more and not to whine.
And You will love me all the more.
When it's time to cross the shore
I'll be at rest forever more.
So please, Lord, forgive me when 1 whine,
Because You've been there all the time.
Now I will keep the faith as I cross the shore,
For You have loved me all the more.
Allean H. Locklear
V '
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f$S5n
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A Call For Poems
Write a poem and win the
SI.000 00 grand prize' Hollywood's
Famous Poets Society is sponsoring a
new poetry contest, open to everyone
There is no entry fee. and
nothing to buy
To enter send one poem of21 lines
or less Free Poetry Contest. PMB126.
1626 V W ilcox Ave.. Hollywood.
CA 90028 Or enter on-line at
www famouspoets.com.
"This is our big contest of the
year." says Poetry Director Martha
French. "We trust our prizes will
encourage new poets to share their
talent." The deadline for entering is
August 29. 2000.
I -v 1
The first bifocal eyeglasses
were created by Benjamin
Franklin.
> ?? ????? I
In Japan the peach is the symbol
of fertility.
In the Middle Ages, you were
supposed to throw eggs at the
bride and groom.
9WC..VMW " _ K 0.r.. .
. he future of American Indians
is threatened by diabetes. But
we can fight it by controlling
our blood sugar.
We can work to keep our
blood sugar close to normal
by choosing healthy foods,
staying physically active, taking
our diabetes medication, and
testing our blood sugar.
We need to control our
diabetes because our young
ones look up to us. We must
take charge of diabetes - for
future generations.
. i i .
Control your
vi diabetes. ^
hv'Lijk
Call 1-800-438-5383
to learn more.
Or visit us at http://ndep.nih.gov.
v i?i V
m nr
A joint program
T T of the National
1 1 l-<^. Institutes of
national Health and the
DIABETES Centers for
E D U C AT IO N Disease Control
program and Prevention.
FREE THINGS TO SEND FOR
(NAPS)?To learn about the
National Health Service Corps, a
government agency, and how people
get help from them, call 1-800221-9393
or visit their web site at
www.bphc.hrsa.gov/nhsc.
I 1
I :?LJ
For information about collecting
cord blood cells, call 1-888CORD
BLOOD (888) 267-3256 or
get information on the Internet at
www.cordblood.com.
For information on how getting
older needn't mean memory
loss, visit www.nih.gov/health or
contact The NIH Word on Health
National Institutes of Health,
Bldg 1, Room 344, M8C 0188,
9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda,
Md. 20892-0188. *
The word boondocks comes
from the Tagalog word bandok,
which means mountains. Tagalog
is the native language of the
Philippines.
\ michaYl ~s res taurant "]
601 West Third Street
Pembroke, NC
i 521-7600 i
SERVING FRESH HOT OVEN PIZZA
LASAGNA, SPAGHETTI, SUBS, SALADS S MORE
I Mon., Tues., Wad. Thurs., Frl., Sat.
^11:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M. 11:00 A.M.-11:00 P.MJ
To advertise, write to:
The Carolina Indian Volca
Benjamin Howie, Advertising
P.O. Box 1075
Pembroke, N.C. 28372
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