Thursday, February 27, 1992
Malcolm
by Tom Strunk
As of last Friday it has
been twenty-seven years
since the assassination of
Malcolm X.
Today X still has many
followers among blacks. And
he still has his opponents
from the right.
However, Malcolm X
remains a greatly
misunderstood man, as was
often the case when he was
alive. He is overshadowed by
the achievements of Dr. King
and is stigmatized as a
militant and racist.
Setting aside all
comparisons and accusations
it is important that we study
and understand his ideas and
messages, for many of them
are relevant to us today. We
should respect Malcolm X,
for he saw the need for
brotherhood among our
people and honesty among
our leaders.
At a time when integration
seemed to be the solution to
racism, Malcolm X noticed a
distinction between
desegregation and integradoa
Black and white kids do not
need to study next to each
other to learn. However,
black and white .students must
not be prevented ' from
studying next to each other.
Malcolm X understood
Buchanan may
by Mike Royko
There was a jaunty bounce in
the step of my friend Grump the
conservative.
"We have sent the message,"
he said, "and it has been
received."
What message is that?
"What? Have you been
sleeping all week? Not that there
would be any difference. The
message from Patrick the Bold."
Ah, you mean Pat Buchanan's
showing in New Hampshire,
where he received all but 63
percent of the Republican vote.
"Don’t play games with
numbers. You know very well
what I mean. He scored a
stunning victory, and it has been
hailed as such on the front page
of every newspaper in the nation,
even those dominated by the
liberal pinkos, which most of
them are."
1 suppose he did, although
you should stay out of poker
games. if you think that 37
percent, which is what he got, is
better than 53 percent, which is
what President Bush received.
"Don't play dumb, although
you give so convincing a
performance. You know very
well that in political terms
Patrick the Bold was
triumphant."
Yes, in the strange math of
primaries, less can be more, more
can be less, winners can be
that although laws may
influence us they do not bring
about an immediate change in
our attitude. When blacks
were integrated into schools
with white kids it was done
only because whites felt
morally obligated. Most
whites probably did not
desire to be around blacks and
most blacks probably did not
desire to be around whites.
Little brotheihood existed
between the races, but much
token integration. X saw the
future when he said, "I am in
agreement one hundred
percent with those racists
who say that no government
laws ever can force
brotherhood."
Today we see the lack of
brotheihood and the failure of
the laws to create
brotherhood. Inner city kids /
are becoming drug addicts
rather than scholars. We seem
to think that a multicultural
education apd affirmative
action practices will help
these people.
However, the problem will
only be solved when we are
willing to take the time to do
the hard work necessary to
solve the problem. If we had
adequate schools in the inner
city we would not need
affirmative action. If people
are willing to give our cities
the attention they need we
losers, losers can be winners, and
may the best spin masters win.
So your man claimed a victory of
sorts.
"Of sorts? Boob. He has
shaken the White House to its
foundations. He has rocked Bush
on his heels for his traitorous
behavior to our cause. The bold
message has gone forth."
So you said. But what
message is that?
"Have you no ears? We are
going to take our nation back."
Ah, yes, 1 did hear Patrick the
Bold say that. But I'm not sure
what that means. Who took it?
And as long as they were taking
it, why didn't they take the part
on my block that has the big
potholes?
"You know very well who has
taken it."
No, tell me. The very least I
can do is send them a bill
demanding payment of my part.
Maybe I can turn a profit on the
deal. Who are they?
"The short people."
The who?
"You heard me. This country
has been invaded by the short
people. And Patrick has-'
recognized the short menace and
is the only candidate who will do
something about it."
I haven't heard him say
anything about a threat from the
short.
"No, but we know what he
means."
The Collegian
X r
could actually get to the
bottom of the problem.
We never seem to do this
because we lack brothertiood.
Few give a damn what
happens to the inner city. A
handful of liberals (black and
white) say, "Give them
affirmative action so that it
will appear that more blacks
are qualified for college." But
this handful of liberals never
addresses the problem that
many are not qualified to
enter college. (One only
needs to look at the drop out
rate among black college
students.)
Nobody cares about that.
There is no brotheihood, only
people trying to look good by
Creating a false solution.
Malcolm X realized the need
be selling us short
Then tell me because I don't.
"Think. Who has been
swarming across our border in
vast numbers, making a mockery
of our immigration laws? ’*
Ah, you mean Mexicans.
"That’s right. And have you
ever seen a tall Mexican?”
I don't go around with a ruler
measuring the height of every
Mexican I meet.
’’Well, if you did, you would
find that the majority of
Mexicans are short. And what has
been the largest group of foreign
refugees we have let pour into
our country in recent years?”
I give up.
"Asians of all sorts, that's
who. More short people. And
who has been buying up
American businesses, real estate
and trying to destroy our
evisited
for brotherhood rather than
laws that manipulate
emotions. Our leaders and
politicians could ameliorate
the situation greatly by
studying him instead of
ridiculing him.
Most importantly,
Malcolm X valued honesty
and the need for it in our
leaders. Malcolm X was a
rare individual who spoke his
mind, "I’m telling it like it is!
You never have to worry
about me biting my tongue if
something I know as truth is
on my mind. Raw, naked
truth exchanged between the
black man and the white man
is what a whole lot more of is
needed in this country."
By doing so he often
scared both blacks and
whites. He uncovered our
deepest fears and hatreds. If
we could speak what we feel
and rise above the desire to
look favorable in the public's
eye we would find that the
issues become much clearer.
Our leaders have a poor
record in this aspect
It is nearly impossible to
get a straight answer on a
controversial question from
anyone in authority. They are
so busy trying to please all
the; people that they lack
strong convictions. We need
to state our beliefs and stand
by them. Too often when we
automobile industry?"
You mean the Japanese?
"Yes, another notoriously
short bunch. That's why they
were so difficult to subdue in the
war two handfuls of dirt and
they had a foxhole. Even a
footprint would do."
I still don't understand what
height has to do with this.
"Because we are a tall nation.
Tall in the saddle. Walking tall.
Standing tall. Able to leap tall
buildings in a single bound. Pour
me a tall one. Tallness is our
tradition. Our nation was built by
great men who were tall. George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Abe Lincoln, Ronald Reagan,
John Wayne. Not a shortie in the
bunch."
Teddy Roosevelt was short
"But he carried a tall stick.
And now our tallness is being
threatened, and Patrick is the only
candidate who has recognized it,
which is why he is going to take
our nation back from the short
before it is too late.”
Before it is too late for what?
"Before we are overrun by the
short people. Our highways filled
with cars that look empty
because they can barely peep over
the dashboard; tiny people giving
orders to the tall, who they
resent; tall people unable to buy
a suit of clothes that fit. Do you
want your children growing up
short?”
They’ve already grown up tall.
Page 5
come together we shy away
from the real issues. We fear
what we may be labeled.
Only when we can express
our true feelings will we
know what has to be done.
Malcolm X waS willing to
take the responsibility of his
actions. He spoke the truth
(or what he thought was the
truth) and never backed
do\vn. He is a good example
of a man willing to die for his
convictions, which came
from the heart not a news
poll.
Some conservatives will
question my admiration for
Malcolm X. Well, I do not
fully agree with Malcolm X. 1
disagree with his international
view of racism. I do not think
that the white race should be
solely responsible for ending
the problem of racism in this
country. And obviously I feel
that Malcolm X's afrocentric
viewpoint on history is
flawed.
But Malcolm X transcends
these disagreements, for
above everything he was a
man, and that is worth
admiring.
Tom Strunk is a fourth
semester history major. His
column appearJ dther week in
The Collegian.
"Your grandchildren then."
We'd have fewer Peeping
Toms.
"You can scoff, but Patrick
has seen the menace, swarming
about his feet, skittering between
his legs, talking strange
gibberish that only they
understand. Do you want your
descendants talking strange
gibberish?"
It was good enough for me.
Besides, George Bush is kind of
tall. I believe he is even taller
than Patrick.
"Yes, but he stands short and
he walks short and he has
betrayed us to the short. I suspect
that he wears elevator shoes.”
But what is Patrick going to
do about this short problem?
"I would think he will begin
by digging a deep ditch along our
borders. Let the little buggers try
to hop out of that"
Well, I’m glad you clarified
the issue.
"Wait, there are many other
issues."
Then tell me.
"Later. I don't want to be
overheard by that fellow sitting
over there."
Which one is that?
"The one who looks like an
Israeli."
Mike Royko is a Chicago
based, nationally syndicated
columnist. His column appears
each week in The Collegian.