Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 20

I Peter Bernhard Publlahed by the Alameda Newspaper Group Peter Bernhard Thn Graham Robert Brown Edw MwHm Dmar Briaa Aronetem Pete Larawmjr MragnjEdiMf OddMAdwnwiDiwclw Ftggy Stinnett Deborah Bynan EMonri qi EMor kMMnQAwMM DmIv Catherine Schott Jim Dove AMLMngnpEdlMAooE QnuUn Director 06 DmiaMiDer David Burdin tenia Wee fttetent teaducten SwwteihaiteiEdtoOiel Roger Groeeman Patrick Brown teHAdtereig tenor Mon tenteia CFO Arthur Farber Nancy Oomvajr VtonF Robert Cuddy EdurlANQ A Pulitzer Prize-Winning Newspaper Friday April 5 1996 PageA-20 Jim Jennings Dave Boyar ten Owner tteirragwna AqductenC Wed handed HmwiHwcmw IteoiMfegiEdtor Aoet Mmaewg Phyflia Aitent SuteyEdS CONGRESSahcdlmakenolawrerpectinganestablishmentof religion orprohibitingthefrte exercise thereof or abridging the freedom qf speech or of the press or of the right qf the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Govemmentfora redress of grievances Fhut amendment to the constitution op the untto) states ratified mc is lrei 'v Editorials -v "4 1 he became a top aide tci Democratic Sen Edward Kennedy andfoughtwilh typical aggressiveness to become chairman of the Deni-" ocratic National Committee This was at a time when President Bush seemed in- vulnerable and it looked as though a Democrat would pot soon sit in die Oval Office The party apparatus Brown pvt in place helped get Clinton elected ETLetterstothe ediior 'v yi Street Kevin rbaitf 8 th gie students at School join the debate Clinton rewarded abilities and perfOrmance by naming him commerce sec retary Brown would have liked to be secre- taiy of state a job that went to Warren Christopher But dm way Brown carried but his duties prompting trade and democ racy overseas had overtones of a secre- taiy of state vT: v-'- His public life was not free of criticism He drew opprobrium when he ran a public relations firm and represented then-Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duyalieri He was investigated twice after taking office In one case he was cleared A special investigation into his finances ongoing at the time 1 ofthe plane crash has been canceled by the" special prosecutor 1 ON Brofen sat in our offices a little over a month ago em thusing to our editorial board about the possibilities ofex- panding American trade abroad He was about to head for Africa and he was excited about opening up the continent to telecommunications and ex- panding iteinfrastxucturp Beyond technologyitheCommerce secretary saw trade and expanded develop- ment opportunities as a way to bring democracy to countries and regions that had not experienced it as well as a way to ex- pand the American eednoniy and create jobs here That vision wasnot limited to Africa: he felt the same way about China and the rest of Aria South America Ireland the Middle East Europe' Xt(- Brown 54 was on a mission to the former Yugoslavia Wednesday morning when his plane crashed into a hillside during its approach to Dubrovnik Croatia on the Adriatic Sea A handful of American business executives were aboard Brown wanted to whet their appetites for rebuilding the country tom asunder by years of war Y- was found later in the day It is tragic to lose a leader of such enthu-siasm undergoing such an important mis- sion Tragic and ironic in trying to stopthe killing by creating a healthier economy hie i apparently gave Ids own life There were 32 others aboard the plane six of them crew members His fellow passengers included business leaders Among them were two Bay Area executives: Donald Temer 57 president of the Bridge Housing Corp- in San Ftandsco and Stuart Tholan 59 president of Europe Africa Middle East and Southwest Asia operations Pleasanton native Adam Darling 29 a Brown aide also was aboard To all of their families and to Ron we sertd our 7 Brown very much a political animal viewed thtese investigations uul charges as politically motivated He preferred to dwell on his job as secretary of commerced know the task is Brown told reporters last Friday in Paris as he headed for Bosnia to work on rebuilding the country But hadded and stability will only be ensured through economic development- I know is that in l996 segre gatkm cannot happen espe? dally in Oakland on East 14tii Street: Natasha McQurelS A bad change I do hot agree with the change of East 14th Street to International Boulevard because- it seems to- segregate the people In Oakland When you nuke changes in' si place supposed to be for the good Segregating people is tearing us apart not bringing us together The street name win cost taxpayers $30000 too much money for a street sign I believe if they want to make the street better they should spend the money to fix up the abandoned buildings and use them as shel-ters for people who are less fortunate I know this native Oaklander would be happy knowing our 'tax dollars would be used for something more important than street signs nfflney Roberts 18 The wrong way The diy is considering a plan to segregate different parts of East 14th Street we been through this enough? This will only make people fed as if they have to live in a specific area in Oakland Although I believe it is commendable that the City Council wants to show off its cultural diversity I fed strongly that the name change to International Boulevard is a plan the council should yield to because they are entering this project the wrong It was a belief he died for The best monument to Ron Brown wouldbe for the Clinton administration to aggressively pursue his death ended a life of public dream and work to bring lasting economic service that began in Harlem where he grew- and political stability to the region where up A veteran of the civil rights movement Ron Brown gave his life What's in a nama? nomic survival and the maximization of profits But those values push aside policies that would strengthen families such as flex time and child care facilities talking to conservatives or liberals you find much disagreement with the suggestion that the breakdown of the family and community are mjor factors contributing to our crime rate The question is what contributed to the breakdown of these fundamental institutions? way I see no problem with the Oakland City Coundl changing the name of East 14th Street to -International Boule- yard The name change -has nothing to do with segregation it's all about showing off Oak- land's diversity The only problem is the money it will cost the taxpayers Instead of spending $30000 on a street- name Oakland could he using the money for new school books the' homeless or paying teachers enough so they strike If the City Council -wants to' show off the racial 1 diversity great' Just make us pay for it Racially diverse and proud Mia Felix 13 the use? I am concerned about -renaming East 14th Street to International Boulevard I know our city is a pluralistic community -but there is no need to put it on a sign especially if taking it out of the taxpayer's pocket-We could use that money for programs like homelessness schools and fighting crime Teachers had a strike but the council isn't worried it wants to put up new signs for thousands of dollars East 14th Street has been there for a long time and I feel there is no need to change it How is a sign going to improve Oakland? How will this fight crime racism drugs or Improve our schools? Changing the name only segregates problems 1 believe the City Council should yield to oncoming traffic and exit this plan before they cross and enter a dead-end street Khristina IS A dangerous idea I feel we should not change the name of East 14th Street to International Boulevard The proposal sug-' gested dividing the street into specific ethnic neighborhoods This is dangerous as it will further isolate our diverse communities My grandmother grew up facing segregation and she still has painful memories about it I believe this change could potentially reunite us with the pains of segregation once again I am not for that America is a colorful country rich in cultural diversity bid with this potential name change It seems we are highlighting certain races by designating specific areas for each race to reside I totally disagree with this imposed name change If you think about It you will not want the Oakland City Council to enter the wrong way on a one-way street Jesse Harmon IS segregate us My teacher read an article about how people want to change East 14th Street to International Boulevard separating the different cultures businesses and neighborhoods I think that Is a good idea because it Is like segregation all over again I fed that Oakland is one i of the most pluralistic cities in America We cant go back to what we hated 30 40 60 Kamllah Sanford IS this? I am writing this letter in regard 1 to the name change of East 14th Street to International Boulevard I know you are probably thinking I am very young so what does my opinion have to do with anything? Well my opinion counts too My family and I travel down East 14th Street every day and etjoy Oakland's cultural diversity To separate these -neighborhoods into specific racial areas is segregation and we do not need this in 1996 The report concluded that crime is not an unexplained unavoidable aspect of our so- ciety but rather a reaction to the values of our institutions and how they operate "Among the rdcommehdations: Rather than base its policies on incarceration government should support li- braries community centers adequate funding for schools and a basic level of services for poor people Teachers must maintain a critical perspective on their work and guard against burnout They should recognize their limits and make strategic choices about where to put their energy Business leaders should recognize the relationship between materialism that is destructive and the promotion of consumerism through advertising Religious leaders should take a leadership role on public issues To solve the complex and critical issue of crime we must all play a part We allow expediency and ideology to shape our reaction we must look for real solutions The Center for Ethics and Social Policy has put together The Voicing Values Project to take a look at this crucial questionThe ''TtfCiject gathered information through a se lies of lengthy conversations with represen- tatives from government business education organized religion and advocates for the family In a revealing finding while the representatives identified the breakdown in family and community as a mqjor problem many of the values promoted by their own institutions are anti-family and anti-community As an overall example of this contradic- tion the report points out that our institutions overemphasize values such as the accumulation of wealth consumerism and competition but neglect issues such as economic Justice and social equity Business representatives embraced eco- years ago In addition we have to lode id how much this is going to cost because $30000 can Amid important prefects such as homelessness education and fighting crime on East '14th Street I ask the Oakland City Council to please listen to my concerns because if they do not re-think 'the proposal they are going the wrong way down a oneway street Jackie Dabbs IS make sense It does not make sense-to rename the street And it is not worth $30000 to change it If they want to take money they should at least apply it to something that needs change and is worthy like putting up lights and fixing the street Businesses will have to make changes Even if they change it to Interna-' tional Boulevard it will still be East 14th Street to everyone no matter what They also want to segregate the different neighborhoods I fed this is totally uncalled for The segregation days are over and people can live anywhere they choose It is a free country and there should not be a sign suggesting that if you are of a certain culture you live in a neighborhood that is not of your culture I am very opposed to changing East 14th Street to International Boulevard suggestion to the council is do not enter not a through street Alisha Ferine IS Segregation in 1996? Let me break down for you I fed we need to change the signs on East 14th Street To say it will be International Boulevard and separate our cultures I say give me a break We need to use that $30000 for a better cause For example use the money to build shelters erect stop signs and construct more YMCAs Why try to split us up when we need to unite with everyone? Segregation is something I want around when I grow up Oak-1 land is too diverse to be segregated nice to go Into different neighborhoods with different cultures AO I ask you what is this name change going to do for Oakland? I think the City Council should talk this out and really think about what they are trying to do to our town Zetter Prothro IS How to succeed in college THE recent national college basketball championship tournament provided observers of the US higher education landscape with yet another reason to question our alleged Halls of Academe hear from you Letters to the editor: Must include name signature mailing address and daytime telephone number May be condensed if longer thn 250 words My Word articles: Not more than 650 words preferably fewer Include name signature mailing address and daytime telephone number Oakland Tribune Editorial Page Editor Peggy Stinnett 66 Jack London Square Oakland CA 94607 Telephone 610-20841429 Pu 610-20841477 deavor How did Bright pull off such a Her- culean mental task? According to his Mississippi State counselor Linda Buehler the young man took only electives Declared Buehler was able to choose courses that did not require the type of effort that say brain surgery would require or advanced Oh Needless to say the poobahs who try to regulate the Intercollegiate athletic scene are continuing to investigate Bright's amazing performance So far we'll give them jU a grade of The revelation that a player from Mississippi State University Dontae Bright had managed to become eligible for the 1995-96 season by accumulating a whopping 36 credit hours of academic work during one summer session in 1995 was staggering Normally 36 units would amount to a year's worth of concerted classroom en i.