Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 January 2004 — Page 6

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2004

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EDITORIAL When will they learn? By SHANNON WILLIAMS Recorder Editor

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When life doesn’t turn out as planned, when will people learn that the easy way out doesn’t work? When a person finds out that one actually has to put forth an effort to lead a productive life, why does any effort seem like an astronomical task? And when individuals are given the opportunity to better themselves, why do they opt to maintain in the minimal, lackluster way they’re accus-

tomed to?

The primary reason 1 ask the aforementioned questions is because I am so sick and tired of hearing about another young African American losing his life in a senseless fashion, mainly

as a result of selling drugs.

I truly don’t understand why people don’t realize the tremendously negative impact that this type of lifestyle has.

Realistically speaking, there are absolutely no positive long-term effects associated with selling drugs. Perhaps if I had to sum up the entire concept of Blacks selling drugs, I’d simply call it self-

destructive.

The reason I feel it’s so selfdestructive is because generally the drugs are being sold right in the inner city, w’hich of course is heavily populated by African Americans and other minorities. We’re hurting our own people for self-

gain.

I once held a conversation with an individual that distributed drugs. When I questioned this person as to why 'he chose to lead that type of life, a smile covered his face and he began to laugh. He smugly said, “I don’t go recruiting people to buy my stuff, they come to me. There’s nothing wrong with what I do. I’m just giving

them what they ask for, as a result, I live a very nice life.” It saddened me to hear those words come out of his mouth. It saddened me even more as I realized he actually believed what he was saying. He honestly thought that what he does has no negative impact on the future of our people. I fully understand that individuals who use drugs are wrong, but in my opinion, those who supply the drugs are just as bad. The questions I asked at the beginning of this editorial can also be applied to individuals who don’t want to take responsibility for their own lives; You know the individuals who are perfectly capable of working and providing for themselves, yet they’d rather live off of someone else or collect a check that taxpayers provide. This activity is also very destructive to the African-American community. We have to begin to set better examples for each other, particularly the children. If not. this disruptive behavior will just become a continuous cycle that plagues our community.

On to another subject.

The conviction of Lionel Tate, the then 12-year-old boy who killed his 6-year-old neighbor while imitating professional wrestling moves, was recently overturned by a Florida court. This ruling means that Tate will soon be released from prison, followed by a year of house arrest and then 10 years of proba-

tion.

Reports say that late, now 16. is extremely happy with the court's decision to reduce his life sentence.

“Were hurting

our

own

people for selfgain.”

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JUST TELLIN' IT A1 Sharpton s invisible campaign, city statesmanship and meeting Larry Bird

By AMOS BROWN III If the presidential election were held today, President George W. Bush would be a landslide loser in the Indianapolis rican-Ameri-can community. However, Democrats shouldn’t be exultant over that fact, because Blacks will be voting against Bush, not for any particular Democratic candidate. The nine Democratic presidential candidates haven’t excited African Americans like Jimmy Carter in 1976 or Bill Clinton in 1992. The two African Americans running for president, former Ambassador and U.S. Sen. Carol Mosley Braun and Rev. Al Sharpton have been major disappointments. Bluntly speaking, Braun’s campaign is a giant ego trip for the first African-American female senator who left office under an ethical cloud. Rev. Sharpton seemingly wants to emulate Rev. Jesse Jackson’s historic campaign of 20 years ago. In 1984, Jackson received millions of votes and garnered several hundred delegates which influenced Democratic Part)' policies, not just then, but for years afterwards. The 1984 campaign influenced a new generation of AfricanAmerican political leaders, many of whom are elected officials today. Many expected Sharpton now would be like Jackson then. Like Jackson, Sharpton is able to break down complex issues into terms people can understand. Like Jesse 20 years ago, young African Americans relate to Sharpton. He can excite and energize a group that traditional Black leadership keeps ignoring; at leadership’s future peril. Jesse had an unmatched network of contacts at all stratas of the Black community, from

coast to coast. Unfortunately, that, “The greatest challenge be- orities is bringing economic deSharpton hasn’t developed that fore all ofus taking the oath today velopment to the southern part of sort of extensive African-Ameri- is statesmanship.” Lawrence, along Pendleton Pike can network. And that’ll hurt him Mayor Peterson said the vot- and Franklin Road, in Indiana. ers “simply voted for whom they ***** This is the first week presiden- thought would do the best job for State Republicans continue *o tial candidates can file petitions, our city.” misrepresent employment statisof at least 10 registered voters in One who skipped the ceremony tics. A breathless GOP press reeach of Indiana’s nine congres- was Councilman Jim “ban hip- lease said the Indianapolis metro sional districts, to get on the May hop and Black music” Bradford, area had the “second w orst job primary ballot. The GOP Neanderthal should’ve loss” of any metro the past year. Though the process is easy, it been there to hear former council While the government’s monthly takes organization, work, volun- President Dr. Buert SerVaas ex- establishment survey reported teers, leadership, all of which plain what Republicans used to that the metro had lost 17,100 Sharpton lacks in Indiana and stand for. jobs from November 2002 to Indianapolis. • “Indianapolis was a dirt)'city,” November 2003, another goverrlTwenty years ago, Jesse SerVaas said, “There were no jobs ment survey of the labor force Jackson’s campaign had Bill or future for our young people, found that 2,000 more metro Crawford and Julia Carson as co- We knew-that we had to build a workers were employed during chairs and a strong network of new city.” the same period, volunteers. Jackson beat Walter Republican SerVaas explained State Republicans need to acMondale and Gary Hart in how he worked to build a new curately source their stats so their Marion County; taking 34 per- Indianapolis w ith past-Demo- stats credibility will stick, cent of the vote, the first time a cratic Mayors John Barton and ***** Black candidate ever won a Charles Boswell (who attended 1 neverreallyunderstoodHoocountywide election here. Jack- the inauguration) and past-Re- sier high school hoops hysteria son garnered several delegates publican mayors (who didn’t). until attending last Saturday's from Indianapolis, Lafayette and Conservative Councilman Challenge of Champions tourne) - Lake County. Scott Schneider didn’t get to hear sponsoredbytheCircleCityClasIn 1988, Jackson got 43 per- new council President Rozelle sic. Several thousand fans packed cent of the'vote against Michael Boyd explain that the new HinkleFieldhouse,includingPacDukakis, and copped more del- council’s goals will be providing ers President Donnie Walsh arfd egates. constituent service, effective and Larry Bird, to see Hoosier hoops Where are AlSharpton’sIndi- efficient government and inelu- phenom Greg Oden, ana and Indianapolis delegates? siveness. While there, I finally got to Who’s leading Sharpton’s efforts Two veteran politicos, SerVaas meet Bird, who was friendly and here? An engaged, active, orga- and Congresswoman Julia gracious. (He must not read this nized Sharpton campaign would Carson, were the epitome of column), energize African-American vot- statesmanship w'hen together I’m glad Bird finally got out ers in the primary’and carry over they swore in the new council, into our community, missing a to the general election. And statesmanship is what is re- Pacers/Celtics game to attend an This pundit w'on’t take Al quired to solve Indianapolis’ event sponsored by an AfricanSharpton seriously as a presiden- problems. American organization, tial candidate unless I see evi- Bradford, Schneider and the ***** dence that he’s disciplined and other head-in-the-sand Republi- Mike Freeman, a veteran Africommitted enough to take cans must end their childish tan- can-American sportswriter and America’s 16th largest African- trums and work with Demoeriits journalist, joins the Indianapolis American community seriously and responsible Republicans to Star as sports columnist, replacand campaigns actively here for build upon past progress and con- ing J. Jemal Horton. Freeman delegates and votes. tinue to make Indianapolis, in comes to Indy from 10 years at Dr. SerVaas’ words, "the glitter- the New York Times. The author What I’m hearing ing city on the prairie.” of tw o books on sports, Freeman in the streets ***** isthefirstAfrican-Americanjour-Dressed in their Sunday best, In a low key ceremony in nalistfromaprestigiousnewspalike kids on the first day of school, Indiana’s 17th largest city, his- per recruited by the Star. 22 of the 29 members of the new tory was made as Deborah See‘ya next week. City-CountyCouncil were sworn Cantwell took the oath as the * | in Thursday, along with Mayor first Democratic mayor of Amos Brown’s opinions are Bart Peterson. Lawrence. Mayor Cantwell was not necessarily those of The Though Democrats celebrated joinedby three new Democratic Indianapolis Recorder. You their council majority, Mayor Lawrence councilwomen, an- can contact him at (317)221-0915 Bart Peterson told those at the other first. or e-mail him at swearing-in at the State Museum One of Mayor Cantwell’s pri- AC BROWN @ AOL.COM.

Dissenting opinions on same sex marriages

By GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA

Not surprisingly, I received a torrent of mail about a column I wrote a

you expect those millions to meekly acquiesce to your demands for silence and shame?” - William F. Tulloch “You obviously w-ere not lynched, and now you would not be killed for whistling at a white woman. You never lived that type of oppression that the African

by us Blacks when we encounter OV er 24 years. As an out Black lesdiscrimination and racism? Be- bian couple, we have raised two ing homosexual is often a bio- great, straight adult children. Our logical trait, not a chosen behav- children are highly successful and ior. Please get that!^ (bey have given us five wonderful - lya I a Shia Asaqti grandchildren. We have instilled in our children great sense of the “You say that it irks you that Black and Igbtq&i communities, gays have the audacity to use the profound beliefs and good work civil rights movement as a model ethics.”

month ago slaves lived. I, on the other hand, for our civil rights, that you had expressing am still living in thegay Jim Crow no choice in being Black. Well

• Chery l Robinson

mixed feel- era, and you are the one posting a ings about same sex marriages. 'Straight Only’sign... Many of the responses were “Many of us hide all the things part of a national letter-writing that happen to us to protect our campaign organized by the Los family members from shame. Angeles-based Gay & Lesbian Families have lost members due Alliance Against Defamation, to suicide because they couldn’t Of course, that doesn’t make be who they were without leavtheiropinionsanvlessvalidand ing-town. Many gay sons are I’ve decided to use this space to beaten by fathers and put in the share excerpts from their e- streets. Mothers disown their mails and letters. daughters. We are chased and “Like most gay people, I am beaten, physically and emotionable to comprehend, ifnot agree ally by school bullies and reliwith, the trouble many religious gious nuts.” people have with homosexual- - E. Swinney

ity, and the movement in this

country to legally recognize our “I don’t think that any struggle relationships. After all, I was can be fairly compared against raised in the Catholic Church, another, as each person isdiff'erwhere I was taught how vulgar, ent. However, I think a degree of how immoral, how disgusting, respect is necessary if equality is how repellant gay and lesbian ever to he achieved. Maybe the people were. Imagine my sur- gay rights movement cannot he prise, my disgust, my shame compared to the Black rights when I realized that I was one of movement hut there is one comthose people. mon threat - we are all human. "...You hold our sex lives to All humans deserve equality.” be immoral, which means that - J. Terrell

you hold our love lives, our rela-

tionships, to be immoral. You “I, as a same gender loving are fine if we keep that moral ity Black woman, agree with you, under wraps, in the privacy of there is no comparing the civil our own homes. You just don’t rights movement to the gay movewant to hear about it, you don’t ment. There are challenges white want to see it, and you sure as gays and lesbians will never face hell don’t want your govern- and have never had to face. The ment orehurehes recognizing it challenges are totally different, as something positive, or at least But different is not necessarily neutral...What are we to do? I )o less. Who am I or who is any ofus you really expect millions of to say that the pain of diserimipeople in thiscountry to remain nation and rejection based on a silent about our lives, simply natural tendency within oneself because you are offended? Do is any less painful than that faced

sorry to bust your bubble, I had “Just as I’m sure you didn’t no choice in being Black or being wa ke up one day and decide you gay. How can you tell 10 percent were going to be heterosexuals, of the population that they chose m()St 0 f us homosexuals did not to be something that obviously is W ake up and decide to be homonot accepted by the masses? Who sexual. You must be how God in their right mind would want madeyou. As a Black homosexual that type of ridicule? A masoch- man who God, in all his infinite ist maybe, but not me and a host glory and wisdom made, hedidn’t of others. . make me to be less. He made me - Richard Kirkwood g a y and he blessed me this way.”

- Minister Hank Millbourne “I am an out Black lesbian, who

has been active in the lesbian/gay/ George E. Corn is editor-in-bisexual/transgendcr/queer/ chief of the NNPA News Seniee intrasex (Ightq&i), the Black com- atu ] Bhu kPressUSA.com. His munitics, community economic most recent book is The Best of development and grassroot poli- Emerge Magazine, an anthology tics for over 40 years. I am an out published by Ballantine Books. Black lesbian in a committed rela- // ( . can he reached through his tion with another Black lesbian for Web site, georgecurn .com.