The Oklahoma Eagle (Tulsa, Okla.), Vol. 98, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 19, 2019 Page: 4 of 12
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Page 4 »THE OKLAHOMA E4GLE • Thursday, September 19, 2019
OPINION
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V •
Editor
Pubusher
Office Manager
1
Donald Lee
!
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(Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI)
The opionions of our guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of
I
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Graphic Designer
ing cause of death here in the United
States for all ages.
There is one death in this country by
suicide every 12 minutes. Moreover, sui-
cide claims the lives of some 44,965
Americans each year.
Depression, one of the noted causes of
suicide, affects 20 percent to 25 percent
of Americans ages 18 and up in any given
year.
That said, we've got to really be
prayerful that we sense when someone
needs a compassionate hug or smile or en-
couraging word. Depression and hope-
lessness are real. But so is the aid God
wants to render them through us.
Sometimes people can be disrespectful
for no apparent reason. But the disrespect
you may feel could very well be a result
of a lack of self-respect from the other
person.
I often say it is good to be slow to anger
and quicker on the draw relative to under-
standing, because we never know what
kind of home life the person with the poor
demeanor may be coming from.
When that person lashes out at you, it
can be that he is really bent out of shape
about the 10 or 15 things going on in his
private world that have nothing to do with
you and every thing to do with his inabil-
ity to adequately cope.
I'm using the pronoun “his” but “her"
is included. Struggle is not limited by gen-
der. Let’s be on guard, friends. Let’s be
ready to be God’s hands here in this hurt-
ing world.
Donald Lee pastors the Dallas-based
Kingdom Living Christian Center, which
has a presence via teleconference. To call
for prayer. Mondays through Fridays,
from 9 p.m. (Central) to 10 p.m.., dial
218-862-4590, code 2025158.
He also is an author, freelance writer
and editor and ghostwriter. Lee can be
reached also at leedonaldj@gmail.com or
225-773-2248.
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ing for a transformation of our GWEN CARR makes an opening statement as
policing and criminal justice former tennis player James Blake listens during
1 testimony before the House judiciary committee
on police brutality.
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Eddie L. (Madison, Jr. (1930-2016) Editor Emeritus
This week marks the third anniversary of the shooting death of Terence Crutcher by ex-Tulsa Police
Department Officer Betty Shelby, who was barely acquitted of murder. That day stands as a painful re-
minder that we have a long way to go. Tulsans are not treated equally; police still shoot with almost com-
plete imptinity and African Americans are in harm’s way every time they leave their homes. Few changes
of consequence have occurred to make life better on the mean streets of Tulsa.
This week is also the anniversary of the bombing that claimed the lives of Addie Mae Collins (14), Cyn-
thia Wesley (14), Carole Robertson (14) and Carol Denise McNair (11) in Birmingham, Ala. Justice was
slow but eventually the KKK members found guilty over a thirty year period all died in prison after being
convicted.
Unequal justice and deadly racism are still apart of the African American experience in this country.
While advocates for change like Terence Crutcher’s sister Tiffany are ever vigilant, there should be some
wider effort to determine why people hate. Hate crime laws don’t stop anyone from hating. It’s clear you
can’t hurt racists enough to make them stop hating. Perhaps communication can help remedy these prob-
lems of violence and inequality.
To their credit Tulsa police is still at the table working in the community and with programs to find ways
to build trust. Unfortunately, law enforcement is shielded by laws that protect them and not citizens. Tulsa
police chief Chuck Jordan said TPD polices are in line with standards from the commission on Accredita-
tion for Law Enforcement Agencies and International Association of Chiefs of Police. Perhaps, instead of
new laws and regulations, we can amend the codes and standards departments operate under. Also, stop
hiring policemen who are loo prone to violence and who harbor racist views.
Progress has been slow and for some, painful. Hopefully, the tragic deaths of those lost in the battle for
equality will not be for nothing. Changes need to be sweeping and comprehensive.
Murders Of Black Transgender
Neien Spreading
There are times the murders of African Americans are not given the highest priorities by some law en-
forcement agencies. However, for black transgender women it appears to be almost non-existent. What is
even more troubling is that the numbers of African American transgender women being murdered is grow-
ing.
Last week, the body of Bee Love Slater. 23 was found burned beyond recognition in an abandoned car
in Florida. Slater is the 18th known transgender found murdered this year. This crime is early in the inves-
tigation and police so far are not releasing any details. Oddly, Sheriff Steve Whidden said there is no evi-
dence of a hate crime so far. Bodies burned beyond recognition may suggest hatred or rage. Seems strange
and premature to take hate crimes off the table. Thus, is the nature of some murders of black transgender
people. A total lack of empathy for the most reviled members of society by the prejudiced mind. Diversity
training needs to be implemented soon.
Transgender people are subject to ridicule and taunts. However, mo't of the murdered in that commu-
nity are black women. Last year 26 were identified by Human Rights Ca ipaign. There is no official data-
base kept by law enforcement on transgender murders. Getting that startec would be a good start.
Human Rights Campaign is not the only group tracking the murders of tr^sgemkr women. The Amer-
ican Medical Association called the extreme violence aimed at transgender an ‘epidemic” and is forming
new policies to help the transgender community'. The American Civil Liberties Unitn is alsi working to keep
transgender people safe from violence. No doubt, the actual number ot murders in that community is higher
than what is known now. Formmg a nationwide database is essential to make sure resources arc sent to the
most troubled areas.
Freedom Hr Tlie Innocent Is
SHU Open for Business
Its always amazing to hear about a man or woman released from prison after being falsely accused of a
crime. While Willard O’Neil has been wrongly convicted for first degree murder, it seems the Tulsa Dis-
rict Attorney is far from comfortable with admitting a mistake even if it means an innocent man stays in
irison. Unfortunately, that is what happened. He had to accept a guilty plea of murder in the second degree
with a new sentence of time served.
The Oklahoma Innocence Project has taken up O’Neil’s case and it would seem they were able to ex-
onerate him because of genetic testing. The project is manned by law students at Oklahoma City Univer-
sity and they spend a lot of time in Tulsa County. Tulsa ranks fust in the unsavory distinction as the county
lat sends wrongly accused people to prison. It’s pretty hard to say the system is fair when such miscarriages
o on with horrible regularity.
Thank goodness for the Oklahoma Innocence Project and the Oklahoma Journalists for Justice who look
at cases where there is some question about convictions. They have helped free dozens of Oklahomans
rom prison. Some were freed just days ahead of executions. The journalist group is patterned after the
iroup in Illinois that revealed men on death row who were set to be executed. The miscarriage so bothered
le governor he outlawed executions because he could not be sure an innocent person was going to be ex-
ecuted.
A respectful nod to all those who work tirelessly to free innocent people from prison and at times from
execution. Their noble efforts are deserving of high praise.
Terrible Anniversaries
This Week
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Hello, friends. If you're a Christian. I’d |
like to talk to you a bit about being a “liv- I
ing epistle to be read of men,” as the I
scriptures reference. In other words, I'd j
like to encourage you to let your daily ac- I
tions cause others who may not know [
Jesus as Lord to see Him through you.
Even if you're not a Christian, some-
thing written in this column can still in-
fluence you to conscientiously impact
someone else’s life through positive ac-
tion. t
When you purpose in your heart to |
brighten someone else’s day, especially 1
when they've had a "this is the last straw” I
kind of day in the midst of a tumultuous |
month or year, you cause him to change I
how he views his life, his problems. I
Whereas people tend to misinterpret
mole hills as mountains, you cause them
to adjust their focus so that they can see
the truth — that those “mountains” are . .. . . ,
only illusions, surmountable problems, prevention suicide is the 10th lead-
mere mole hills to be conquered.
When you walk in wisdom, having a
discerning heart, you can be the best ex-
ample of wholesome living that you can
possibly be. You represent that tangible
thing that those who are taunted by life's
pressures can look at. grab a hold of and
walk in — that thing called victory, or tri-
umph.
When you have an encounter with
someone who's having a bad day, even
when he or she doesn't express it, you get
the wisdom and the power and divine in-
sight into the very core, into the depths of
that person's heart when his or her out-
ward appearance is showing you some-
thing totally different.
What is shown outwardly belies the
storm that person is encountering within.
That person can be laughing and playing
and filled with joy. on the outside, but in-
side. that person can be contemplating
suicide.
The issues of life can be pounding on
that person and pounding on him and
pounding. But that person could be afraid
that if he reaches out to someone and
shares what’s been eating away at his
peace and threatening his very existence,
the person(s) he reaches out to will pass
judgment on him.
This is why it is important to have "a
discerning heart." to operate in discern-
ment. When one operates in discernment,
that person, in essence, is listening to his
intuition, or that gut feeling within, that
warns him that something may be wrong
with the person he is talking to.
When one is moved with compassion
concerning the affairs of others, it causes
the ones going through turbulent times to
open up. to even begin to have hope as
they become more trusting of the one of-
fering help.
According to statistics gathered by Sui-
cide Awareness Voices of Education, or
SAVE, an organizations dedicated to sui-
lifenWftnWSSfeAftsM^
By Donald Lee
Eagle Guest Writer
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three years demanding justice
for her father.
“She fought until she be-
came ill.” Carr said of Erica. "I
say she died of a broken heart.”
Thursday’s hearing featured
participants from different
backgrounds and with various
political leanings. Sharpton. a
longtime advocate for criminal
justice reform, sat alongside
Patrick Yoes. national presi-
dent of the Fraternal Order of
Police, who has said the deci-
sion to fire Pantaleo for chok-
ing Garner amounted to
"political expediency.”
“For too long communities
across the country have lived
under the weight of discrimi-
natory policing and we're call-
ing for a transformation of our
systems,” Sharpton tweeted on
Thursday.
During President Donald
Trump's time in office, many
nolice reform measures insti-
tuted under President Barack
Obama have been abandoned
or curtailed. The Justice De-
partment has sought to nullify
consent decrees requiring local
police departments to make
their practices more equitable,
and it has shrunk the size of the
policing unit within DOJ s
civil rights division.
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Goodwin, Jeanne M. The Oklahoma Eagle (Tulsa, Okla.), Vol. 98, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 19, 2019, newspaper, September 19, 2019; Tulsa, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1811915/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.