European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 20, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 10 th6 stars and stripes Friday March 20,1987 opinions offered on Black history month once again we have paused to celebrate Black his tory month and contemplate the contributions of americans whose pigmentation might be slightly Dif Ferent from that of yours but americans nonetheless. During the month of february everyone gets on the band Wagon to stress the events of America s forgotten children the mass Media bombard us with historical data and personal achievements constantly during this period. It s somewhat ironic that these important events escaped being captured in print and studied in Pur school systems As other noteworthy historical and scientific achievements were recorded for posterity. This i deem a travesty of the greatest magnitude. In today s society it is necessary for us All to interact with everyone to exist. No one group regardless of political persuasion or affluence within the Community should be Able to dictate policy Down to the less fortunate simply because they arc less fortunate. Is that what the democratic form of government is about government of the affluent it s time for this country to live up to its Creed of Equality and Justice for All under the Law. The military has a slogan today of be All that you can be and that takes total dedication and year round commitment from which an individual will derive Pride and a sense of accomplishment with that Ideal firmly entrenched in our minds and conscience then where is the Pride and sense of accomplishment from the individual who looks Forward to being proud of his ancestors accomplishments for Only 28 Days a year what happens for the remainder of the time do they slip Back into the obscurity from which they came it s the political ideologies like Black history month the actions of gov. Mecham of Arizona in reference to the King National Holiday and the renewed outbreaks of racism in Howard Beach . And for Syth county ga., that Force the nation to take two negative Steps backward for every positive step for Ward. Did the civil rights marches of the late 60s in Alabama teach us anything at All evidently not be cause we Are still marching today 20 years later in Georgia for the same purpose some 120 years Afler president Lincoln gave some americans what god had Given them at birth. It still has t been fully achieved in America today we need More positive programs like affirmative action health care and medicare for the aged and a system to provide More Federal jobs for american workers. If Congress can authorize a pay raise for it self surely some of Pur needs can be met or is the affluent system in action again we have come too far from where we have been to urn around and accept tokenism and handouts and that s How i View the february Celebration asap easement or pacifier it reminds me of How certain groups of people were Given 40 acres and a mule for All their diligent work and labor after the emancipation proclamation. Yes i am an american like you one of Many who compose this great nation of Ouw. We come from Many diversified backgrounds but we arc All still americans. As americans we should be concerned with interacting with our neighbor and our god on a daily Basic to ensure that America will be All that it can be and insure Liberty and Justice for All. A. Paul Dixon Valsera Fuitem when you hear the National Anthem do to up As a Black american or As an american jij5 Hap pens to be a Black your answer is crucial a pause if you put your race first before your Counas you arc promoting the same racist Altitude that tas Blacks have rallied against for so Long. Of i remember Selma ala., and i renumber How Blacks were treated in the 50s and 60ur remember How badly i fell not As a while Butoft human being to realize that my race that sort of treat ment of any race i so i was glad to the Riffil rights act of 1964, and the changes it Mandap. I Felt a sense of Pride that our Constitution to finally being upheld and that a terrible social i Jince was being rectified. Now we have Bladt history month and i hear again the speeches Martin Luther King or. Crying out his dream of a Rily free America for All Minori ties. But wait Hwai talking about All minorities was t he i Tab Gyhl i heard phrases like for nil americans and for All Coph Frind americans everywhere not just Black Arne plan. What happened to his do fam Dunck history month Sci is to promote Jay Mack interests. We hear commentators up cake or Lark Iridio networks Black Rock Chart Black promoting Busi Nesses Black Congress Blacks this Blacks that. You i Vic impression thai you want to Lake the gains and by he civil rights movement and wrap a Black Cost around it and Post a sign saying Blacks i Divalli Ludo in the eyes of so Many Young Blacks eyes with n look that says we re Oak in fed now and we re going to gel even or Wujs found our own culture now and you re not we Jmc in it s the kind of Altitude that says it s a Jofto Call a White Man but it s a racial slut Sci Call a Black Man a and How do you think the rest of America feels Lien your commentators speak of reducing Black on Black crime what does that mean you seem to be saying. Slop mugging your fellow Blacks go Mug a while Man or a Chicano or in How should we react when we hear now that an All Black University in Tennessee is refusing id integrate after All the fuss Blacks have made Over non integrated schools and then we hear Black congressmen and school officials condoning on Altitude and justifying it As promoting Black morale and Pride. Who Are the racists now. Many of the comments made this month on an have referred to fears of a rising tide of racism in America. Folks it s not racism per be although there arc still racists in America it s frustration and resentment Over your attitude. I work with Many races in the military and i Sel Dom notice or think about what race they belong to. I m proud of thai. So naturally i resent it when some one anyone flaunts their race in my face especially for a month at a time. I think Black history month should be renamed civil rights history month so that we can All share in your Pride in what the Black Community has achieved. Name withheld Brut mum Netherlands Young poets promote Good dental health february National children s health month is always an exciting time in the Neu Ulm Community. There were lots of activities for All Ages. The highlight of this year s activities was a poem contest in which students in grades two through six were asked to write a poem promoting Good dental health. First and second place winners were selected from three categories second Grade third and fourth grades and fifth and sixth grades. I have included a photograph of the winners with myself and Pic. Jim Allen As or. Sugar from left sixth grader Dernoll Pierce first place Winner fifth grader Nancy Meriwether second place Winner myself third grader Jam Bench first place Winner Allen Whir grader Tamisha Fleetwood second Pla Winner second grader Phillip Vogt of Jjck. Place Winner and second grader Jarles Cope second place other activities screening examine show for Kinder children Tours Natal classes slide present on the Effet included dental and a puppet in and elementary dental clinic pre expect and parents a in to High school students f tobacco on the Oral cavity and a Mot presentation to family child care providers. Kindergarten and first graders Drew posters that were Dis played the dental clinic. To take this Opportunity to express my Dpi nude to the stars and stripes for Allic articles carried during dental "1th month. It is through the Media it we in the dental profession can bet-1 promote dental awareness. You have provided an invaluable service to your readers. Or. Leander Lanter or. Dental fitness officer Neu Ulm Germany dental health winners at Neu Ulm. See letter at left far identities write says All assignments can be Good my military career Smarty off like this i was an average student attending Wrt John in i Tigh school in Charleston ., who Loo the military test As a joke. Then one afternoon 1 Ruif ived a Call from the Marine Recruiter who said i id join up. I thought about ill Niile and then a couple of Days inter. 1 received an ouf r civil this time it Vas the army Recruiter now i hour. Ami rust in line was i lie air Force. I a Asatry car Elj senior in High school with a Dougli do Cirion Vanake. The air Force Recruiter want me on a bus to for Packson february twi i was worn in on the air Force delayed Elst men program with a departure Dale for Basic Traunig in july 1981. After graduation from High school Iff june i was gelling a Little nervous and said to myself is this what i really want Basic training was a Challenge that i la never forget especially after finding out my Job in the military would be a Morse code operator. The i Dah Dit ditty became a problem for me and i was eliminated from the course. My Lail nine weeks in ground radio oper Ator class were mini Oili and i enjoyed it. 1 was really surprised to find thai my firm assign ment was not one that i Hail on my dream Sheet hut id make things Wise. Where is a Lessich Oldendorf a r Sui Ion f hat s Wilert my family decided to have a going Way part boy was that a smash. After being in Germany for two months breaking up with my Girlfriend and feeling lowly Acain i ii to myself do i really have to be Heil thank god. The answer was jes or 1 would not have seen Paris Berlin Belgium Denmark and the Netherlands. Two Jears in Germany was Long enough for me when i received my second non Volunteer assignment to an Drews fab my. I was Able to go Home and visit my family in Charleston and new York City. Our capital has so Many activities going on there was no Way you could be bored. Gelling married and living in Baltimore was a Challen especially driving bad and Forth. My wife was a senior a Morgjn Unive Niu v.h-,-n t received my third no i i Lunker assignment. My wife was Moie excited than 1 was about going to Torr Jun a Spilin. Ching Here Lor Only Weichl month urn the list three months visit Ingvor our car to Arrne we i a ouija. Metro Tjing Dosu Nown Madrid is fun and Usu Ling will k1 Unn heir this summer. If to Iii a Witkoe re planning to pm London us Bun and i Arii before we leave in june 1%9. Coming in the military open administration and gelling three non Volunteer ii Ign cams is bad Luck. If t we can manage to turn it around by praying and making the Best out of it. We All can. Hang in there. I a and Jay Davis Torr Jon a spurn
