Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 January 2003 — Page 9

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2003

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A9

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READERS RESPOND

Fletcher Place needs help I find it disheartening that while large-scale organizations continue to pour huge sums of money into the entertainment world, such as the RCA Dome, struggling missions are in desperate need of funding. Fletcher Place Community Center, a downtown mission, is seeking a total donation of $500,000 tosupport anew building. This is essential to the mission because of its drastic increase in demand. Not only does Fletcher Place provide a food pantry and thrift shop, but it provides literacy programs, computer classes, and lifeskill programs. These programs are necessary for successfully assisting the homeless and poor in re-entering the work force. When will Indianapolis see a mission with a company name on it? While sports arenas continue to be sponsored by these wealthy Indianapolis companies, Fletcher Place is seeking a one-time donation of only $500,000, w'hich is a

drop in the bucket for many organizations. I will wait for the day when a company like RCA proudly sponsors a mission that plays such a large part of our community’. It would be the ultimate charitable deed and an example to the rest of Indianapolis and its suburban communities. Todd Schmid 9222 W. 52nd St. The best 1-69 route to Evansville When the state built Interstate65 to link Gary to Indianapolis, it didn’t use parts of 1-74 and U.S. 41 in northwest Indiana to do it. So why do we have to “settle for less” by using 1-70 and U.S. 41 in southwest Indiana to link Evansville and Indianapolis with 1-69? The Evansville supporters for this long sought highway have a greater need and ambition. Some folks say w-e can save money and forests by using the 41/70 route, but many of them have never driven to Evansville. There are 19 stoplights on U.S. 41 in Vanderburgh County-Evans-

ville , which are'not coming out. So why would we want to link a new interstate to a part of 41 which cannot be upgraded? It would be a traffic nightmare! The 1-69 extension is about saving lives and bringing economic development to distressed and poor areas between Indianapolis and Evansville. It would not take much farmland and w'ould provide safer accessibility for Indiana University students at Bloomington. A direct 1-69 link should connect Evansville, Oakland City, Petersburg, Washington, Bloomington and Indianapolis. Referred to as Alternative 3B, the new highway would cut out 29 minutes or 58 miles round trip. That means a lot to many of us who get up at 5 a.m. to make the Circle City Classic parades, attend the Indiana Black Expo, or who simply drive up from Evansville to visit friends or family. Evansville, the largest urban center in southern Indiana, has been trying to get a decent road to the state capital since the 1940s. Alternative 3B would be the best 1-69 route to build to serve all Hoosiers. David W. Griffith

The miseducaMon of sex and the Black community

By PHILLIP NORTON Nearly everyone knows that sex plays an important part in our lives, understanding that its basic function is to procreate. However, it is the miseducation of sex among Black youth in our community that is creating serious problems, including child abuse. It’s a crying shame to have to w’atch news reports about Black children who have been strangled, burned, starved, trashed, abandoned, beaten, poisoned and left in cars to suffocate; usually by young parents or family members, In Detroit not so long ago, a young Black mother left her two children in the car to suffocate while she was getting a new hair weave. In 1988, also in Detroit, a Black man threw acid in the face of his sleeping 3-month-old son. In that same city the following year, police w r ere summoned to a house where family members told them that a “pet pit bulldog" had attacked a newborn infant only 48 hours old; who was left unattended in a .room with the vicious, hungry animal. The police found the bloody, decapitated body of the baby on the floor of the room and had to kill the dog in order to retrieve the baby’s head, which the dog was chewing on! And in Philadelphia in 1999. a Black woman called the police after becoming suspicious of a peculiar odor coming from a nearby apartment. When police arrived, they found a baby barely alive lying in a roasting pan inside a hot oven. When police asked the mother why she would do such a horrible thing to her own child, her reply was “The devil made mp do it.” And the list goes on and on. These are real-life horror stories of which there seems to be no immediate remedy as to how to put an end to these human atrocities. The Department of Welfare and Children’s Services is not helping, either. In fact, in most of the child abuse cases handled by these agencies, the abusive parent receives inadequate counseling and/or rehabilitation; saving t.ixpayers money, and the real victim (child) is quickly returned to the same abusive parent, who in most cases continues to abuse and/or kills the child. We cannot expect social service agencies or any institution that doesn’t have our best interest at heart to resolve our problems. We are the ones who have to do it. Unfortunately, there are too many temptations out there that lure our Black youth into the world of sex and perversion. The No. 1 culprit is the television watched by millions of Black youths, which employs the use of ads to promote the very early in-

terest in sex. It’s the most powerful tool the propagandists have to influence their thinking and behavior. Sponsors pay millions of dollars; the networks get richer and filthier as the government rakes in more money. Sex is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the big time hustlers, Uncle Sam and the networks, don’t give a damn whose, child they string out just as long as they are making money. Young Black men and women get caught up in the‘T-800-Love Line,"which promotes violence and prostitution. Young girls emulate and idolize female personalities, unprepared for the consequences that lie ahead. Birth control clinics signal to our youth that sex outside of marriage is OK as long as they don’t get caught (i.e., pregnancy, AIDS.) When young women find themselves “in trouble,” they believe that the easiest route is to abort the child. After all, it’s “just a fetus and not yet ftilly”developed. These clinics remove personal accountability and responsibility from the clients and replace them with coils, jells and methods of sterilization. They offer nothing to our youth, and in particular, the unborn child. In some areas of the U.S., public school systems are teaching our young Black boys (9 and 10-year-olds), the proper use of condoms. Their argument is that “Children are becoming more sexually conscious and active at an earlier age, and therefore, to protect them from the spread of highly infectious diseases, like AIDS; it is better to be safe than sorry." In the meantime, police in Chicago arrest two 10-year-old boys for gang raping a 7-year-old girl while their friends casually watched and cheered. No one should be talking to your children about sex except you (the parent), or another concerned, responsible family member. Parents played an active role in their child's birth and should take an equally active part in their son's/daughter’s moral training, and development. Sex education is clearly not the responsibility of the government. Teaching our children to abstain f rom sex before marriage is by far the best solution in avoiding unwanted pregnancies, social diseases and character ;issassinat ion. However, teaching our children about sex should not begin when they are already engaged in it. The process of educating them should start early and be gradual. Families who show love, genuine concern and are sensitive to their children are able to discuss concerns and feelings they may have and/or don't understand. As our children continue to grow and develop, they are undergoing very confusing periods

in their lives. False accusations and unfounded suspicions onlyblock the lines of effective communication further. If our children are uncomfortable or reluctant to talk to us about sex, they may look for answers elsewhere. Knowing whom our children hang out with is equally important in educating them about sex. If we know where our children are going to bed and whom they are with, it won’t be too difficult to figure out what they are doing. In other words, get familiar with your child’s friends and associates. If their “partners” are the types who attract trouble, then it may be better to cut the contact altogether. Their peers will probably ridicule them, but they'll surv ive. When people don't have a good sense of values, their direction is usually uncertain as well. More than ever Black women must face the inevitability of raisingtheir children alone, especially if they are poor and have no education. You will, Black women, become just another statistic filed away for someone's research: Black, young, pregnant, unwed and on welfare, if y ou don't use proper values to guide you! Soap operas, videos and made for television films only glamorize the “Real World" because they are centered on the Euro centric values, rather than Afro centric values. If you, Black women, want a shot at achieving some your goals in life, then you must begin now by preparing to make certain sacrifices. Learning self-restraint and moral ethics can be the key to your future and the future of your children too. Chances are that if you are in a “cycle’’ of having babies every year or so (outside of marriage), opportunities become almost impossible to achieve. Let’s face it, there will be no “knight in shining armor" waiting for you in the wings now or anytime, if you persist in repeating past mistakes. What you will get, however, will be somebody whom nobody wants or needs. Parenting is a tremendous responsibility , which requires maturity, patience and love. Two of those won't be there il you see your child as burdens or free tickets to getting a man. Self-respect, self-love anil looking out forvourown futurcarc far more important. There is a lot of good and bad in the world, and having the right set of values and planning realistic strategies will better prepare you for some oft he “good life" in the near future. Give your life a chance to enjoy what is good out there. Put sex on the backburneruntilyou marry. You’ll never regret it. Phillip Norton is a media buy er for Group 1 Communications in Indianapolis.

OPINION

* If only I had won

■y JOSHUA COMfH

SUM Writer

What would you have done

' with $315 million? After the reJ cent Powerball lottery soared to ' ^ such a ridiculous amount. 1

bought a lottery ticket fortbefirst time in my entire life. The reason I haven't ever gotten ticket

, mmm the past is the same reason 1

shouldn’t have bought this one: 1 didn't win and all it did was get

my hopes up.

But sometimes gettingy our hopes up is a good thing. It might be hard to believe, but some people in this world don't even dare to dream. So I dared myselfthis go-round, and of course I then had to think about what would I do if ! won all

that money.

Another reason I don't play the lottery is because it’s a ridiculous concept to me that someone can do absolutely nothing and get that much money, but only someone who hasn’t won the lottery would say that. Most people would say the first thing they would do is quit their job. 1 love my job. though, so at least for now I don't think I'd want to, quit. The next thing I hear most is a new car. However, if I’m keeping my job, I don't think I want a new car because this area has been known to have some break-ins from time to time. A lot of people would also want to buy a new house, but I still have a few months on my apart ment lease. Even with all that money I’m still the cheapskate I always was, so I don't think I'd want to pay the early termination fee. So what about my dreams? Well I've always dreamt about being in a movie. You actually can buy your way into a movie if you have enough

money, but movies nowadays are so bad I don't know if I'd find one I'd be willing to star in. And don’t even let me get started with television. Well I also always dreamed of travelling the country and going to a baseball game at every Major League Baseball park (plus the two in Canada) hut it ’s winter so nobody’s playing at the moment. When 1 was growing up, I used to tell my mom I would buy her a house on the beach when I got rich. Well, she moved to Hawaii in 2001, so I guess that's out. I suppose I could give money to my family and make it so they don’t ever have to w ork again, but if I'm still working and I’m the one who won, they don't get to freeload off me. OK. I’m running out of dreams here. Maybe I should keep it simple. Rich people usually do-, natc a lot of money to charity, but there are SO many worthy charities I think I’d feel guilty if I gave to some and not to others, and that just wouldn't be right. Another thing rich people do, or so I’m told, is invest money in the stock market and make more money from that. It supposedly to stimulates the economy as well as your own bank account. Oh, wait, who’s president now? Ahh, that’s right. I changed my mind, the stock market is out. Wait, I’ve got it! I can pull a Mark Cuban (owner of the Dallas Mavericks and IU Bloomington alum). I’ll buy my very own sports team. Now THAT would be fun. Well, it seems as though besides owning my own team, my life wouldn't be much different if I had won $315 million. I guess I can stop worrying about it now. I feel much better, but it still would have been nice.

YOUR VOICE What changes would you like to see in the Black community in 2003?

Jeana Lewis John Hurst

Lisa Shoemake

; Leroy Lewis III

“I wish people would sup- “I would like to see some of the to do more with limited report each other more. When local sports celebrities interact sources." someone wants to do some- with high school and elementary — Leroy Lewis III thing positive, other people school students moreheeauseour want to criticize. Support each kids look up to them." “We need to stop being so other people!" — Shirl Williams mean and not show so much — Jeana Lewis attitude when dealing with “I would like to see the Black each other in a customer ser“Less Blaekon Black crime." community take pride by support- vice setting." — John Hurst ing Black-owned businesses and — Lisa Shoemake by empowering those who strive

Let's have early presidential elections By BILL FLETCHER JR. Bush administration that he was declaration that one is an “enforwarding them a copy of the emy combatant." No proof is Recently the Bush adminis- Venezuelan document. needed; no trial; no prisoner of tration expressed its support for It occurred to me that if the war status ... just go to jail and opposition forces in Venezuela Bush administration is so inter- vanish. We are witnessing imwho have called for early elec- csted in establishing the piece- migrants being locked up in a lions as a means of ousting the dent for early elections in viola- manner that calls to mind the democratically elected govern- tion pfa binding constitution, we internment camps used against ment of Hugo Chavez. in the United States should eon- Japanese Americans during Despite warnings by knowl- skier embracing the concept. World War II. edgeable observers that the Think about it for a moment... Finally, we have Iraq. The United States should stay out First there was the matter of United States proposes to go to of the internal affairs of Veil- the November 2000 elections, war against a sovereign country ezuela, the Bush administra- George Bush did not win — he that has made no credible threats tion has twice ignored such certainly lost the popular vote, against us. The Bush administraadviee and stumbled forw ard, and the Florida ballot count w as tion does this in violation of interThis past spring the Bush ad- completely tainted — yet he was national law and precedent, minist rat ion was virtually alone installed into office. On top of all of this, there is in the Western Hemisphere in Then came the proclamation grow ing popular opposition to recognizing the coup leaders that Africa was not on the radar Bush's war plans, as well as skepw ho temporarilv overthrew screen of this administration, de- tieism about bis ability to get the I’resident Chavez. When spite the crises aftlicting that ma- United Statesoutoftheeconomie Chavez regained power, the jor continent. Next came the U.S. morass in which it finds itself(and Bush administration mumbled pullout ot the Kyoto F.m ironmen- which w ill be exacerbated by a various words, but did not ac tal Accords and the complete dis- war w ith Iraq' 1 , eept any responsibilih for regard of international attempts So.porhapsthcBushadminisheightening the tensions in the to reduce fossil fuel emissions and tration is correct: There should country . limit global warming. be early elections, only held here This past fall the opposition This w as followed by the noto- in the United States rather than renew edits efforts to oust Trcsi nous and ill-advised Bush tax cut in Venezuela, dent Chavez bv first making a which benefited the wealthy and l somehow think that Presicall fora referendum; then early further limited resources for hu dent Bush will not see my point, elections; and now they wish man needs. forChavez tosimph stepdowtt When Sept. U. 2001. arrived. Hill /-Vefc/ier Jr. a long-fime The Bush administration has a very unpopul.u U.S. president Libor mou'iin nl.u ti\ isl. joined the chorus of Chavez's took advantage ol the situation i/cnf o/ 7'run.s.U'nea Forum, a opponents and called for early in order to push through inter- W ashington. -based nonelections, allegedly as a way of nal and external so called seen- profit cilucutionnl .uni org.ini/peaeefullv resolving the crisis, rity measures. As we are now ingivntorIbrnit'dtomist'.uuuvPresident Chavez has reminded discovering, tlrty so-called USA ness in the I'nitcil St.itcs .ibout President Bush that there are Patriot Act hatched by Prcsi issues fin ing t/ie nations and no provisions in the \ enezu dent Bush and Attorney Gen />eop/es ot .\thca. f/ie Caribbean clan Constitution foroarh elec eral.lohn Ashcroft canbeused am/ Litin .luieriea. lie inn he •ions. In order to elaritv this against any opponent.eitizenor reae/ied at point Chavez informed the non citizen, through the simple bfiefchct> fiuii'.itiicuforuni.org.