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Editorials
Page 3
Clark Atlanta University Panther
November 2, 1990
We Have A Responsibility
By SEIFU MEKURIA
Contributing Writer
“As for the second circle — the African Continent Circle — 1
should say, without going into details, that we cannot under
any condition, even if we wanted to, stand aloof ..for one
important and obvious reason — we ourselves are in Africa.
We certainly cannot...relinquish our responsibility to help
spread the light of knowledge and civilization to the very depth
of the virgin jungle of the continent. ”
—GAMAL ABDEL NAS SIR.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait the gulf region became the focus
of international war machines. Spearheaded by the U.S.,
numerous forces are converging on Saddam Hussien. With the
exception of the participating Arab countries, like Egypt and
Saudi Arabia, the building up forces in area appear to be a
confrontation between the U.S. and Iraq. Though the U.N.
Security council resolutions prove otherwise, Iraq seems to
capitalize on this appearance of U.S. against Iraq.
This Iraq rationale has gained some acceptance in some
areas. But Iraq remains an aggressor of a soverign state.
Though it came in the open with the invasion of Kuwait, Iraq’s
and other similar radical Arab states have caused untold
destructions in other part of the region: East Africa.
Take the cases of the Sudan and Ethiopia. In both countries
a civil war is going fullblast, and pan-Arabism is one of the
common factors weaving through both conflicts. Thirty-nine
percent of the population in the Sudan are Arabs, the rest are
non-Arab Blacks. Despite this fact, the Sudan officially refers
to itself as an Arab country, and Islamic laws (sharia) has been
imposed on the general population — enough reason to start a
war. According to some estimates about 2 million lives have
been lost on the on going civil war there.
In Ethiopia during Emperor Haile Sellasie time Muslims
were treated as second class citizens-enough reason to result to
arms. Muslims and Christians are somewhat equal in number,
and there is no significant Arab population. But the war that is
going on in Northern Ethiopia has close ties with radical Arab
states lile Libia and Iraq.
In the Sudan the question that comes to the mind as well as to
those resisting Pan-Arabism is“where is the locust of Arab
interest? Is it in Libya or is it in Iraq? Where is it and why should
it conflict with Black Africa?”
In Ethiopia the question is why are some Arab states engaged
in an effort to change the Red Sea into an Arab Sea? And why
are the rebel forces in Northeren Ethiopia talking in Arabic
when Tigregna remains the widely spoken dialect there?
Can Pan-Arabism accommodate Black Africa? As recent
developments indicate, the growing influence and legitimacy of
the U.N., seen in the security council’s resolutions on the
current crisis, could stenghten the universally accepted
principles of respect for sovergnity, territorial integrity and
non-interference in the internal affairs of a country. Taking
these principles as the starting point, the Arab African conflicts
could be turned arround to benefit both. The unifications of
Germany and Yemen are teaching truths that we in Africa are
also blessed (doomed) to live together forever.
PANTHER
November 2, 1990
The articles on the editorial page are the opinions of the
writers. They are not necessarily the opinions of the student
body, faculty, staff or administration.
Editor-in-Chief Paulette V. Walker
Managing Editor Cydney L. Williams
News Editor Tonya Latimer
Editorial Page Editor Nannette L. Wilson
Lifestyles Editor Vanessa Crockett
Sports Editor Pierce W. Huff
Photo Editor Rodney Mathews
We welcome our readers ’ views in the form of letters to the
editor or guest editorials. The Panther office is located in the
Communication Arts Center, room 120. The business office
is in Trevor Arnett Hall. Address all correspondence to the
Panther Newspaper, Clark Atlanta University, James P.
Brawley Drive at Fair Street, S. W., P. O. Box 329, A tlanta,
Ga. 30314. The telephone number is 880-8309. The staff
meets Tuesdays at 11 a.m. in room 120 of the
Communications Arts Center.
“What??? You want to know if
it’s okay for you to take your
Mid-Term exam now because you
overslept this morning? Well, can
a one-tooth mule eat a hard piece
of candy? Can a cow cook? Is the
Pope prostestant? Get out of my
PROF. LOGHEAD
Art Or Obscenity
By NANNETTE L. WILSON
Editorial Page Editor
Now in an age where rap groups such as 2 Live
Crew can use obscene and abusive language to
describe women, and artists can submerge a
crucifix in their urine and call it art, it is art!
Art is any form of human activity that is the
product of and appeals primarily to the
imagination. This includes music and it includes
photography.
This is not to say that every one will view these
pieces of art as being art, but to simply say that
‘One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.’
Three members of 2 Live Crew were charged
with obscenity and had their music banned
across the nation for a month. After going
through a two-week trial, they were found
innocent. But the harm had already been done.
Sure! Some of the lyrics of the group are
vulgar and degrading. However, the jury agreed
they were protected under the First Amendment,
freedom of speech. The actions taken against
them was evident of injustice and an act of
prejudice toward only one segment of the
population, the African American society.
The First Amendment has been around for
years and years, far more years than rap but yet it
took the court along with a Fort Lauderdale
judge to ‘rediscover’ it.
Like one juror said,“People in everyday
society use those Words.” But we, as human
beings with the ability to think (for the most
part) did not think of the option of listening to it
or not listening to it.
The First Amendment was also on trial
recently involving the exhibit of photographs.
Sen. Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina) called
Andres Serrano, artist of the Piss Christ
photograph, a jerk. And others had other names
for him, but then again, to some, he emerged a
star.
Serrano has used the National Endowment of
the Arts controversy to rise from the depths of
obscurity to national fame.
Sure, his works are controversial but in these
days, what isn’t?
Dada, an art form in which I am studying in
my humanitities course, thrives on the
controversial and illogical art. It presents the
rejections of politics. Life presents controversy.
Serrano terms some of his works “bodily
fluids.” Great! If he desires to do that, fine. But
that is not to say that I have to buy it. You see,
art is an expression. Remember, art is any form
of human activity that is the product of and
appeals primarily to the imagination. Therefore,
one can not say that another is imagining wrong.
Some people say that art cannot be termed art
until basically a small segment of the population
has decided that the artist had the intent,
education, meaning and understanding of the
piece. The work also had to accumulate history
before being sworn into the wide and wonderful
world of art. I strongly disagree.
I see this as being another type of prejudice to
limit the African Americans’ right of expression.
The graffiti found in subways was not
necessarily based on intent, education,
knowledge of art’s past (which does have its
foundation in antiquities Africa) nor was it
rediscovered by others before being called art.
In fact, at one time it was not considered art but
now it is. The Great Pyramids of Egypt are not
considered art to the Egyptians. It was not until
they were stripped of their land and their ideas
were stolen by westerners that the Pyramids
were recognized as ‘art.’ In actuality these could
be a kind of ‘ready-made,’ another term adopted
to describe a type of stolen, already assembled
piece.
This describes censorship and the violation of
artistic freedom. The two do not mix.
In art, there is imagination and self-expression
which brings about a duality. The duality is an
appreciation for the ideas that originally stood
for the artist’s mental images.
Art is an expression and whatever else the
artist wants it to be. It is something that no one
can rightfully judge and put limitations on. For
some, it is a way of life.
It is a sad commentary that the intepretation
of the First Amendment is selective, imbalanced,
inconsistent and, of course, prejudiced!