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— ' PINION Looters aren't avenging Rodney King By John Welsh Staff Writer Los Angeles looked like a set from a James Cameron movie. But this is not Terminator 2." This is not the future. This is 1992 and it is reality. Horrific and true. The pictures shown on our TV sets relayed an ugh/ message. People got upset and they tried to find justice any way they knew how. Following the jury's decision regarding the Rodney King trial, racial unrest spread across America like a disease. At die onset, nothing could stop the contagious outbreak. Police were forced to retreat. There was no listening to reason. Peace, love and understanding don't work when a man is beaten and his attackers are allowed to walk free. No.peopledidn'twantpeace.Justiceis the only remedy. And justice in Los Angeles and other US. dties equaled destruction. However, the people who are truly upset about the jury's decision in the Rodney King trial are not looting a Los Angeles FedCo. The true Rodney King avengers are not arsonists. They are mad as hell, but they're not using their anger to smash open a storefront window in Koreatown. They are not shooting an innocent man in downtown Fresno's Fulton Mall. They are not pulling people out of their cars to beat the life out of them. The people who are truly upset about the acquittal of the four officers charged with illegally beating Rodney King are depressed. They are ashamed. They know destruction is not the key. I asked a friend why the police officers were acquitted. His answer to me was: Thafs the reason LA. became a riot zone." I'm still questioning how these police officers were acquitted. How could any jury tell the world these men were innocent? Weall saw George Holiday's videotape of the March 3,1991 Rodney King beating. We saw a man, down on the ground, constantly being hit time and again. For 81 seconds we witnessed a man who was hammered with batons whilea handful of other officers looked on. I don't know what, if anything, Rodney King said to those officers that March night, but he never deserved the treatment he was given. In a sense, Rodney King may be looked upon as a martyr. He was pounded physically. Now he is suffering emotional blows. People are chanting his name as a rallying cry. Subconsciously, Rodney King may feel responsible for the destruction and deaths in L. A. Saturday afternoon he pleaded to the city. In a voice clearly shaken up by the chaos surround ing him, he called for people to just get along. In 1965, two years before I was bom in Lynwood, the Watts Riots went down. That was long ago, in a time when atti tudes were ignorant. A time when people thought someone's skin color determined how academic they can be. When former CSUF student John Stanfidd III, no w a professor at William k Mary, came to his alma mater for a lecture during African People History Month, I asked him if he thought racism was still as Erevalent as it was in the 1960s. I asked im if racism just hides itself better today. Stanfidd said "yes." We are still living inan age when people use the word "rugger," one of the ugliest words ever muttered. We still live in a world when people are called beaner, or whitey or nipper. We have not come a long way. Four white police officers, men of law, men who we trust, men who are there To Protect and To Serve," beat an African American man and they got away with it. This doesn't show growth. As Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley said on television and radio one week ago, after the jury made its decision: Today this jury told the world that what we all saw with our own eyes wasn't a crime. Today that jury asked us to accept the senseless and brutal beating of a helpless man." I only saw black and white tapes of the Watts Riots. Last week's scenes from LA. are pictures I never imagined happening again. These are the scenes from other countries, where governments force people into a frenzy. This isn't America, I told myself. This just doesn't happen in our country. But it was America. We have not grown. Welcome to the US.A.: Red, white, black and blue. Horrific and true. SB$ST Graduating from college: Not what it used to be I'm ready to leave this place, but I don't want to. I want to leave this place, but I'm not ready. In less than a month I will be receiving my diploma and headingofftostart my "real life." I started thinking about what the graduation ceremony will be like and howl will feel sitting there :' n the middle of Seuand Arena waiting for the name of the School of Arts and Humanities to be called so I can stand up and be recognized with the rest of the hundreds of students. One of the crowd, once again. What ever happened to walking up on stage and shaking hands with someone important as they hand you your diploma? When I graduated from high school, that was an important By Laura Rasmussen StaffWriter moment to parents. Each proud parent would rush up to the stage when thdr son or daughters name was called and snap a photo. •Smile" (click). Now my mom will be lucky if she can even be able to spot me in the crowd. Get out the telcphoto lens for this graduation. I received the commencement instructions (the blu e fryer) with everything the would-be graduate needs to know. My favorite part of the instruction sheet is where it explains how to sit by a particular individual Do I stand next to the person I want to sit by or do I sit next to the person I want to standby? Decorum, die flyer reads: No signs, no fireworks, no bottles, no beach balls, no cans, no drugs, no alcohol and absolutely, positively no FUN. Get your degree and get out Nice knowing you. Good luck finding a job. The concession stand will be open though, but they won't be selling signs, fireworks, bcachballs, cans, drugs or alcohol. What else is there? We are graduating in the worst of times. Ifs die worst job market in decades. It used to be that a college graduate could actually find work; now there's only uncertainty for most of us. We are graduating in the worst of times. "Due to the tremendous cost of printing the programs," the comrnencernent instuctions read, "we cannot supply every guest with a program. Please take only one program per family." We're even getting gyped on the program allowance. I bet they used to get as many as they wanted. In years past they probably had programs coming out thdr ears. Program again. President's Parry: "When an students and faculty are sea ted,the President's party will enter. It is appropriate to stand for the President's party." Excuse me if I remain seated. When will justice come? Rodney King. Black people. White police. Justice. Words on the tips of tongues and in the hearts of many people this past weekend, the days after the acquittal of four LAPD police officers in the beating of Rodney King. Where is the next stop? And whose system of justice are we talking about? A civil case against each of the four officers will be raised by LA motorist King's attorney. President Bush announced that a federal grand jury had begun its investigation to determine whether the beating of King violated King's civil rights. And the people are taking to the streets. Many, too, are staying at home and expressing their fears within thdr families or with relatives on the phone. The worries and outrage are the result of the looting, but moreover, they are a direct response to a national government ana social system that has been sick for decades. The people are picking up microphones and burning American flags to express theirdismay. Some are stealing from businesses. One By Christopher Heredia StaffWriter local radio commentator on Friday said the acts involving violence were a political statement. Kehinde Solwazi, a professor of African American studies at Fresno City College disagreed a bit. While he said he didn't blame the people for becoming violent, he said change will come more quickly through peaceful organization. If King's lawyer even wins money in a civil case against the four officers, what good will that do King or communities of color across the country who are on fire over the way the cops deal with them? We're talking police brutality. It's bigger than Rodney King. Police violence is not a vision someone has after tokingon a joint. It's reality for communities of color. The intimidation put out by cops on people of color can never be washed away with flowing cash. Thedaily remindersare there and for any progress to be had, whites are going to have to try to understand where people of color are coming from. Instead of throwing out the line that people of color are fantasizing about racism, whites need to consider the argumentofpeopleof color. If you listen, if you go to the homes and the ndghborhoods of these people you will know what is up. Roll your windowsdown, hang out. Step out of your automobile and mix with the people. Move in? (Naw.) Then you will seeinjustice. The lump of justice feels good in the throats of people regardless of race. But I don't think in this case, money is going to bring about that righteous lump. It's going to take reform. Reform at all levels of government. The US. constitution was not written with people of color or women in mind. Further la ws haveeven been added to state constitutions and local government charters to protect white power in this country. How dse do you think people are going to judge the systems tha t exist—me police, the courts, businesses, induding the media? Is it time to turn the tables of justice? Some have said the time is ripe for revolution. It's your call. By tipping over structures and burning do wn buildings, people in LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Omaha, Atlanta, Florida, Wisconsin and New York are showing thdr lack of faith in the system. By singing and hollering in the Free Saa Justice, paga 9 I^^IGft^ HilH-p fO,C*U,rnmnHfnmn».C*mm) Mm: tn Editor in Chief Sports Editor , Kate Henry John Welsh Managing Editor Advertising Manager Eric Coyne _ David Wellenkamp Arts & Entertainment Editor Advertising Production Laura Rasmussen Christina Griffin Copy Editor Photography Dee Erway Marc Matteo Steve Skibbie Graphics Editor Craig Moyle Production Staff Jenny Hamilton Photo Editor Shiranee Murugason Jesse Chenault Sonny Starks Christie Sundberg Production Editor Renee Torres Staff umters Students of Journalism Opinion Editor 100,110 &188 Susan Goad Insight welcomes all letters, comments and corrections. Insickt reserves the right to condense letters to the Editor for any reason. Anonymous letters to the Editor will not be considered. Post-Earth Day tips to live by By Aimee L Fisher Staff Writer day actions students can take. Since much of the pollution here in the San Joaquin Valley comes from farming, many of these suggestions relate to growing fbodVBe- __-f lieve it or not, many of these ideas came from my Plant Srience 105 class. They do teach this stuff in "Go to a farmer's market and introduce yourself to a farmer. Ask him or her how they grow their produce/' These days, when thinking of learn to appreciate natural re- college! the"simple life," images of sources. • Go to a fanner's market and Porsches, remote control stereos IcanremembermanySaturdays introduceyourselftoa fanner.Ask and having enough money for a when, as I sat bored out of my him or her how they grow their bqaSor munchie-run to 7-Eleven gourd watching television, I produce. Do they use a lot of come to mind. wished, hoped, even prayed (and chemicals? Are they organic (no With Earth Week just past, it's ^^^^^^^^^^^_^_^^^^^^^^^^^^^^__ time to reconsider what the simple life really is. While Earth Wcekdidn't reveal new or shocking examples of how humans are destroying Earth, it did bring it to the forefront of thinking. ^^^^^^^^^^^^_^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As I thought abou t overflowing —^——————————————————— landfills, the destruction of I'm not very religious) that some- synthetic chemicals used — only rainforests, depleted ozone and one would call with something re- those made from other plants are increasingly toxic water supply, I ally fun and exciting to do. allowed) growers? wondered how I, as one single per- As I thought about Earth Week, • Take a trip to the grocery son, could change or reform my I thought about those Saturdays store and check out what locally behavior tobettertheenvironment. and of things I could have been grown organic produce is offered. Ifs one thing to petition gov- doing to appreciate the planet and It may cost a bit more, but that is eminent to stop deforestation, revert to a truly "simply life," de- because demand is not as strong. Manystudentsdon'thavethetime void of chemicals, passive enter- You, your friends and your family or energy to circulate petitions or tainment and trash, for at least the can increase the demand for or- protest anti-environment policies, day. ganic foods and, consequently, But many students have time to Here's my list of simple, lazy- tower the price. • Grow some of your own food. Spend a Saturday planting some tomatoes in a pot. This will give you an idea of what it takes to produce food and you'll appreciate what organic farmers are trying to do. • Recycle. This is a must! We've all seen the horrible pictures of our overflowing landfills on the 6 o'clock news. Even if you don't have time to takeyourcans,bottles and newspapers to a recycling center to get a little money in return, ask your landlord to get a eoupleoftheCityofFresno'sgreen and brown curb recycling containers. • Learn to appreciate birds and bugs. Just go outside and watch them, wherever you are. Many insects are beneficial to humans in some way or another. Instead of killing the ladybug you might find in your kitchen (as my grandmother suggests), catch it and take it back outside. While these are just a few suggestions, there is much more we can do on an individual basis. Much of the work done so far was started by individuals. Lef s all do our part. Multaegentes, una terra. Many People, one Earth. '
Object Description
Title | 1992_05 Insight May 1992 |
Alternative Title | Insight (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Dept. of Journalism, California State University, Fresno. |
Publication Date | 1992 |
Description | Weekly during the school year. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 8, 1969)-v. 29, no. 23 (May 13, 1998). Ceased with May 13, 1998, issue. Title from masthead. Merged with Daily collegian. |
Subject | California State University, Fresno Periodicals |
Contributors | California State University, Fresno Dept. of Journalism |
Coverage | October 8, 1969 – May 13, 1998 |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35mm |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 “E-image data” |
Language | eng |
Description
Title | Insight May 6 1992 p 2 |
Alternative Title | Insight (California State University, Fresno) |
Publication Date | 1992 |
Full-Text-Search | — ' PINION Looters aren't avenging Rodney King By John Welsh Staff Writer Los Angeles looked like a set from a James Cameron movie. But this is not Terminator 2." This is not the future. This is 1992 and it is reality. Horrific and true. The pictures shown on our TV sets relayed an ugh/ message. People got upset and they tried to find justice any way they knew how. Following the jury's decision regarding the Rodney King trial, racial unrest spread across America like a disease. At die onset, nothing could stop the contagious outbreak. Police were forced to retreat. There was no listening to reason. Peace, love and understanding don't work when a man is beaten and his attackers are allowed to walk free. No.peopledidn'twantpeace.Justiceis the only remedy. And justice in Los Angeles and other US. dties equaled destruction. However, the people who are truly upset about the jury's decision in the Rodney King trial are not looting a Los Angeles FedCo. The true Rodney King avengers are not arsonists. They are mad as hell, but they're not using their anger to smash open a storefront window in Koreatown. They are not shooting an innocent man in downtown Fresno's Fulton Mall. They are not pulling people out of their cars to beat the life out of them. The people who are truly upset about the acquittal of the four officers charged with illegally beating Rodney King are depressed. They are ashamed. They know destruction is not the key. I asked a friend why the police officers were acquitted. His answer to me was: Thafs the reason LA. became a riot zone." I'm still questioning how these police officers were acquitted. How could any jury tell the world these men were innocent? Weall saw George Holiday's videotape of the March 3,1991 Rodney King beating. We saw a man, down on the ground, constantly being hit time and again. For 81 seconds we witnessed a man who was hammered with batons whilea handful of other officers looked on. I don't know what, if anything, Rodney King said to those officers that March night, but he never deserved the treatment he was given. In a sense, Rodney King may be looked upon as a martyr. He was pounded physically. Now he is suffering emotional blows. People are chanting his name as a rallying cry. Subconsciously, Rodney King may feel responsible for the destruction and deaths in L. A. Saturday afternoon he pleaded to the city. In a voice clearly shaken up by the chaos surround ing him, he called for people to just get along. In 1965, two years before I was bom in Lynwood, the Watts Riots went down. That was long ago, in a time when atti tudes were ignorant. A time when people thought someone's skin color determined how academic they can be. When former CSUF student John Stanfidd III, no w a professor at William k Mary, came to his alma mater for a lecture during African People History Month, I asked him if he thought racism was still as Erevalent as it was in the 1960s. I asked im if racism just hides itself better today. Stanfidd said "yes." We are still living inan age when people use the word "rugger," one of the ugliest words ever muttered. We still live in a world when people are called beaner, or whitey or nipper. We have not come a long way. Four white police officers, men of law, men who we trust, men who are there To Protect and To Serve," beat an African American man and they got away with it. This doesn't show growth. As Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley said on television and radio one week ago, after the jury made its decision: Today this jury told the world that what we all saw with our own eyes wasn't a crime. Today that jury asked us to accept the senseless and brutal beating of a helpless man." I only saw black and white tapes of the Watts Riots. Last week's scenes from LA. are pictures I never imagined happening again. These are the scenes from other countries, where governments force people into a frenzy. This isn't America, I told myself. This just doesn't happen in our country. But it was America. We have not grown. Welcome to the US.A.: Red, white, black and blue. Horrific and true. SB$ST Graduating from college: Not what it used to be I'm ready to leave this place, but I don't want to. I want to leave this place, but I'm not ready. In less than a month I will be receiving my diploma and headingofftostart my "real life." I started thinking about what the graduation ceremony will be like and howl will feel sitting there :' n the middle of Seuand Arena waiting for the name of the School of Arts and Humanities to be called so I can stand up and be recognized with the rest of the hundreds of students. One of the crowd, once again. What ever happened to walking up on stage and shaking hands with someone important as they hand you your diploma? When I graduated from high school, that was an important By Laura Rasmussen StaffWriter moment to parents. Each proud parent would rush up to the stage when thdr son or daughters name was called and snap a photo. •Smile" (click). Now my mom will be lucky if she can even be able to spot me in the crowd. Get out the telcphoto lens for this graduation. I received the commencement instructions (the blu e fryer) with everything the would-be graduate needs to know. My favorite part of the instruction sheet is where it explains how to sit by a particular individual Do I stand next to the person I want to sit by or do I sit next to the person I want to standby? Decorum, die flyer reads: No signs, no fireworks, no bottles, no beach balls, no cans, no drugs, no alcohol and absolutely, positively no FUN. Get your degree and get out Nice knowing you. Good luck finding a job. The concession stand will be open though, but they won't be selling signs, fireworks, bcachballs, cans, drugs or alcohol. What else is there? We are graduating in the worst of times. Ifs die worst job market in decades. It used to be that a college graduate could actually find work; now there's only uncertainty for most of us. We are graduating in the worst of times. "Due to the tremendous cost of printing the programs," the comrnencernent instuctions read, "we cannot supply every guest with a program. Please take only one program per family." We're even getting gyped on the program allowance. I bet they used to get as many as they wanted. In years past they probably had programs coming out thdr ears. Program again. President's Parry: "When an students and faculty are sea ted,the President's party will enter. It is appropriate to stand for the President's party." Excuse me if I remain seated. When will justice come? Rodney King. Black people. White police. Justice. Words on the tips of tongues and in the hearts of many people this past weekend, the days after the acquittal of four LAPD police officers in the beating of Rodney King. Where is the next stop? And whose system of justice are we talking about? A civil case against each of the four officers will be raised by LA motorist King's attorney. President Bush announced that a federal grand jury had begun its investigation to determine whether the beating of King violated King's civil rights. And the people are taking to the streets. Many, too, are staying at home and expressing their fears within thdr families or with relatives on the phone. The worries and outrage are the result of the looting, but moreover, they are a direct response to a national government ana social system that has been sick for decades. The people are picking up microphones and burning American flags to express theirdismay. Some are stealing from businesses. One By Christopher Heredia StaffWriter local radio commentator on Friday said the acts involving violence were a political statement. Kehinde Solwazi, a professor of African American studies at Fresno City College disagreed a bit. While he said he didn't blame the people for becoming violent, he said change will come more quickly through peaceful organization. If King's lawyer even wins money in a civil case against the four officers, what good will that do King or communities of color across the country who are on fire over the way the cops deal with them? We're talking police brutality. It's bigger than Rodney King. Police violence is not a vision someone has after tokingon a joint. It's reality for communities of color. The intimidation put out by cops on people of color can never be washed away with flowing cash. Thedaily remindersare there and for any progress to be had, whites are going to have to try to understand where people of color are coming from. Instead of throwing out the line that people of color are fantasizing about racism, whites need to consider the argumentofpeopleof color. If you listen, if you go to the homes and the ndghborhoods of these people you will know what is up. Roll your windowsdown, hang out. Step out of your automobile and mix with the people. Move in? (Naw.) Then you will seeinjustice. The lump of justice feels good in the throats of people regardless of race. But I don't think in this case, money is going to bring about that righteous lump. It's going to take reform. Reform at all levels of government. The US. constitution was not written with people of color or women in mind. Further la ws haveeven been added to state constitutions and local government charters to protect white power in this country. How dse do you think people are going to judge the systems tha t exist—me police, the courts, businesses, induding the media? Is it time to turn the tables of justice? Some have said the time is ripe for revolution. It's your call. By tipping over structures and burning do wn buildings, people in LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Omaha, Atlanta, Florida, Wisconsin and New York are showing thdr lack of faith in the system. By singing and hollering in the Free Saa Justice, paga 9 I^^IGft^ HilH-p fO,C*U,rnmnHfnmn».C*mm) Mm: tn Editor in Chief Sports Editor , Kate Henry John Welsh Managing Editor Advertising Manager Eric Coyne _ David Wellenkamp Arts & Entertainment Editor Advertising Production Laura Rasmussen Christina Griffin Copy Editor Photography Dee Erway Marc Matteo Steve Skibbie Graphics Editor Craig Moyle Production Staff Jenny Hamilton Photo Editor Shiranee Murugason Jesse Chenault Sonny Starks Christie Sundberg Production Editor Renee Torres Staff umters Students of Journalism Opinion Editor 100,110 &188 Susan Goad Insight welcomes all letters, comments and corrections. Insickt reserves the right to condense letters to the Editor for any reason. Anonymous letters to the Editor will not be considered. Post-Earth Day tips to live by By Aimee L Fisher Staff Writer day actions students can take. Since much of the pollution here in the San Joaquin Valley comes from farming, many of these suggestions relate to growing fbodVBe- __-f lieve it or not, many of these ideas came from my Plant Srience 105 class. They do teach this stuff in "Go to a farmer's market and introduce yourself to a farmer. Ask him or her how they grow their produce/' These days, when thinking of learn to appreciate natural re- college! the"simple life," images of sources. • Go to a fanner's market and Porsches, remote control stereos IcanremembermanySaturdays introduceyourselftoa fanner.Ask and having enough money for a when, as I sat bored out of my him or her how they grow their bqaSor munchie-run to 7-Eleven gourd watching television, I produce. Do they use a lot of come to mind. wished, hoped, even prayed (and chemicals? Are they organic (no With Earth Week just past, it's ^^^^^^^^^^^_^_^^^^^^^^^^^^^^__ time to reconsider what the simple life really is. While Earth Wcekdidn't reveal new or shocking examples of how humans are destroying Earth, it did bring it to the forefront of thinking. ^^^^^^^^^^^^_^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ As I thought abou t overflowing —^——————————————————— landfills, the destruction of I'm not very religious) that some- synthetic chemicals used — only rainforests, depleted ozone and one would call with something re- those made from other plants are increasingly toxic water supply, I ally fun and exciting to do. allowed) growers? wondered how I, as one single per- As I thought about Earth Week, • Take a trip to the grocery son, could change or reform my I thought about those Saturdays store and check out what locally behavior tobettertheenvironment. and of things I could have been grown organic produce is offered. Ifs one thing to petition gov- doing to appreciate the planet and It may cost a bit more, but that is eminent to stop deforestation, revert to a truly "simply life," de- because demand is not as strong. Manystudentsdon'thavethetime void of chemicals, passive enter- You, your friends and your family or energy to circulate petitions or tainment and trash, for at least the can increase the demand for or- protest anti-environment policies, day. ganic foods and, consequently, But many students have time to Here's my list of simple, lazy- tower the price. • Grow some of your own food. Spend a Saturday planting some tomatoes in a pot. This will give you an idea of what it takes to produce food and you'll appreciate what organic farmers are trying to do. • Recycle. This is a must! We've all seen the horrible pictures of our overflowing landfills on the 6 o'clock news. Even if you don't have time to takeyourcans,bottles and newspapers to a recycling center to get a little money in return, ask your landlord to get a eoupleoftheCityofFresno'sgreen and brown curb recycling containers. • Learn to appreciate birds and bugs. Just go outside and watch them, wherever you are. Many insects are beneficial to humans in some way or another. Instead of killing the ladybug you might find in your kitchen (as my grandmother suggests), catch it and take it back outside. While these are just a few suggestions, there is much more we can do on an individual basis. Much of the work done so far was started by individuals. Lef s all do our part. Multaegentes, una terra. Many People, one Earth. ' |