OCR Text |
Show Ooi Letters Should be typed double-space- d, less than 400 words, signed with full name, and include address and phone number (number won't be published). Direct questions to Flint Stephens, editorial page editor, U.S. racial disparity Mr."",?. reflects problems Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan correctly identifies the glaring disparity between the health of America's white and black populations as a problem that cries out for national redress. A recent study of the nation's health underscores a trend that is familiar and distressing. Although white Americans are living longer than ever, black Americans are experiencing a reduction in life expectancy. A black child born in 1986 can expect to die six years sooner than a white child. Alarming statistics define the widening gap in the quality of life for blacks, compared with that for whites: Although life expectancy among whites rose from 75.3 to 75.4 years between 1984 and 1986, the average black life span fell from 69.7 to 69.4 years. For every 1,000 live births in the United States, 18 black babies die, comaprd with nine white babies. The same disparate death rate carries through infancy. Almost half of all murder victims in 1986, the latest year for w,hich figures are available, were black. In fact, the murder rate is nearly six times higher for blacks than for whites. Blacks are twice as likely as whites to get AIDS, and more than percent more likely than whites to die of influenza and pneumoia. Despite gains made by blacks in numerous areas, it is painfully evident that the basic causes for blacks' decreased life expectancy can be attributed to poverty, poor nutrition, lack of adequate health care, and a high murder rate. Secretary Sullivan's frank disclosures appropriately focus national awareness on a significant sociological phenomenon in America that must be more adequately understood and addressed. To deal adequately with AIDS alone will stretch the nation's health services to the very limits within a few years. Beyond the need for sensitivity to this vast human suffering in our midst and to recognize its serious implications, the remedies are not clear. The certain thing is that the United States cannot permit its black citizens to exist with health care and other vital measurements of a standard of living on a par with, or below, conditions in the blighted Third World. My grandfather taught me. That dear man got up every morning of his life to fly the flag. He taught me how to fold it properly, how to lower it in the evening, and not once did he let it fly through a rain storm. to My grandfather would be heart-sicsee what Provo has done with the flag he held so dear. What do you think this neglected flag is teaching our children? What kind of picture does this paint of Provo city when visitors see it? How do you think veterans (like my grandfather) must feel when they see the flag they fought for be treated in this manner? Who is responsible for the care of this nag? k Michelle T. Jolley Orem Locking up wild lands is sign of greed self-center- ed ufc? " What about those who don't like to htke, are too old to hike, are disabled, are too busy or too tired? I thought the njajority ruled! areas do have their place, especially in places like the Uintas. but wjien they try to lock up the wide open deserts, they're going too far. I have been riding my trail bikes all over Utah far 20 years. Do you know how many hikers and horses I have seen in the southern deserts in those 20 years? I can count them on one hand. The only way t really see and appreciate those areas Is. by vehicle. Now I don't mind hikers or horses sharing this land at all. I I certainly respect them as I encounter them and respect their right to be there but what about my right to see this land in the manner that I choose as long as I don't violate others' rights or the land itself? I'll be the first to admit that there are some "bad apples" out there that abuse the land with their loud motorbikes and inconsiderate behavior, but on the other side there are those who do things like destroy machinery used on the Burr Trail, those kind of people need to be dealt with also. Why all the rest of us have to suffer for these few is not right. I also take offense at The Daily Herald's caption above Mr. Frandsen's letter "Public Supprots Saving Wilderness" that's their opinion, not a fact. I also want to applaud Governor stand against the ridiculous new proposal of another five million acres of wilderness. He didn't get to be where he Ban-gerte- is by being stupid. 1 do agree on one thing with Mr. Frandsen. write your congressmen, but tell them that you do not support these tree-huggin- g, land-grabbin- g, eco-frea- who are trying to lock up for themselves every inch of ground that is not paved. Let's hope that we succeed, otherwise only those 2 percent will enjoy the land that all the rest of us have a right to. Dan Miller Provo row mifTlK MSH Chicago man's bigotry could cost plenty of money and years in prison It's doubtful that Joseph Champlin is a wealthy man. He's only 20 years old and lives in the working class neighborhood of Canaryville on the South Side of Chicago. My guess is that he doesn't have a lot of money to throw around. Yet, he made a very foolish .and potentially costly investment last week, if police reports can be believed. Champlin may have invested as much as two years of his freedom and the price of hiring a lawyer. All for the dubious satisfaction of being a racial bigot. I've been unable to reach Champlin to discuss his alleged investment. But a version of the story has been told by Larry Bailey. 20. a Chicago mail carrier. Bailey doesn't have a regular mail route yet. He fills in wherever he's needed. And last week he was needed in the Canaryville neighborhood, which has a long history of racial hostility. Bailey picks up the story: "It was the end of the day and I was getting ready to get off "and I was picking up my bags. "All of a sudden, this blue car pulls up and stops. I didn't pay no mind, but then this guy jumped out with a big stick in his hand. "He said: told you niggers about coming around here. I'm going to show i you.' "He came at me and I took off and ran down to the end of the block. Then I stopped and watched him. Another carload of guys pulled up and he talked to them. Then they took off in different directions." Bailey is no fool, and he's familiar with the attitudes of some of the people who live in that neighborhood. Leaving the mailbags where they were, he prudently took off on foot for the postal station, which is only a few-block-s away. his license plate number, he tried to escape by ducking into a building, him. Then he was booked on Mike and although running and they grabbed one charge of aggravated assault. That was for menacing Bailey with the stick and chasing TRIBUNE him. If found guilty on that charge, he MEDIA could be sentenced to a year in prison. Champlin also was charged with ethSERVICES, INC. nic intimidation. That was for combining the threat with racial epithets. If found guilty on that charge, he could draw He made it safely, but the trip was another year in prison. Unless he pleads poverty and gets a depressing. As Bailey explained: "As I was going up the street, I saw free public defender, he is going to have some kids playing basketball. They to hire a lawyer. Criminal lawyers don't started chasing me and throwing sticks work cheap and most of them wisely ask and things at me, and calling me names. for the money up front. And if Champlin Just little kids." does plead poverty, the judge might ask Just little kids. It would be nice if him how he can afford to own a car if their parents had them watch the video he can't afford a lawyer. of the musical "South Pacific." There's But his problems might not end there,. a song about how kids have to be taught It is against federal laws to mess to hate. On the other hand, their parents around with a mail carrier. The postal have apparently taught them already. inspectors are also looking into this As Bailey said: "I was surprised, case. And if they decide there is suffiespecially this being election time. cient evidence, they will turn it over to You'd think everything would be cool the U.S. Attorney's office for prosecution and calm, but it's not." in federal court. The average (By that, Bailey meant that the inciperson gets dent occurred only a few blocks from stomach butterflies when pulled over for the home of Richard M. Daley, a candirunning a yellow light. And going to date in next Tuesday's mayoral election. traffic court can bring on a case of the Daley has been trying to shed the racist sweats. So imagine how young Mr. Champlin stigma of his neighborhood. ) Bailey returned to the postal station, must be feeling, faced with the prospect told his supervisor what happened, and of standing trial on a truly serious rap. Of course, Champlin is presumed innothey drove back to pick up the bags. "When we got there, the police were cent until found guilty. But if Bailey's already there and they asked me to to story is true, and a judge or a jury get in the squad car to try and find the believes him and those who witnessed the incident, Champlin really should add guy." A police department spokesman said up the costs and ask himself if being a the cops were already there because jerk is worth it. someone who lived nearby saw the And if he is found guilty, I sincerely incident and was decent enough to call. hope a judge throws the book at him. And they helped identify Champlin. Really, guys like him give being white Police tracked Champlin down through a bad name. Royko law-abidi- K. Bradley practicing presidential timbre By Jack Anderson and Dale Van Atta WASHINGTON Sen. Bill Bradley. is testing his talents as a presidential contender, but he doesn't want the press to watch. Earlier this month, Bradley, a hot prosped for the 1992 presidential race, accepted an invitation to speak at Mount St. .Mary's College in Emmitsburg, Md. It was a founder's day lecture, and the small college was hoping to draw some e senator who is publicity with a also a big-gu- y former pro basketball player. But if publicity was what the college wanted, it picked the wrong big - big-nam- insisted that no reporters invited to the speech. He claimed lights and cameras would just get in with way of a cozy heart-to-hea- rt be the the the students. But students and staffers at the school say the word quickly spread around the tiny campus that Bradley really wanted to try out a new speaking style in a remote locale without worrying about news hounds critiquing him. The college has tried to cultivate good n relations with the press and warned Bradley's aides that the local reporters would be angry if the senator president came and went in secret. Bradley then agreed to allow local reporters, but no cameras. A senator who doesn't want his picture taken is a senator with no political ambition or a senator with something to hide. What Bradley is hiding, without much success, is a lack of patience with the press. He has been in front of cameras since his davs plaving college basketball at Princeton in the l0s. One source told us Bradley decided that reporters emphasize trivia and miss the home-tow- who-would-- r XJJry7rs 50 Lack of care shows disrespect for flag Editor: .1 have to respond to the letter from John Frandsen in the March 17 issue of The Daily Herald concerning the ongoing wilderness debate. He talked about the "greedy few" who don't want more wilderness. How ironic it is that he uses the word "greedy." are the Qreedy, selfish and words that typify many of those who support more wilderness. Whit would yim call it when a few wealthy people W;th nothing but money, power and plenty of spare time, lock up all the beautiful lands that are here for all to enjoy, so only they can hike through them once a year? Wilderness areas are now enjoyed by about 2 percent of those who used to or would now like to enjov them. What about the other 98 percent of fOUZL Herald comment Feedback Editor: I wanted to draw attention to the corner of Center Street and University. Specifically, the flag flying on Center Street and University. I am appalled by the lack of care and respect this flag is given. It looks as if it has been flying since the first Independence Day. It has flown during snow storms, rain, and I'm not certain but I don't think it's taken down in the evening. Even in a passing car one can tell how grimy the poor thing looks. . It seems to me that if the American people can get upset enough to want to put a man in jail because he burned the American flag at a protest rally, then they should start being held responsible for their own negligent actions. To learn respect for the flag, one must be taught. Thursday March 30, 1989 big issues. CI Jack Anderson i "3f j U iMiTrn most politicians. He is a Rhodes Scholar who has had cameras trained on him for decades as a standout player for Princeton, the U.S. Olympic team and the New York Knicks. Now, as a vry popular senator, he can control that attention. ,; "He goes places and talks to people .he wants to talk to," Donatiello said. "If there are a lot of cameras between him and them, it makes that more difficult." If Bradley is serious about running for a decision he hasn't president in 1992 he had better formally announced learn to love those lights and cameras TREADING WATER President . FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC. talked to New Jersey political They say Bradley has had to recover from a reputation as a speaker. And he is sometimes wary of the press, even though he enjoys generally flattering coverage. We asked Bradley's aide, Nick about Bradley's skills at the podium. He said, "Has the senator been working to become a better speaker? I'd say yes, for over a decade. He had no way to go but up." If Bradley wanted anonymity to polish his style at Mount Saint Mary's he was out of luck. Catholic seminarians at the school who oppose Bradley's stance on abortion heard that he was coming, staged a demonstration and invited reporters from as far away as We insiders. ho-hu- m Dona-tiell- pro-choi- o, ce Baltimore. The college let all the reporters in, but refused to let them bring their cameras. The only camera whirring during the lecture belonged to the college, recording the event for the archives. Bradley-showean interest in getting a copy of the film probably a reflexive action from his days as a professional athlete. Our associate Scott Sleek attended the speech. Bradley's style was inspiring but his message was national prosperity, patriotism, human compassion and global peace. Most politicians would pay for a room full of cameras. But Bradley is not like - - George Bush is in deep economic trouble, but all he is doing is treading water. And the Democrats have effectively ah- -' dicated leadership. They're in such awe. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Greenspan that they refuse to question, much less criticize, his judgement. He insists that controlling inflation take precedence over continued economic recovery. He has signaled higher interest rates ahead. That will speed deflation which has already precipitated a wave of car repossessions and foreclosures. The violence on, the streets of Washington, D.C., is so; routine that even a senator did a shooting when he saw it hap- pen. Sen. Mark Hatfield, said hei saw the shooting on March 14, but, figured the police were too busy to do' anything about it. Hatfield sets a poor' example. The police in Washington,! D.C., or any other city under siege will; do only as much as the public expects ' them to do about crime. If a citizen doesn't bother to report a crime,", a police officer can't be expected to solve it. Fighting crime is as much the job of the public as it is the job of the police-- . of Alan home-mortga- MINI-EDITORI- ge - hot-repor- e., r t |