Newspaper Page Text
Spelman Spotlight February 25, 1980
Page 3
Carter's State of the Union Address
By Kiron Skinner
According to Frank Reynolds
of ABC news, the “State of the
Union” address by President Car
ter on January 23, 1980 was
“almost devoted to foreign
policy.” President Carter began
his address by saying; “The state
of our Union depends on the state
of the world and the state of the
world depends on the state of our
Union.”
Many political scientists and
analysts reported after the speech
that they considered Carter’s ad
dress to be more of a United
States foreign policy statement
than a statement on the Union.
In fact, Carter dedicated much of
his address to explaining what the
United States position will be on
the two major international
crisis; American hostages in Iran
and Soviet troops in Afghanistan.
In his discussion of the Iranian
situation, to the Congressional
plenum, Carter labeled the acts
of the Iranian students as forms
of “international terrorism.” He
stated; “In response to the
abhorrent act of Iran, our
position is clear; the United
States will not yield to black
mail.” The President further
warned that if the hostages are
not released, a “severe price will
be paid.” He did not state what
that severe price will be, but he
did add, “we will never rest until
American hostages are released.”
Concerning the Soviet Union’s
troops in Afghanistan, the
President informed that the
Soviet invasion is evidence of
military aggression. “The Soviet
Union must pay a concrete price
for their aggression....Verbal
condemnation is not enough,”
Carter emphasized. In light of
what the Soviet Union has done,
Carter stated, “The United States
has imposed stiff economic
penalties on the Soviet Union.”
Aside from stating United
States policy on the two major in
ternational events, the President
listed some of the major actions
and policies of the United States
in the last few decades. In the
1950s the United States employed
a containment policy towards the
Soviet Union when they in
tervened in Korea and the Mid-
Mayor Richard Arrington and Dr. Hugh Gloster
Photo by William Ransom The Informer
Rev. William Howard Addresses
Special Morehouse Convocation
Reverend William Howard,
President of the National Council
of Churches, and one of the
ministers who conducted Christ
mas services for the American
hostages in Iran, returned to his
alma mater to give members of
the Morehouse family his first
hand impression of the situation
as it exists in Iran.
Reverend Howard indicated
that he went to Iran in his current
position as President of the
National Council of Churches,
the largest ecumenical
organization in the United States,
with a membership of some forty
million members. This address
was the first Reverend Howard
had given before a predominantly
black audience since his return
from Iran.
Reverend Howard stated, “I
have demonstrated my personal
and pastorial concern and com
passion for the hostages and their
families, so there can be no doubt
about my hope and prayer for
their safe return.” He pointed out
that one of the broader lessons
the Iranian crisis has had toward
United States foreign policy is to
show that the fundamental ob
jectives of United States foreign
See HOWARD p. 7
die East. During the 1960s the
United States involved itself in
the Soviet threat in Berlin and the
Cuban missile crisis. And during
the past decade, Carter reminded
the American people that three
United States presidents have
worked to halt the nuclear power
race. In the 1980s, he added, the
United States “effort to control
nuclear power will not be aban
doned.”
Perhaps the most prominent
statement in his address was the
statement that the Persian Gulf is
vital to the United States’
national interest, and that the
Soviet Union must not dominate
foreign oil fields.
Domestic problems of the
United States were discussed
during the latter portion of the
president's speech. First, Carter
said that it is imperative that
Congress approve the military
budget for 1981. Also, he
vehemently added, “The selec
tive service system must be
revitalized.” These are domestic
chores that the U.S. must realize
in light of international con
ditions.
When Carter began to discuss
the need for energy conservation
and alternatives, he reported that
congress must work promptly on
energy legislation. He suggested
that Congress consider solar
power, realistic prices, the
development of synthetic fuels as
imperative to this nations future.
Carter not only called on
Congress to aid him in this era of
diminishing energy alternatives,
he directly appealed to the
American people; “Tonight I call
on you, all the people of
America, help our nation con
serve energy, eliminate waste,
make 1980 the year of energy
conservation.”
Discussing some governmental
problems, the President stated
that some of his goals are to
reduce the government deficit
and balance the budget, cut
paper work and dismantle un
necessary government
regulations on businesses. Also,
he wants to continue process in
providing jobs and training for
the unskilled worker, including
youths and minorities.
After Carter finished his State
of the Union address, one jour
nalist called him a “different
man”. He said that this was not
the same J immy Carter that came
into office almost four years ago,
and the reason for this change is
largely due to international
events that have permeated
American life in recent months.
Birmingham Mayor Keynotes
Morehouse Convocation
Richard Arrington, Jr., the
newly elected Mayor of Bir
mingham, Alabama, was the
keynote speaker at a special con
vocation held in his honor at the
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial Chapel on the
Morehouse College campus
recently.
In introducing Dr. Arrington to
the convocation audience,
Morehouse President Dr. Hugh
M. Gloster stated, “Today I have
a pleasure I never dreamed I
would enjoy in this life. The
pleasure of introducing a black
man as the Mayor of Bir
mingham, Alabama. I hope that
everyone in this audience ap
preciates the historical signifi
cance of the election of Dr.
Arrington in the upward
movement in the American
South.” Dr. Gloster added, “Dr.
Arrington’s career shows that a
black man who is well qualified
and who will drive forward can
rise from the depths of disad
vantage and reach the heights of
success^ even in Alabama.”
Dr. Arrington challenged the
audience to “teach against apathy
and indifference. We must sup
port black colleges, churches,
and organizations such as the
NAACP who have helped build
bridges for us to cross.” He ad
ded, “Many colleges have years
of struggle ahead before we can
gain vitality and stability that is
needed. Black Colleges and chur
ches have taught us the meaning
of institutional strength. We as
Black Americans do not have
many institutions that we can
draw from, however, we do have
our colleges and churches. Your
challenge is to move things along
for the better as a dreamer and a
doer. Adversities must become
opportunities.”
Dr. Arrington pointed out,
“The black middle class has a
responsibility to aid those who
are shackled in the depths of
poverty. We must see that
organizations such as the NAACP
are strengthened. We must take
as our slogan—I want for my
brother what I want for myself.”
Turning his attention to his
recent election as Mayor of Bir
mingham, Dr. Arrington pointed
out that there is a lot of similarity
between leading a college and
leading a city. He stated, “The
success of our nation is based on
a people who are willing to take
on tough tasks...Currently there
Despite strong lobbying from
President J immy Carter, the
Equal Rights Amendment was
defeated in the Georgia State
Senate Monday J anuary 21, 1980
by a vote of 32-against and 23-for.
The amendment would have
needed 29 votes for passage.
A large majority of Georgia
State senators voting “yes” for
the ratification of the ERA were
Democrats. Many felt the issue
of the ERA was more a political
party issue rather than one of
public opinion. Of the 23 senators
who voted “yes” for the
ratification, only one, Paul
Coverdell of Atlanta, was a
Republican. Many Republicans
and Democrates voting against
ERA expressed suppport of the
aims of the ERA, but were disap
pointed with the wording. The
Equal Rights Amendment for
mally reads;
Section 1. Equality of rights
under the law shall not be denied
is a movement to rebuild the in
ner cities. Now is a good time to
be mayor if you have ideas, com
mitment, and energy. Bir
mingham people have made a lot
of progress, but there is still a
long way to go.”
Dr. Arrington closed his
remarks by stating, “Title III
legislation is the greatest source
of federal income for black
colleges. We must be vitally con
cerned about this legislation in
1980.”
or abridged by the United States
or by any state on account of sex.
Section 2. The Congress shall
have the power to enforce, by ap
propriate legislation, the
provisions of this article.
Section 3. This Amendment
shall take effect two years after
the date of ratification.
The overall objective of the
amendment would be to forbid
denial of equal rights on the sole
basis of sex.
A number of Senators,
however, had changed their votes
from the 1975 tally when the
ERA was also defeated in the
Senate. Both Senators Floyd
Hudgins, D-Columbus, and Lee
Robinson, D-Macon had swit
ched their votes from “no” in
1975 to “yes” at the Monday
voting. In spite of this, the final
vote in the Senate Monday dif
fered by. just one vote from the
33-22 vote in 1975.
It takes one hour for Earth to turn 15 degrees on its axis.
ERA Defeated
By Cynthia Williams
