Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 October 1990 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13,1990

Just too lazy to do the right thing

Being a parent is a series of when the world offers unpreceordeals, paradoxes and dilemmas, dented opportunities. Most chilVery few people really feel they dren don’t orcan’t read, and many know what they’re doing most of can’t perform basic computations, the time. Most of the time you Children from all over the world wander and wander thru a series of have come to America and have milestone events, illnesses, acci- i e ft our children in the academic dents, accomplishments, pain, dust, good times and sometimes pure Our response seems to be akin joy. Most parents give it their best to a Three Stooges routine. Parent shot If they didn’t, things would MoeslapsteacherCuriywhokicks be much worse. The vast majority student Larry and on and on. of parents do a good job, unfortu- Well, we’ve got a problem, nately the parents that appear to Among other things, we have to have failed, seem to be doing it begin to start talking about the with unprecedented results. challenges of parenting in a seriOur children seem to be more ous way. Our schools, our violent than they were a decade churches, our parents and guaidiago. More of them seem pro- ans have to get serious about tell* grammed for failure, right at a time jng uds the troth about parenting

Notes from a father in ( H \K1 i s HI \IR

and holding them accountable for all of the responsibilities of parenting now and in the future. There is no reason why giris and boys should have babies because they are ignorant of the process. That’s Three Stooges stuff — the Moe,

Larry arid Curly School of Parenting and Educating. One could argue that we have access to more information than at any time in the history of the world. But then why are our children so ignorant? They don’t know where

Stephan Owens is now free

the ■! i n e s By EUNICE TROTTER Editbr-in-Chief

Another man has died, the victim of a police action shooting. But this shooting hit close to home. The man was a former employee and columnist for The Indianapolis Recorder. Stephan A. Owens was killed by police during an alleged robbery attempt at the Ponderosa res12# rant, located not far from the offices of The Recorder. Police say Stephan, 40, pointed a'gun at a uniformed off-duty police officer working security at the restaurant. The investigation is continuing. Immediately after we received word of the shooting, media began to call us, wanting to know more about Stephan. I told them he had wanted to be a minister. He wanted to work in the community. And most of all, he wanted to share his experiences with others so that they may not travel the same road. Most importantly, I told them that The Recorder is one employer who gave an opportunity to a person —an ex-convict — when most employers would have turned him away. None of the media aired or reported that part of our conversation. Stephan came on the staff of The Recorder in the late fall of 1989, wanting a chance to make an honest living after his long-sought release from the Indiana State Reformatory at Pendleton. Using legal skills acquired in prison to get his 70-year sentence reduced, Stephan served 10 years for robbery and was ecstatic to be free. He was persistent about his desire to work. We gave him a chance that other businesses would not give him. He was pleased and told us so every day. He did maintenance work, but not for long. He wanted to make more money and he wanted a job that would afford him the opportunity to have dignity. Not that doing maintenance work was undignified, he told us. He just had other talents. So we gave him space to grow.

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Stephan was interested in assisting men and women confined in prison. He wanted to give them a forum for airing their concerns and complaints, for discussing issues, for communicating with friends and family. Because of the volume of mail from the prisons, we were more than happy to accommodate Stephan’s interest. Stephan did well, for a while. But you could feel the frustration mounting when he realized that there was so little he coulddofor prisoners he thought were wrongly convicted and incarcerated. He saw that complaints to the

corrections officials were sometimes frugal. Nothing would happen. The men, perhaps, didn’t really appreciate hisefforts, though he put in the hours to make a difference. His writing began to reflect the growing state of hopelessness with which Stephan was confronted personally, as he was rejected for better paying jobs at majority corporations. All of the reassurances to him that things would be alright weren’t enough to stop him from drowning out his sorrows through drugs. Stephan sought treatment. But treatment wasn't enough. Friends

reached out to Stephan, but Stephan pulled in the opposite direction. Stephan wrote his last column for us in A jail. We all were shocked when police called to inform us that the unidentified man shot in the chest at the Ponderosa was Stephan. We were all shocked that he would attempt a holdup and we still find it hard to believe that he would turn a gun on a uniformed policeman. The only positive aspect about that shocking news is that Stephan Owens — bearing in mind all of his trials and tribulations—is now truly free.

babies come from, but they have them. They can’t read mid write; and too many of them have a propensity for violence. And we don’t know how they became violent It’s time that we understood that ignorance and violence are partners. Ignorance of parenting skills often {uoduces violent reactions in parents. Terrible beatings and borderline abuse occur when people mistake violence for discipline. Punishment is not necessarily violent Some people don’t know that. Ignorance begets violence and violence comes from ignorance. In a country which has access to information about everything under the sun, I believe that we know what to do. We have the answers to most of our problems, we’re just too lazy to do the right things. The violence we fear is generally a learned behavior. It is taught and perpetuated. We cannot escape the responsibility that we have as parents and teachers to do something about the lack of basic information that we are not getting across to our children. Let’s start in our homes, in ourschools.in our churches, in our youth organizations. Talk about your fears and aspirations as parents. Talk about real life stuff. Talk about where you think the ignorance and the violence come from. There is much to do and the hour is late.

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Join us for the best of the Blues... Chicago style. October 7-13.

Sunday, October 7 Bluet and Gospel Brunch. Howortul blues .uid gospel artist Glum Mjrdinijn sings. Schubas Tavern, 315V North Southport Avenue. Noon For more information call 312-525-251M Blues and Gospel on Film. Author and musician Lincoln Beauchamp and film maker Floyd Webb moderate this screening of rare film lootage. DuSablc Museum of African-American Ftistory. 57th Street and Cottage Drive. 3PM. Free October 8-12 Blues on State Street. A different outdoor performance every day under the Marquee of The Chicago Theatre. 175 North State Street. Noon. Free

Monday, Oitoher H One of the last great delta hlucsmcn. guitarist David "Moneyboy" Edwards Tueiday, <Maker 9 Dynamic young keeper ofrhe blues and boogie flame, pianist "Barrelhouse" ( buck Gorrmg Hednnday, fklohrr 10 Mesmerizing guitar virtuoso John Campbell Thursday. (hioher II Vintage sound master, guitarist and vocalist Otis “Smokey" Smothers r-nday. (iaohrr 12 Rev Leon Pinson's heartfelt slide guitar and the exquisite harmonica of Rev Elder Wilson

Monday, October 8 Bluet on the Airwaves and in the Groove. Blues I>Js and programmers of the past and present discuss the history of Chicago blues radio and recording Panelists include Richard Stamz. Tom Marker, Steve Cushing, Richard Regue and Lucky Cordell. Chess Recording Studios, 2)20 South Michigan Avenue. 7PM, Free.

Benson A Hedges Blue Monday. Premiere Chicago blues saxophonist Eddie Shaw and his group, the Wolf Gang, present a tribute to Howlin’ Wolf 1HLS Club, 1H15 West Roosevelt Street, 9PM. For cover charge information call 312-fi66-I5(X). Tuesday, October 9 Benson & Hedges Blues in the Library. .V«u>H Erwin Ffelfcr gives an oral history and demonstration chronicling the development of Chicago Blues Styles 5 Mll'M Masters of the blues piano, Sunnyland Slim. Moose Walker, Jimmy Walker and Erwin Heifer hold a keyboard summit conference. Chicago Public Library Cultural Center. Preston Bradley Hall, 3rd Floor. 78 East Washington Street, Free Benson & Hedges Blues Salute to Alligator Records. Lonnie Brooks delights with his soaring vocals and piercing guitar LTI Ed and the Blues Imperials perform their low-down blues. B LUES etc.. 1124 West Belmont Street. ‘/PM For cover charge information call 312-525-8'/H‘1 Wednesday, October 10 Legends at Legends. Buddy Guy hosts the Antnnes All-Stars featuring Angela Strehli. Luther Tucker. Dereck O'Brien, Pint-top Perkins. Jimmy Rogers. Calvin Jones and Willie Smith Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 South Wabash Avenue. '/PM For cover charge information call 312-427-0333

Thursday, October 11 Benson h Hedges Bluet Express. Beginning at 0PM. Benson & Hedges Blues Express buses will travel in a circular route and stop at all of the clubs listed below. One $5 ticket gets you unlimited bus use and admission to every club. Tickets and bus route maps are available at the clubs Blue Chicago Buddy Stott and the ftih Tips 937 North State Street. 312-642-5261 B L U E S. Johnny B Moore 2519 North Halsted Street. 312-549-9436 B L U E S, etc. Son Seals 1124 West Belmont Street, 312-525-8989 Wise Fools Pub The Imperial I lames 227(1 North Lincoln Avenue. 312-929-1510. Kingston Mines Dion I'ayton and the d.lrd Street Blues Band, The Miehael Coleman Blues Band 2548 North Halsted Street, 312-477-4646. Rosa's Blues Lounge Billy Branch and Sons <>f Blues 3420 Wfcst Armitagc Avenue. 312-342-0452. Friday, October 12 Boogie 'Til the Break of Day. See first listing in black panel to right Saturday, October 13 Dynamic Diva* of Rhyrtun It Blue*. Set second listing in black panel to right. Afterhour* at the New Checkerboard. Dcvastatmg guitar great Johnny Christian and special guests perform New Checkerboard Lounge. 423 East 43rd Street (Muddy Waters Drive), Midnight. For cover charge information call 312-624-3240. Ticket Information Aria Crown The* ter. Tick css are available at the box office and all Ticketron locations To charge tickets call 312-902-1919 For more information call 312-791-6000 Club*. For cover charge information please call the individual clubs. Program subject to change. No refunds or exchanges. For full festival information call 312-24-BLUES

ARIE CROWN THEATER Al Mr.CLIRMICK FRIDAY. OCTOBER '2 AT UPM

JOHN LE:£ hooker

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THE KINSEY REPORT

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