Forum f * i Thanksgiving: Speaking the truth Yes, this is the season to give thanks to God for all of the bless ings of life. For the overwhelming majority of the world's population, this is a time of profound hunger, pain and struggle for survival. To Some in the United States, Thanks giving is a traditional time for fami lies to be together and to share a sense of gratitude for all the "good" hawk" moves, we wonder if these sports fans are aware of the racial and cultural indignities that they are "acting out" toward the Native American community. Of course baseball, football and other sports fans should enjoy themselves, but not at the expense of the dignity of the Native peoples of this land and world. CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL things that have happened over a period of time. For millions of Native Ameri cans, the celebration of Thanksgiv ing in the United States is an annual , reminder of the contradictions of ?? * ,American myths, values and the commercialization of these myths and values. On the eve of the 1992 quinsecentennial observance of the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the Western Hemisphere, it should be necessary to speak a word of truth concerning the circumstances of Native Americans in the history and life of this nation. Although there are numerous references to Native American sym bols and terms in sports, television, - and in other levels of society, there - is a very inadequate CIVIL under-; standing on the part of many Amer icans about the state of Native Americans today. The truth is that ?Native Americans have survived five centuries of oppression and genocide which is unparalleled in human history. Every time crowds in the tens of thousands can now be seen on national television at sports events shouting, mimicking, and acting in a frenzy of so-called "tommy Maybe Thanksgiving 1991 will give the nation another opportunity to express "thanks for the giving" of the millions of Native people who were forced to "give up" their lands and life in the birth and historical development of what is now "the most powerful nation in the world," in the view of President George Bush. Will our national elected leaders call the nation into a moment of "repentance" for the past and make a commitment for more fairness, respect, and reparational support of Native Americans? Will our national religious leaders call the communities of faith into prayer and acts of repentance for the "sins" committed against Native Ameri cans? . ? ? ?' The truth is that the future of the United States will not depend upon military might or industrial or eVen economic development as Assured methods of maintaining "^uper-power status." .But the future of this nation, we believe to a large measure, will depend upon a national commitment to revisit, rethink, and repent for the historic national sins of Native American genocide and African-American slavery. In other words, until we as a nation, face up more readily to the true history of the nation, the real positive potential of the nation will not materialize. President Bush's exclamation of a "New World Order" seeks to obfuscate the truth of U.S. history. From the perspective of People of Color communities throughout the nation, before the issuing of a call for a new world order for the world, it would be better for the President to help establish a more just and equitable multiracial society here on the home front Given the fact of the rise in - infant mortality, poverty, health care crisis, and other devastating conditions Native Americans are being forced to endure, the vast resources of this society must be. reprioritized and redirected to help mefet the needs of our Native sisters and brothers. Yet, we all still have something to learn from the Native American community. The issue of environmental justice is a good example. The industrial policies of our society are setting the frame work for the destruction of the envi ronment. No community has had more constructive experience in understanding the "sacredness" of the earth and the environment than the Native American community. The general destruction of the ozone layer is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the future of environmental pollution and injustice. It is ironic but tragic that those in power may have to turn once again to the fundamental truths of Native American under standings of nurturing and protect-' ing the environment in order to live into the next century. Will those in power treat Native Americans with a greater degree of justice? We all need to be involved in this struggle because the ultimate fate of Native People will be thfe fat^ of all. Haitians should not be forced back Anyone with even cursory knowledge of what is going on in Haiti since President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown must understand why people are fleeing Venezuela and Honduras only because a Florida appeals court is deciding whether to allow the Coast Guard to continue its practice of intercepting and repatriating the AGAINST THE GRAIN By ROOSEVELT WILSON the country, risking their lives and hraving the waters in order to escape the current oppressive and murderous regime. Yet, the U.S. Coast S^iard is intercepting the boats an(Tuntil three weeks ago was forcing the refugees to return to Haiti. Thou sands of Haitians are still being held by the Coast Guard in Cuba, ? i Haitians. In New York Harbor stands the "Mother of Exiles," who says: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore Send these, the homeless, tem pest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the gold en door. P?st this Statue of Liberty have come millions from other shores to find freedom in this country. Like wise, on the warm waters of the southernmost part of this nation have come millions of Latinos to enjoy the call of Mother Liberty. Yet, Haitian refugees, poor, frightened black people fleeing for their lives, pose such a threat to this country that they must be intercept ed at sea in order to keep them from basking in the warmth of liberty that is part of the fiber of this nation. There seems to be some thing terribly wrong and inconsis tent here. The only question seems to be whether these people have a legiti mate claim for political asylum. Federal law says once refugees Please see page A6 Magic puts AIDS back in spotlight Basketball great Magic John son wrote that he was "ignorant of the reality of AIDS. I hadn't paid ?attention to the statistics . . . hadn't greatness, for Magic Johnson is clearly more than a sports hero. He is a remarkable human being whose exploits on The basket TO BE EQUAL By JOHN E. JACOB paid attention to the figures show ing that AIDS is a huge problem in ;the black community. ... To me, AIDS was someone else's disease." He had a lot of company. Most people have thought of AIDS ? when they thought of it at all ? as "someone else's disease." Now, after the revelation that Magic Johnson is infected with the human immune-deficiency virus (HlV) that causes AIDS, we all knqw that it can strike anyone. The outpourings of grief and borrow that followed his shocking announcement were driven by more than admiration for his athletic ball court arc matched by his mag netic personality and his indomi table courage in facing up to his ill ness. It's typical of the man that he isn't going to slink off somewhere to sulk or to husband his strength, but instead will personally cam paign to educate people about MDS, That's important, because there widespread ignorance about the AIDS epidemic although nearly 200,000 Americans have had AIDS and 126,000 have died. Another 1.5 million, like Magic Johnson, may carry the HIV virus, which can develop into full-fledged AIDS as much as ten years after the initial infection. Despite the well-documented threat of the disease, the response by the government and the public has been inadequate. Part of the reason is that for too many people, AIDS is a disease of homosexuals and drug abusers, and the identification with groups stig matized by many mainstream Americans has acted as a brake on efforts to relieve the suffering and research the cure. But the fast-growing rise in AIDS cases among heterosexuals like Magic Johnson is dispelling the fog of myth surrounding AIDS and could jolt society into more vigor ous action. For the fact is that AIDS has hit people in virtually all walks of life, from the famous to the unknown and it looms as one of the major health threats our socicty faces in the coming dccadc. ~ Everyone agrees that Magic Johnson's educational campaign about AIDS and the importance of Please see page A6 Prices Good thru November 27,28,29, &30 ; -vi; ? Bobs Candy Canes kA #7505, 7506, & 7530 A 6 oz. * 7' Mtn. King Boulder Fir Christmas Tree ' #84-461335 ? . .^".V....":!: ':"""V ! ' ">'UK'??'".' 'aft-* >&$>'< ip Visit our Dollar Counter for Stocking Stuffers and Christmas Accossorios! ? Pantyhose, 200 Coffee Filters, Single Light Chandelier, Manicure Set, Desk Calendar, or Magnifier with Light - all ?1## each ? Assorted Tags & Seals, Bows (12 or15 count), Christmas Dish Cloths - all 2 for *1** ? 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