European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Be our guest Page 2army�?Ts big Green family not exactly mixing colors Well Donald Sparks guest columnist the United states army. No question our army has been a life preserver for Many lives. The Opportunity to escape a jobless society and receive a steady income. The Opportunity to overcome barriers that have a habit of blocking people because of race arid Creed. The army the Best equal Opportunity employ or in the country. One a big Green melting pot blended with various races to make it what i Call the one big Green Happy family. All that however is on the surface. In late August Arthur Fletcher chairman of the civil rights commission made a visit to several military installations Here in Germany. At the conclusion of his visit at which he spoke to Many civilians and military personnel and discussed their complaints and grievances it was to his judgement that racism and discrimination exist in the military. Not even 24 hours after his reports to the president Anh the Media a wildfire spread through Many of the chains of command in Europe.  Many generals and commanders these comments by Fletcher were considered ludicrous untrue and intolerable. All of a sudden the race Issue was in the spotlight. These High ranking commanders stood on the defensive and countered Back to Fletcher s findings. A not in my unit. We have a great equal Opportunity program to assist any racial complaints. There Haven t been any files of discrimination across my desk and i assure you if so something would have been done about  the hardliners of our great military bureaucratic political system used the occasion to Challenge Fletcher and denounce his conjecture of racist findings. The Public reaction of soldiers and civilians poured into the stars and stripes. Some opposed and some agreed with Fletcher. In several letters Fletcher himself was accused of being a racist. He was accused of being a troublemaker and starting an internal conflict of our one big Green Happy family. As for the people who wrote and supported Fletcher 1 wondered Why had t these incidents and feelings of discrimination and racism been reported and brought to Light earlier in t this Why our complaint procedures were established still i knew Why these cries for Justice had t been voiced. 1 knew exactly Why. It goes Back to the history of Black America which is filled with lynchings slavery and violence. My races history reflects a passive state of mind and reaction to those racial assaults. That history reflects a forgiving heart Given to the snap of the whip the snarl of the bitter Tongue and the loathe of a society that did not want our presence. That a Why i know Why the complaints weren to loud enough and never registered. Racism will exist today and tomorrow. No change. Only How we Deal with it will change. One must look at another a upbringing. If an individual was raised in a society that created harriers to his race he knows racism and . If an individual was raised in a society with exposure to one s race he is not aware that there is another society existing As Well. Our country was built upon the Ideal that All men Are a scaled equal. But this is nothing More than a fallacy to millions of americans. In essence that same melting pot is pouring its Mold into the military. Yes. Discrimination does exist in the army. Marhc not on a wide scale hut to a decisive degree. A racism is a sensitive subject in the military. When there is no respect to ones race w Hether its Black White or hispanic tempers flare. Racism exists in several forms. There is the individual brought up racist. He is taught to believe he is Superior Over other races. There is the racist who practices out of fear. There is the Money racist. He has Power and authority from either rank or position. And get this ail arc sworn into the army Here a what in a getting at racism docs exist in the military. Our Mih tary is nothing More than a Small breakdown of our existing racial society. Not everyone encounters racism on the surface. Not everyone exhibits racist tactics Eye to Eye. Yet it s there and racism can Hurt and destroy even the mightiest commands. Racism can de St Rev our military. Until the phrase a a minority a Dies there can be no Progress on our racial condition in America. When we Are All considered american and All is the majority of the melting pot we can make a new Mold to pour into our society and military. Isnit that what the one big Green Happy family is supposed to he Donald spa is a stationed in Pir Masens German Send in your column plus a photo of yourself to be our guest sunday Magazine the stars and stripes Apo 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37, d-6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany. Abc Pearl Harbor remembered on tube. Page 15. It omits from the cover .4-6 Arthur Fletcher Anil the Issue of race. Andy Rooney. 7 he nose the beak books and language.8-9 magic Johnson to work on autobiography. Odds amp ends .10 Cindy Chambers on the nun c. To plus.11 i step with Unger Rogers. Television listings 12-14 local Cable and satellite schedules on the air .5 Dame Edna hits America. Home entertainment .16 "fx2 Quot a fast moving Sei Uel. Joe Bob Briggs .17 i or nov a a . In Quot class of 1w Quot this weeks films .18-19 Hack Vinch stars for a an american Tail. A Complete a alls circuit listings. Classified ads .20-23 last laugh .24 Ihne Harry groggy during to  is a weekly supplement of the stars and stripes. Editor Bucky Fox Art direction Susan p. Harris production Kelly Quinn editorial assistance Marian Hamilton Louis Pierce a sunday december 1. 1991