Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / March 17, 1988, edition 1 / Page 4
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Page A4 Winston-Salem Qironkk Thursday, March 17, 1988 Winston-Salem Chronicle Founded 1974 ERNEST H. PITT Publisher MICHAEL A. PITT NDUBISI EGEMONYE Assistant to the Publisher Co-Founder ANGELA WRIGHT ELAINE L PITT Managing Editor Office Manager JUUE PERRY YVONNE H.8. TRUHON ■ . Advertising Manager Production Manager Jordan's rhetoric not enough Lx Gov. Robert Jordan, Democratic candidate for gover nor, last week invited some of North Carolina's Afro-American publishers and community leaders to meet with him and dis cuss his candidacy. ■ .The meeting was held at a private club in Greensboro and the- lieutenant governor seemed quite at ease, as he emphatical ly endorsed affirmative action programs and related issues. On the surface, it might seem to some that Jordan's endorsement of affirmative action, and his rapport with Afro- American publishers and community leaders, would make him the Afro-American community's undisputed candidate for gov ernor of North Carolina. But, let's look below the surface. When asked to be more specific about his plans for affir mative action programs, Jordan was vague and unprepared to make a concrete commitment on what his administration would do to address some of the concerns of the Afro-Ameri can community. • He was unable to move beyond rhetoric and into specifics. Yet, he was obviously very comfortable with his position among the publishers and community leaders. This attitude suggests to some of us that the lieutenant governor feels he would get support from the Afro-American community just because he is a Democrat. Indeed, he has the suppon of some Afro-American newspapers already. But the single most disturbing aspect of the lieutenant gov ernor's meeting was his desire to simply win the governor's office. He said, "I want to win badly!" He also said that he was a realist and that he realized that, in order to win, he would not only have to appeal to Afro- American voters, but to "the rednecks in eastern North Caroli na" as well. These two groups have traditionally been diametrically opposed, both philosophically and politically. We would like to know how the lieutenant governor can appeal to both. His statement, however, makes it clear why he could not make a definite commitment on specific programs for the Afro-American community. It is doubtful that he would get the "redneck" vote if he presents a platform that includes initiatives of special interest to the Afro-American community. Jordan criticized former Gov. Jim Hunt and Sen. Terry San ford for publicly endorsing presidential candidate Albert Gore. But, when asked if he had voted for Jesse Jackson, Jordan would not respond. It is important that the lieutenant governor understand that mere rhetoric is not enough. Simply wanting to win is not enough and the Democrat label will not be enough this time. He will have to develop a platform which clearly delin eates how the Afro-American community will benefit from his administration, should he win the governor's seat. Although most of us are Democrats and many of us have traditionally voted a straight Democratic ticket, Jordan should beware that some of us are actually listening to what the candi dates are saying. We will not allow him to be swept up by our Jesse Jack son-induced Democratic euphoria and landed into the gover nor's mansion without a strong commitment from him. He must choose one side of the fence or the other! On the Rev. Jesse Jackson's victories NEW YORK - Jesse Jack son's victory on Super Tuesday was a victory not only for the Rainbow Coalition, but also for all those who believe in equal jus tice and freedom for all. Jackson won five to six states outright and came in a suong second in seven to eight states. There is no greater testimony to the political empow erment of the disfranchised than that people who were previously locked out of the political process are now included with such sig nificant impact. As a volunteer campaign sup porter who traveled briefly with Rep. Ronald Dellums, D-Mich., and activist Dick Gregory in the South before Super Tuesday, I could sense a renewed awareness about the power of the vote. For the power of that vote has put in place, throughout the South, num bers of influential Afro-American elected officials and more sensi tive white officials. In Selma, Ala., on the Sunday before Super Tuesday, the 23rd Anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" was commemorated by the National Celebration of the Right to Vote. On that day in 1965, marchers who were marching for the right to vote attempted to begin the Selma to Montgomery March and were brutally beaten by Alabama state troopers. Sheriff Jim Clark and other white offi cials were determined to use whatever violence they thought the workers that Jesse Jackson was the only candidate who understood the plight of factory workers and the linkage between CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL By BENJAMIN CHAVIS JR. 4 necessary to deny Afro-Ameri cans the right to vote. During the commemoration those like Albert Turner, Amelia Boynton, James Orange and Marie Foster - all of whom were in the original march - were in the front line. All were wearing Jesse Jackson buttons. But this time, as we marched across the Edmund Pettis Bridge, instead of being beaten, we were escorted by Alabama law enforcement officials. And all along the line of march, we were cheered by Afro- Americans and whites who shout ed, "Jesse Jackson for president." Jesse Jackson’s increased support among white voters was also obvious in Columbus, Ga. At a local textile factory, Afro-Amer ican and white workers greeted the campaign caravan with enthu siasm. Rep. Dellums explained to the spiraling military budget and the loss of social programs. The response of the w'orkers was over whelmingly supportive of the Jackson candidacy. Super Tuesday was originally designed by both Democratic and Republican party leaders to mini mize the impact of the Afro- American vote and to give con servatives in the South a greater say in choosing presidential nom inees. The party leaders thought that, by setting up primaries in so many southern states this early in the process, they could determine the nominee. However, they didn't bargain for the Jackson candidacy. As a result of the effectiveness of that candidacy, the South has risen again, but not as a racially segre gated and divided region. Jesse Please see page A5 Talking about the big AIDS lie NEW YORK — While we need research on AIDS and a compassion for those afflicted with this deadly disease, it is risky to conduct a heterosexual scare campaign to gel either. "AIDS is not a sexual threat to heterosexual men and women, period," Susan Bakos writes in the March issue of Forum maga zine. Bakos also points out that "AIDS is not spreading at the anticipated rate among non-dmg- using heterosexuals." "Non-drug-using" men and women who prefer the opposite sex, she is saying. Drug-using homosexuals, heterosexuals or bisexuals, however, are a menace to everyone. "In New York City, which has the highest number of heterosexu al cases, the statistics don't show significant heterosexual spread through sexual contact," con cludes Dr. Pauline Ann Thomas, the epidemiologist in charge of the city’s AIDS surveillance pro gram, "but rather through primari ly poorer people's shared use of IV drugs." Of course, some health offi- "The message pounded into us like driving rain is that AIDS does not discriminate, and that it will claim us all unless we are, and have been for a long lime, monogamous," she added. TONY BROWN Syndicated Columnist cials cannot distinguish between Afro-American people as a group and Afro-American people who abuse themselves with drugs. As in the general population, it is the drug users who are most contami nated with the AIDS virus. But New York City's health officials, according to Bakos, are so confused that they "arc urging the state to add vaginal inter course to its list of risky sex prac tices." Budget does, address neejiB TO BE EQUAL By JOHN E. JACoT' "Studies show that while AIDS is epidemic among homo sexuals and drug users, very little crossover to the mainstream het erosexual population has occurred," says Dr. Harold W. Jaffe, the center's chief of AIDs epidemiology. And from Dr. Robert C. Gallo, the National Cancer Insti tute researcher who was a co-dis- Please see page A5 cli le NEW YORK - P[(,. Ronald Reagan's proposed^"" 1989 budget - his last as J C dent - has spawned mucht^rjfe al comment regarding iisj^' tion, but a closer exatnj; reveals that it is full ofp,, *''' cuts that reduce opportuniiit[| cramp the nation’s vision, A federal budget isn'ii list of spending items agenda for the coming yeajv vision of where America be and how government it there. Hard choices have i(, . made, given the deficit binl. this year, as in previous;: those hard choices have 1% poor people's programs. An analysis of the adu, p iration’s budget proposal t))i ^ Center on Budget and Polbf , orities, an independent interest group, reveals that t)j|. ' authority for discretionan- grams for low-income peopki be cut. „ The center estimates thai; . will come to about lOpeu^ below the levels needed to r, g, tain today's service levels,* adjusting for inflation, anj| important to remember that : n current levels are already sIb^ reduced by years of budget: | ting and starving key progi' for funds. m The biggest hit in the 34'y istration’s 1989 budget is :: p low-income energy assist! f program, which helps poapp pay their heating bills. Thistj gram was cut by 19 percent! i 1988 fiscal year (after inflaa t The new budget would slash’* another 25.5 percent -^'n halving this important pr(( over two years. At a time of rising hoiK ness in America, the bt " would cut off funding for ite the four federal housing prop; for the homeless, and evat paltry $10 million progranii • provides job training forbo^ less pjeople would be ended. Also cut heavily is fuM for the emergency food andi ter program, which helps pit»; soup kitchens and shelters, cut comes at a lime wheni Agriculture Department is back on distribution of si food products to the needy. So shelters and soup kiittC will be caught in a double bii| less surplus food donationi'’’ less money with which to^ food. The other targets for cic | include housing progrfi i including community devti ment block grants, which er. cities to foster housing iolj; neighborhoods. ' Legal services for thslf would be cut by more tb^il percent, after inflation. As« s. 1.-1 lenj CDlf Slll| the community services grant, which helps fundl| anti-poverty agencies. Even such admired cessful programs as the JobC^j and Head Start would i trimmed, despite the urgenU to expand programs thaH^ Please see page A5 CHRONICLE CAMERA Should there be stricter laws for owners of vicious dogs? A two-year old child was mauled by three pit bull terriers on his grandparents farm on March 8 in Wilmington. One of the dogs ripped off and swallowed one of Chris Graham's ears. Doctors at New Hanover Memorial Hospital had to retrieve the boy's ear from the dogs' stomach and re-attach it. Vicious animal attacks have become more widespread through out the country. The Chronicle asked several local residents if they believe stricter laws should be imposed on owners of dangerous animals for the sake of public safe ly. Many respondents said they believed something should be done, but expressed an assortment of opinions as to what. Dogs, such as doberman pin schers and pit bulls, have been used as police attack dogs and on patrol in Viemam. Several U.S. counties have outlawed the pit bull breed. In other places owners are being assessed heavy fines for allowing such animals to roam free, whether or not they actually attack anyone. Many residents believe it is virtually impossible to completely domesticate them because of their inbred ferocious nature. Some also said that people who own or would like to own, such an animal should take into consideration how dangerous they are. Some suggested thai a^ j who wants to own aP'** should prove to some author*! they have adequate facib^ keep the animal restrained ^ cannot prove they can J dogs, they should not own "I believe there should defi nitely be laws imposed to P protect people. - pit bulls are difficult to train because it's in their nature io attack." Ollle Smith 'Too many peo- pie have gotten -f " " - ,hurt because of these vicious animals. If own ers can't control them, then the ^ law should." John Heath "Ttiose animals .ate very danger ous and difficult Io control. I think people who want them should take the safety of others into considera tion." Mildred Sanders "They are too difficult to train. People have a right to get them, but they should consider the fact that they might get away." jj! William Herring Jr. "Maybe Ifo*: ers could 3 prove they ^ I could Them to son* body, were : wouldn't . manypw*f : lems." :
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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March 17, 1988, edition 1
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