Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Oct. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 14
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commentary 14-THE CAROLINA TIMES-SATURDAY. OCTOBER 1,^| Editorial “Excellence Without Excuse” The Eagle To Fly High Again NELSON Born July 19, 1875 in New Orleans, and a graduate of Straight University, she soon went north to teach in college—shown here as a young lady, at the time she organiz ed the Douglass Publishing Co., Harrisburgh, Pa.! She edited many important books bearing on Negro iife! On March 6^ 1893. she married the poet Dunbar! She was famous in World War I as an organizer of women for the National Council of Defense. Continental Features To Be Equal Protecting the Constitution By John E. Jacob Executive Director National Urban Leagui Dr. Leroy T. Walker’s choice of the theme “Excellence Without Excuse” for his address at North Carolina Central University’s Fall Convocation on October 6, as well as the guiding principle of his administration as interim chancellor pf the university, should certainly be welcomed, shared and sup ported by all who appreciate what the institution stood for historically. “Excellence Without Excuse” is welcomed by those who have winced and cringed in more recent years at the general lackadaisical attitudes and and poor performance levels of too many (not all) students and faculty. “Excellence Without Excuse” must-be shared by students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, trustees, and the com munity at large if Dr. Walker is to reverse the downward trend he inherited and return the school to its once proud academic pro minence. All top administrators who are responsible for im plementing the programs at NCCU must be embued with the Walker theme. And, if they cannot support this theme wholeheartedly, they should remove themselves as impediments. “Excellence Without Excuse” must be supported in every con ceivable way, by every individual who has any conceivable con nection with NCCU — whether casual or formal, paid .or unpaid — if Dr. Walker’s theme is to be realized. He must have the sup port of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Governors, the North Carolina State Government, and parents of students. He is to be commended for setting this tone, for he is grabbing a tiger by the tail and he knows it. If any one person can or chestrate the bringing of that tiger into line, it is L.T. Walker. His many years of association with NCCU date back to the days of the institution’s founder. Dr. James E. Shepard, who so mean ingfully instilled into his students that “an Eagle is no ordinary barnyard fowl.” Walker is a highly personable and academically trained man who has brought national and international acclaim to NCCU. His name is associated with athletics at the highest levels. He has served as president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics with contacts with coaches and presidents of the nation’s foremost colleges and universities. The banner of NCCU has been unfurled heroically with first honors in more than twen ty centers of the United States. Internationally, Walker was associated with the U.S. Department of State as a liaison in Asia and Africa carrying the skills and standards of U.S. programs. He carried those skills to the United States Peace Corps. Durhamites, North Carolinians and alumni were indeed proud in two international Olympics when NCCU won gold medals. It is healthy that NCCU has an interim chancellor — par ticularly one who, we believe, has the guts and determination to do what needs to be done. For a lot of wounds and perceptions of hurt need time to heal. It is healthy for those faculty members who have stayed who perceived themselves as having been under a plantation system with favors falling from the plantation master in terms of whether one disagreed with him vigorously, disagreed with him mildly, or did not disagree with him at all — the last category be ing the most favored group. The healing time is needed as an absorption sponge for those who perceive that they have been maltreated in program, budget, salary, promotion and tenure. We are sure that Dr. Walker knows his patience will be tested in hearing these tales of woe, and it is hoped that the problems can be solved, but at least he can be a sounding board for the aggrieved and they will be unafraid. Some pains can be eased and soothed by the reinstitution of many of the school’s traditions which have been ignored recently, leaving a vacuum — traditions which are the “seeds that bring forth the harvest of the future.” The alumni will certainly be pleased and current students will learn that they are a part of a greater heritage. “Excellence Without Excuse” will go a long way toward offer ing a challenge, once again, and attracting top students and scholars whose numbers have waned during the seemingly laissez faire years. Operating a university is an awesome task. No one should ex pect miracles from Dr. Walker in a short period — just expect a good beginning. At the same time, the total university should thank the Board of Governors for naming Dr. Leroy T. Walker to bring some peace, harmony and order to a situation which was seething just below the surface. Dr. Friday should be commended for having the good judgment to recognize that many things needed to be pulled from beneath the rug, aired, cleared and cleansed before any new chancellor takes over the helm at NCCU. “Excellence Without Excuse - A Shared Responsibility” bodes well for Dr. Walker’s beginning. We hope he will be accorded what ever length of time it fakes to get the job done. The Eagle can fly high again. The Constitution is a frail document, notwithstanding the fact that it has served as our basic iaw for nearly two hundred years. It has survived because the flexibility of the amendment process enables it to be updated to meet changing needs in a changing society. Traditiqnally, amendments are made by a process that in- ciudes proposal by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states. If an amendment passes this hurdle.ri^e can be sure that it reflects a national consensus. Under this process, it is virtually unthinkable that basic freedoms could be compromised. But there’s a second way to amend the Constitution. Two- thirds of the states can petition Congress to call a convention to propose new amendments. That hasn’t happened since the first Constitutional Convention in 1787. No subject has been con sidered so serious a threat to the nation to warrant a Conven- And a Convention itself is a threat to our society — it is an unwieldly instrument that could come into being to consider one amendment and wind up transforming the entire Constitu tion into something very different. Lawyers disagree about the powers a Convention would have. Some say that it can consider only the amendment for which it was called; others say it can consider any and all amendments. Nor do they agree on the procedures involved in calling a Convention — how many delegates, how they are chosen, and more. All of this would be academic, of interest only to scholars and constitutional lawyers, if it were not for the fact that 32 out of the necessary 34 states have already passed resolutions ask ing Congress to call a Constitutional Convention to consider a balanced budget amendment. If just two more states join the pack, we could face the most serious threat to our Constitution in well over a century. Once convened, the Convention could rewrite the Constitution, eluding the sections guaranteeing our most precious libertig It makes no sense to take such a risk. Even those who dot that a Convention would tamper with the Bill of Rights, for, ample, can’t be sure that key provisions would not be rewrin in such a way as to weaken present guarantees. Just think of all the so-called social issues causing feruj today — school prayer, abortion, busing and others. It isln, that a Convention could try to ram through amendments de ing with such issues, especially since the traditional amendijd route has forestalled them. Then there’s the ostensible reason for calling the Convemj — to consider a balanced budget amendment. That too, is emotional issue that could not withstand the light of day ofii traditional amendment process-. Congress and enough state legislators know that a balanci budget amendment would be a mistake. It would simply courage governments to change their bookkeeping, not tlit deficits. In many cases deficits make sense. A balanced budj today, for example, would immediately cause a massii Depression. Too many of tho.se 32 state petitions for a Convention *( passed because irresponsible legislators pandered to extremi anti-tax groups. Many voted for the measure thinking aCoi vention would never come about anyway, and this was a wav| register support for balancing the budget. Now that a Convention has become an imminent po.ssibilii it is important for legislators in states considering joining it petition to think harder about its implications, and for thosei states that have already passed the measure to work for repea The traditional amendment route provides for change whi protecting our rights; a Convention could go far beyond mandate to imperil those rights. From the United Nations Begin’s Shadow Hung Ominously Over Black America Africa, and the Middle East By Curtis T. Perkins The old terrorist, Menachem Begin has just stepped down as Prime Minister of little Israel. 1 say ‘Hallelujah,’ and 1 would assume, hopefully, some in Israel and the fairer elements of our United States and perhaps most of our civilized world would join my sigh of relief. This intransigent leader, the adventurer in Lebanon along with his pal, General Ariel Sharon, dripping in blood and in a quagmire of misdeeds is calling it quits. He leaves in no circumstance of glory — for thousands have died from his bombs in Lebanon’s Sidon and Tyre and in Beirut as well. He claims defeat of the PLO and brags — he has rendered this spokesman for the Palestinians their death nell. Yet, I predict the PLO and its adherents, like most peoples seeking freedom, will prevail. One day they will have their own nation. He chose not to initiate talks with Yasir Arafat and like his predecessors, dragged my country to put the PLO in quaran tine, It is strange indeed that former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, would place our great democracy in a straight jacket by establishing a policy of ignoring the PLO — who are man dated partners in any semblance of peace in all of the Middle East. Blindly, every administration since, including Presidents Jerry Ford and Jimmy Carter, has followed Mr. Kissinger’s edict. Those friends of Israel in the United States have zealous ly echoed the policy in this regard as set down by Mr. Begin and his underlings. Again the loud mouths, including pro-Israel editors, broad casters, columnists, reporters and Heads of Organizations, are saying Mr. Begin’s departure as Prime Minister of Israel means no change in his policies. 1 pray such prognosticators are wrong — and if not, God have mercy on all. Because-here lies the Genesis of World War 111 unless the Palestinians are given a place to live. As a columnist for scores of black newspapers throughout our great land, I have met personally many of the editors and publishers of this group. They believe as 1 do that there should always be an Israel with guaranteed borders and recognition and tolerance of its neighbors. Prime Minister Begin never accepted this principle of inter national behavior. He violated many a UN resolution by going boldly on in establishing settlements on the West Bank and Gaza. He invaded Lebanon and has set again new territorial ex pansion for his people. He took over the Golan Heights from Syria with guns, tanks and planes. He has constantly violated the air space of his Arab neighbors by continuing sophisticated surveillance. His most dastardly act in this regard was the bom bing of the nuclear facility in Baghdad, Iraq. At an August meeting of the UN Security Council, our U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick, vetoed a resolution which ask ed Israel to dismantle her settlements on Ihe West Bank and cease the construction of others. The world shakes its head in dismay at such shenanigans on the part of Israel and her bully big brother, America. THE BEGIN LEGACY Here are a few of the many negative items Menachem Begin has left his nation, the USA, and the world: —An inflation rate in Israel of over 140% —Hundreds of Israeli lives lost in Lebanon. These casualties are growing. —A defiant and international outlaw partner. South Africa, with apartheid practices Eftid the nuclear bomb which Israel helped to develop. Israel invariably supports South African policies. —3 million homeless Palestinians who are harassed on the West Bank and stereotyped wherever they are. —A forgiven U.S. debt of well over 50 billion dollars which is responsible for inflation and the U.S. debt affecting the American economy. —An annual drain of $5,000,000,000 (billion) of American taxpayers money, philanthrophy bonds for Israel — which af fects U.S. funds for domestic urban needs. Most of this money to Israel has gone to military expenditures. —Huge expenditures by the UN as a result of Israeli intran sigence. This includes meetings of the Security Council and the General Assembly and the maintenance of UN peace-keeping units in the Middle East. —Continuing interference and disruption of U.S. Foreign Policy. —Bold manipulation of the U.S. Congress — who members for political reasons vote overwhelmingly for pij tically every appropriation for Israel. —Excessive domination of the U.S. media and the pt western press of the United Nations. —Lack of full diplomatic accord with Egypt — because Israeli militarism. BEGIN’S EFFECT ON AFRICA Since Israel now gets over 45% of the U.S Foreign A budget, little if any 'nioney is left for black Africa. Tbisij greedy, for Africa below the Sahel-needs infrastructuresai direct funding. Yet, as Mr. Begin leaves, some African countries arecotnii out of the closet and boldly embracing Israel. The Arabs a also to blame for this since many are not keeping their coi mitments to black Africa. ...ON BLACK AMERICA Recently the organizers of the 20th Anniversary March Washington in honor of the iate Dr. Martin Luther King we criticized by key Zionist organizations for urging a settlemt of the Middle East problem. These organizations not on withdrew their participation but blamed the March leaders being anti-Israel and being too inexperienced in foreign affaii Yet blacks know that world economic matters affect their joh U.S. dollars gobbled up by Israel decreases funding formaj aid to the cities where blacks live for their retraining andfi business development. When such groups, in their own selfish interest, try to pot pooh black Americans for digging in.such things, blacks, as the March, don’t-need them. It is not necessary to spend billions for Israel playing at wi and making graves. It is Begin’s shadow which creates'these scare tactics again blacks and their yen for affirmative action. MEANWHILE IN GENEVA Ms. Lucille Mair, that capable Jamaican -who is Secretai General of the Iiiternational Conference on the Question Palestine, has felt the Begin shadow on her task. For Isradh not extended her conscience to help give these displati Palestinians a chance to live in their own land Instead, with the collusion of a stupid U.S. foreign poli group, Israel has tried to thwart Ms. Mair’s meeting which mandated by the UN General Assembly. Yet as of this writing, some 130 nations will tackled! Palestinian question and unfortunately further isolate Israel the process. The Palestinian matter has to be resolved. Those who folli in Mr. Begin’s evil shadow must cast it off. The world will be better for it. As this oid fighter, so filled with vengeance, fades into oh vion, he could do one graceful thing: give back his Nobel Pa Prize. With the deaths which he has caused, he does i deserve this salute to tranquility and peace. SAME KIND OF SUCCESSOR? Yitzhak Shamir has been elected to succeed Mr. head of his 'Herut Party and as Prime Minister of Israel. T' man is of the same ilk as Mr. Begin. He has practiced spyi terror, assassination and is a known hater of Arabs as heiso of the Stern Gang mentality of the old Zionist guerrillas Mr. Shamir is a hardliner and was Israel’s Foreign Min# until his elevation. Most people, knowledgeable in Israeli? sonalities of those in power, predict little change in Besi policies under Prime Minister Shamir. If this is the case, it is the United States which must puts® control on Israel. President Ronald Reagan must stop then tlements, get on with talks with the PLO and get Israel oil Lebanon. Black American leaders must get into a Middle East pea®' itiative all the way. We must demand a cutback on taxpay" dollars wasted on, Israeli militarism and have this rerouted,to help ease the 56% unemployment rate of our youth; build housing, and minority business. Blacks roust? the entire treatment of the Palestinians on the 1984 elec® agenda. Blacks must cease being afraid of the likes of Shamir an cheering section here in the United States who makeashaw of U.S, foreign policy. What Israel needs is a younger leadership to take over*t will wants peace -I IIVVWO AJ 1.* . and is willing to seek out the PLO and negf>
The Carolina Times (Durham, N.C.)
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Oct. 1, 1983, edition 1
14
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