Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 June 2000 — Page 8

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JUNE 30,2000

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OPINIONS

Makingfathers count By LEE HUBBARD JR. Michael Alexander is somebody I looked up to when I was growing up. A smooth-dressing young man, he was a star athlete in high school who had the gift of gab and a style that was unique. One of the things I admired most about him was the way he took care of his son, Mike Jr. Michael had broken up with his son's mother, but he made up his mind early on to stay involved with and accessible to Mike Jr. “When I was growing up, my father wasn't around, and I wanted to be a better father than my father was," Michael said. “I wanted to make sure my son had the right kind of guidance.’’ They could be seen together just about anywhere: at the park, at high school football games, at professional basketball games, at barbershops. In embracing his role as a father, Michael set an example not just for Mike Jr., but also for me, when, at 18,1 reluctantly became a father myself. At First I was angry and resentful about being a father before I was out of my teens. Yes, I had been irresponsible and careless, but I was in my first year of college, I had my life ahead of me, and I had no intention of settling down with the woman who became the mother of my twins. Although I never completely turned my back on my children, for a few years I was a less-than-adequate parent. But gradually, Michael’s example got to me. Hanging out with him and Mike Jr., who was never far from his father’s side, had a good influence. I began to think about all the benefits I’d reaped from the stability provided by my own parents, who have been married for 36 years. And, as I looked around the neighborhood full of kids being raised without fathers, I thought about all the trouble I could have gotten into but didn't because I knew how heavily my dad would have weighed in if I had. Gradually, my anger began to fade. I realized that nothing was going to change the fact that I had been irresponsible. Like it or not, my children were going to be a part of my life. More importantly, I realized that I was going to have to be a part of theirs. My children spend about half their time with me. When they aren’t with me, they know I’m just a phone call away. On the days I’m not with them, I give them rides to school in the morning or pick them up in the afternoon. Like Michael, I take them places: to rap concerts, political rallies and picnics. I’m in good company: Although single women are the primary caregivers in 8 million U.S. households today, more than 2.1 million homes with children are headed by single men. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of fathers who don’t take care of their children or who choose not to be a presence in their children’s lives. There are various reasons for this, ranging from irresponsibility to hostile reactions from the mothers of their children to lack of money — a factor that weighs heavily in a culture where how much one makes is seen as a measure of manhood. Still, these invisible men — and the effect their absence has on their children's lives—has led to a social catastrophe in America. According to the National Center of Health Statistics, children who grow up without a father are 75 percent more likely to need help with emotional problems and twice as likely to repeat a grade in school. According to Census Bureau statistics, many of our high school dropouts, youths in jail and teen-age mothers have one thing in common: a missing father. “Sixty-three percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. Ninety percent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes; 85 percent of children that exhibit behavior disorders come from fatherless homes,” says Tom Hoemer, author of Bachelor Parents and Their Functional Families. In the face of such dire statistics, you would think there would be national weekly summits to address the issues of fatherless homes and absentee parents. But this is not the case. Fathers, and especially single fathers, face outward hostility from family courts, pandering politicians and women’s advocacy groups that treat men with disdain. All one has to do is look at the trials Juan Miguel Gonzalez has undergone in order to get his son, Elian, back. Despite the dysfunctional relations between the United States and Cuba, it’s hard to imagine efforts to keep Elian here would have been nearly as effective had Juan Gonzalez, rather than his ex-wife, died on a boat coming to America. Our culture has internalized the idea that children belong with their mother. A father’s presence may be considered desirable, but it’s also considered expendable. Fatherhood should be one of the main issues on this nation's social agenda. As a society, we should make sure that men face fewer roadblocks. This will lead to stronger families, a stronger community and a stronger country. Lee Hubbard Jr. is and award-winning journalist who writes about urban and national affairs. Information on the “Fathers Count Act" is available at www.thomas.loc.gov.

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O’Bannon’s gutsy action on gas prices leaves big oil and McIntosh in the dust

For months Republican gubernatorial candidate Congressman David McIntosh bitterly criticized Gov. Frank O’Bannon as a weak and ineffectual leader. Last week, the governor showed McIntosh and the Republicans that when needed, O’Bannon is a decisive governor. For weeks, gasoline prices had inexorably climbed to exorbitant levels. When gasoline costs more in Indianapolis than in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, the American cities with the highest cost of living, then something is terribly wrong. People are upset at $2 a gallon gas. They know the oil companies are ripping us off and they want action! Instead Congresst the Clinton administration. Gov. George (I worked in the oil business) Bush and Vice President Gore were talking loud and doing nothing. But instead of talk, Indiana’s governor took action capturing the imagination of not only Hoosiers, but the American people. Seems back in 1981, when O’Bannon was Senate Minority Leader; our Legislature passed a law giving governors authority to suspend the state’s gasoline sales tax during an “energy emergency.” For working class people, African Americans, and those driving gas-guzzling SUV’s $2 a gallon gas is an energy emergency. So, invoking his emergency powers, Gov. O’Bannon rolled gas prices back 5 to 7 cents a gallon. Response to the governor’s move, here and throughout the country, was electrifying and positive. McIntosh and Indiana’s Republican Party were stunned. Indiana GOP Chief Mike McDaniel

was uncharacteristically mute. The OOP’s fax machines usually busy cranking out daily condemnationsofO’Bannon’s leadership, sat silent. After O’Bannon’s announcement, McIntosh was seen on TV babbling platitudes of support, promising to hold congressional hearings. However, two weeks ago, in Chicago, Congressman Bobby Rush and other lawmakers held hearings on the oil company ’ s gas pump robbery. McIntosh’s promise of hearings is too little too late. Especially for a supposedly well connected member of the Republican congressional leadership. One of Dick Armey and Tom DeLay’s Boyz, McIntosh could've held hearings the first week of June, as this crisis developed. He could have made his GOP buddies take action. McIntosh did nothing for Hoosiers, while our governor took action! Now, that the governor has shown some real leadership, maybe McIntosh will exhibit leadership and explain how he’ II guarantee a 25 percent property tax cut, making up the cuts from the state budget while keeping spending at current levels. Because right now, McIntosh’s tax plan enjoys the same credibility as Big Oil’s explanations of whygasissohigh!

What I’m hearing in the streets Mayor Bart Peterson was firm. Someone from the outside will be the new executive director of the troubled Indianapolis Housing Agency. There has been fear that the successor to discredited former Director Eugene Jones would come from the tarnished managers now running the agency. But last Friday on our W AV-TV/Chan-nel 53 daytime program. Mayor Peterson clearly said Housing’s new leader would come from outside. Regarding the city ’ s rogue public housing agency. I’m continuing to hear horror stories about incompetent and venal mismanagement of employees. Why isn’t Deputy Mayor Bill Shrewsberry meeting with employees to learn about and correct problems of employee mistreatment? Mayor Peterson also expressed concern over the escalating controversy concerning the Fall Creek YMCA. The mayor told Channel 53 viewers that while he wasn’t going to “mediate" the dispute, he is concerned and wants to talk to both sides. Donnie Walsh and the Indiana Pacers have a big problem. Billy Knight’s departure last month to become the Vancouver Grizzlies general manager left the Pacers without an African American in any senior management role in basketball operations. Since few in our Black community expect an African American to replace Larry Bird as coach, our Pacers could become one of the rare NBA teams without Black coaches on the bench and in senior front office positions. Big problems at WRTV/Channel 6. They did poorly in the May

Nielsen TV ratings. Chief investi-* gative reporter James Ford is departing to continue his education, leaving Channel 6 with no high profile African American on their evening newscasts. A new series of Call 6 for Help and Channel 6 Fan Club promos premiered last week. They included every Channel 6 anchor and program host except morning anchor Grace Trahan and medical reporter Stacia Matthews, both of whom are Black. The reduced promotion of Channel 6’s remaining AfricanAmerican anchors and hosts, James Ford’s departure, coupled with Channel 6 losing Oprah leads me to wonder if Channel 6 is writing off African-American viewers? Hoosier Radio and TV and new owner Radio One have committed to the most live radio and TV broadcasts from thi§ year’s 30th Indiana Black Expo. For the sixth year, WAV-TV/Channel 53 originates the most live TV broadcasts from Black Expo, 10 hours Thursday through Sunday, July 13th to 16th. Radio Stations Kiss 106.7/ WBKS and Hoosier 96/WHHH will together broadcast live from Expo for 36 hours. Far more than the scheduled live broadcasts of Expo’s so-called official station. Speaking of that station, WTLC-AM/FM officials are upset that I reported they'd broadcast live an Indianapolis Indians game instead of Rev. Jesse Jackson’s speech at this year’s Black Expo ecumenical service. General Manager Vince Fruge defended WTLC s indefensible position saying “we’re gonna air the service in prime time the next night.” Vince, you’re missing the point. For 20 years WTLC-AM/FM broadcast Expo’s ecumenical service live. Because of the Indians’ conflict, why didn’t you and Emmis move the game to sister station WIBC? They could air it without jeopardizing their commitment to the Indiana Fever. And why couldn’t WTLC-FM broadcast Rev.Jackson's speech? Fruge, WTLC and Emmis need to explain why a live broadcast of a minor league baseball game is more important than a live broadcast of Black Expo’s kickoff event? Indiana Black Expo should reevaluate its relationship with radio stations and ownership that continually gives Black Expo and our Black community the back of its hand! See ‘ya next week! Amos Brown's opinions are not necessarily those of The Indianapolis Recorder. You can com tact him at (317) 293-9600 or email him at [email protected]

Big money will always dominate elections

WASHINGTON — For years a lot of us have beaten our gums and our typewriters to shreds, arguing that in American politics, money is close to the root of all evil. I am about ready to concede that in a big-money country, big money is always going to find a way into elections, and that we might not even be able to enact laws to make its usage fair. Recently, I have seen several incidents that indicate that whether we call it “soft" money, or “hard” money, or “obscene” money, or “personal wealth,” money is going to be a crucial factor in key elections. I don't mean that the candidate with the most campaign funds will always win; I mean that the one who wins will have taken a lot of money from a lot of sources, many of them questionable, or will have spent his or her own funds in amounts that suggest that serious political power can indeed be bought in America. Look at what just happened: • In New Jersey, Jon S. Corzine, a WallStreet multimillionaire, shanered all records for spending in a Senate race when he shelled out $35 million to defeat former Gov. Jim Florio in the Democratic primary. • The Democratic Party announced that it will use some “soft" money — unrestricted contributions to the party by unions, corporations and individuals — to help finance a $25 million television advertising campaign to “redefine” Vice President A1 Gore, the Democratic candidate to succeed Bill Clinton. • Alleged Democratic Party fund raising in 1996became a threat toGore’s campaign once again as a House committee released documents revealing that the Justice Department

was wracked with bitter battles over who should do how much investigating of the money raised by Clinton and Gore. • The Democrats raised a stunning $26 million at a single fund-raiser featuring the Clintons and the Gores. This came in the wake of an event at which the Republicans raised what was then a staggering $21 million. It should be noted that the Republican Party, which for decades had access to most of the big money, has never endorsed campaign finance reform, although some individuals such as Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz., have fought zeal-

ously for reforms. The big question that seems to block meaningful reforms is, “How do you impose money limitations that are fair?” If Corzine can properly spend more than $30 million of his own money, however outrageous that might seem to some, why can't Florio take $30 million from any source that he can find and use it to counter Corzine’s ads and other spending? We truly need a campaign finance reform law, but the mere existence of a near-$100 million war chest for Bush, or big union largess for Gore, or huge personal fortunes for people like Corzine simply guarantees that Congress will never pass such a law. Because all politicians, in and out of Congress, want an advantage. And that's to our disadvantage.