European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Time to act affirmatively on forgetting skin color Drussell b. Jones civil rights. Affirmative action. Equal Opportunity. Discrimination. These Are just a few of the Buzz words frequently used by Many Black leaders. They believe that demonstrating for civil rights and equal Opportunity on the one hand and protesting against discrimination on the other hand will increase race consciousness and focus More attention on the conditions in Black America. I submit that both Black and White America should move away from race consciousness and toward individualism in the sense of viewing each person on an individual basis rather than As a member of a group. We can achieve this individualism by removing All vestiges of race consciousness from our Laws and by emphasizing Justice and equal Protection in the application of the rest of our Laws that do not relate to race. A let upon a time in America Blacks had to confront Laws that were enacted to deny them their full benefits As american citizens. Before the civil War most Blacks free As Well As slave were even denied american citizenship. During the Long period of legalized segregation that followed Laws prohibited Blacks from voting from going to certain schools and from living in certain areas among Many other things. Now we have Laws that require companies to hire a certain number of Blacks colleges to admit a certain number of Blacks and the Federal government to spend a certain amount of its funds on Black businesses. These Laws were enacted to give Blacks a fair Chance to compete in american society. The underlying belief of these Laws is that Blacks As a whole Are disadvantaged and that we need these Laws to make the playing Field More level. Well Many of the Blacks who lived in segregation Felt that removing the restrictions placed on them by the segregationist Laws was All that was required to achieve Success. They did not want to receive special treatment because they were Black they Felt that they were As Good As the next person and removing the Yoke of the segregationist taws would enable them to achieve even More Success than some had already achieved in Spile of segregation. The sword of the segregationist Laws was injustice in the courts. Blacks who attempted to live in certain areas where they were not supposed to or who attempted to get jobs they were not supposed to have or to go to schools they were not supposed to attend or who in general did not act in a subservient manner were intimidated to the Point of death. Few of the perpetrators of this violence Ever went to court and those who did were usually found innocent in spite of overwhelming evidence. The courts in those Days could have removed a tremendous amount of racial animosity despair on the part of Blacks and desire to intimidate on the part of whiles if they had done their jobs and dispensed Justice on a color free basis. Likewise today our judicial system must dispense Justice on a color free basis holding individuals accountable whether they Are Black or White for intimidating others whether they Are Black or White. A Good example of removing race consciousness from Laws with outstanding results is the integration of the . Military. When president Truman issued executive order 9981 in july 1948, America was still firmly in the grasp of segregation and the military reflected the views and customs of the larger society. Nevertheless Truman pushed ahead with Complete integration where specialities and promotions would be awarded on a color free basis. In spite of entrenched pro segregation attitudes on the part of Many in and around the military integration succeeded. Retired air Force it. Gen. Benjamin o. Davis jr., in his autobiography american makes this assessment of the air Force s move to integration Quot Black personnel began to serve in previously White units in their military specialities or to attend technical schools in specialities that in some cases had previously been reserved for Whites. All air Force jobs and schools had been immediately open to All qualified people without restriction or quotas perhaps most significant of All enlisted men were far More witling to accept the integration than senior generals had believed and the integration of Blacks and Whites at work in school and in living quarters did not present the insurmountable difficulties that had been  i am an american. I done to desire to be singled out because of my color whether it is for favourable or negative treatment. My Success should depend on my individual efforts to succeed in the face of adversity. America has made tremendous Progress in this area but we As a country Are still held Back by our preoccupation with race. In a for removing the words a a Blacks and a White a along with their variations from our municipal state and Federal governments vocabularies. Capt. Russoll b. Jonah the stationed at in Trlik a Turkey 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,  laugh / / i \ Haramija Koprivica Croatia. In a a  tramp Syndi it j contents from the cover .4-7 current lifestyle in the Barracks sidelights.9 Cindy Chambers opens Volunteer week. Odds amp ends. 10 Erma Bombeck works hard to defend americans. In tune.11 warming up to summer movies. This weeks films.12-13 Emch Quot White men can v jump Quot lacks lift. Cafes circuit listings. Television listings .14-16 local Cable and satellite schedules. Home entertainment 17 a a the last boy scout Quot first in violence. On Parade .18 where the Elvis Bucks Mil. Voices .21 the truth about lies. Words and wit.24 i on Konheiser offers Short Spiel on skirts books .25 what to read from the Polton a is Cue the Cosby show .27 a hcs shot ticket cools off for i it it it gtd Iasi laugh .28 live furry fills the u civil tit i Hei Kloct at Rill Cosby a show saying goodbye. Page 27. Sunday is a week y supplement of the stars and striped editor husky Fox Art direction Peter Jasgur production Susic Stonumn editorial assistance Manan 1 Lamiti it i 1 Amis Pierce sunday Ai r l