Winston-Salem Chronicle . : V?" ' ? . ?; ? ? ' ? ' IS'-. Forum i . ? n . - - **'??* ? _ . w ? -? ?. ? >; * V ..V * ,7: y;j . . ". and domination of the emerging 4 "new world order." We challenge the self-idola J troys and self-righteous tone and substance of the State of the Union speech. The immorality of the Per sian Gulf War as well as the immorality of the growing suffering of millions of poor persons # throughout the nation cannot be * Concealed by the President's latest attempt to assert," America has - served the world as an inspiring the emerging "new world order" began with the reunification of Ger many and the democratization of eastern Europe. Yes, we are also pleased to see a greater sense of democracy spread throughout Europe. But Europe is not the whole world and neither does the rest of the world revolve on an European axis. Most African-Americans were stunned by the arrogance of the President proclaiming his vision of the United States as the model for the rest of the world to follow. Freedom does work. But the reality for African-Americans and the many other racial and ethnic communities in the tynited States is that our struggle to experience lim ited freedom and justice in America continues to be a painful reality per jt mealed with racism. The President says that the 21st f century will be the "American Cen tury." If it is true that much of American foreign policy emerges out of domestic policy, then the handwriting is on the wall. The global community will become more racially as well as geo-politi cally polarized. 7 The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer. Those with the highest degree of lethal technology will rule those of less technological advancement -J ? L Human biology, however, is replete with the fall of empires. No nation should seek to be "the super power" of the world. The present situation in our nation is full of social contradictions. But one thing is certain immoral behavior at home and abroad will not bring a lasting justice nor peace. Recognizing black warriors /.* '?* Black History Month tradition V.^ally focuses on the contributions ' African-Americans have made to 1 the nation, and on various aspects of " " "black history. ? With war raging in the Persian .. Gtflf it should come as no surprise ' that more attention is now being paid to the significant black role in integrated environment, so too can all the nation's institutions. And it's as important for Amer icans to understand the black progress in the military did not hap pen without successful struggle driven by black insistence on equal opportunities. During World War II, as in pre African-Americans to risk their lives under the banner of freedom and democracy while withholding both from blacks. And blacks ral lied round that tarnished flag, not only to fightsthe enemy, but to fight for the respect denied them in a racist society. There were in a lohg line of earlier black generations who believed their sacrifices on the bat tlefield would win a grater measure When the Civil War began, Frederick Douglas Urged blacks to join the Union Army despite the Constitution's enshrinement of slav ery and the government's refusal to attack slavery until long after the start of the war. His advice, as strange as it seemed tomany, was vindicated by outstanding black battlefield perfor mance helped lead to the abolition of slavery and the adoption of the Reconstruction amendments to the Constitution. So too, the sterling performance of blacks in World War II played a role in leading President Truman to issue an executive order integrating the armed forces in 1948 ? a mea sure that was also made possible by black voting strength in the north. , & It's hard today to see General Powell smoothly running a press conference or to see our integrated fighting units, without realizing what a long road black people have traveled ? and how far we have yet to go. ^-America's military. Well over a fourth of the U.S. forces in the Gulf are African Americans, and the Chairman of the ? . Joint Chiefs of Staff ? the operat ; ing head of all the armed forces, is a ?tyck man, General Colin Powell. i0; The U.S. military is probably ,t,he most integrated institution in the nation. It's far from perfect ? ' blacks are still disproportionately '/vfound in the lowest ranks. t But of how many other institu ? tions, especially in the private sec .. ,tor^ can it be said that the chief deci sion-maker is an African-American? ,/Apd how many routinely have , ^.whites working for blacks, taking ; Orders for blacks, and reporting to ; ^blacks? ,4'(. ' It's important for all Americans -?u tp understand that if an institution as traditionally rigid as the military can make the giant leap toward a more vious wars, the armed forces wee strictly segregated. Black troops fought under white officers and many were forced into construction, transport and other backup services in which they shared the danger but not the glory. But they compiled an extraordi nary record. Black marines helped win the battle of Saipan, black tank units defeated German troops in Austria, and black soldiers helped with the Battle of the Bulge. The most famous black fighting unit of World War II was probably the 99th Pursuit Squadron, the air force unit that helped bomb the Ger mans into submission. Many of those "Tuskegee Airmen," as they were called since they began their training at Tuskegee Institute, went on to assume key leadership roles in the postwar world. American in the 1940s asked ? 0 ? f . . t Everything about the unneces sary war in the Persian Gulf has a disproportionately adverse affect on . , African- Americans. African- Ameri " ? ,T- - * cans are disproportionately repre ; /seated in the military and on the ;".frontlines in the Persian Gulf because we are disproportionately , disadvantaged in the United States. And yet there seems to be coherent policy and no serious national com mitment or will to solve the crisis; . A major reason for this lack of policy and commitment is the com plexion of those who are dispropor tionately locked into poverty within the inner city urban areas. Black and Brown people are overwhelm Times, 1/27/91). The "peace divi dend" which held out^ttfe? hope of providing the much needed resources to invest in education, housing, health care, infrastructure development, environmental clean up and greater energy self-sufficien cy is being wasted on this mad mis adventure in the Persian Gulf. The ultimate impact will be greater than the loss of the peace dividend. There is the prospect of further reductions in spending for domestic social programs as this nation is forced to come to grips with the consequences of the war. A number of other severe problems are mounting even as out. attention is diverted to the Persian Gulf. It appears that another $50-$80 billion will be required to continue the S&L bailout over the next two years. And now comes the alarming revelation that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is also in serious trouble as increasing numbers of commercial banks face bankruptcy. It is estimated that $4 billion will be required to shore up the FDIC this year and $23 billion by 1995. With the ravenous Please see page A6 ..v ?.i i ... - '?*- '".V/V". VANTAGE POINT By RON DANIELS V ' * \ t r v 4 >yhen the long awaited and .' inevitable ground war begins it will ?6e thfe African-Americans who will / be disproportionately comiitg home . m those dreaded body bags. . ? ' "/ ? What will African-Americans i ? who survive this war find when ? they come "home." An economy ,4hat is in deep recession and inner African- Americair communities ?which will still be ravished by .ppverty, crime, drugs, violence, Jmtf ' J^GLECT. As a recent New York ' 'Times scries put it, urban centers arc faccd with a worsening crisis. ingly the^victims of poverty in America's inner cities. We are all supposed to "stand together" as "Americans" in the prosecution of war in the Persian Gulf. But white America seems unwilling to save the united front in a war against * poverty as a patriotic duty. The war in the Persian Gulf will adversely affect Black progress for years to come. As Georgia Con gressman John Lewis put it, "you cannot spend $1 billion a day to fight a war and still deal with the problem at home" (New York Prices Good thru February 13, 14, 18, 16 M&Ms ggfSi P^ain or ^ffii Peanut 6 Packs ??1 $ 1 59 Palmer's Gift Box Hearts 1 3/4 oz. dr Item Rosen's Valentine MSfS cards with Pops Your Choice r* ^wsOl Brach's To My Valentine Heart 8 oz. j. E.J. Brach Cinnamon Imperials 8 1/4 oz. Aspen for Men 4 oz. Cologne mmmm Shop our "Nothing Over ^ 1 Over 100 items to choose from: 20 oz. Stadium Cups 4 for $lefl 200 Coffee Filters ^ 11 pc. Measuring Set $1M ^ 4 pc. Kitchen Tool Set $lfie Playing Cards 3 for $1QQ Butane. 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