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Show May 18, 1992 RDII The Signpost "ORIAL iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ii n mi i ii in n ii n n 1 1 1 n in in i mnnrifirirri i "mrrn"-mnroimttnmiTTTTrriiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiTTtirnrnnrTi n n in im m i 1 1 1 1 1 iTnnnrrrm n n n n n nn n n n n i m in n 1 1 inn iiii i in r r i in n i-i n nnn n 11 nnniii n innnnnnn n rin m iiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiii iiiiiiiijimuuuuLuuifflHRRBB It is whites, not blacks, who have historically oppressed other races To the editor, I, a black male, write this piece with great sympathy for Mr. Curtis A. Wolfe and others like him. As I read the May 11 Signpost, I became very disturbed by what I read, "King Verdict was fair; rampant racism runs black on white, too." I know not where Mr. Wolfe and gang have gotten their comical information, but surely it was not from a reliable source. Perhaps livingin Utah, theland where there is no evil, has stripped you of humanity, sensitivity, and much common sense. Obviously notblack himself norunderstand-ing to the situation, Mr. Wolfe states that minimum force was used to apprehend Mr. King. Unfortunately, he has not taken the time to carefully view the video tape frame by frame, nor has he obviously had the opportunity to have listened to the audio spliced version, nor has he been fortunate enough to have viewed to video enhanced version of the tape. Having witnessed these things for myself, without the mass media's words placed in my mouth and their thoughts in my head, I was able to carefully analyze those tapes and see facts-facts that contest your concept of the police having minimum equipment available for their job. I have observed facts which directly point to the abuse of force and the abuse of power as well as violence performed by the cops. These are facts which you are either ignoring or wish to cover up. I was able to see (with my own eyes) the beating of another occupant of that vehicle who too was surrounded by beasts (the cops). Most Americans know nothing of the helicopter which aided in the hunt that lead to the inhumane beating of yet another black man in America's history - Rodney The Signpost staff Editor In chiel Managing editor News editor Gov. affairs editor Asst. news editor Sports editor Asst. sports editor Asst. sports editor Arts editor Asst. arts editor Signature editor Asst. Sig. editor Copy editor Asst. copy editor Special editions Photo editor Asst. photo editor Senior photo Production manager Asst. prod, manager Ad design manager Advertising manager Asst. ad manager Office manager Advisor Asst. advisor, editorial Asst. advisor Publisher Lorin J. May Scott D. Summers Laurie M. Wirth Una Tritsch J. Stanley Howard Cory Sovereen Ketty Famsworth Jamie Martin Patric Toval Mark Lukes Jennifer Harding Tyson Hiatl Justin C. Scott Cheryl Jensen Jennifer Harding Danielle Mabey Charles Bowhay Brian Schieie Matt Snyder Mark Lukes Jana Jacobs Shaun Shetton Craig A. Sanders Laura Lueck P. Larry Stahle Dale S. Oberer Jim Sawdey Dr. Randy Scott Letters to the editor policy The Signpost welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be typed and should not exceed 400 words. For lengthier expositions, arrangements may be made with the editor in chief. Letters must include name, address, phone number, relationship to staff and the signature of the writer. The Signpost reserves the right to edit for reasons of space and libel and reserves the right to refuse to print any letter. Bring letters to the editorial office in UB 267 or mail to: The Signpost, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, 84408-2110, Attn: Editor in chief. King. Despite the fact that the jurors were "burdened with facts," one juror had the audacity to claim that King's fractures to his skull were as a result of his not "breaking the fall." My friend, Mr. King wouldn't have needed to break his fall had he not been kicked and beaten senselessly by the same savages that are supposed to protect the public (all of us, even us blacks). Listening to the audio spliced version of the beating, you will notice the word "nigger" repeated about 50 times in describing the cops' prey - Rodney King and the second victim of police brutality-yet the jurors deny that the police were racist. Reactions to the beating may have been racially motivated, but who could or even would deny (but Mr. Wolfe) that the action itself cause this motivation? Why is it that racist, narrow-minded, oppressionistic jackasses label blacks or any other oppressed group as mobsters and looters when they are doing the same thing that Anglo-Saxons have done to almost every group in the world? Think about what oppressed peoplemodern-day slaves are being labeled as, even by our very own President Bush. Perhaps our dear friends, Mr. Wolfe and gang, have not heard of the speculation that not only did the jurors serve under the system despite their predisposition on the case, but that some of the jurors had some connection to the defendants - speculation of kinship. Ponder on these thought while you try to figure out why there were not any blacks on the jury. America has a long history of betraying blacks, practicing unfair and inconsistent judicial work, maintaining economic disadvantages for blacks, and she The Signpost phone numbers Editor in chief Managing editor News Sports Classified Advertising Production Fax 626-7121 626-7105 626-7507 626-7983 626-6358 626-6359 626-6358 626-7401 The Signpost is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during fall, winter and spring quarters and on Tuesday during summer quarter. Subscriptions are $9 per quarter. Ad deadline is two days before publication. -let-; ,4R.,a,,. ' KMt-T$& hm imi V has an abundance of ignorant, racist sexist patriots. My friend, it's not rampant racism or black on white. We have never practiced "rampantracism" as black folk, something you cannot say of your own race. I think part of your problem of empathizing with what's really going on is your own fear of a Black Nation or a nation of pre-tanned people (unlike yourself). Unless you walk in our shoes, you don't know our plight. Unless you experience our pain, you cannot truly sympathize with us. Until you become sensitive to us blacks, you will continue to write bullshit and maintain that elementary mentality that was displayed in Monday's paper. It's not rampant racism of black on white, but rather blacks fighting back at the lack of decent education (especially for our young ones), economic disadvantage, prejudices, along with a Santa Claus-long list of other problems this country needs to address. I notice your mentioning of Dr. Martin Luther King. Mr. Wolfe, have you notlistened (deeper than hearing) the words of Jesse Jackson, Malcolm X, Al Sharp ton, and a host of other black lecturers? America loves a good nigger but is afraid to see herself in the mirror. America has fought many a war in the name of greed and 'Women's Center' To the editor, Curtis Wolfe's letter to the editor and remarks about the "Women's Center" made us aware that probably many students (and maybe others on campus) do not know about the center and its services. The Women's Educational Resource Cen ter (WERC) was established more than ten years ago in response to the large numbers of women returning to education. Many of them were older and unsure of their ability to learn and succeed in college. It was also difficult for them when some professors and employees were sometimes uncomfortable with students who did not fit the traditional student mold. WERC personnel offered workshops, counseling and support groups to help women make the adjustments in juggling the roles of mother, homemaker, worker and student. As women completed school and moved out into the work pride; blacks are fighting back over violated human rights and inalienable rights not respected; women are fighting back to a sexist, Anglo-Saxon male-dominated society. It's sad that this society and its leaders label a black man as a radical when you (Mr. Wolfe and gang) are too damn blind to see the obvious light. Don't try and talk about a violation of spirits and right unless you check America's history-were not the Indians and Africans' right violated as well as womenand children -are not they still living in hell? How could an adult suggest that demonstrating against the verdict can't bring justice? If it were not for our black men and women of the '50s and '60s demonstrating we would not have progressed as far as we have as a nation. Demonstrations make people become active in the ultimate solution to the problem. Also, demonstrations make some of the blind open their eyes to the problem(s) they wish to either ignore or just don't understand. Obviously some, like my dear friend, still have missed the point. No, the pendulum you mention (Mr. Wolfe) has not swung beyond the center to the extreme; it didn't start at the center (that is, Anglo-Saxons have always had vital to needs of force, it became apparent that inequalities in job selection and salary existed between men and women. As it turns out, those inequalities continue to exist. Sexism, racism and other forms of discrimination are found on individual levels as well as within institutions. It is these organizational aspects that are powerful and difficult to combatbecause of their subtlety. The average woman earns 70 cents on the dollar compared with white men (many times for the same job). Few women have positions of influence in the world of work, and there is an obvious shortage of women in ourdecision-making entities. These numbers do not, as Wolfe suggests, reflect incompetence, inability or, most importantly, a lack of desire and ambition. Rather, they are a reflection of the effects of poverty, inadequate education and a discriminating power structure. Our mission as counselors at .17 the upper-hand). Attempting to play the color and gender blind trick is not the answer; denial prevents progress. If you don't become part of the solution, then you remain part of the problem. We must learn from our historical mistakes, learn about each other and respect our "cultural differences." We need to respect each other's gender differences without exploiting each other in the process. Part of the solution to the core of the racial problems we face today include getting everyone involved. This means that in light of Caucasians accounting for only 8 of the world population, we need to see more people of color (white being colorless) in political positions, more ethnically diverse people on the T.V. screen and over the radio, more colors in our school's textbooks-there's too much Eurocentricity in our school system (especially when whites are the actual minority).What our society needs is less whiteness. Ignorance and denial are not the answer, we are. For more enlightenment on racial issues concerning young blacks, I may be contacted in the Multi-cultural Center at 626-7334 most afternoons after 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. Thank you. Dennis Hannah WSU student working women the center is to empower women on a personal level so that they may make viable decision for themselves. Our charge also includes advocating for women in general and helping eradicate other discriminatory barriers in order to enhance their chances for success in school and career. Anyone who wants more information about the center is invited to visit us (Union Building 353). Though our focus is on women returning to education, anyone (men and women) is welcome. We offer workshops, Brown Baggers, counseling, a library, scholarships, emergency contact service and (Spring Quarter) the Ps. T. program for graduating students who wish to recognize those who have helped them make it to and through graduation. Women's Educational Resource Center Sherry Burkes and 3 other names. |