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Show Friday, January 13, 1989 Chronicle - Page Four Tamarah Hardesty Racial equality is far from status quo in the U.S Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. --Martin Luther King Jr. Birmingham city jail, 1963 Relax. It's Friday and there are no classes Monday. Theoretically, the dual purpose for this holiday is to honor slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., and to celebrate the remarkable progress our nation has made toward the eradication of racism. Most students will probably sleep until noon and catch up on daytime television. Just as well, because in many respects, the jubilation would be premature. This is not meant to discredit the civil rights movement On the contrary, the movement illustrated the gross injustices practiced by a nation founded on the principles of equality and justice for all. To most college age Americans, it is inconceivable that one generation ago blacks had to drink from separate fountains, attend separate schools, pray in separate churches and even suffer discrimination in death with burial in separate graveyards. The institutionalized suppression embodied within the concept of "separate but equal" worlds for black and white America is safely imprisoned in the nation's texk books. The death of the legal framework that justified countless acts of hatred was necessary so that the nation could begin to live. No sane human would evil ideology. mourn the loss of such Klu Klux Klan and Skin the Obviously, Aryan Nations, Heads do not count, as they are neither sane nor human. Moreover, as despicable as these groups are, America. People they are not indicative of main-streacannot be denied housing, employment or education based on the color of their skin. It isn't so much that black America has found its voice, as the voice has always been there, straining against the repressive hand of "the system." Today, no politician would advocate -- ..r; censorship of this necessary voice. But, as mis generation prepares to pay homage to Martin Luther King, Jr., they seem to nave forgotten one crucial point King did not die merely for the rights of black' Americans; he symbolized the struggle for the ;': freedom of all Americans. Politicians andTournalists who would cut out their tongues before they uttered a slur against blacks, feel free to insult other races. It has become almost patriotic to bash the Arabs. It m . ; . wounds. If similar "jokes" were made about gassing shouldn't really be surprising. These loyal "Americans" Israel or frying Japan, the offending authors would be are just following the lead of President Reagan. sued and the papers shut down. Even contemporary Reagan's hobby of hatred for Libyan leader Muammar "art" can safely slash out at the Arabs, If there is an Arab Gadhafi has typified this administration's attitude character represented in a movie, he or she is either toward the Arab world. Reagan hasn't personally been illiterate or a terrorist A famous political cartoonist responsible for bombing each Arab nation, but he has an reigned over the government that spent record amounts recently noted that he could draw, without reprisal, a and hand his dagger in arming their hostile enemies. He hasn't spat in every Arab with a machine gun in camel. He a back of the on Ms teem either. between cordial been he hasn't riding Arab leaders face, but commented that he could never get away with portrayAfter the United States bombed Libya in April 1986, students were beaten up by "patriotic" ing an Israeli in such a distorting light. "success" of the Americans across the country. In spite Prejudice is defined as an unfavorable opinion formed without knowledge. The regrettable display of of the U.S. raid on IibyaTGadhafi's daughter died from America's collective ignorance is partially to blame for this brand of "American justice"-t- he nation was not suffer in this "melting pot" the racism satiated. Just as terrorists feed on the blood of helpless know don't Some people simply any better. Their victims, the American public had whet its collective formed in front of the of the images of the Middle East were appetite and wanted more. The "watch-dog- " televisions and silver screens that dominate this cul- American political conscience, the press, noted the ture. So when the movies show an exaggerated and tragic racist attacks without condemnation. archie stereotype of me "Arab nomad" or "terrorist," Undoubtedly, if it were black American students being many Americans don't realize they are being deceived. flogged because of their coloring, the victims would Our schools and universities teach the malleable pupil have been given immediate police protection and ediabout the intellectual traditions of the West, neglecting torials would have flooded tne airwaves. the contributions the Arabs have made to science, crude is not limited to The abuse of mathematics, literature, art or medicine. These physical violence. Indeed, the media has proven once Americans are justifiably lax in the desire to further and for all, the pen is mightier than the sword. This their educations, but are not necessarily malicious. spring, while covering the Palestinian intifadah (uprisminority of blissfully unaware. ing), the New York Times ran a picture showing a group This Americans can comfort themselves in their cloaks of of young Palestinians sitting on the ground inside of a ignorance. But .those who actively participate in the all- menacing barbed wire cage. The caption beneath the American sport of "Arab bashing" will find this cloak photo explained that these imprisoned youths were cannot hide them for very long. "suspected" of being Palestinian. No one seemed to Like all wrong ideas, eventually this modern expresquestion the rational that justified arresting people perbased on the the fact their nationality is unpopular. The sion of racism will be exposed for what it the institutionalized time that When secution. comes, terms with "Arab", using the press gets away 'Palestinian" and "terrorist" synonymously. The result legal framework, which not only condones but encourof such irresponsible reporting is toat simply being ..' ages discrimination based on nationality and race, will " r ' once again be condemned: "The U.S. government's cen- ,r. Palestinian is Warded as a crime.' This trend is further evidenced in the editorial by sorship of Palestinian-America- n be the closure of the Palestine Information Office-w- ill columns of national and college papers alike. Whether disdain as the with same in jest or earnest, it has become expedienttQ applaud A ; regarded preventing U.S. muscle flexing in the Mediterranean and in some ' "America's black community from realizing its voice? Until that time, it is ludicrous for this racist govern- cases to call for another bombing raid on Tripoli. In ' ment tri pay homage to a man' who stood for justice light of the immense pain the last attack caused, this is the literary equivalent to rubbing salt into Libyan everywhere. . -- Arab-Americ- an Arab-America- . . Arab-America- ns non-acti- -- ve is-ra- cial 5 -- . voices-eviden- ced . . Pepsi Invites . ns You To ... SOT Runnin'Ute Basketball Thursday, January 12 vs. Hawaii 7:30 p.m. Saturday, January 14 vs. San Diego State 7:30 p.m. The Pepsi-Col- a Bottling Company wants to thank you for your support by inviting you to ski at the exciting, new ParkWest Ski Area the entire season at 50 savings. All you have to do is pick up your PepsiPark West Ski Card at any Store, Subway Sandwich Shop or other Pepsi outlets. When you ski at ParkWest, simply present your reusable Pepsi Card at the ticket window and receive a 50 discount off the regular $24 lift ticket price - every time you ski this winter! - ParkWest has new management, a fresh new lookgreat food and a friendlier-than-evattitude. You won't want to miss the fun and excitement, especially with the great Pepsi Card savings! er Check out the "(Ci Mi" section located in section D. Any group that would like to sit in this section should call the ticket office t to reserve your tickets. Tickets must be reserved in person at the ticket office 24 hours before game time and picked up by noon of game day. Remember, you MUST wear red to sit in this section. 581-UTE- S, All U of U students FREE with valid activity card For an experience you'll long remember, enjoy our sleigh ride dinner. For information call . r |
