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The Augusta News-Review - September 13, 1973 ■Walking | | I nfcnE I ■Dignity 1] by Al Irby 1 SAUDI ARABIA, THE MOST RESPONSIBLE ARABIC NATION, IS DISTURBED WITH THE UNITED STATES’ RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL, SHEIKH YAMANI WARNED PRESIDENT NIXON WHEN HE VISITED THE UNITED STATES AS REPRESENTATIVE OF KING FAISAL. SOME AMERICANS ARE BECOMING LESS SANGUINE. THEY REALIZE THAT KING FAISAL IS A CAUTIOUS MAN, NOT ONE TO ISSUE IDLE THREATS. IT WAS A RADICAL MOVE TO COMPLAIN SO STRONGLY, TO HIS PAST FRIENDS. Sheikh Yamani acting as a special courier for his aging king, told Mr. Nixon that “King Faisal’s patience limit has been reached.” The Saudis, a self-contained people imbued with desert cautions, never act or react hastily. As late as last December, they were saying they would never “use oil as a weapon against the West” and the radical Arab states, such as Libya and Iraq. When Sheikh Yamani delivered his message to American oil men, the reactions were first disbelief, then anger, because Saudi Arabia has the world’s greatest, and yet unmeasured oil reserves in the world. BEAM IN OTHERS EYES-American can dish it out, but they can’t take it; they called Saudi’s action “blackmail”, yet it’s common in the free enterprise nations to use their resources always to reward those that are friendly, and renege on those that will not dance to their tunes. Sheikh Yamani advanced many alternatives to Mr. Nixon, but always Israel would emerge as the “Joker”. Then it was clear, after many interviews, why an increase in production is not desirable at this time. From a series of high-level ministerial interviews, it was made plain that the Saudis are not satisfied, because the United States has not done anything to modify what the Saudis consider its pro-Israel policies since the warning Saudi gave the West last spring. So far, the Saudis refuse to up their production from the present 18 million barrels per day to 25 million barrels requested by Washington. Yet we increase air armament to Israel, both in quality and quantity. The Saudi Petroleum Council is still pondering the American request, but sources close to Sheif Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the handsome minister of Petroleum, there is zero chance of America getting its wish. The young Sheikh is a colorful young Potentate with a short goatee, looking much like some of our far-out modish dressers here in America. He said: “The countdown has begun on an important energy issue, on whether to increase our production at the request of the United States” and the results almost surely promise to be catastrophic for the United States, unless we change our approach to the Israelic-Arab problem. Many people are appalled at the gall of the United States in asking the main oil-producing Arab state to furnish more oil to the United States, so it can build air-craft for Israel, so they can kill more Arabs. Elaborating on this crazy subject, the Minister of Saudi’s foreign affairs, Omar Saqqaf made this logical statement: “Our view is that no one can resolve the Middle East crisis but America. If America thinks that we will guarantee it the oil, then we are not of the same opinion. There is a limit to our patience. We are not fighting the United States, but we want them to stand up to their responsibility.” THE PRESIDENT SPOKE-The other day President Nixon said, “We are not pro-lsrael, nor pro-Arab,” But we send more of the best air-craf to Israel. It seems as if Mr. Nixon is forever inheriting problems, that other people started, but never the less he is the President, and these problems are his to solve. Big oil is pressuring him to be more even-handed with the Arabs; not because their cause is moral, but just because certain Arab countries have oil. This powerful interest is saying quietyly, “force Israel to return the land she grabbed up in the six-days “Zoom-In”. But that powerful guy, King Faisal Ibn Abdul Aiz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, in particular has unmeasured oil reserves. The object is to reduce Israel’s passion for expansion, as Arabs often phrase the Middle East problem. Belive it or not, but some low-keyed actions are already at work. Several new studies of the Mid-East region are getting the ears of Dr. Kissinger and State Department’s senior Middle-East expert, Assistant Secretary Joseph Sisco. Mr Sisco has just made a special trip to Jerusalem, seeking ways to get negotiations stated. Arab leaders are seeking a policy presumably that would prompt American political and economic thrust to get concessions from Israel. It might be a case of cutting back of United States’ arms, unless Israel acquiesces, and gives back all the land they conquered. There must be political movements in favor of the Arabs in America. Many of the big nations in Europe are subtlety in favor of the Arabs. The rash of terror violences are self-defeating, and will drive many of their potential friends away; such as happen to American Blacks in the late 60s. With the Arabs big pile of loot, and an established shrewed diplomacy are what is needed to build support. America’s veto of a United Nation Security Council resolution on the Mideast has caused many Arabs to conclude that the United STates ignores their cause and interests. Washington contended that the resolution was one-sided and anti-Israel. France and Great Britain voted in favor of the Arabs. Already some Senators are concerned about a potential sellout of Israel our trusted friend. Most of Israel’s supporters are found in the Democratic Party, yet Jews in the United States forsook that party in droves in the 1972 election. Republican big money is getting tired of Israel’s arrogant action. Quite naturally these global money mangers want the Arabs soothed, bacause of the huge energy wealth of some rich Arabic nations. It’s a fact that Persian Gulf nations hold the energy destiny of Capitalistic supremacy. The unique position of Persian Gulf oil producers, and Saudi Arabia in particular, have been conceded by John Love, director of President Nixon’s Office ot Energy Policy. He said that big import increases are our only hope for our industralized chance to keep rolling. THE AUGUSTA NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Mallory K. Millender Editor and Publishor tailing Address: Box 963 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4656 Second Claw Postage Paid Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond Countys6.oo tax inci. 6 Monthss2.so tax ind. Ohe Year elsewheres6.oo tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon on Tuesday Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday News Items Printed Free Page 4 j •■•••• • • • • | ■wL.) Speaking | i I From Athens 1 $He 1' /H Rv i Roosevelt Green, Jr. g# The current moral crisis and dilemna in this country has made President Richard Milhouse Nixon and his cohorts the “fall guys” of the Nation. A moral dilemna has existed in this cuntry every since the lying and hypocritical liberty and freedom loving “freedom for Whites only” founding fathers stole this country from the Indian American and enslaved the Black man and woman. I am convinced that Mr. Nixon is the major scapegoat for the evils of Amerikka. The Amerikka Press has assumed the saintly role of moral savior of this country when this same press employs an insignificant number of minority employees. Also, this same press is very racist and sexist in news reporting and advertising. If the truth of the matter is really recognized no one in this country is able to “cast the first stone.” The beam in all of our eyes keeps us from plucking the mote out of anyone else’s eyes. All have truly sinned and fallen short of righteousness and democracy. The point to be dealt with now is the question the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. raised in terms of “Where do we go from here-Chaos or Community?.” All of us need to do some self-examination and determine how the ideals of this country can be realized. We may discover that a complete restructuring of our society is necessary not for success but simple survival. A good program for survival must be, first of all, a recognition that from the beginning of this country the monoply of wealth and power in the hands of a few has set us up for the evil dog eat dog capitalistic system we now have. The use of Christanity, the major religious influence in the Western hemisphere, to develop a Protestant ethic that is continously oppressing the “have nots” in fermenting hostility toward the poor is frankly unforgiveable. We must develop an economic system in which the tax paying burden for running this country must be shared by all. Presently, low and middle income groups are the only ones sharing the tax burden that is necessary for the kind of society that we profess to desire. The failure of the rich to pay income taxes and their control through wealth of our political and economic systems makes Watergate a minor preview of the future. Secondly, it is necessary for all first basic institutions in this country to undergo a process of reeducation and resocialization. The fire institutions are the family, education, economics, the government or political system and religion. All of these institutions must undergo normative reeducation or the sound teaching of a value system void of exploitation, hatred and stupid prejudice. We must begin to recognize that the Watergate conspiracy and other abuses of power and leadership are only symptomatic of the real problems previously mentioned that are troubling our country. To deal only with the symptoms of a sick society means that the disease that is the root of the problem will go untreated. To make matters worse, the disease that plagues the soul and body of this country is a fatal one. All of us, Black and White, rich and poor, male and female must begin immediately to cure this sick and insane society. The pointing of fingers at each other, assuming self righteous stances, flag waving, inflaming and useless rhetoric and slogans will not solve “our” problem. The economic and political conditions of this country at the moment makes it ripe for a violent revolution. This revolution will not be between the Black and the White but between the rich and super-rich versus the rest of us. It will be between the have and have nots or more explicitly, between the hungry and those who are overweight not only with food but with wealth gained at the expense of our increasingly frustrated loud majority. Again, the answer is Chaos or Community or Life or Suicide. The answer is not “blowing in the wind” but work on our hearts and minds. Wat are we or you going to do about it? HARAMBEE!!! ' LETTERS TO THE DRAFT IS NOT OVER! Dear Editor: Several weeks ago the News-Review carried an article by the Director of the Selective Service of the State of Georgia, explaining the present situation of the Selective Service System. This was not an inaccurate article - the draft call had been at zero for several months before Congress allowed presidential induction authority to runout on June 30,1973. But that does not mean that the draft has ended. The Selective Service System remains intact - failure to register for the draft, failure to inform the Selective Service of a change of address or occupation remains a federal offense for all men between the ages of 18 & 35, which can result in a five year jail sentence and a SIO,OOO fine, or both. The president still has the authority to order for induction into the military anyone under the age of 35 who has received a draft deferment at any time in the past but was not inducted. That is presidential induction authority which has no automatic termination date. The only way to guarantee that no one is drafted anymore is to repeal the Selective Service Act and there is legislation before Congress to do just that: Senate Resolution No. 54 - By Sen. Mark Hatfield of Oregon House Resolution No. 382 - By Rep. Spark Matsunag of Hawaii 2 Questions to think about: m3OB, (1) Why do we have a peace-time draft. Historically speaking this is a very recent phenomenon but we have come to accept it without question. Nixon promised in ‘6B - after Vietnam he would eliminate Selective Service completely and change to an all volunteer army. (2) Why do some of us question with such abhorrence the lack of civil liberties that insists that a segment of the South African population carry a pass card, but we don’t question the very similar insistence that a segment of our population submit themselves to registration and carry a draft card? Walter Collins, organizer of National Black Draft Counsellors, who was sentenced to 5 years and $2,000 fine by a racially illegally constituted draft board said “Draft is genocide in the Black community because it very clearly takes the best, the most articulate, the most useful Black men. It’s the people who clearly might be of use in terms of the liberation struggle of Black people, who they drafted. Now that there is such a big push to sell ROTC programs in high schools, now that all the stories say the draft is over, now that heavy recruiting is being done by the military in Black communities, - regardless of what choices you make, or feel compelled to make because of the economics involved, - at least be aware that there are choices - learn the facts, do not be deceived. It’s your life! Sincerely in Peace Margie Rece DRAFT and MILITARY COUNSELLOR 3021 Fox Spring Road Augusta, Georgoa 30904 ligoing I I PLACES W I JI GOOD REPORTS ON LANEY/WALKER BLVD. CONTINUES I am informed by Editor Mai Millender that good and positive returns on the Laney/Walker Blvd, proposal still continues throughout the Augusta Community. And I am both humble and most grateful for the many nice letters, phone calls and warm compliments on the Laney/Walker Blvd, proposal. (Remember mine was a suggestion, a proposal, wherein the community must lay same on table, evaluate and hopefully take action.) It was also good to note the excellent coverage given on August 30th by he Augusta Communications media which included: the NEWS-REVIEW (Mai Millender worked very hard while ill to put the first feature story together), then there were feature stories in the Augusta Chronicle and Herald, radio station WBBQ and WRDW Channel 12. ADDITION IDEAS ADVANCED TO FURTHER BLACK IMAGE In addition to the Laney/Walker blvd. proposal I would like to respectfully add two additional suggestions: (1) That some type of museum be established which would show the contributions made by Negroes in the growth of the Augusta area and the state of Georgia and (2) that efforts be started within the Black Community to organize a city-wide committee which would highlight “Blacks Who Helped Build Augusta”. How would these efforts operate? (1) The Laney/Walker Blvd, is one proposal which should involve persons who live and work on this street (or closely adjacent to it), (2) Plans for a museum - I would suggest that it be placed within the Wallace Branch Library auditorium which is on Laney/Walker Blvd, and would be an enrichment to the proposed Tabemacle/Pilgrim Plaza area on this thoroughfare. It could be a demonstration or on a more permanent basis. It could contain physical objects and materials such as a bust of Dr. Walker, Miss Laney, etc. pcitures of historic occasions, churches, schools, The Stoney Medical Association, winning football teams, outstanding civic leaders, a copy of'Floyd’s Flowers” (how many persons remember this wonderful literary work?) etc. And lastly, (3) A city-wide committee of Black Augustans who would start immediately on locating historical material which would be used in the broad city-wide 1976 observance of the nation’s Becentennial in the Augusta Community. This would be a wider and more far-reaching effort than the museum or the Laney/Walker proposals. MANY PERSONS MUST ASSIST All of these proposals call for wide and active participation by many Black Augustans, especially native bom and long-time residents. The latter group has often been accused, rightly or wrongly, of not always carrying their won weight in civic endeavors. In the Laney/Walker, museum and Bicentennial proposals it is absolutely necessary that natives and long-time residents become active, give service and leadership. If these projects are to succeed it is these groups who must dig out and locate historical materials on their forefathers and the contributions they made as to “Blacks Who Helped Build Augusta”. DR. i.E. WASHINGTON WILL GIVE SERVICE 1 understand that an Ad Hoc Citizens Committee will soon be organized to tackle the aforementioned proposals. Dr. I.E. Washington will serve. This augurs well for success. Ike Washington is an outstanding educator who has given dedicated leadership to the Augusta Community during the past 45 years. He knows its history. Then there are many others too. More in another column. PREPARE NOW FOR 1976 BICENTENNIAL OBSERVANCE The current September 1973 edition of Readers Digest (pages 61-70) points out that in hundreds of local communities around the nation people and groups are already making their own plans for the forthcoming 1976 Bicentennial observance. The Federal government has established a national body - The American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (ARBC) and there are also state and local commissions. (We are very fortunate to have Dr. C.M. Richardson, Vice president of Paine College and an emminent educator, who now serves on both the state and local commissions). His contacts and leadership should be of great resource to Augusta on this great event. Now let’s continue with the Reader’s Digest article on Bicentennial: The ARBC has three major thrusts. (!) “Heritage ‘76” - to honor the past history of our nation, (2) “Festival USA” - which would look at and feature today’s present activities, institutions and leaders, and (3) “Horizons ‘76” - designed to look towards the future. AUGUSTA BLACK COMMUNITY SHOULD GET BICENTENNIAI HEADSTART First, before getting off tract, let us accept the well established fact that Blacks have been left out of American and Augusta history. As result of our August 30 press conference on this matter and the Laney/Walker Blvd, proposal hundreds, of Black and white Augustans have expressed their approval on including Blacks in our history. Let’s not get hung up on the Button Gwinnett Street redesignation because this can be changed with accomodation without the lost of Colonel Gwinnett’s memory as a signer of the Declaration of Independence. We must insist, however, that Black Augustans who have been fully left out of the city’s history should have their main thoroughfare named after two of its greatest leaders who helped build this city. It is very important that we hold to his point. There are several whites who will support this. As I pointed out in my August 30th column the Laney/Walker Blvd, concept would accomodate (he Bicentennial theme in terms of honoring the past, (many of our greatest historical events and leaders are here - Miss Laney and the Dr. Walker were buried here in front of the institutions they founded), and the greatest concentration of our business firms, schools, community facilities - Tabernacle, Pilgrim Life, Laney, Johnson and Immaculate Conception schools, Paine College, Wallace Library, Masonic Temple, Strother and Ervin homes for the aged and other institutions are here. This thoroughfare is where we can both look at our present accomplishments and plan for the future. And let’s not forget the Hornsby Center area on the eastern end of Laney/Walker Blvd. So you see my friends it is extremely important that we get the Laney/Walker Blvd, proprosal on its way with a strong base of support, teamwork and understanding of what this is all about especially in terms of our . GIVE TO THE advert UHITEBHEGRO pays! lAi CIUEGE FIH. FRIEDMAN’S JEWELERS SIIMCB 1984 : ■ J Creators of the Mearts Desire Diamond 818 BROAD ST. 812 BROAD ST. DANIEL VILLAGE SOUTHGATE PLAZA N. AUGUSTA PLAZA 127 LAURENS, AIKEN TOBE EQUAL / 4 "t Verao" IL Jordan, Jr. F HOME RULE FOR WASHINGTON, D.C. Picture one of the great cities of the world, with three-quarters of a million people, stadiums, museums, headquarters of national organizations and businesses, a thriving community life, and a national communications center. Picture such a metropolis whose citizens do not have the right to vote for their local officials, whose every local law has to be approved by people who live elsewhere and whose main interests lie elsewhere. Picture such a city, whose residents pay taxes but cannot elect the officials who formulate those taxes. It sounds like tyranny, doesn’t it? One would expect such a situation to exist in a colony or in some dictatorship. The city is Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. This nation, which won its independence nearly 200 years ago under the banner of: “no taxation without representation,” follows the same course with regard to its own citizens in its own capital. This is an intolerable situation, one that demands immediate solution. All it takes is for home rule to be extended to the citizens of Washington, D.C. All they are asking is the right to elect their own mayor, now appointed by the President, and then own city council, also now appointed. All they are asking is what every single city, town and village in this country has. Home rule for the District of Columbia is something so long overdue and so obvious a right, that nearly everyone is in favor of it. A national poll of D.C. residents shows 80 percent want home rule. The Senate overwhelmingly passed home rule legislation; by a 64-8 in 1971, and 69-17 in 1973. Both major political parties have supported home rule in their national platforms, as has every President since Franklin D. Roosevelt. Congress serves as the city legislature. Local laws passed by he District’s appointed council have to be passed by the Congress as well. That means that a city ordiance on kite-flying has to pass the local council, and then go through 28 separate legislative steps in the Congress before it can become law. This is not only grossly inefficient way to run a city, but an unbelievable waste of the time of Congress, which ought to be dealing with matters of national concern. Apologists say that since the federal role in the city is so pervasive, things ought to stay as they are. But if that logic were to hold, then the 50 states ought to take over and run their 50 state capitals in the same manner. The district once had home rule, but in 1874 Congress “temporarily” established direct control. The “temporary control” became permanent, to the detriment of the capital’s citizens. It has resulted not only in their disenfranchisement, but also in broken promises and inequities. Back in 1874, Congress promised to pay half the costs of running the city, but in the past fifty years, it has been a lot less than that. When you consider the special costs to the city of such events as inaugurations, state visits, etc., costs necessary to the running of a capital but paid for by local citizens, it becomes clear that the District is placed under burdens not shared by any other city in the country. Add to this the many tax-exempt embassies and government buildings, and you see how important it is for the government to pay its fair share of the city’s costs. I wonder what goes on in the minds of foreign visitors to the capital of the nation that proclaims itself a democracy when they learn that the residents of this big city cannot even vote for then own mayor and council. And how do the District schools teach civics lessons to children whose parents are disenfranchised and pay taxes without adequate representation? If there is anything all people can agree upon it is that fairness and equity demand home rule for the District now. wm MURDER RATES FOR DLACKS W CITY S TIMES THAT FOR WHITES, 66% tV HlffifEßS COMMITTED BLACKS\ HILLING BLACKS. fmn a s tudy by the n. a WHITEY COULD, FOR ALL INTENTS/! AND PURPOSES PUT HIS GUNS ALWAYS DEEN adiTtohill OURSELVES defter THAN HE CAN. ~ CLAYTON RILEY, LIBERATOR