Page 73 - TheGoldBug1972-73

PAGE'SIX THE GOLD BUG PAGESEVEI. Llberntlon course shakes convicti • and it's only four weeks old by Rich Blucher As organ music filtered down from the sanctuary them. The power for freedom can only come as the that "we could become more human mu'<"'v.<.'L on a gloomy Monday afternoon, Dean Zepp was oppressed have their consciousness raised so that' Milford Sprecher defined freedom as that the discussions can be more interesting. in Nature is an eternal cycle in which man ha for a career a senior preparing speaking passionately in a Baker Chapel classroom they can see-the social forces that oppress them. place. They are not above nature, as Western man outlaw it. And in many cases they are succeeding. of American myths of oppression: "America began metaphysical ideal. It's a state .ofmi~d in which. said that the liberation course has ~ee~~ to fe.e!. T.he.irway of knowledge is mystical, When the old ones die, the old life di person is' absolutely sure of his behefs about she wouldn't on the New Israel Typology. Just as it was God's They must learn to move toward the world in order and attitudes toward human beings. And to things that to an article get by IlltUlt~ve, stmplistie, not the rational con She reacted will that the Israelites leave Egypt in the Exodus to transform it. And in their transformation they beliefs must not infringe upon others' ordering process of a Descartes or Kant. There is my Grandpa, by living with him. You and find their nation in a wilderness, so the must not simply reverse the triangle and fall into actions. People like Buddha, Martin Illich, in which the author strongly no dichotomy in the Indian view between subject down an to give up their crusade Puritans and Pilgrims crossed their Red Sea, the the trap of dominating those who oppressed them Christ .and the Berrigans: they . America, and call back all the of and object. Thre is a great unity of existence that cestors. Atlantic Ocean, as a chosen people destine~ ~o before, but they must move beyond the whole of freedom to me. They were includes himself, as well as the deer, the trees. The carve a New Israel from the wilderness of America. concept of oppressor-oppressed, and seek a com- above us, except maybe in terms workers and' advisors. Their :~~:t:~.h I~:e~:;':~~~;hc~il~~i h~~!tal~~~~!i contributed division to a greater Today, Vietnam is an extension of this same mon ground, a new vitality of life that will promote sciousness." To Milford, things that --"r--"--,_7';'O, World Peoples and White America. ~~e~ni~oae~~'~tr;u:r~~~e~:~~ ~~n~~~l~u equality. There are spiritual, political, and social are. prejudice, the American . :r a~~~stors. They will grow up to respect others ~~~~e:~~y S~~!~ ~~t~ ~o~~~~:cte;r~~~u~~.c~rn;~~ factors that can contribute to this restructuring or of competition and getting Mr. Belinda arrives with several friends. A soft- l couldn't conquer the Indians by conversion, you rebirth of society." pressed people make us aware of spoken; highly articulate man, he talked honestly, "As I said, my Grandfather was in the old way. bartered with them and got their land that way. The oppressors must be made to realize and deeply about his Indian experience. "I don't Ev~n after he bought the small farm, he kept to Indians, after all, were children of the Devil living Students reflect differing concepts doing to human belngs.and that they, tooareSla'''te feel that my identity has been lost in a white baSIC, old customs. He always wore t ina corrupt paradise. It seem.s that ~heProte~~nts to the slave system. When the oppressors 't force our rushing society on others. society. Ever since I was born, I've been reminded under his shorts. I would go to visit him an made a liturgy out of American history. Wlll~am I talked to a variety of students in the class. dehumanizing methods-then the too fast in America. And other nations have of who I am in school, at play, at home. I have an lau Bradford, leader of the early Plymouth Plan~alton, posing basic questions about the nature of freedom their full humanity and the values than ours. Economics seems to Indi.an community which I consider to be my world. tablecl became Father Abraham; George Wash1O~on as they saw it, as well as their response to the . in America, but other peoples I will never feel Uncomfortable with white. dershorts, and his breeches; and I would make fun became Moses; leading the colonists out of English course. because they are no longer . to. our view." Lu felt that many of the ?fthem. But he believed firmly in the old way. This system. What this course has done for me IS bondage. Lincoln was Christ, martyred for the me what other people are going through, has learned in the course can be stored "My grandfather was a great influence on me. He IS the way it was. great cause of human freedom, sacrificed for. the. Senior Larry .Lazopoulos felt that human make me think about what I do in daily life. use. "We should use these experiences lived through the violent transition of the Wes unity of the nation. But few people ~ave ~~a!lzed liberation was many things. "There is no Webster's She felt that she was gaining a wider that men like Lincoln were pragmatic politicians. definition for human lib. Each person must reflect knew that Indian wisdom WOUldn'twork in a white learned about the ritual for becoming a brave. He wanted to keep the Union together, regardless of upon himself and the world, and be open to the When the men reached a certain age they would off .int? the mountains naked-for example, wander the price paid by the blacks." . constant processes of mental and physical change. "Oppressions have to have myths. So we invented into the Wichita mountains where there is still the Myth of the Savage to justify what we did. White There must be an inner attainment of con- powerful medicine-and lie down facing the sky. They would pray to the Great Spirit to show them a sciousness, both in terms of self and others. We men don't have to keep promises with savages. America has always needed and had its "Indians." must constantly strive to transform the world. sign. Then an animal! an eagle for example, would Systematically, the North Am~rican Indians, the Freedom must never become a stagnant thing, but fly down to them. The eagle would tell the brave its power, and teach him how to that itisgivinghim Blacks, the Mexicans, the ethmc groups, have all become targets of the white protesta~t oppressor. always be growing and striying for a new dim~n- make his medicine bag and shield, how to dress for sion of meaning. Will always There be tension Dick Gregory, in his book No More Lies, suggests between the 'self and the other'." Larry said that war. Then the eagle would give him its name, and he would return to his tribe a new man. The power that today's youth are the new ~ndians, .the new "niggers. And America must realize th~t It can no the course has made him aware of' how many ofthe medicine bag was woven into the shield. Each the leve_l. of their ~on- raised people haven't longer shoot down its young people Without com- sciousness; have not become sensitive to th~ phg~t medicine bag was the power the animal gave to the of were one group man '. For. example there mitting suicide." Dean Zepp paused for a response. ~ne stud~nt of the oppressed. "You must put yourself III their warriors given the power to cough up knives. One suggested that the English Protestants 10 A~erl~a place; commit yourself to people." He was glad to .such brave was captured in Texas just before he were simply reversing the triangle oppression III be growing together with other members of the was to die. They chained his hands and feet and England that had found them on the bottom. class, and hoped that everyone would realize t~eir took him in a wagon to stand trial. His medicine to others. "We must be responsible responsibility ga:-r e him the power to break the chains, cough up a Another said that theProtestants have always had for each other's care! We may not be able to change kmfe, stab the guard and attempt to escape. Just a Messianic mission to give their truth to .people the whole world, but maybe our piece of it." before he died, he told a man who could understand like the Indians, viewing them simply as obJ~cts to his language that he would die before he passed a be converted. Zepp carried the. concept a bit ~ur- Pete Chambers' definition of human Lib was "the ther , "The Imperialism of Amenc.an Protestantl~m freedom of the individual to do what he pleases f:;t:;;~ ~~::: and sure enough, he was shot running stems from a unique stance that Interweaves f~lth with political doctrine. ~rotesta~t~ hav~ made It a without imposing on the Constitutional rights of Indifference to Indians at Bureau others." To Pete, the things that keep people. from practice to lock God into political Ideology to being free are a lack of education, economic op- support structures of oppression. 'God is on our "What a tremendous experience my Grandfather side.' There is no other God but the Lord, but t~en pression, mental and physical forces an~ I~ws, and had. From the open country to the Jet age. J watch prejudice. "In the last analysts, though, It IS people they turn around and make the country God. I th10k the sea of the white man smother him. -Oneof the best examples of American rehglon today "Y~s, J talk and act differently with whites than is the Superbowl: Athlete, God and Flag all in- ~~~ ~:pc~~~:~ ~~~~~~~~~e b:~:/~~b~~:~:o~~~ with my people. This is partially because my the information in the text. criticism, stressing credibly juxtaposed as symbols of truth." /' relationship with them is at best superficial. There This dialogue is from Religion 317: "Liber~t!on "People should analyze t~e readings .instead of are some good white people that we can trust. But Movements." It is an outgrowth of a religIOn throwing out general questIOns and gett10g a mass generally white America has tried to kill us, rub us seminar taught for the pa,st several years by Dean of answers, as each person relates differently. Zepp. But now it has developed ~ mo_ch la;.ger out, take our lands. And now the institutions like the us, keep us Bureau .of Indian Affairs demoralize social emphasis. Dean Zepp deSCribes It as ex- There is a lack of true interpretation and analysis of from bemg free. It's just a big bureaucracy that perienced learning." The class will be e~posed to concrete examples, such as material th~t co~l.d ~ the literature as well as vocal representatives from provided by films. Th:re are too many diverSIties. gets nothing done. We could burn it down, but we'll still have the problems. I think the solution is to Indian, Chicano, Gay, Black, and Women:s may oppress others. I've become aware of vital to a social work major. give Indians control of their own affairs. Give us the Liberation movements. On February 26, Denms I asked how 'the course could benefit him. "The man's world. So he gota hold of some land and had money promised to us and we can put it to better Belinda spoke for the Indian Lib movement. course might make me aware of the struggles of ~:~~nn~u~e~;S~~:~~il~~ ~e~~~et~r~:k:ls~YTili,-d;ff;:~:'t'to ap~~yL~ !~~~ft~.af,~r~~~ ~~~~ a small farm. The things he taught me as I Another highlight of the course will be a discussion Lib movements. But I feel that it will be more of a problem with America is that capitalism . it. I'm not sure I want complete were more important than anything in the c lecture by radical priest- Phillip Berrigan of the 'imply educational experience, rather than learn- oppression. In a society like this, to me, is a scary thing. And its temporary educational system. He taught me that colle If there is a health problem, gets so complicated. Catonsville Nine, scheduled for April. ing new insights about others or myself." ~e told it was good to be an Indian. 'We are the best me that his liberation is to be able to go out mto the I gotten by gift, but by fight. It is a each person, even in abstract terms. people,' he used to say all the time. I remember they spend two years doing a survey while hu Aft-er'the class discussion, I talked with Dean world and be successful. He felt that his liberation There are very few free people. And it . as the most important dimension of the dreds of people die. We say, if we have a heal Zepp about the philosophy of the course, and what will be measured by the success of his in- human when humanity.is measured at the personal things, which when I was a little boy, with worn out knees and a problem, we go he hoped the students will gain by their exposure to dependence. He wants to de.velo!;! a n.etwork of happiness. That to me is false most college courses. It calls for snotty, runny nose; I would listen to my grandpa needs a and other old men tell stories of the great Indian contemporary liberation movements. "My un- friendships and business relations 10 which all are self. I think every person who tries and don't get the cheap builders who put up those tribes. They builJ up my pride to be an Indian. This derlying hope is that the students themselves can treated equally and respectfully. "We mu~t have an Bob Decker said that freedom was the can get something worthwhile out of pride is the true source of Indian power for today's have a liberating experience. By that, I mean a alternative to the existing establishment If we want control your own world. "But the problem is . struggles. wind. Let us build houses. Good, strong houses. Let everyone is required to make a living; there, total opening up of their being; a freeing experience to change it. I think that the Bible gi_ves u~ im- us teach our children. We want to solve our own that can rise their level of consciousness about the portant guidelines for the perfect SOCiety. Love great pres!jure to make money." It seems that ~h,~chm~x of.the first unit an Indian Liberation, Youth must learn from age pr sufferings of the oppressed. I feel that the major One Another' is a great rule to live by." dictates how one will control the world around hU\IS Belindo, member of a southwestern tribe "Once I took my Gra'ndfather to the Bureau of issue is human empowerment versus power over Bob was sensitive to human liberation aDd wavorks for the Indian Legal Information Service "My grandfather knew all the Indian secrets. Indian Affairs, to get a lease for his land. people. I hope that we can 'become sensitive to Mary Wright offered that. liberation means open to learning about different IiberatiCjlshington"spoke to the class and gave a talk in From him I got a picture of the life oppressed groups to the point that we will let them making your own decisions, getting things together movements. He said it is difficult to tell whjer on Monday, February 26. went in we were told to wait. We waited for a lon time. Finally a secretary let us talk to the official in tell us what they need to facilitate their liberation. I in your own mind and helping others to be them- !:he~~:t~~r~ i:~U~hP~a~~~:~:ti::~~j~r~ya~~~~l the class w~ited for Mr. Belindo's arrival, :~~e;~~~~ ~:~:~~~t~~~~Smaeb~~~~~ also hope that the students can become involved selves. She felt that Christ was the greatest ment stopped the Sunda'nce because it was the with role-playing; put in situations where they can liberator, being the'model of true freedom. She saw He feels that the individual may not realize what ~;ex~i::~aa~SI~~!~0~1~~~a:~~~~tet~~dw~~~ yearly meeting of my tribe whi get a genuine sense of the oppressed person's ex- a great lesson in the life o.f Christ; "He put G~ is doing or what attitudes he may have that a~as been obsessed with a spirit of competition. religious ceremony and the picking dians kept coming' around all the time.' I was perience in our society." I asked him to elaborate· first, others second and himself last. He wasn t rooted in prejudice. "A person here can't rea~ly s e~ man has a sense of communal cooperation war parties. Directly from the Su on empowerment of people. "There are two kinds of afraid to serve men. He spoke the language of whether he is prejudiced or not, becaus,e he IS on mty. They respect nature: when they killed a would gO\off to wars. The Governmen power. Power over people, an? po~er. that can help common people. No authority could keep him from exposed to the majority views:" Bob f~lt that t 0 they asked GQd's forgiveness. The land was this too much, so they outlawed it. doing what he thought was right. He wasn't rich ~nd things learned in the course ~III n?t be I.nthe te M~ther, ~he Source of all life. To them, it taught it to me, he said that I was learning, so that I :i~~:~::s~~~~~~?7r~~g~~sl:n~~:t ~~~~~;~a~ middle class." She said that the course was mmd- book, but in the class discussIOq, 10 which colle d l~credible to sell land, or to injure each could teach my children. It must live in whole style of life. It is a freedom that enables boggling, and hoped that the students could open_ barriers can be broken down. Because there aB for It. genera tions, not be copied down in books. To do so saw this secretary around drinking coffee. Indians were waiting for people to!be bonestl)!. critical of the world around themselves up to the needs of.others. Mary hoped studentsrepresentatiYe of many campus groups, lIndian has an oriental view! of the. world, would be to betray us. Our religio togethen. This is' why the Government ~as tried to < • '(cdntinued on page 8)