Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • Page 6

Opinion Page A6 Editorial Page Editor Joy Franklin 232-5895 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Wednesday, June 9, 1999 Students strive to appear 'cool' while walking cultural tightrope fivft I I HFTTMBWCWR, (SCS I TMB BBEPSB.TME ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Dedicated to the Upbuilding of Western North Carolina 1870-1999 A GANNETT NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL BOARD VIRGIL L. SMITH, President and Publisher GEORGE BENGE, Executive Editor JOY FRANKLIN, Editorial Page Editor REBEKKAH MELCHOR LOGAN, Associate Editor BOB CAMPBELL, DON LOCKE, CAROL McCOLLUM and VESTA NEALE Editorial Board Community Representatives EDITORIAL Asheville is engaged in dialogue around the subject of, safety in our schools. The Columbine incident has taught 4 'J impact of cliques, teasing and 4 i. social isolation on some of our youth. Apparently the issue of teasing and isolation looks different to the young African-American student.

In addition to the rig LETTERS, FAXES E-MAIL Diane Westmoreland State should stick to plan to develop ergonomics standard Justice should be color-blind The May 31st edition of The Citizen-Times ran an Associated Press article ors of being in the minority and the accompanying distress of puberty, the African-American student must contend with the daunting task of having a socially acceptable dual personality. This versatile student must have the ability to both assimilate and maintain some measure of cultural autonomy. This student somehow manages to switch between the mainstream dominant culture and their own ethnic culture without missing a The Citizen-Times Invites letters to the editor of 200 words or less. Please include a daytime telephone number, (ax 9 headlined: "Crackdown cuts murder rate, but has Richmond's anti-crime project called racist." Project Exile, the ioint and e-mail address, if available. To hear the complete let oith Carolina Department of Labor Commissioner Harry E.

Payne Jr. would like to take steps to reduce the number of muscular beat. ters policy, call 257-2900 and enter category 2426. Direct other SB1- inquiries to 232-6015 or 1-800-800- 4204, ext. 6015.

Mall to: Letters, Asheville Citizen-Times, P.O. Box 2090, Asheville, N.C. 28802. E-mail to: Fax to: 281-2592. i Small steps will stop smog buildup As the ozone and haze caused by pollution are increasing in the Asheville area, I am convinced that each of us must take personal responsibility to try to make a difference.

It is easy to blame industrial polluters, and I am no defender of industry. Most of us drive vehicles, which contribute a significant amount to the pollution of the area. While driving is necessary for most of us, leaving the engine running while parked is not necessary, and I believe it is irresponsible. This week I saw two college-aged men park their Mercedes in front of a supermarket and leave the engine running while one man used the telephone. Yesterday, I saw a Ktlice-man leave his car running while he came into my health club and chatted with the attendant at the front desk.

In both cases, the temperature was in the low 70s so there was no need to run the air conditioner. I have daily leen observing )eople leaving their engines running while parked in all seasons of the year. I don't get it! Will the cars not start, if they turn them off? Do they not realize that they are contributing to the pollution of the air? Come on, friends, turn off your engines! John Whitener Asheville federal-loca! effort to prosecute criminals who carry guns, was given credit for reducing Richmond's murder rate by percent in 1997-98. It has been cited by the NRA as an example of how federal gun laws should be enforced, and President Clinton is also impressed with the results. Now defense attorneys have pulled the race card.

They claim the law targets city suspects usually black who face the federal charges while whites in outlying counties are prosecuted only on state charges. Whether or not this is true I can't say but many statistics have shown that African-American crime victims suffer at the hands of other African-Americans, and I would think as a group should be pleased that Project Kxile is working. Most whites probably suffer at the hands of other whites but the point is that whites should le demanding that white criminals convicted of the same crimes face the same federal laws. Law abiding citizens of all raws should insist on protection from criminals regardless of their race. lUMy Miller Arden This phenomenon manifests itself in both a "cool" personality and the "assimilated" personality.

The dress is quite different. The "cool" attire would probably take the form of signature sneakers, shirts and low-riding jeans. On the flip side the uniform is much more conservative. In addition, the colloquial language of the hip-hop "cool" student is also different. Before I proceed I must say that this is a generalization or experience which is certainly not shared by all African-American students.

Unfortunately this phenomenon does exist and can have a very detrimental impact on the aspirations of some African -American students because Is'ing "uncool" is synonymous with the "acting white" label. Therefore some of the more studious African-American students II This versatile student must have the ability to both assimilate and maintain some measure of cultural autonomy. This student somehow manages to switch between the mainstream dominant culture and their own ethnic culture without missing a beat. people and one to protect the states. The amendments were numlered in the order of imxrtance.

Some writers stated that the founding fathers didn't know what a semi -automatic rifle was and therefore the Second Amendment is inoM'rative. The founding fathers didn't know about electricity, radio or television. Is the First Amendment therefore inoperative? Stop the Mlitical spin concerning the Constitution. Read the Federalist paKrs and other historical paMrs and learn the truth aliout the Kill of Rights. Walt Waller Flat Rock instructions of doctors.

At the hearings, business and industry leaders argued that there is no need for the standard because most companies have already implemented safeguards against employee injuries. They also argued that the standard is too vague, will cost companies billions to implement, and that there is no medical consensus that repetitive stress illnesses and injuries are caused only by work. Among those opposing the standard was N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry, which is a leading corporate lobbyist. Ironically, the N.C.

Occupational Safety and Health Project a workers' advocacy group in Durham, while applauding the standard's objectives, complained that the standard was not proactive or preventive enough. But N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry made killing the standard one of its top priorities. Rep. Harold Brubaker, R-Asheboro, introduced an amendment to the House budget at the eleventh hour that prevents the Labor Department from spending any money for the next two years to "develop, implement or enforce" an ergonomics program.

Payne is concerned that the amendment may even prevent his department from providing training to companies who ask for it through the Ergonomics Resource Center, a joint effort of the lalxr department and N.C. State I Jniversity. Payne says during informational hearings, business leaders said they didn't want 2(H) pages of rules, so the department responded by giving them a page and a half of rules that allow flexibility. The standard also includes a "safe harbor," which means it doesn't apply to businesses that are already doing a good job. The costbenefit study approved by the Office of State Budget and Management determined that the proposed standard would actually save North Carolina employers $fi5 million in the first five years it's in effect.

The ergonomics standard wouldn't go into effect until January 2001 and before that happens, legislators will have other opportunities to bkick it. The heavy-handed meddling represented by Brubaker's amendment completely ties the lalmr department's hands regarding what is clearly one of the most significant safety issues North 'arolina employees face. The Senate owes it to the state's workers to clear the path for Payne to continue developing an ergonomics standard and working with employers to prevent these crippling injuries. and skeletal injuries in the state's workplaces, but an amendment to the House budget proposal is set to trip him up. That is, unless the amendment is removed in the Senate, which is exactly what should happen.

First, it's important to understand the problem. Statewide, musculoskeletal disorders (those affecting the muscles, ligaments, nerves and other soft tissue) account for 70 percent of illnesses, such as carpel tunnel syndrome, and 37 percent of injuries that result in worker compensation claims, according the the Labor Department Thousands of work days are lost each year and millions of dollars are spent as a result of those illnesses and injuries. The average worker compensation claim in 1997-98 amounted to $19,860. That's just the monetary cost The human cost is much higher. Those who suffer such injuries often lose their ability to work or to do normal everyday tasks, like pick up a child or move a chair.

Eighty-seven percent of employees compensated for work-related carpel tunnel and 92 percent of those compensated for work-related back injuries are given ixrmanent disability ratings. More than 25 percent are unable return to work in any capacity. In the spring of 1998, Payne began developing an ergonomics standard for North Carolina companies. Public information hearings were held last August including one in Asheville, and public hearings were held this spring in Durham. Hickory and New Bern.

'nder the standard, employers with more than 10 workers would provide employees one hour of training within 90 days of employment and once every three years thereafter on how to identify, reduce and report work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Employers with 10 or fewer employees would have the option of giving them written materials. Employees would be encouraged to report any pain to the employer so problems could be dealt with early before they cause crippling injury. Employers would then have SO days to determine whether the symptoms are temporary or would require modification of the workplace, tool or work practices. They would also be required to provide medical care for injured employees and follow the written Amendments listed in order of importance After reading many let-tors over the past few weeks I feel that I can no longer remain silent.

Sad to say, previous writers do not know the facts about the Bill of Rights. These were written after the American Revolution. These amendments were specific, and so important they were made separate but part of the Constitution. Fear of a central government motivated the writing of 10 amendments to protect the rights of the JKHiple. The telief that the Amendment was written to protect the states to organize a militia is flawed logic.

The conclusion is that the founding fathers did not write nine amendments to protect the rights of the Washington buried in culture of denial In the discipline of substance abuse training, one is taught alstut the problem of denial, it is a matter of being unable to grasp the truth of the destructive habit or problem. No matter the lies, the truth of the matter cannot be accepted anil recognized because of self -deception. That describes to many the issues we we being bantered about in Washington, and the comprehension of politicians and citizens alike If we confuse the accusations, perhaps no one will understand the problem The Emperor is not clothed May fod help us Unda Motrin Webster Reeves continues to blast U.S. policies In his columns, Richard Reeves continues to blast government policies in the Balkans. Now he has the audacity to criticize The Washington Post for its support of military-actions there.

He also implies that the i'nited States is sowing the seeds for future armed conflict in Kosovo. It's obvious that Mr. Reeves, unlike most other media stars (and a great many so-called "ordinary does not have a lot of defense industry stocks in his Wall Street portfolio. Joneph (arcajal Pisgah Forest are therefore harassed for being achievers and performing well academically fitting into the dominant group. In recent years it has been noted that students tend to segregate themselves during the school experience.

Students find themselves congregating on separate sides of the cafeteria and the common spaces. Some schools have even opted for hosting two separate proms. Siending too much time with white students can also result in the ostracizing of the African-American youth by hisher peer group who view this association as "selling out." One wonders aliout the impact that this labeling would have on a student's "dumming down" just to avoid the torment of teasing and alienation. If being a smart and conscientious student causes exclusion and isolation from the African-American peer group, this is indeed a major problem. There also appears to be a trend towards some white students who adopt the dress, and slang terms used by the African-American youth.

That white student is also ostracized from his white peer group. These students are faced with the challenge of switching on and off based on the group that heshe is with at the time. For the African-American student, the fear of being accused of "acting white" by their African-American classmates because they exhibit interest in school is a grim prospect. Being smart and working hard in schiol should not lie viewed as a stigma. Our youngsters who have, in some instances, traditionally fallen through the cracks, must lie encouraged to embrace and support each other in their educational pursuits by providing a sense of inclusion rather than exclusion.

a Our youth must learn to fully master the art of generating acceptance in both cultures thus 2 becoming an active member of both subgroups. It Is important for parents, teachers, church- es and neighborhood groups to recognize this issue and begin in address it. WriU In WedmorrUtnd tin AnhtmlU CM- tei -Timr, I'O. Box 2090, Athemllt, N.C. mm nr fax Ml -3599.

IS So far, so good: Budget progress encouraging Speaking of the state Senate, leaders there seem to be pleased with the House budget proposal. hope that bodes well for passing it in a timely and expedient manner. Senate President Pro Tern Marc Basnight praised the House budget in a statement, saying, "For weeks, the Senate and the House have been working together to write a budget that is good for our schools and good for North Carolina. Now that hard work is starting to pay off. I'm delighted, for example with the increases in teacher pay and other education improvements." With any luck that means we won't find ourselves living through another marathon session and months without an adopted budget, as we did last year during the "short" session that drug on into October.

State employees, especially, will be grateful to get their raises in July, when they're due..