—THE CAROLINA TIMES Sat., Dec. 23, I»T2
2A
EDITORIALS & COMMENT
Admiral Zumwall and People to People
Despite the many headlines of the
racial disturbances in the Navy, it
must be remembered that the profi
les are not new. They are as old as
the Naval Services itself and have
been for the most part totally ignor
ed. Times now are different. Docile
blacks who previously endured and
endured is the word, the humilia
tions and indignities of subservi
ence to an unresponsive system
which treated them as less than hu
man, have been replaced by young,
impatient aggressives.
These young men are essentially
activists, demanding the immediate
resolution of their grievances. When
there is no adequate response, they
lash out angrily at the system, caring
little about tired old traditions or
consequences. Thus at long last, race
relations have come to a boiling
head at sea.
Riots and sit-ins have taken place
on carriers KittyViawk and Constel
lation and the oiler Hassayama.
There have been other unreported
incidents. One hundred and thirty
one black servicemen from the Con
stellation have been transferred fol
lowing their part in the rebellion of
November 9.
Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Chief
of Naval Operations, addressed the
NNPA convention in Atlanta in
1971. He related the setting up of a
series of 'TeopJe to People" pro-
A Fresh Return to Nature
As December carries the year rap
idly to its close and dayKght shrinks
toward its minimum, the earth is
revealed in all its beautiful and age
less dignity. For we know that
Spring gave it a freshness and a
budding sense of green. Summer
dressed the hills and valleys with
leaves that hid the scars of time.
Autumn dazzled the eye with color
and bespangled the winds.
And now with winter, the rugged
outlines, bold features and sharp
contours are revealed. Mother earth
has a mellowed and mature look.
There is a firmness to its hills, val
leys and mountains that is reassur
ing. Its valleys like the lines in a
well-known face, were shaped by
time and living. There is no question
now of earth's reality or identity.
Even the scars of man's ignorant
abuse are in plain sight and points
up the many ways that Nature has
tried to heal their wounds.
All things are reduced to barest
fundamentals of nature. Trees are
simplified, bare shapes against the
sky. Brooks are quiet in their icy
Dr. Elizabeth D. Koontz
News of the acceptance of Dr.
Elizabeth Duncan Koontz resigna
tion from Depeartment of Labor by
President Nixon was received with
a touch of sadness. It will be recalled
that Mrs. Koontz moved from the
presidency of the powerful National
Education Association (NEA) to take
over this post several years ago.
The resignation of Mrs. Koontz
will serve as a tremendous void m
women's advancement in the De
partment of Labor. As its director,
equal opportunities for women and
especailly minority women reached
great heights.
An announcement by Gov. Elect
Holshouser that Rev. Lamie T. Hor
ton would serve as Special Assistant
on minority affairs appears to be a
good move in the right direction.
The time is long past for aD mi
norities to have input and active par
ticipation at all levels of the state
fum nment
We hope that this appointment
will to the opening wedge for the
accomplishment of these goals.
Rev. Horton, former minister of
Emmanuel AME Church of Durham
md president of Kittrell College can
offer much to the new team.
It is • good step in the right direc
tto 10th Sntury as we inarch swift*
grams—all designed to improve race
relations and to implement guide
lines on equal opportunity in the
Navy. He has demonstrated his sin
cerity; but too often sad to say, his
directives have been ignored. 'Hie
hide-bound hierarchy of the Navy
is so jealous of its traditional pero
gatives that it cannot bear to be
forced to deal with the realities of
the changing times. Equipment miy
be modernized, but not policies in
human relations.
Congressional Committees are now
looking into the incidents. The ap
parent intent is to place the blame
for "permissiveness" and breakdown
in dicipline squarely on the should
ers of Admiral Zumwalt, although
there is overwhelming evidence to
the contrary. Further, to date, there
have been no black congressman on
the Committee. It is hoped that some
will be appointed at the new session
of Congress so that they too can have
some input'into the severe apparent
problems evolving from the investi
gations.
The Admiral, while holding firm
ly to discipline has just as forth
rightly insisted that his subordinatea
obey the rules on EQUAL OPPOR
TUNITY. We think that central issue
is far greater than Admiral Zum
walt and "permissiveness." It is
whether the Navy can catch up with
beds or perhaps running out of their
banks where man has not tried to
shape the edges. Ledges are sheer,
fundamental rock is in somber hues.
You can stand on a hilltop now
see the breadth of this earth, hori-
zon to horizon. You can look up
imagine the height of the sjjfj; ajjd
even dream with the astronauts thii
week. Realizing and knowing these
things, you know the fundamental
dimensions of this birthplace »nH
home of life.
First snows, freeze and even un
usual rains have come and gone.
More snow, sleet and rains will
come. All earth will be cleansed and
purified, rounded, smoothed, made
new and gleaming as we look to the
New Year.
But for a while, between the fall
ing of the leaves and the craning of
the deep snows or sleets, the rugged
beauty, dignity and power of the
universe is revealed in its own age
and time.
Nature then shows that she is still
in command as we often say, "for
every time there is a season."
We are well aware that the wom
en's movement has demonstrated
that it is not just a passing fad. It
is expected that continued oppor
tunities in jobs, education, family
roles and other areas will continue
to be closely scrutinized by all.
Hopefully, we anticipate also that
the new appointee, instead of taking
a new direction, will continue to
build on the already firm founda
tions of those programs that give
much inspiration to women in gen
eral and was so well attuned to our
times as initiated by Dr. Elizabeth
Koontz.
Horton Appointed
ly toward the 21st, or whether it
will continue to hang back sulking
in the ruins of its pride.
We do not by any means, condone
unruliness and wilful disobedience of
just and lawful regulations. Those
who break such rules must be dealt
with firmly. However, we do insist
that there must be no DOUBLE
STANDARDS in the Navy, either in
the application of JUSTICE or in the
CHANCE for ALL personnel to ad
vance under equal opportunity
guidelines. And this seems to be the
core of what Admiral Zumwalt is
fighting for. He has our full sup
port
STOP THE FEAR AND TREMBLING IN BUCK STREETS
The Black Church & Preacher
Americans who have spent any time
in England will no doubt remember
that one of the show places in London
is Hyde Park, the meeting place for
public discussions on all the problems
that confront the country in its internal
and external relationships. If you have
the time and the patience, vpu can lis
ten to a variety of speeches from would
be experts who have the answers to
the problems that baffle world states
men.
Philadelphia, as far as we know, has
no puch center. But Philadelphia's
counterparts of the Hyde Park orators
may be found, when the weather is
good, on certain corners in Philadel
phia on Saturday evenings, giving ad
vice to Government officials from, the
President of the United States down
to the dog-catchers.
One of the pet topics often discussed
is the Black Church and Black preach
ers. If you listen to the majority of
theseorators and did not know better,
you would perhaps be influenced by
the distorted picture of religious or
ganizations and their leaders.
It may be interesting to be reminded
that, making allowances for all the
weaknesses from which the human in
stitutions and their leaders are wont
to suffer, that most of the orators are
"outsiders," who speak from what they
hear, rather than from what they know.
, It is significant, however, to remind
our readers that three of the present
movements which have as their aim
Negro betterment and which have gain
ed nationwide attention in the last ten
years have been the brainchildren of
Black preachers.
First, there was the SCLC - the
Southern Christian Leadership Confer
Black unrest follows
youth's killing by cop
aR ***VILLE, N. C. (AANS)
Snveral nictate at Black unrest
■truck ULU Eastern North
Carolina city last week fol
lowing the killing of a young
Black nan by a white
man who claimed It was an ac
cident.
Alter ths shooting at Con
■to Junes, M, by pollce
■n dwrki Williamson lata
on tha night at Dae. 6, local
Black paopla took to the
streets, atoning and over
tantac cars of passing whit#
motorists and ttatlng the In-
Breaking ot stora windows
■l* o took place, along with
(Mill Or*-bombings.
W" Pot oat eztrm patrols
«d Polios Cblaf Glenn
Csnnoo annoonoad that WU-
Um»s was being relieved at
daty pawling a,prqbe by tba
•Ms Boreau of Investiga
tion 0880.
According to ths policeman,
* larceny sospsct was balng
fckassd by him. Tha sospsc t
*tod ob loot and Wflllam
mm takso oat la pursuit.
Uoabls to oatch ths sos
tba patrolman said bs
three other Btaoks,
coo at «kta he placed «■»«%•
•rrast lor "Ming proftasla*.
■M*"
eeeoa d cttcsr sooa in
rtMflitks sosaa aad tried
to uiMt lasiss tot illstsiTlj
«"toffct*t «ito Iks arrest of
ence - which tackled the problem of
segregation in an Alabama town, won
a victory there, and went on to lift the
status pf the Blacks and to improve
their lot as citizens of the United States.
The leader was the late Rev. Martin
Luther King, Jr., who, before an assas
sin cut short his life, had made an im
print on national and international life
that won him a Nobel Peace Prize.
The second Church-oriented pro
gram, which has become nationally and
internationally known, emphasized
JOBS. This organization - the OIC - was
started by another Black clergyman.
As a result of this movement, hundreds
of thousands of Black men and women
have been trained for specific tasks.
A high percentage of these trainees
have found gainful employment and
the OIC now has affiliates in several
North African countries. The guiding
genius of this movement is another
Black preacher - the Rev. Leon Howard
Sullivan.
The third Church-oriented program,
fast gaining national and international
attention, is Business oriented. Known
as PUSH (People United Saving Hu
manity), the organization has for its
guiding genius another Black preacher,
the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, who has at
tracted a wide variety of the Black bus
iness leaders in the United States,
and is also gaining attention in Liberia,
West Africa.
The Black Church, ift members be
ing human, has its weaknesses. Its de-'
tractors should ask themselves, and
answer honestly, what the status of
Blacks would be in the United States
today had it not been and were it not
for the Black Church and its leaders.
the first person.
Williamson was then attacked
by James, the police report
claimed. In the scuffle that
followed, the policeman's .357
magnum revolver accidental
ly discharged, killing the
Black man, said the report. I
Williamson's account of
James death has not been ac
cepted by the Black community.
, James' death Is the
such one In as many years
hare In Pitt county.
In August, 1971 38-year
old William Murphy of near
by Ayden was shot by state
patrolman BUly Day who
claimed the Black farm worker
had scuffled with him In a
patrol car.
Murphy's death was disputed
by Black community Investi
gations, however, which ln
steed said the man had been
shot in the back while hand
cuffed after being pistol whip
ped by the officer.
Trooper Day's action was
ruled Justifiable homicide -I
despite continuous marches
and arrests of hundreds of
Blacks. Several flrebomblngs
took place.
Eventually 11 teen-age Blacks
vara arrested following the |
flrebomblng of a school wash
room in Ayden and sentenced
to a total at 133 years in
Jail on controversial evidence.
One of them - - 17-year-old
Donald Smith was given 40
years In Jail.
Panthers
challenge
muggers
OAKLAND, Calif. (NBNB)|
Black Panther Co-Cbalrman
Bobby Seale has announced the
formation of a non-profit cor
poration, "Seniors Against ai
Federal Environment," (SAFE)
'to provide free busings and es
corts to take the elderly to and
from banks* to cash social se
curity checks to protect them
against muggers.
Many North Carolina
crop farmers become
cattlemen in the winter.
They buy beef calves in
the fall to clean up behind
grain and soybean com
bines and to graze winter
| cover crops such as rye,
' wheat, oats and barley.
In the peanut production
area, peanut hay is used
to supplement the winter
feeding. Silage is often j
I fed, also. The calves
are fed to gain 1 to 1 1/2
pounds a day through the
winter, to be sold next
spring as stocker cattle.
rTO BE ■■■
EQUAL
I Another Try At Welfare Reform I
HH:
|Veroon JHRBMI
High on the list of priorities
facing the new Congress when
it convenes in January should
be the question of welfare re
form has been debated for the
past three sessions.
Everyone agrees on just one
point •• that the present welfare
system is not working and bad
ly needs overhauling. One of
the major tasks facing the new
Secretary of Health, Education
and Welfare, Casper Weinber
ger, will undoubtedly be to
brush up the' Administration's
Family Assistance Plan.
How successful renewed re
form efforts will be depends on
whether the aims of the welfare
system are to cut costs or to
help poor people. Confusion
on that score helped to defeat
previous versions. The Admini
stration started off with a pro
posal that established the prin
ciple of federal assistance to all
in need, but the pl*n was re
written several times and each
revision added layers of puni
tive measures that amounted to
a war on the poor. The last
Congress gave welfare reform
an unceremonious burial, to the
relief of all who want to see a
just and equitable assistance
program worked out.
The most recent develop
ment on the welfare scene was
HEW's plan tc tighten manage
ment of state welfare programs
by taking away some S4OO mil
lion a year because allegedly in
eligible people were collecting
welfare payments or were re
ceiving overpayments.
This move illustrates the
cost-cutting approach to wel
fare at the dtpense of the hu-
man needs the system is sup
posed to meet. Attention is
focused on the statistics of pay
ment distributions with no con-
plan can punish more people
sideration given to the needs of The work ethic is just a faded
the individuals involved. Regu- idea if it exists in a vacuum
lations can be interprets jotr- created by lack of job oppor
rowly, resulting in apptreat o- tunities, and welfare costs can
verpayment! 61 thay 'can be euPV tha nationk
terpreted more broadly, In prepared to tolerate widespread
which case there is no pattern hunger and misery.
of pverpayment. In this case, The real goal of welfare re
poor people may pay for mana- form has to be the relief of the
gerial errors. hardships of poverty coupled
Whatever the bureaucratic with the expanaon of opportu
mechanism employed, the re- nities for human growth and
cipients are still people who are devek>pment. That's the lesson
poor and who are dependent up- of the futile deadlock of the
on public assistance for their past several years.
Do*s And Don'ts
*S ~jpr=
OwCar^adiww
Editor-Publisher 1927-1971
» L. E. AUSTIN
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United Publishers, Inc.
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rent payments and for theh
children's food. All the (treat
on statistical overpayments al
so neglected the many who get
less than they are legally en
titled to under the law. Play
ing a numbers game with wel
faae statistics does nothing a
bout the real problems.
Real welfare reform will re
quire a comprehensive program
of tax reform, extension of
social security benefits, increa
sing and extending unemploy
ment compensation and mini
mum wages, family allowances,
and ahove-poverty-line minimal
federal assistance standads.
And for all the talk about
"permissiveness" and the "work
ethic," a massive job-creation
program is needed to enable
everyone who can work to have
it. Study after study simply
confirms that people on welfare
want to work and share the
same values as those who hold
jobs. It.s the economy that is
the villain her, not the poor.
As national attention once a
gain focuses on welfare reform,
it would be most beneficial to
remove the subject from the
emotionally-supercharged atmos
phere of myths and stereo
types about poor people and to
concentrate instead on the ways
in which our faltering economy
can be made to work for every
one.
It may be easier to win
headlines by attacking "cheats
on welfare," but the problem
of hunger and poveryt will re
main long after tho9e headlines
fade and the pape» on which
they are printed is recycled.
Attempts at welfare reform
will be doomed if they once
more degenerate into a circus
like competition to see whose