European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday november 12. 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 5magic s tragedy shatters silence Lack clergy speak out on aids Impact by Sam Fulwood 111 los Angeles times Washington a Black ministers Long criticized for their reluctance to talk frankly about aids and its devastating Impact on Black communities broke their relative silence sunday in the Wake of magic Johnson s stunning disclosure that he has contracted the aids virus. In churches across the nation they searched the scriptures for the right words to discuss such morally sensitive issues As Black sexuality homosexuality and drug abuse that must be addressed in any discussion of aids. For Black preachers Many of whom have been unwilling to bring talk of sex into their sanctuaries and perhaps had never mentioned aids from their pulpits Johnson a announcement heightened a dilemma How to help educate and protect their congregations against aids without seeming to condone such risky behaviour As drug use and promiscuous sex. A this is something we done to talk about in Church a the Rev. Philip r. Cousin or. Of Campbell african methodist episcopal Church told about 150 parishioners gathered for an Early morning service in Washington. A this is so difficult. I suppose it takes a National figure to make us Deal with  indeed sunday was the first Opportunity for Black preachers to address the subject since Johnson widely known and admired for his basketball talents and charitable deeds announced thursday that he would retire from the los Angeles lakers because of his infection with the aids virus. A i Don t see How any minister could preach on sunday without in some Way referring to that event a said the Rev. Zan Holmes of the St. Luke Community methodist Church Ujj a Houston referring to Johnson s announcement. Quot this could be the spark that will bring magic Johnson has gone from saving games to saving  Rev. Jesse Jackson talk publicly about his infection and to help educate others about the deadly disease. Activists involved with aids a support and education programs have Long been critical of the silence from Black pulpits contending that Black religious leaders have been too slow to offer Comfort to Black aids sufferers. Moreover they have said Black clergy fear Frank discussions of homosexuality premarital sex and other forms of promiscuous behaviour associated with aids even As the disease spreads rapidly through minority communities a and through their own congregations. Although Black people constitute 12 percent of the population. 28 percent of diagnosed cases of aids occur among Blacks according to the Federal centers for disease control in Atlanta. In their disparate ways of handling Johnson s announcement sunday some ministers of Ergo silent and spoken prayers for Johnson and his family. Many Sug that Fai Unity among the african american churches and Wake people up to the dangers of  in Detroit the Rev. Jesse Jackson told 550 churchgoers at Hartford memorial Baptist Church that word of Johnson a affliction a was like a Hole had been shot through our souls. Magic Johnson has gone from saving games to saving lives a he said of Johnson s decision to Faith in god would produce a cure in time to save the Star from the deadly disease. Others used the occasion to reaffirm that adherence to the Bible s teachings is the safest Protection against aids. The Rev. Holsey Hickman an assistant pastor at the St. John missionary Baptist Church in Dallas devoted his Servon a a a hero who never fails a to Johnson a announcement. The Sermon suggested that Johnson was a Media created hero who unlike Jesus let his followers Down by falling prey to earthly  guard interdict Boatload of haitians Miami up a Boatload of 175 haitians was picked up by the coast guard on sunday officials said. That brings the total of haitian Asylum seekers floating in limbo in the Atlantic Ocean to 444, the coast guard said. The 40-foot sailing vessel was spotted off the North coast of Haiti on saturday by a coast guard c-i30 aircraft. A coast guard Cutter dispatched to the scene picked up the haitians. N thl stars and stripes a they Are All aboard the coast guard Cutter Confidence. As far As i know there Arentt any medical problems a Petty officer Veronica Cady said. The 444 refugees Are being cared for aboard the cutters Confidence steadfast and Dallas As they Drift North of Haiti. The new exodus of haitians from their Homeland comes in the Wake of a bloody coup in that country sept. 30, which resulted in the ouster of democratically elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide. The United states has been reluctant to return haitians who have been interdicted at sea the last two weeks fearing they would be persecuted if they were sent Back. The first haitians interdicted after the coup were stopped two weeks ago. Of the 19 aboard the sailing vessel 14 reportedly were declared As potential candidates for political Asylum. Officials Are also concerned that returning the refugees would result in a de Facto recognition of the new regime something the United states is not willing to do. On the other hand the state department and the immigration and naturalization service fear that if they allow the haitians into the United states it would encourage thousands More to make the trip.10 years ago nov. 12,1981 a budget director David Stockman said in a Washington Post interview that he plans to attack the a blatant inefficiency Quot and a contracting idiocy Quot of president Reagan a most sacred cow a the Pentagon a for a savings of up to $30 billion. Overpopulation has tarnished living in Golden state californians say 20 year Sago nov. 12,1971 a egyptian president Anwar Sadat threatened to break off diplomatic contacts on the Mideast confrontation unless Israel pledges to withdraw completely from former Arab land. 30 years ago nov. 12,1961 a the City of Stalingrad famous for its world War ii resistance to Hitler s forces was stripped of its historic name and rechristened Volgograd in the Wake of soviet Premier Nikita s. Khrushchev a Public denunciation of the late dictator Josef Stalin. 40 years ago nov. 12,1951 a president Truman in a u n. Speech called on the soviet Union to join in a a foolproof Quot system of reducing the world s staggering Burden of armaments including the atom bomb. If the Kremlin refuses peace through disarmament the West will get peace through a mighty building of military forces he said. By United press International Only half of californians believe their state is one of the Best places to live Down from 78 percent six years ago according to a Survey published monday. The poll done for time Magazine also shows 66 percent of californians believe there has been too much population growth in their communities. The Survey is part of a special Issue a California the endangered  in an interview for the Issue gov. Pete Wilson said he favors limiting benefits to newcomers to Cut Down on the number of people who move to the Golden state. A when i make this comment people immediately will say you re anti poor  i la be accused of racism a the Republican governor said. A the fact of the matter is californians arc having to pay a disproportionate share of the National Burden for supporting the  Wilson in the interview noted that courts have prohibited states from establishing waiting periods for new residents to receive Public assistance. A i happen to think those cases arc wrong Quot Wilson said. A it seems to me that at the very least there should be a period in which new residents do not receive the benefits that the state provides. People have talked about a three year waiting period. Otherwise you have a situation in which you arc risking the health of your economic  the Survey of californians found that Only 51 percent consider their state one of the Best places to live Down from 78 percent in 1985. The Survey also found that californians perceive themselves As More trendy73 percent health conscious 66 percent and Money oriented 62 percent than people who live in other states. Those polled did not believe however that they Are More old fashioned 3 per Cen god fearing 9 percent or family oriented ii percent than other americans. The poll of 1,012 californians was taken for time by the Field Institute. It also revealed that 70 percent of californians own a Telephone answering machine 34 percent have an exercise machine and 30 percent have earthquake insurance. But contrary to popular stereotypes Only 19 percent of californians said they own a surfboard Only 18 percent have a hot tub or spa and 9 percent drive a convertible. However 66 percent of California men say they hardly Ever Wear a tie. Noting the problems California laces Wilson told the Magazine Quot this is a Rich stale by any number of indexes. But As with a Rich country there Are practical limits to what you can do. There arc also political limits to what people Are willing to assume in the Way of  rockers beat a Retreat Over drum dispute Augusta a. A fans who came to hear the Atlanta rhythm Section and the Marshall Tucker band on sunday instead saw a Battle of the bands. An argument Between the groups reportedly Over How their equipment was set up sent members of the rhythm Section storming offstage and left hundreds of fans in an outdoor Amphitheater clamouring for refunds. Quot we had a near riot on our hands Quot said Augusta police sgt. Russ Landrum. A they were raising hell wanting their Money  Teresa Crawford a representative Lor the rhythm Section said the Atlanta group was unable to set up its Drums for the first show because the Marshall Tucker band already had Pul its equipment on stage. Even when promoter Tom Johnson intervened Marshall Tucker members refused to make Way on stage Crawford said. A we did everything we could trying to be real cooperative Quot she said. A your drummer even said Well can we play their drums1 and they said a absolutely  a i after 31 minutes til unsuccessful negotiations the rhythm Section gave up and headed Back to Atlanta she said. The Marshall Tucker band finally did perform. Doug Gray the hands Lead Singer told the crowd of about 500 that he did t know Why the Atlanta band left. Johnson the promoter did t return phone Calls