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PANTHER page 6 September 25, 1991 r
GLOBAL ISSUES
By William Blackburn
WORLDVIEW. . .
I WHO’S IN CHARGE?
I was watching the events
[ surrounding the turmoil in the U.S.S.R. and
if I didn't know any better I could have
[sworn that the whole thing looked like a
1991 episode of Abbott and Costello. I guess
I my first problem with the ordeal is that I
don't speak Russian so I didn't know what
any one was saying. All I could go on was
what some unseen and unknown translator
[was muttering.
So I dusted off my guide book to lip
| reading, turned down the sound on the
television and watched each Soviet news
conference with great anticipation. And in
each news conference the top Soviet
politicians discussed the same thing, as if
Abbott and Costello were Russians. Who's
on first? The communist. Who's on second?
The democracy. No, I thought the
democracy wanted to play third base. No,
that’s where the KGB is. That can't be right
because I know that the army was playing
third base. No the army is coaching. No,
Mikael Gorbachev is coaching. No, Mr.
Gorbachev was ejected from the game. Who
is taking his place? Boris Yelstin. I thought
he was in left. No, the Prime Minister is in
left. I thought the Prime Minister was on
the organ. No, that's George Bush up there
playing "God Bless America" on the organ.
Hey Look, Why is Boris Yelstin running
around with those bats in his hand chasing
everybody away. He's mad because they
wouldn't let Gorbachev play anymore. I
thought he was coaching. No, he was
thrown out of the game. Hey Abbott. Here
comes Gorbachev back onto the field
looking really humble and Yelstin isn’t
walking behind him anymore. Now he's
| walking right beside him.
The situation in Soviet Union is
| bizarre yet long overdue. It also shows you
what can happen when people come
together and rebel against things that they
feel aren't right. Communism has run the
Soviet Union since its beginning but that
didn’t stop those who felt it was time for a
change. Though President Bush is
remaining calm publicly, he is shivering
behind close doors. Because Bush knows
that same thing could happen here. One day
[you're on top and the next day you're down
land out. It's the American way. You live by
Ithe sword and you die by the sword.
lGorbachev never assumed that anything
llike this would happen to him but....
ISurprise Suckers.
j NATIONAL VIEW. . . .
| CAN I GET A GOOD EDUCATION?
Several educators in Detroit, aware of
| the dangers that the city holds for Black
males, decided that an all-male school would
| be part of the solution in formatting a more
successful lifestyle for the youths. However,
I what they forgot to remember was that this is
| America. Whites run this country and they
are going to do their best to deny us any
I opportunities in which we appear to be
bettering ourselves. What's wrong with a
| school for all Black males. Absolutely
nothing. There are all-White male school all
over this country. Private, public, catholic -
| you name, it they have it. It's sad that this
country is that fearful of educated Blacks.
The white school systems don't teach us
1 anything but what they want us to know. All
| we are taught is that we were slaves, are still
slaves and will always be slaves. This is all a
sad revelation not to mention that one of the
I groups opposed to this all-male school was
represented by a Black lawyer. What Black
person in there right mind would deny Black
males the opportunity to receive a better
education. Especially considering that Black
males with their heads on straight are an
endangered species in 1991. Wake up People!
It is disappointing to see Black males who
want to be something in life besides
| criminals and losers denied the opportunity
to better themselves. Every time I pick up the
J newspaper or turn on the news it's Black
males grabbing the headlines. Not for
anything good that they have done but for
murders, burglaries, and rapes. If you don't
know any better you would think that Black
males aren't anything but thugs , criminals
and illiterate individuals who deserve to be
locked up. Opportunities aren't afforded to
Black males on a regular basis so it is
important that they be allowed to capitalize
on them when they present themselves.
Maybe America is scared of an educated
I Black man. Maybe Whites have really been
brainwashed into believing that Black males
can never be anything but athletes. Maybe
Blacks have been led to believe that there is
no hope for Black males no matter what age.
Whatever one believes is no doubt having a
nationwide effect, for it denied 600 Black
males in Detroit the opportunity to learn
about more than school. It denied them the
opportunity to learn about life and their role
in this hypocritical society. It denied those
Black males their rightful dues .
STUDENTS SPEAK OUT. . . .
. .On Clarence Thomas
LOCAL VIEW. . . .
HEY. CAN WE PLAY?
Yes, the Olympic Games are coming
to town in 1996. Yes, the event will boost
the city's economy. Yes, the image of
Atlanta will benefit greatly. Yes, this is a
big moment in the history of the city. The
list can go on and on and on about how the
Olympic Games will pay great dividends to
the city and to the surrounding
communities. However, the list of those
neglected and overlooked for the Games is
totally in the black. Techwood Homes,
Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown,
Morehouse and Spelman Colleges all have
something to legitimately complain about.
Techwood, the oldest government assisted
housing developments in the country, is in
danger of being tom down in order to make
room for our Olympic guests, who will only
be in town for a couple of months. While the
residents of Techwood are permanent
citizens of the city, who may soon be
homeless. Then listen for the Police Chief
and the Mayor to again voice their concern
about the growing number of crimes
committed by homeless people. It doesn't
make sense to me but then again I'm not a
greedy and inhumane person who walks
around in a suit with a AGOC (Atlanta
Games Olympic Committee) button on, with
dollar signs flashing in my eyes every time
somebody says the words "Olympic Games".
The AGOC gives the good ole boys at Georgia
Tech just about every monetary and
constructional benefit that those
Yellowjackets could wish for. Then to
compensate the AUC, the committee gives
us a couple of renovations and a event or
two - that's more of an insult than a
compliment. Yet, the opening and closing
ceremonies, as well as other numerous
activities will be held in the new Georgia
Dome, which is in walking distance of the
AUC. What a snow job we got. This despite
the fact that the Mayor of the City is a
product of the AUC. No doubt considering
our promixity to the games, the number of
AUC products who sit among the decision
boards for this city, and the rich heritage
and tradition that the schools have, it is a
blatant injustice that Georgia Tech received
every benefit imaginable. But, one thing I
know is that when it comes time to organize
volunteers for the games, I'm sure plenty of
signs will posted around the AUC. But
always remember that the rich get richer
and the poor get poorer. It’s the American
wav,
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The Score
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pro
% f °
"I think that we are judging the man too
quick and we should take a 'wait and see'
approach"
Paul Hubard - Junior
Charlotte, North Carolina
"I think that he will in no way help black
people if anything he'll cause more harm"
Michele Patterson - Sophmore
Newark, New Jersey
"It is a tragedy that a black man would do,
say and think the way that he does, It is a
major disappointment to have him replace
Thurgood Marshall"
Toni Moore - Freshman
Chicago, Illinois
"Clarence Thomas is a Uncle Tom who
should go back to Savannah and retrace
his roots"
Alicia Caldwell - Junior
Memphis, Tennessee