Volume 13, Number 2 (May 1984)

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II~ lrlllll~ II~~IUI~ Post sellers

PICK-ME-UPS THAT CALM US DOWN AND KEEP US DOWN BLOOMINGTON
Coffee, caffeine, chocolate may cause PMS ••• and maybe not ••••••••••• 3
Amtrak station, 1200 W. Front
PANTAGRAPH EXPLOITS GAY-RELATED STORY The Back Porch, 402~ N. Main
Local murder inspires homophobic journalism ••••••••••••••••.•••••• 4-5 Biasi's Drugstore, 217 N. Main
Bus Depot, 523 N. East
INSIDE THE KREMLIN: 'I'HE ONE WHO QUIT STATE FARM Common Ground, 516 N. Main
Searing saga of secretarial sabotage ••••••••.••••.•••••••••••••••• 6-7 Front and Center Building
Law and Justice Center, W. Front
YOU SAID YOU WANTED REVOLUTION Lee Street (100 N.)
Whatever happened to the dreams of the 60s? •••••••••••.••••••••••••• 8 Main and Miller streets
Medusa's Adult World, 420 N. Madison
'REASONS' FOR D~ATH PENALTY ARE INACCURATE Mel-0-Cream doughnuts, 901 N. Main
Capital punishment does not deter crime, etc ••••.•••••••••••••••••••. 9 Mike's Market, 1013 N. Park
Mr. Donut, 1310 E. Empire
RADIO STATION RAMRODS ROBIN-PLAN Nierstheimer Drugs, 1302 N. Main
WRBA dumps "New Wavelength" deejay •••••••••••••••••••••••..••••• l2-13 Pantagraph (in front of building),

BLOOMINGTON WATER POLLUTED AGAIN 301 w. Washington
Health officials ignore dangers of high nitrate levels .••• ~ •••••••• l4
The PaNt Store, Wood & Allin
CITY COUNCIL NIXES HUMAN RIGHTS COVERAGE
Bloomington council refuses to extend civil rights protection •••••• lS Red Fox, 918 w. Market

EX-ISRAEL SUPPORTER FEELS BETRAYED Susie's Cafe, 602 N. Main
U.S. media shortchange Palestinian rights •••••••••••••••••.•••••.•• l6
u.s. Post Office, 1511 E. Empire
SHUT DOWN THE ARSENAL!
Protest groups plan to close Rock Island Arsenal •••••••••..•••••••• 22 (at exit)

AH, SPRING u.s. Post Office, Center & Monroe
Verbal harassment feels a lot like rape ••••••••••••••••••••.•••••.• 24
Wash House, 609 N. Clinton
Cable Comix ••••••••••••••••••• 7 Amerikan Almanak •••••••••• l8 Washington and Clinton streets
News Briefs ••••••••••••••• l0-11 Community News •••••• l9-20-21
My Sister, the Punk Rocker ••• l6 Letters ••••..••••••••••••• 21 NORMAL
Miscellaneous Outrages ••••••• !?
Alamo II, 319 North (in front)
ISU University Union, 2nd floor
ISU University Union, parking lot

entrance
ISU Milner Library (entrance)
Mickey's, 111 E. Beaufort (in front)
Midstate Truck Plaza, U.S. 51 north
Mother Murphy's, 111~ North St.
North & Broadway, southeast corner
Record Service, Watterson Place
Redbird IGA, 310 S. Main
Upper Cut, 318 Kingsley
White Hen Pantry, 207 Broadway

(in front)

• - -- Page 2
-
Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984
The Post Amerikan is an independent
community newspaper providing infor- We like to print your letters. Try to
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Decisions are made collectively by
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Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 3

PMS debate

Pick·me·ups that calm us

down and keep us down

A recent article in the Chicago expected to behave is in direct Only when admitted to the power
Tribune investigated two opposing opposition with how they are expected structure of the public worla ana
schools of thought on tne treatment to appear. allowed to find personal challenge in
of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). their work will they find fulfillment.
Keep them in line
One doctor, coincidentally a woman, Women need to develop self-images that
said that the condition which causes Which b~ings us to the idea of food incorporate power. They mus~ be able
symptoms ranging from depression, as a convenient substitute for some- to view themselves as effect1ve human
irritability, cravings for sugar, thing else, such as love and affec- beings. But they must struggle
water retention, or attacks of tion. This goes along with the more against the world to do so. There
anxiety, can be fairly easily treated sinister idea of food as a device for must be a change in the exterior
with the hormone progesterone. keeping people in line. It is more conditions that bind them, or women
culturally acceptable for women and will explode the bonds themselves.
Representing the opposing method of girls to be given chocolate and So when the aoctor wonders why some
treatment was another doctor, caffeine in certain contexts. Think women can't give up "their" coffee and
coincidentally a man, who scoffed at of the image of the perfect little chocolate, he doesn't know what he is
the idea of ingesting hormones. This girl, dressed up and playing tea asking. It's not that easy to give
doctor (who also happened to be. a party, imitating her mother and her up centuries of oppression.
Californian) said that PMS could be mother's friends at their coffee Of course, many of the social
treated by changes in diet and klatch. Girls, since they are so characteristics attributed to women
lifestyle. much better behaved than boys (or here apply to men and children al~o.
simply tolerate more boredom in an Men and children also suffer obes1ty
"It is so simple, most people don't effort to cooperate) are o~en and various infectional diseases.
believe it," said Dr. Guy Abraham. enticed into sitting with the grownup Poor nutrition contributes to the
women to have their mid-afternoon health problems of everyone. And
"PMS victims do not lead healthy sugar fix, giving them opportunity to women do suffer from peculiar
lives."' observe the ritual firsthand. afflictions that the medical estab-
lishment finds baffling (but will
Progesterone is a sedative, not a When the little girl becomes a young rarely admit to it). Which in turn
cure, he maintains. If women would woman, admirers bring her boxes of keeps women financially and psycolo-
just give up their coffee and chocolates, often as a substitute for gically bound to kee~ing the medic~l
chocolate, he laments, their troubles themselves or to apologize for their establishment in bus1ness, along wlth
would be over. bad behavior. The woman receives a its charlatans.
box of chocolates, which she really If coffee and chocolate cause PMS,
Social factors shouldn't eat because she is on a then every woman who consumes them
diet in order to look good for this should suffer from PMS. This is
Perhaps he has failed to consider the guy, or be able to attract one of his obviously not the case. Coffee and
myriad of social factors that go into friends, if necessary. But who can chocolate are used by women as forms
why women drink coffee and tea and eat resist an unsolicited box of • · of stress-management. PMS is a
chocolate. chocolates? Individual bite-sized stress. The proper question to ask
units, each one saying "hey--you're is: why do some women suffer from
First of all, women are socialized to okay." Sometimes being forced to deny pre-menstrual syndrome--and not
eat more than men. Men forget to eat. oneself traditional awards can create others?
Women have a hard time not eating. As more stress. So the lonely young
children, women are socialized to be woman lies on the couch in a negligee, --Imogene Blackstone
nurturers and providers of food. Our talking on the phone and eating
culture is stuffed with stereotypes in chocolates. At least, that's how they
which women are associated with food. do it in the movies.

Secondly, food, especially sweets, is Think of how animals such as horses
a reward in our culture for good are trained. They are rewarded with
behavior. Thus, women, who generally sugar cubes for "behaving." Two
have smaller egos than men and less women meeting in a coffee shop--the
self-confidence, tend to reward them- young woman on the couch--what images
selves frequently and often. could be less threatening? Remember,
Consequently, their over-indulgence women are supposed to be
leads to weight gain and the most "domesticated."
dreaded of all American institutions,
The Diet. One of the elements of be For many women struggling to maintain
being on a diet, of course·, is the their sanity amid the pressures of
guilt that comes with failure to stay family and work, coffee and chocolate
on it and the inevitable loss of self- remain the only rewards they have, and
esteem that comes with failure to lose they must administer them themselves.
weigh\. Often frustrated by efforts to achieve
real success in the public world that
And why are women so obsessed with is still a man's world, they turn to
losing weight? For men. Because of tbe solace of a sure thing. Coffee
constant messages from the media and chocolate are within the reach,
(which are still largely controlled in various forms, of all economic
by men) that they must be svelte and classes, whereas other stress-
borderline anorexics to be attractive management techniques, such as
sexual partners. Never mind that the quitting one's job, may be a luxury
men evaluating women are often no many can't afford.
prizes themselves.
What's left?
Historically, the pressure is on
women, not only from men, but from So women can't give up coffee and
other women and from themselves. A chocolate. What would they have left?
woman can never be too thin or too
rich. A contradiction develops in Rape Crisis Center
standards for women: how they are
of Mclean (ounty

WE'RE A NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEER GROUP WHOSE MAIN PURPOSE IS TO
OFFER ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT
AND THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES.
FEMALE VOLUNTEERS ANSWER OUR CALLS, BUT BOTH MALE AND FEMALE
VOLUNTEERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR CRISIS ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION
AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.

If you want to talk to one of us

Call PATH 827-4005

and ask for the

.Ra e Crisis Center

Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 4-

Pantagraph exploits

The Pantagraph's recent coverage of the gave the newspaper another chance especially the ones involving gay
killing of a local gay man, Cedric Cooke, to write about the "pending investi- people, rarely live up to the sen-
was about as lurid and sensational as gation" which is still pending. sational treatment that the police
it could be. Only the National and the straight press give them.
Enquirer would have jazzed it up any Unnamed sources
more. The supposed "ring" that operated in
In order to report on a "grand jury Boston a few years ago turned out to
The Pantagraph's front-page spread for pro·be" in which the grand jury has be no ring at all--many of the charges
April 13 included a six-column head- yet to meet, the Pantagraph overcame were dropped: all the men who were
line, a smaller headline, 3 photos, its usual reticence about using charged got off; most of the "young
and a graphic showing how to get to anonymous sources. The April 13 boys" involved were really young
the murder site. The story itself was story relied heavily on quotations ~ who participated voluntarily
much smaller--primarily because it from a "spokesman" from the state's and even initiated some of the
contained so few facts--and had been attorney's office "who wished to contacts.
blown up to its modest size by stuffing remain anonymous." Apparently, the
it with irrelevant details about state's attorney's office was not The Pantagraph followed the typical
cooke's house and free-wheeling comfortable with going public about tactics of covering a "gay sex ring"
speculation about an alleged "sex ring the investigation, but the Pantagraph story. The reports insisted on
ring" that the victim was supposedly was so eager to splash this juicy using the word "boys" and repeating
connected with. story across their front page that that they were "as young as 14."
they did something they usually (The youngest age possible is always
The "gay sex ring" that was trumpeted don't do--rely on unnamed sources. specified.)
in the banner headline had nothing to If the. investigation had concerned
do with the murder--bQt the alleged a less sensational topic, would the Forced sex
"ring" was really w:1.at the- Pantagraph Pantagraph have waited for th.e grand
focused on. The material about the jury to meet? Probably. The Pantagraph stories also made it
killing was contained in 3 short sound like the "young boys" were
paragraphs: the remaining 6 paragraphs The entire matter of a so-called unwilling victims who were forced
centered on the supposed "sex ring." "sex ring" smacks of·police hype, into participating: "teenage boys
and the Pantagraph's decision to
The next day (April 14) the Panta- release details about the pending as young as 14 were taken to Cooke's
~ printed a story that admitted investigation only added to the residence": "Slain Lexington man
that the probe into the "sex ring" hype. subject of probes into use of teen
was not the motive for Cooke's boys" (emphasis added).--
murder. This apparent retraction These "sex ring" allegat:i,ons,
None of these allegations has been

Sex reporting

protects straight image

The Bloomington Pantagraph--and the stereotyped and generalized about in article).
straight press in general--has two the way gay people are.
styles for reporting sex-related .If' the W,ilder story had been a Type A
stories: Paranoid hypersensitivity? I don't story, the headline would have read
think so. Consider two recent cases: "Heterosexual Mass Murderer Slain,"
Type A, the lurid, explicit style instead of the tepid "Kidnap Suspect
that redundantly identifies people and 1. The article about heterosexual Slain." The lead would have said:
activities according to sexual prefer- killer Christopher Wilder didn't ''Christopher Wilder, a millionaire
ence; it's used to nail gay people to m~ntion sex at all, although Wilder race car driver suspected of the
the journalistic wall. was suspected of kidnapping, raping, heterosexual rape and murder of four
and killing four young women. It young women, was shot and killed
Type B, the evasive, implicit style appeared on the front page of the yesterday," and the story would have
that refuses to put sexual labels on Pantagraph on April 14, right across reported that Wilder was wanted for
violent or scandalous behavior; it's from the second story about the murder questioning in "a nationwide string
used to keep heterosexuals from being of Cedric Cooke (see adjoining of 11 heterosexual-related abduc-
tions." It would then have continued
-r-SHIR"f'S-- PoSTERS to specify, label, and identify until
BUTTONS - /1.11/f?RO/\'~ the word heterosexual had been used

'"rAPErrRIES at least 5 times.

IS'ANDANAS- 'liES 2. The second bet-related storv that
completely evaded the sexual
---- preference issue was the series of
articles about the notorious "lingerie
store" on Bloomington's east side.

Instead of ducking its head in the
sand about the sexual preference of
the lingerie store's clientele, the
Pantagraph could have sold a lot more
papers with a Type A headline, "Sex
Parlor Caters to Heterosexual
Voyeurs," running across the front
page. The story could then have made
an explicit identification of the
straight male customers who pay for
the opportunity to ogle, touch, and
masturbate in front of scantily-clad
females, and repeated that
identification at least three times
for slow readers who can't figure out
that men who pay to jack off in front
of women are probably heterosexuals.

That•s the advantage of Type A
sensationalism: no doubts or
confusion, and redundancy (like
"homosexual sex ring") is an admirable
trait.

I don't know why the Pantagraph
doesn't use Type A reporting all the
time. Surely it sells more papers,
and heterosexual sex-crimes happen
every day. There'd be no need to wait
around to exploit some gay-related
story that relies on unnamed sources,
anonymous spokesmen, and grand juries
that haven't met yet.

--Ferdydurke

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 5

gay-related story

proved--the grand jury hasn't heard C!:~t ~a.ily l)anta_grap~
any of the evidence yet. We may never
know how many "boys" were actually 36 pages, 4 sections Bloomington-Normal, Ill., Friday, April 13, 1984 Twin Cities Final 25'
involved. We may never find out if
they really "were taken" to Cooke's Victim linked to gay sex
house or went on their own, or what
being "taken" really means (were they
merely given a ride or were. they
bound and gagged?). And what does
"use of teen boys" suggest? The
articles' language assumes a lot
about the activities and the people
that may be totally false.

The Pantagraph's description of the Slain Lexington man subject
"ring" plugs into a lot of o].d fears of probe into use of teen boys
and lies about rapacious homosexual
men who prey on innocent young boys. By SCOTT RICHARDSON into an alleged sex ring that
Stories about heterosexual child Pantograph staff operated from his house and in·
molesters--who are far more numerous volved area boys as young as 14
--are seldom reported in such sugges- LEXINGTON - A 25-year-old
tive terms. (See adjoining story Sources said the boys were taken
for more on biased reporting of gay- man bas been charged in yester- to Cooke's house - complete with
related articles in the straight an indoor swimming pool and hot
press.) day's slaying of a rural Lexington tub - where they took part m
homosexual acttvittes w1th area
Some other details about the man who had been the prime m•n
Pantagraph's story also reveal
the unusual and exploitative ~ ~ ~,;:.~_~ ~-0~.·~bo~MteecnL-eaagneCountmy, ' ...·" The grand jury probe would have
nature of the coverage: The Pantagraph ·~ culminated a three-month in·
vestigation by the Illinois Division
l. The mug shot photo of the has learned. -::; of Criminallnvesttgation and mem-
suspect is an unprecedented contri- bers of Task Force 6, a cooperative
bution from the police to the ,1'Rex Leon Bell, ~ effort of DCl and police from
Pantagraph. Somebody really wanted Bloomtngton, Normal and the
to play this story up: mug shots who McLean ..... Sheriff's Department, sources satd.
are not normally given to the press
(or else the ~ost Amerikan would s~a~id~!wyaBs~a:~•'·re!- - -Sel-l - The information was confirmed
have obtained the police copies of by a state's attorney's office
snitch photos instead of getting latlvety new resident" of the coun- spokesman, who said the grand
our own). jury had been scheduled to begin
ty and who ts formerly of Knox· bearing evidence in the case
2. Much was made of Cooke's houAe~ yesterday
ville, Tenn.. was charged with one
including a 3-column photo. Was The seokesman, who wished to
it necessary to say that Cooke had count of murder m the death of remain anonymous, said Cooke bad
signed a statement confessmg to
a swimming pool and hot tub, and to Cedric Cooke, 52, R.R. 2. Lexington taking indecent liberties with
place that information in the same mmors Several othi:!r area men
Sources said Bell had been have been implicated and were to
staying at th~ house for about a be mcluded m the grand jury ac
month twn. sources satd

Cooke was stabbed m the neck, At a news conference yesterday
sources satd. appart>ntly whtle be mormng. Brienen sa1d he would
slept in a bedroom of hLS expans1ve not comment on a mot1ve m the
A-frame house He suffered some slaying Investigators wert- \loOrkmg
superftctal ruts and one that yesterday to dettormme tf any eon
severed hi~ carotid arter). the nection exists betv. een the grand
main vessel for blood to the bram, JUry probe and Cooke s death.
according 'to f'oronE:'r Wilham An sources sl:ud
derson
BPII v.as arrested at the ~t't>n"'
Bel! wa~ return~d to McLean shortl~ after police re\'el' rd a Cednc Cooke was k1fled m h1s
County Jall yesterday afternoon m phone cali about 1 30 am \ <;>~te:­ rurol Lexmgton hou~e, obove.
lle~..< of $501J.()()(; bond to av.an a da) reporttng a pOs\Jh)~;>
Ma) to court appt>aranct• homl<'Jde' at l'ookf'' rt>Sident'(' R1ght, the entrance to Cooke's
Bnenen sa1d property
Sourct>~ told The Pantagraph that
Cooke was the pnmary tare-et of a Mr Cooke v.as takf'n to K1bler
McLPan l tJUnt~ grand JUr.l probe Smith Funt:>ral Home His obttuan
IS or, DJ

Instead of putting its 14-inch story on page 2 or 3, where it belonged,
the Pantagraph chose to add 2 huge photographs, a 6-column headline, an
unprecedented police mug shot, and a useless graphic and--presto!--they
turned a modest article into a front-page paper-seller that played on
the public's fears and misconceptions about gay people.

sentence that said the "boys were viously proud of this latest excursion
taken" to his house "where they took into yellow journalism. They also
part in homosexual activities with knew they were going to sell a lot of
area men"? papers with the story. Could that
have motivated their sensationalism?
3. The April 13 story was
copyrighted. The Pantagraph is ob- --Ferdydurke/Mark Silverstein

Secret police

probe citizens' sex lives

FINES GAY ENTERTAINMEN The Illinois Division of Crim1nal use to investigate this alleged "sex
Investigation's (DCI) special Major ring?"
IN CENTRAL IlliNOIS Crimes Task Force spent three months
investigating what the Pantagraph During the Hendricks investigation,
OPEN NIGHTLY 'TIL 4A.M. called a "gay sex ring," according to investigating officers asked the
an April 13 story. library for its records of who had
PRESENT THIS AD AT THE BAR checked out a certain book. Have ocr
FOR A DRINK. LIMIT ONt PER The Major Crimes Task Force has, until agents asked the library for a list of
now, confined its work to the David patrons who have checked out books
CUSTOMER PER NIGHT Hendricks ax murder case and about homosexuality?
underoover narcotics investigations.
Spying on citizens' sex lives is a new What sorts of files were kept? How
activity for the covert unit. many names are in the files? Are
people included in the files just
Reading the implications of the for being gay?
Pantagraph's lurid prose, one would
think that sexual activities between Would_the Major Crimes Task Force
consenting males is a major crime, or investigate, with equal vigor, reports
ought to be. that 17-year-old-women were
voluntarily having sex with men over
It's not. But if one of those males 18? While these questions may seem to
is not yet eighteen years old, the law verge on paranoia, they point out the
can intervene. The "sex ring" range of what is possible. And we may
investigation reportedly turned up never know the truth.
evidence that some underage men had
been taking part in sexual activities. With a secret police force conducting
an undercover investigation, reporting
My fear is that the operatives in the to a State's Attorney who releases
secret police unit, carried away by only anonymous statements about a
their own prejudices, may have pending grand jury hearing (which
broadened their investigation. If the would be closed to the public) which
ocr Task Force agents shared any of may not be held because the primary
the values implicit in the suspect is dead, the public may never
Pantagraph's sensational coverage, learn whether or not the DCI probe
they may have come to regard all gay went beyond the scope of legitimate
men as worthy of investigation. criminal investigation.

What methods did the undercover police --Mark Silverstein

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 6

Inside the Kremlin: the one

Remember Beulah, the work£are legal thought never in her wildest dreams Her interview went well, though she
secretary? What ever happened to her, would she hear that greeting. thought it odd that the typing and
you wonder? Beulah got parole, and From the valley of workfare to the blood pressure test were taken at
a paycheck. She became the envy of mountaintop of home, auto, life, the same time. They seemed as
her friends. Yes, Beulah turned in and fire. Yes, it was like a eager to hire Beulah because she
her foodstamps, and turned into a dream. knew they wanted a human robot with
Reagonite overnight. Did our Presi- low blood pressure.
dent appoint her Attorney General Or a nightmare. In this corporate
since she had legal experience? No. Luckily, her references checked out
The capitol was not good enough for Ripley's Believe It or Not the names just fine. Her third grade teacher
Beulah. She wanted to go where the had been dead for twenty years;
real power is. The Kremlin. have been changed, but the story is thus was unable to confirm B~ulah's
Secretive, with the,power to cancel us true character.
at any time, with the ultimate weapon true. If you don't believe there
at its disposal, the computer, this
marble monument is loved and feared is a Twilight Zone in Twinkletown,
in our community.
you will after you read this. •
"Welcome to State Farm," said the
secretary in Personnel. Beulah *** It didn't matter. The Personnel
interviewer, a pleasant young man
Beulah had filled out an employment named Don, liked Beulah. Dan's
application on. a whim at the Old manner was so folksy and warm that
Kremlin in the older part of the Beulah wanted to confess she washed
city. The Fire and Casualty her clothes in Tide, not Brand ~.
Building, as it is now called, was Don wanted to hire Beulah because
the original State Farm Building. she had broken new records for
Atop the solid marble and brick
building, there is an air raid typing fast. Mainly, Don Personnel
siren which warns against enemy
APRIL planes. Beulah thought she saw

Wed. 25 THE a tiny figure in a world war II
uniform at the top floor surveying
the skies with binoculars. They
take no chances at the Old Kremlin.
You can't be too careful when you are
protecting the New Kremlin, corporate
headquarters on the East Side.

In Personnel her application was
received as joyfully as one finding
a dead fish in her purse. So, back
to reality.

Beulah began a new workfare assignment
at a social service agency which
needed 10,000 bulky files Xeroxed.
She was shocked to learn the Kremlin
wanted to interview her. There was a
part time opening. Beulah knew there
were never any openings at the
Kremlin. She figured the WAC with the
binoculars had fallen out of the win-
dow in her enthusiasm to see if a
Britt airplane was going to attack.

Thur. 26 CHANGES JAZZ BAND

Fri. 27 CHANGES 5-7:30 Computer st~.adent on workfare
THE INVISIBLE PARROTS

Sat 28 THE INVISIBLE PARROTS Let them eat silicon chip.s

Sun. 29 THE GDANSK BAND Remember Beulah? Meet another work- to work up the manual labor ladder.
farer, Randy (not his :eal name). He At the Bloomington Housing Authority
Mon. 30 MIKE HOGAN ran out of money.for h1s computer he polished his paint scraping skills,
studies at ISU, and discovered the and learned how to get a hernia
Tue. 1 JOHN BRIGGS ORIGINALS best education is in the street, not shoveling snow, moving trash, and
Wed. 2 THE JONES BOYS the classroom. Randy learned what our cleaning old apartments. This made
President means by job training for him feel like a real man. The boys
Thur. 3 THE SPOONS the unemployed 1 "Every Amer~k~n i~ even invited him for a beer after
entitled to a broom, and tra1n1ng 1n work, but Randy did not have the two
Fri. 4 CHANGES 5-7:30 how to use it." Thus did yet another bits, nor the strength to buy it.
Sat. 5 BOB AND JEFF SHOW workfarer bite the dust. Literally.
Randy found out that free labor has a
BOB AND JEFF SHOW Randy had done well in his computer high price--one's mental and physical
studies, and had received above- health. He became ill and missed some
Sun. 6 BUG WATER, LARRY ESTES average grades, but he had not yet days of "work·." There are no sick
Mon. 7 and JEFF LOVELL received his degree. This meant that days on workfare. If Randy had
State Farm would not even let him dust suffered a serious back injury on
RICH MARGHERIO off the disks in data processing. workfare, who would be resnonsible
Randy had what experts say the for the worker's compensation? The
Tue. 8 BOB BOGAERT unemployed need to get jobs, computer Office of General Assistance? The
training. But this presented the Bloomington Housing Authority? Or we,
Wed. 9 SILVER (Rich & Mitch) workfare program with a problem. Non- the taxpayers?
profit agencies wanted a female for
Thur. 10 THE GDANSK BAND the clerical jobs, just like in the Randy was terminated from the workfare
For-Profit world. program, meaning the Office of General
Fri. 11 CHANGES 5-7:30 SCAMP Assistance would not help pay his rent
Sat. 12 SCAMP Thus did Randy become the most over- for 90 days, insuring eviction from
Mon. 14 MIKE HOGAN. qualified janitor on the workfar; his.apartment. Since budget cuts have
roster. Instead of data process1ng hit legal aid for the poor, this is a
Tue. 15 RICH MARGHERIO Randy learrted dust processing. double injustice. It is clear that
Fri. 18 FOOLISH PLEASURE workfare is a cancer spreading
Alas, he flunked the course. Randy rapidly. It must be stopped. Now.
was fired from his janitorial job at Workfarers must be given real job
the YWCA for not working hard enough. training, not punishment for being
It is not easy to be fired from unemployed.
unemployment, but workfare does work
in mysterious ways. Should workfarers sweep up the crumbs
from their own breadlines, while
Randy had even offered to program the across town, State Farm Insurance
computer at the YWCA which was sending cleans up?
out work at great expense. A computer
programmer at workfare prices would --Joan M. Glize
seem to be a good deal. Not so.
Sun. 20 OLD TIME GALERY NITE "You're a janitor not a programmer."

NEW TALENT WELCOME! But workfare gave him another chance

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 7

who quit State Farm

wanted to get out of the office WUAiDOYOU IT'S FINE fF
and on the golf course.
Thus did Beulah's career at the T~INK.OF YOU HAVE
Kremlin begin. Sort of.
THE WORK. AJOB/
They did not want to take any chances
on this semi-permanent, part time, ETHIC? ' /
temporary job, even if it was just
for two weeks. out the window--madly typing. gathered up her calender, pictures
of her children, and her other
"We don't want another Mon·a," said The "Christine" typewriter had seen belongings, put them in a box and
Beulah's new boss, another pleasant too many memos, had stored and re- took them to Personnel in a funeral
young man {pleasant young women are trieved one too many times. Its procession.
allowed at the Kremlin, but they keys would refuse to work or
usually don't hire people). Marvin suddenly begin printing out some Christine the IBM Memory Typewriter,
was his name. Thin, pale, heavy sentence that Mona had stored long seemed to jam up suddenly when Mona's
glasses, drowning in ·a po.lyester ago. According to the other secre- belongings were removed. Beulah
suit, this was a man who wanted to taries, the machine had been bonkers pushed. the buttons, but nothing
take no chances. A look of dread for some time. The IBM repairman. happened. Marvin pushed the buttons.
came over his face. was he looking had written it off as some kind of Still nothing happened.
at the new Mona? lemon. One woman said, "It's be-
cause Mona typed on it: she probably Beulah thought she turned off the
"Are you married, divorced, single, put a spell on it." Beulah laughed. machine to leave for lunch, but as
dating, with or without children: No one else did. Marvin noticed she was putting on her coat, the
are you on the pill, off the pill, that the typewriter was not working typewriter started printing out
or just use will power?" Any com- properly, but he thought everything madly: "K-I-L-L T-H-E K-R-E-M-
bination seemed to distress Marvin. should be on the computer anyway. L-I-N"
He could do computer programs and
figure actuarial tables, but the Marvin told Beulah to forget the When Beqlah got outside :>n the
complexities of female reproduction, crazy typewriter. He would put sidewalk, 'She looked up at the side
and family, seemed beyond him. her on the tube. He sounded solemn-- of the Fire and Casualty Building.
like a talent agent for the Tonight The woman with the binoculars was
Then there was Mona. No one had Show. Beulah had always wanted to gone.
seen or heard from her in a week. be on television. Alas, Beulah
Pictures of two small children discovered that logging onto the Suddenly the air raid siren wailed.
were still on the desk. There enormous computer system at the But no one on the busy street looked
were whispers about family problems Kremlin was harder than getting on up at the deafening noise. Except
and an unemployed husband. No one Johnny Carson. Beulah.
at the Kremlin wanted Mona back
because she had been absent so much, At least Johnny does not pull the She waved and said, "So long, -Mona,"
nor did they seem interested in plug in the middle of a song. After
her whereabouts. Would a woman working all afternoon in the darkened They are still talking at the Kremlin
with two small children and an cloakroom filled with computer ter- about that New Mona who left for lunch
out-of-work husband quit the best minals, Beulah saw an example of and never came back.
paying company in town? Mona's Mona's Revenge. Beulah got logged
name was mud at the Kremlin. off "by the system" and was told it --Joan M. Glize
happened all the time. A split
There was also a difference of second systems failure that forgets
opinion about whether or not her all your work--so efficient.

job was open. Don Personnel had But Beul"ah could not forget Mona.
said Mona's job had been filled: Her ghost seemed to be everywhere,
that Beulah was to fill in for the even when Marvin and the others
two weeks before the new secretary
started. But Marvin had not inter-
viewed anyone. Was the new Mona a
phantom? Was it Mona who fell out of
the window with the binoculars?

Beulah didn't care about Mona
either. She needed a job. And
why not start at the top?

So Beulah sat down at Mona's desk
on Monday morning and started to
learn the IBM Memory Typewriter.
By the time it was over Beulah
decided that this machine should
star in a Stephen King novel.
The typewriter behaved so bizarrely
that Beulah was afraid it would fly

l~tz Ta Yo~R SET: SMART ALEt 3. THE \,\/HINER
1. T"E "'AflNER
u\;T 5D FAR DH HELL~ tJDT THE ~f_£F
THAT j)ODR, JAIMI~ C.Dfv\MERCIAL RGAIN~~
ANYHow,
A~oT
GI~SU K~IFE~

I

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 8

You said

you wanted revolution

I don't think that the American A highly developed and extensive ,,d-

cultural revolution of the '60s and ucational system is the foundation of
'70s is dead. I think it has fallen
into tremendous disorganization be- an anarchist society. That education-
cause nobody knew how to live within al system will support an anarchist
the definition of "community" or "co- structure by feeding the individuals
operation." We talked cooperation, in that society with the means to
but we competed. Ideas, theories, and
slogans were more important to us than power and self-discipline. I believe
people; and our coops, communes, and that this type of anarchy is· the

consciousness-raising groups eventual- natural development of a progressive
ly lost most of their disillusioned civilization, and that it will happen
members.
in our world, in due time, of its own
accord.

While the communal movement is still Starting today

functioning in America, there are to- What can we do today? Today we can
form food coops, publishing houses,
day hundreds, and probably thousands, and free schools. Our children are
of isolated "ex-hippies" living in our growing up and we need to teach them
society, working in factories and of- what they need to know about surviv-
fic9s, many of them in nuclear ing in our world, in practical terms.
family units, living against their
beliefs, trying to make it on their We need to teach them the truth, as
we see it, about history, govern-
OW1. I am one of those individuals.

I am a radical. I believe in a business. They respect others inher- ment, society, and the future.
utopian society. I believe in setting eson.tly, without rules to make them do And we must teach them that they
goals of perfection and striving for are free, that they have personal
those goals. I believe in life, power, that they are equal, and
chan~e, commitment, and the power of that they never have to give up
the 1ndividual. Revolution has always their dreams.
been a beautiful word to me. It means
radical change. We also need free-school books,

I want to live in that society that is I have seen this principle at work in children's books. We must write them,
radically changed, a society that is and publish them. We need health care
better than the one we have today. I the children's free school class that centers and auto mechanic training
believe that this life is my opportun- I teach. I see the children gradually .schools. We need midwives and elec-
ity and my obligation to leave the shifting their dependence on outside tricians. We need to learn to build
world a better place than I found it-- authority to dependence on themselves. houses.
a changed place. I am watching them learn to cooperate
because they want to, because they are I don't believe it's over. I believe
I am also a single mother, working for it's just starting. It is time for
minimum wage and going to school, experiencing that cooperation that the movement to grow up. Then we can
seeking to support my children and works. They have a strict sense of make it work.
fulfill my dreams. In a world that being equal, and it's obvious that
We can communicate and cooperate
they enjoy it very much.

offered me little to believe in, I wherever we are. We can build some-

found sanity and order in my role as Anarchy that works thing better. In the town I live in,

a parent, and it was hard for me to To watch my little free school class there was no support group for
progress thrills me, because it con- writers, so we started one. My
understand the movement's reluctance firms what I have always believed. I chtldren needed more than the public
to include, understand, and appreciate believe that cooperation is life and school, so I started a Saturday after-
elitism is suicide. I believe that noon free school class.
children. However, I understand that
there is harmony between change, free- Maybe I am an exceptionally motivated
we all came to the movement with our dom, and anarchy; and structure, or- individual. Maybe I'm just a lonely,
pain, and pain can sever many rela- isolated ex-hippie. Whatever I am, I
tionships. . der, and discipline.

The women's movement and the revo-

lutionary movement could learn a lot ·Productive anarchy has a naturally intend to live the life I believe
from children and from the parent- o~dered structure that comes out of in. We knew ten and twenty years ago
tne cooperation of self-disciplined that we could not find the life we
child lifestyle. Of course, I am individuals. Self-discipline is the wanted. We had to make that life.
referring to the PC relationship at That's still true.
its best. As a child advocate, I heartbeat of the successful, working
want to point out that when that re- anarchy. It produces order .. Without Irene Richter
lationship is not productive or some- order there is no anarchy. There is
thing to be proud of, it is not the
only chaos.
child's fault and not the child's re-

sponsibility to make it better. It is .............................-.......................................................
the parent's doing and their responsi-
bility. >

Natural authority BE A STAR

As a parent, I have learned the mean- in your own Post-Amerikan T-shirt!

ing and value of authority and power. Turn heads
as you walk
If you know something that someone down the street!
else doesn't know but needs to know,

then you are in a position of natural

authority; you are a teacher. There
is such a thing as unnatural or un-

needed authority: that which seeks
to punish and control. This highly
ego-gratifying type of authority is

what we are resi~ting in government

and in the profit-oriented economic
system. But natural authority has a

place and a purpose in our lives.
Personally, I believe that education
is the means to personal power, and
cooperation is the means to group
power.

In a cooperative group, we must tol-
erate our differences by focusing on
our common goals. We should feed our
egos with the pride of accomplishment
and the excitement of having power
over our own individual choices,
rather than running in the race to be
faster, bigger, and better than the
next guy. This is the philosophy of
the free school. And it works.

Free schools, without rules, teach
self-discipline. They produce self-
motivated individuals who can function
in a group. People skilled in self-
discipline_ know how to mind their own

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 9

'Reasons' for death penalty

are inaccurate cpf

Twice as expensive would put into a hat the ~ameE of

J. "Wh;y: should the ,:taxpayers the roughly JOO people who've been
support .§: ccnvicted !!l~rderer !·or convicted of murder in the South
life when Yi.!2. ~ execut~ _!;he 'j?"e'rson?" carolina courts over the last 6 years,
Leaving aside the question of whether drew out the names of just 28,
we ought to be killing a hurr:ar. being
because we don't want the expense of and executed them.
paying for that perso~'s food i~
Post note: The author of this prison, what people who make th~s Well, we didn't actually use a lot~
article, David Bruck, is an attorney argument don't realize is that it is tery to decide which 28 persor,E
who practices in Columbia, South almost certainly more expensive in should be on death row in South
Carolina. He has specialized in the the long run to execute someo~e than carolina, but when you look at who's
defense of death penalty cases. it is to keep the person in prison there and who's not, it sometimes
for life. seems as if a lottery would have been
~1e death penalty is one of those sub- almost as fair.
jects that just about every-; A recent study in New York state
one has an opinion on. Dur~ng the concluded that just the trial and the For example, state and local police
three years I have been defending first appeal in a_death penalty case records reveal that in South Caro-
people on trial for their lives would end up cost~ng the ta~pay~rs lina some 286 ueople were arrEsted
or already o~ death row, these more than twice as much as ~mpr~son­ and charged with murder of a single
are the opinions that I've heard ing the defendent for li~e ~n the victim while committing robbery
expressed most often& state prison system. Th~s ~s so between 1977 and the end of 1981.
because every death penalty case That's a crime that you can get the
No such evidence has an elaborate se~ of legal pro- death penalty for, but by the time
cedures attached to try to ensure all the tria~s were over, only 7 of
1. "If we used the dea t;-, penalty that we don't execute someone in these 286 had actually been sent to
more-often;"Peop!e would think errorn
While some may argue that protec- death row. Of those 7, 5 w~re blacks
tw~ce~re commit~murder, tions should be cut back, we need to
remember that every reduction in the who had murdered white store-
and so l~ves wo1-:ld be saved." legal procedure surrounding capital owners; 4 of those were tried and
cases will bring closer the day when condemned to death by all-white
The trouble with that argument we execute an innocent person, only juries.
is that people who commit murder to discover our error when it's too
almost never think even once. Most late to do anything about it. Some might ·suggest that the answer
murders are committed on the 'to this situation is to execute every-
spur of the momenta in fights between Like a lottery one who commits a certain crime. The
spouses, family members or friends; 4. "Even if it doesn't deter crime
in panic during a botched robbery; or save money, we-should have the trouble with such a solution {apart
in a drugged or drunken rage. death penalty because ~rderers do~'1
Upping the punishment would not deserve to live." from thE> fact that the u.s. Supreme
prevent these murders, and we're The idea of saying that some people
fooling ourselves if we think "deserve 1' to live while others don't Court has already declared it uncon-
otherwise. is one that I have a lot of trouble stitutipnal) is that the more people
accepting. I think that people who we exec'ute, the more mistakes we're
Yes, there are a very few murders feel this way ought to ask themselves going to make. As lor~ as we're care-
that are carefully planned out in whether they'd feel the same way ful to make as few errors as possi-
advance. But the people who com- about capital punisr,rr1ent if South ble, we're also going to let most
mit these m~rders only do so Carolina passed a law that said we of the ones who "deserve" the death
because they don't think they'll
get caught. What deters these penalty slip through the net, too.
few criminals is not the death
penalty, but the prospect of The ones who are left to die will be
getting caught.
executed not because of what they did,
One reason we can be sure that the but because they are the wrong color,
death penalty really does not or because they killed someone who
save innocent lives is by looking was powerful or popular, or because
at the historical record. Through-
out this century, states which thE':y coW.dn 't afford a competent law-
used the death penalty actually yer, or because they just weren't
had higher murder rates than states lucky.
which did not use it.
Canada, England, and France have al-
If the advocates of capital punish-
ment are right whe~ they say it ready abolished the dea.th penali ty n
actually deters cr~me,
there ought to be some evidence The countries that use it the most
that crimes are less common in nowadays are the ones that have the
states or cities where the death least respect for for human life,
penalty was actually used. But no like South Africa and Iran. It"s
such evidence has ever been time that we put the death penalty
produced. behind us and get on with the search
for real solutions to crime,
2. "Well 1 ~ if it'.§. not ~
effective deterrent to others --David Bruck; abridged and rE:!printed
at least the death pena~ty ~ from the Greenville News, 18 Sept.
Rure that theliiU'r'derer f1im~ 1983. --

woriT1 ever kill anycr.e eTse • -- --

This is a true enough ~ta~ement, We/c{lllfe in Spring
but it's not a reason to _have
the death penalty, since we can We •each. you to _play,. 105 Broadway • Normal
also protect soc~ety by pu~ting
a murderer in pr~son for l~fe. the:n sell you the right guitar. U'ITAR
In any event, this argument over- WORLD
looks the fact that even now, there
are many more convicted murderers ' . -- --
in prison than are on death row.
If we executed everyone one on
death row tomorrow, we wouldn't
have brought about any substan-
tial change in ~he numbe~· of cor.-
victed killers ~n our pr~sons.

~. ..

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 10

Home brew· revisited

Eight years ago I wrote a story for I only sterilize my bottles the first hose and over-filled bottles. When you
the Post-Amerikan on how to make beer. time I get them. Afterwards I just get to the bottom of the jug, be care-
I'd like to write it again to relate clean them with cold water soon after ful not to siphon the.sediment on the
what I have learned by experience. I use them. I always sterilize my bottom into your bottles.
5 gallon jug before each batch is
Some of you may have had a bad brewed, though • . No sense ruining 2 After you put the bottle caps on, set
experience fasting someone's first cases of beer skipping this simple the bottles back in the tub and hose
batch of beer. I believe, though, step. Just put 2-4 tablespoons of them down.
that with practice, you can consistent- baking soda and a quart of cold water
ly make a he·althy, inexpensive, tasty Now you have to wait a week for the
brew. in the jug, shake it, and let it sit a yeast to settle to the bottom of each
few minutes. Then rinse it out with bottle. When you serve the brew it
The hardest part of making ho~e brew cold water. has to be decanted carefully into a
is acquiring tli~e tools and ingredients drinking glass without disturbing the
One source is Wolfson's Nci:tural Food Now you're ready to brew. Take a large yeast (sediment) on the bottom of the
Store in Champaign, Illinois (two kitchen pot (you might as well bottle.
blocks west of the U of. I quad). You sterilize the pot and your stirring
will find everything you need at the spoon), heat up~ quart of water, then If you do stir up the yeast, your
best prices there. A reliable mail scoop the malt extract into the hot drink will be cloudy and bitter. That
order source of supplies is E.C. Kraus, water and add the sugar. Stir it until doesn't bother some people, though,
PO Box 7850, Independence, Missour~, the sugar and malt are dissolved. especially after they've already had
64053. Ask for their catalog. I a few.
have always received supplies from Put 4 gallons of luke-warm (70-90
them within a week a·fter I ordered degrees F.) into the jug. If it's too I've found my beer to cost 17¢ per
them. cold or too hot, the yeast will die. bottle. The alcohol content is the
Then pour your malt and suqar solution same as commercial beer, but the
INGREDIENTS through a large funnel into the jug. feeling is different without all the
Add more water until the level comes chemicals that commercial breweries
48 bottle caps up to the shoulder of the jug. Then use.
48 clean 12'oz. bottles add the yeast and seal the jug with a·
4 cups sugar (2~ lbs) water trap. I also feel better not contributing
5 gallons luke-warm water to the.three large corporations who
1 ca~ hop-flavored malt extract The water trap is important because it control 90% of the beer market.
1 packet beer yeast lets the expanding gases out while
protecting your brew from contamina- --Greg Stoewer
TOOLS tion by airborn bacteria and fruit
flies. (Otherwise you will have some- More of
bottle capper thing other than beer brewing in your
siphon hose . jug.) Junk Mail. The true sign of a junk
5 gallon jug culture is that the airwaves, store
water trap (fermentation lock) Keep an eye on the rate of gas bubbling. shelves and TV screens aren't enough
bottle brush out of the fermentation lock while your· for it. Junk culture, in its perva-
2 funnels (one large, one small) batch brews for a few days. ·Store your' siveness, has to invade my mailbox,
jug in a warm place so that the yeast· too.
To save yourself a lot of work, clean won't get chilled. When the bubble
your beer bottles within a day or two rate slows down around six to three In between the True Value Hardware
after using them. Rinse them out three times ~er minute, it will be ready catalogues, Farm & Fleet flyers and
times with cold water. Visually to bottle. Dairy Queen coupons, there is a spe-
·inspect them for cigarette butts or cial genre of junk mail that not every
sediments. If you get some old bottles Set the jug a few feet above the beer Amerikan, but perhaps your typical
with fuzzy mold and dead bugs in them, bottles to prepare for siphoning. Put Post Arnerikan reader, might be
you'll have to put some water in ~hem about a teaspoon of sugar in each inflicted with--I call it "Leftie.
to loosen up the cru?· bottle with a small funnel. I usually Junk Mail."
set the bottles in the bottom of a
You may have to let them soak a while. bathtub, and the jug on a chair next No folks, this junk mail has nothing to
After the crud is out, sterilize them to the tub. This makes clean-up easy. do with new detergents or sugar cer-
by scrubbing with your bottle brush and Beer is usually spilled from the siphon eal. This junk mail offers you the
and a solution of baking soda and opportunity, via long-distance and
water (one teaspoon soda and one cup checkbook, to participate in the great
of water per bottle). issues of our times.

Tonight I si_mpl;): Eorried about nuclear 111ar? Concerned
I'd lik.eto about Central America? Enraged about
can't 1magJne deteriorating race relations? Just sit
reetssure the sending U.S. back, whip out the old checkbook,
and drop $25 (preferably $50) in the
American people com bat troops mail, and you too can be part of the
solution.
about our back into
Lebanon. In·January, uninspired by winter's
Mideast policy. depths, I started a new collection--
leftie junk mail. Nuclear War leads
STOVES • REFRIGERATORS • COUCHES • DINETTE SETS the collection with over 20 organ-
... izations begging for my dollars to
en Buy- Sell- Trade New and Used end this menace.
-<
U:::»l But this is also an election year,
"m'D so the Democratic Party wasn't far
0-... behind, with letters from the whole
I-... spectrum: John Glenn to Alan Cran-
z ston (no Jesse Jackson) , plus Ted
m Kennedy and the party's congressional
Cl: wing. They are a little more subtle,
and ask for my opinion (as if my
« :eInI opinion fits into one of four little
boxes) before they ask for my money.
ezn ~\IIILILII ~() ~
0 Along the way I'v~ been asked to
...>CiS en buy land for wild-life, support
...·~ 801 W. Market m abortion rights with Kate Hepburn,
and fight the Nazis and the Klan
Ul Bloomington, IL 61701 :mII with Maria Von Trapp. Tl1e one that
0en continually irks me is the Progres-
Ph. 829·5382 sive magazine, which offers me a
subscription at least twice a month,
5.1.3S INOOHG3B • 5100.1. • 5H3NI103H • AH3NIHOYIN even though I already have one.

I hope I'm not some hopeless loon,
isolated in Central Illinois, unaware
of how effective my contribution
could be. I know that many organi-
zations and publications are walking a

Dollars, roof raised Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 11

at Post benefit

There's always something special about Scott's timing and rhythms on the
a Post-Arnerikan benefit, and I know drums and you've got almost pure
focused energy.
what it is.

It's our readers and supporters. .You think things went downhill from

No matter what the weather or what there? No vmy! Not with the Gdansk
night of the week (\vhat could be a Band corning on strong. Put together
more inconvenient night for a fund- Jeff's vocals and stage presence,
raiser than a Sundav?) the folks al-
ways turn out in force. And they Francois' vocals and guitar work1
come in high spirits, ready for a the multi-talented Laurie h. on bass,
good time. I don't think the Galery and the one and only 'Cousin' Stan on
has seen so much rockin'n'rollin' on drums and you've got power rock'n'roll
a Sunday night for a long time. that comes at you like one of those
10-ton diesel engines in th~ freight
Talk about rock'n'roll! Do you be- yards. You just got to get up and
lieve those bands!?! No slow build- move.
up for this show. DiaTribe opened
things up. No, that's not the way to The treat of the night 1 though, was putting up with the inevitable confu-
say it. They jumped in feet first the long-awaited reappearance of Toxic sion that seems to go with these bene-
and sent a tidal wave of music into Shock. The Shock took a several month fits.
the crov1d that left us feeling like break while they worked with their new
we had just been washed up on the bass player, Cindy. It was Cindy's And thanks to all who helped with
beach after they were through. first public appearance but you'd time, money, and muscle including:
n~ver have known it. She played X (doorperson of the year) , the
What energy! l1ke a veteran. Plus, Laurie D's
leads were divine, Lynne's vocals roadies, Laurie s., Have, Craig,
That 'dizzy' Dean, the lead singer, and rhythm guitar were delicious, and
jumps around like a frog in a hot L.H. was so hot on the drums I thought .Bumper, Michael, Robin, L.H., Laurie
skillet, while Tim and Ed electrocute her sticks would be cinders after a D., and many others.
you with their lead and rhythm work. few songs. I tell you everybody was
Add James' magic fingers on bass and on their feet for the Shock, even the But most of all, thanks to you, our
old fuds like me. readers and supporters. You donated
junk mail: over $275 and some much needed psychic
Well, it was quite an evening. Many energy to keep us going.
the same thanks need to be given to the people
who made this Post benefit another --Dave
tight-rope of fiscal responsibility. special occasion.
I know that tight-rope well, so I
can relate to their dilemna. But, First of all thank you, thank you,
somehow, what I t!1ought made being a thank you to the three band·s who do-
leftist different was the concern for nated their time and energy on such ·
local community and the concern for short notice. It couldn't have happen-
developing grass-roots people--not ed without you in more ways than one.
fund-raising sources--but as empowered
people with control over their ovm Next, many thanks to Spike, the pro-
lives. prietor of the newly reopened Galery
for the use of the facilities and for

NOW 4 PERMANENT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Available 24 Hrs. a Day

*ISU Parking Lot - NW Corner
College and Main

Leftie junk mail just doesn't cut it. *K-Mart Parking Lot OPE:RATION ~,r'~ RECYCLE
It's more of the same old "let the 1100 W. Market
experts do it" while we sit back *1100 W. Market
twiddling our thumbs. BloOtnington. IL
*501 E. Stewart, Bl.
Another question I ask myself, as 3-4 829·0691
different pleas come in daily, is how ~-------------------------------
many other folks are actually getting
these letters? Is it simply--that fabled WE BUY NEWSPAPERS, ALUMINUM CANS
.:sma~l circle of friends"--continually AND GLASS EVERY SATURDAY 9AM-NOON
araw1ng on the same sources? Could I name
wi~h reasonable accuracy, everyone else NEWSPRINT - ~¢ l·b.
in McLean County who will be getting the
same letters? ALUMINUM CANS - 26¢ lb.

Finally, what leftie junk mail represents GLASS - 1¢ lb.
is the transformation of leftist poli-
tics into another commodity of consumer Diesel Dick~ ** ************
culture. The existing two parties have COMPLETE
done this already. As political pleas ********************
are mixed in with the detergent coupons, AUTOMOTIVE
politics--including leftist politics-- We specialize &
becomes another saleable commodity, in diesel car
another item bought and sold, whether TRUCK SERVICE
on the supermarket shelves or the junk
mail barrage. Just as I can choose my sham r************
poo, I can now delude myself into choosing
"my issue"--picking Central America over repair FOREIGN &
race relations, and fooling myself into .DOMESTIC
not seeing the connections between them. ***• ** ** **** **** *** *
**• **********•*
Perhaps another way to express the same
thing is the analogy a frequent Post 'GAS and DIESEi
contributor uses: "Some people l1ke to
play with electric trains. I like to ***************
play with politics. It's all just a
game, nothing really serious."

I know my friend's commitment runs
deeper than that. But leftie junk mail
ad~s to the illusion that politics is
le1sure, that I can choose my issue,
spend my dollars, and feel I've done
my part. At the same time, the left be
comes a desperate, anonymous organi-
zation, without the leaven of real
concerns and viewpoints from every-
day people--and this is what needs to
be heard, organized and translated dnto
political power.

O~herwise, I'd rather play with my 508 N. MADISON ST. 9:00-5:30 828-1714
electric trains.

-MgM

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 12

Radio station ra11

Just when you think a story is over, it turns out every- ABOVE: Robin Plan doing one ot ner .Last WRBA shows.
thing you've written is just the prologue. The content (Photo from Peoria Journal Star.)
conflict between AM disc jockey Robin Plan and the myopic
management at Normal radio station WRBA took a sudden accommodations with station management and continually kept
drastic turn last month when management quickly canned getting blown off. "I kept asking Bob for a meeting to
the popular new wave jock.
discuss what I was doing," Robin says, "to go over
The move shouldn't have been a surprise: despite listener
support (most concretely represented by a 2000-plus ·potentia~ly offensive records, for instance. But if we
listener survey in favor of Plan's "New Wavelength" even got a meeting time nailed down, he'd be out when it
program), station management had been consistently was time to have it."
antagonistic towards Plan's music format. The story of
Plan's early struggles to keep her weekday afternoon new After a generally unnoticeable stint as the station's top
wave show has been detailed in both Post Amerikan and fo'rty jock, Plan began inserting more eccentric fare into
Pantagraph articles. But for those who came in late, a the format: nothing too bizarre at first. Examples would
recap is necessary. be "uncommercial" fare like the Stray Cats and Talking
Heads, bands that hadn't yet "broken big" but soon would.
Some history
In the beginning, much of the music Plan played came from
Originally a latenight deejay, Robin Plan took over WRBA's records borrowed from friends or purchased with Plan's own
afternoon as "the fox that rocks,• a straight top forty money. Bivans wasn't interested in putting any money into
jock. "I was originally reluctant to take days," Plan says the shift. Yet it's characteristic of the station's rather
today, "because I have a sleeping disorder that keeps me shotloose approach to management that Plan was allowed to
up at night. And I was worried about'being able to make it transform her show so fast without getting shot down at the
in on time. But Bob said not to worry, Tiger, that he'd start. Only after the deejay had begun committing herself
turn an eye away from occasional lateness." to the format did Bivans begin balking.

"Bob" is Robert Bivans, former owner/president/manager of National publicity
WRBA and current top dog at the station in the absence of
present owner Russ vi"ithers, who took over the station in At this point, with stories about Plan's "New Wavelength"
March. The hierarchy at WRBA is rather vague at the best appearing in trade magazine Billboard1 as well as new music
of times: office worker Diana Canham has been described in magazines like Trouser Press, Bivans began to talk about
various Pantagraph news stories, for example, with a dropping new wave music from the station. By Spring of '83
variety of official-sounding titles. Bivans himself, in a deejay Plan was playing all manner of new music: from the
recent Pantagraph news story detailing his recent illegal trendy synthesizer groups to hardcore punk bands to reggae
impersonation of a police officer, was described as the to English folkies like Richard Thompson.
present owner of REA despite earlier announcements in the
paper about Withers' recent takeover. To anyone listening, it was obvious that Plan's "New Wave-
length" had become a catch-all for any music that didn't
One gets the image of office personnel scrambling to assert generally fit the constraints of Top Forty AM or Album
themselves in the midst of chaos created by an absentee Oriented FM (with its bias towards hard rock and heavy
landl.ord, but then REA has traditionally been plagued by metal). In a college town where so many listeners like to
unclear and frequently unstated policies and authority. imagine themselves more sophisticated than the average AM
This explains, in part, one reason why so strong a person- radio fan, there was an obvious audience for this music.
ality as Robin Plan began having problems there. "There's But it wasn't obvious to WRBA's management.
no real supervision at the station," Plan says, "no program
director. ~one of the deejays are under any kind of Plan's answer to this management resistance was to take her
written contract. I kept asking Bob for some kind of case to the public. Twice. That Spring saw a series of
contract, and he kept putting me off with a 'Don't worry, Post Amerikan and Pantagraph stories about Robin's
Tiger.'" difficulties keeping her show on the air. With the con-
troversy being publicly aired and an unprecedented amount
Strong personality of supportive mail coming into the station, management
quieted down.
To meet Robin Plan is to come face to face with a forceful
personality, the kind of person capable of_yanking you into But by the fall of '83, Bivans began talking about drop-
a conversation you weren't even prepared to be part of and ping the show once more.
keeping you in it--in short, the kind of person capable of
running roughshod over weak-willed management. Yet The way the subject was broached reflects the station's
according t? Robin, she continually attempted t~ make less-than-upfront style of employee management. Robin
learned of Bivans' intentions after returning from a two-
'lrtl' Ill~~~ lllll'~l 11 1~ week vacation. During her absence, Bivans had taken
control of the afternoon slot without telling Robin or
1218 S. Main Street Normal, Ill. 61761 Phone: 309·454-3333 the listeners what was going to happen. The deejay's
tempor~ry replacement, Loren, was a new wave fan who had
2/25/84 gone into the job expecting to be able to play much of the
same music Robin had been playing. As Loren arrived for
ROBIN: his first day of work, he was met by Bivans standing at
the door with a stack of Top Forty and heavy metal records
After numerous conversations and memos to you regarding and instructions to play them. Regular listeners were
outraged and phoned in their displeasure. But the only
obsene and fi'lthy music on the air •••. it's obvious our one who got to hear the complaints was the poor temporary,
Loren.
advice has gone unheeded. You just continue to dig
Another fight
yourself deeper in a rut.
Once again, Robin Plan had to fight to keep the "New Wave-
The reason we staredt pulling the records is because ··• length" on the air. A combination petition and survey was

you haven't. All the rest of the staff is fed up·to

the hilt with your attitude and filthy music.

Why don't you do us a favor and look for other employment ••

because I know Russ Withers won't put up with it.

BOB

Although the above all-purpose memo is dated Feb. 25,
Robin Plan did not receive it·until she was fired March

26. According to Plan, memo writer Bivans held some of

her albums hostage in his office following the January

Magazine incident (see story) and refused to give them
back until h'er termination.

nrods Robin Plan

circulated throughout the town and campuses. Two thousand To be fair, Robin did flub once on the air. In January,
signatures of support were brought into the station, a th~nks to a tracking error, Plan played a Magazine song by
phenomenal number considering the paltry pre-new wave mistake that contained the startling refrain: "I want to
ratings that WRBA used to receive. "I've never been shown drug you and fuck you." A local listener heard the song in
my Arbitron ratings," Plan s~ys, "but I've been told by his car and was suitably irate, especially since his kids
sources at other radio stations that the station didn't had been riding with him at the time. He phoned and
even get a visible percentage until I established the-'New complained, and Robin phoned the listener back to apologize.
Wavelength.'" With survey support that was concrete,
Bivans once again backed down, and the show appeared to be "After that incident," Robin says, "I worked even harder
established for good this time. Of course it wasn't. to avoid that kind of problem. I edited sonqs ahead of
time and, again, I kept asking Bob to meet with me and go
Fired over any songs ~hat might create problems, but he'd never
do it. That memo about the Magazine song is the only one
After five more months of letting Robin "Progressive Pop" I received before being asked to leave. All the other
Plan broadcast over the air, WRBA abruptly fired her. ones .•. (there are five) I don't know when they were
Robin walked into work March 26 and was told she was written."
terminated, effective immediately. (In a bit of coinci-
dental timing that has yet to be explained, the firing Though they all have different dates on them, it's
took place the same day the station's sale to Russ Withers difficult to tell when the memos were exactly written. As
became effective.) far as deejay·Plan is concerned, they all could have been
written the day she was fired, since she hadn't seen them
Listeners who tuned into the station Monday March 26 were any earlier.
upset to hear the theme from "Chariots of Fire" and a
decidedly different voice introducing the music, former More memos
RBA jock Denny Rogers.
The rest of WRBA's memos (primarily written by Diana
Plan was given a pile of memos, most of which she hadn't Canham) concern·Robin Plan's professional behavior.
seen before, as explanation for her termination. That was There's a memo about tardiness (which, remember, Bivans had
it for WRBA's "New Wavelength." earlier said wouldn't be an issue). There's· a memo
about obscene language that an intern(!} ·had used during
To hear WRBA's management today, the personnel shift had office hours (as if Plan were spmehow·responsible for the
less to do with the music and everything to do with Robin language that a college intern used during her shift) .
herself. Yet it's worth noting that new wave has gotten There's a memo with the hearsay accusation that Robin had
pretty scarce around old 1440. Most of the memos that been selling promo records to Mother Murphy's, an unfounded
were handed to Robin after the fact concern the music accusation made doubly ridiculous by the fact that Robin
she'd been playing, in particular its lyrical content. gave promo albums away as consolation prizes in the
They're worth going over, especially in light of Bivans station's "Rock n Roll Roulette" contest and that any of
reluctance "to meet with me and discuss potentially the daily winners wouldn've brought their spoils into the
offensive records." used record store. There's a memo accusing the deejay of
leaving the station building while on the air and leaving
Offensive lyrics the board in the hands of an "unlicensed" intern.
According to Robin, the intern in question ~ licensed
Pick any hour of mainstream rock and pop radio, and you're and trained and her absence became an issue only after the
bound to come up against potentially offensive lyrics. fact. "All the deejays leave the station," Robin---say8,--
Elton John's "The Bitch Is Back." "v¥ho Are You?" (with its "and while it probably shouldn't be done, no one said
clearly articulated "Who the fuck are you?"). Glen Frye's anything about it until now."
"Party Town." Te-d Nugent's "Thunderthighs."
The point of the above memos--and the station's insistence
Say what you will about rock's lyrical content (and there's that its decision to terminate Robin comes from her
much you can say that's justifiably critical), the fact is "unprofessional" behavior--is this: If Robin was termi-
that modern rock writers have turned as explicit as the FCC nated because the station wanted to drop the new wave
will allow. Yet while RBA management was allowing late- format, Robin is entitled to unemployment compensation.
night deejays to broadcast a song like the Pretenders' But if Robin was fired because she "deserved" it, WRBA
"Precious" ("I just had to fuck off!"), they were writing doesn't have to pay out any benefits.

never-delivered memos to Robin Plan which misquoted Soft Unemployment
Cell's "Sex Dwarf" as "sex tool" and got outraged at the
use of the word "tool." Or clocking Plan's playing·of a When applying for unemployment, in fact, deejay Plan has
been turned down due to Bivans and Canham's insistence that
song by the Violent Femmes that implied but never used the the dismissal was prompted by her behavior. (In describing
word "cunt." Plan's "bad attitude" to the unemployment people, RBA
management also brought up Robin's failure to comply to a
So why the surprise? "dress code"--as if such a code made sense in radio!)

Regular "New Wavelength" lis- for thirty days prior to the Plan is appealing the decision, but she's not all that
teners were by and large sur- actual change--so members of optimistic. "Under Bivans, RBA has a history of short-
prised by the sudden shift the community may voice any changing its employees," Robin says. "Raises are promised
in format, March 26, and had opposition they might have-- and never given. One of the station's Traffic Directors
good reason to be. Unless but members of the RBA quit her job at a bank on Bivans' promise of a better·
they were listening to WRBA audience who have already salary and never got a raise. 'It's this damned economy.'
any other hour during the proven to be the most Bob says that every time you ask for anything extra. When
day, they were probably vociferous weren't given the Paul Dunn (former RBA morning man) left, he brought in a
unaware of the station's word. Instead, the announce- court order just to get all the station owed him in ad
impending sale. Tradition- ment was primarily presented commissions and vacation pay."
ally, news of any station's in the early morning and
sale has listeners expecting during the station's oldies In the meantime, Robin Plan is sending out resumes and
something new, but "New Wave- show. Bivans himself kept sample tapes to stations across the country, looking ~or
length" fans weren't even the announcement cassette some who are sympathetic to the music and are profess~onally
given warning of the sale locked in his office the rest operated. You want to wish her luck but at the same time
because station manager Bob of the time. can't help feeling that local listeners are getting
Bivans refused to allow any shortchanged by it all. For a short time, WRBA had one of
announcement of the impend- While such selective broad- the rare new music forums on the AM band, a dynamic
ing sale to air during Robin casting probably isn't in personality behind it and an audience that cared for it.
Plan's shift. violation of.FCC rules, it Thanks to some truly shortsighted management, that forum
certainly represents a is gone.
According to FCC rules, breach of faith with local
change of ownership needs to listeners. --Bill Sherman
be announced over the air
--BSherman

Post Amerikan May 1984 Page 14

Adult health hazard ignored

Bloomington
water
polluted

Bloomington's water supply is polluted Levels of foreign substances exceeding EPA permissible
again with illegal levels of nitrates. limits have been found in Bloomington's water supply.
The announcement will be appearing
once more on our water bills this threat-to-adults assurances ignore a and digestive problems disappeared.
spring. letter-to-the-editor printed in the
Pantagraph two years ago. If Health Department director Ben Boyd
Whenever nitrate levels exceed the doesn't know about Sennott's letter-
Environmental Protection Agency's Written by Bloomington resident Linn to-the-editor, he should.
limit of 10 parts per million, the law Sennott, the letter reported that one
requires the water department to of their family members experienced And if Boyd does know about it, why is
notify the public. digestive and_ nervous problems that he deliberately minimizing and
were traceable to Bloomington's covering up the dangers of excessive
Such notices have become routine each polluted water. nitrate levels when he talks with the
spring and early summer, as runoff media?
from fertilized farmland drains into According to Sennott, the problems got
Lake Bloomington. worse in the spring, and they cleared To stop the annual pollution of Lake
up completely during the periods when Bloomington, we.have to move away from
Another annual routine is the yearly the family was living away from chemical-based farming. Such a
pooh-poohing of the health problem Bloomington-Normal. massive change, especially a change
posed by nitrates. Each year, McLean adversely affecting powerful
County Health Department director Ben When Sennott's family first suspected agribusiness interests, can only
Boyd assures the public that excessive Bloomington's water, they arranged for occur after there is widespread
nitrates pose no threats to adults. a Peoria company to test it. They public disenchantment with what we've
discovered a nitrate level of 33 parts been told are the wondrous benefits of
Boyd does admit that high nitrate per million (over three times the modern agricultural practices.
levels can deprive young infants of EPA's allowable limit).
oxygen, causing what is known as the Ben Boyd's cover-up doesn't help.
"blue baby" syndrome. Sennott reported that after buying an
osmosis process filter, the nervous --Mark Silverstein
Media reports carrying Boyd's no-

ACLU, Mayor
discuss
water department
home invasions

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Entering uninvited, making their way through
chairperson George Taseff met with darkened cellars, Bloomington's water meter
Bloomington Mayor Richard Buchanan readers never know what awaits them.
April 18. One item on the agenda was
the water department's policy attention. He said there was 'a "But he didn't say what he would do
authorizing meter readers to enter filtering process' going on, and he after he looked into it," Taseff said.
homes without the residents' knowledge referred to (these are his exact
or consent. words), 'the dubious validity of the Taseff said he is going to call the
complaints.'" people who complained to ACLU. He
ACLU believes the policy is will tell them that the mayor wants
unconstitutional. Mayor Buchanan, Translation: Buchanan apparently them to complain directly to the
according to Taseff's report, believes that all the fuss is really mayor. "I don't know what will happen
apparently believes the issue is coming just from the Post Amerikan and after that," Taseff said.
frivolous. its readers. Buchanan is mayor of all
the people, and the Post Amerikan is Taseff's other agenda item with the
The department's policy, first made just a dismissable radical fringe. mayor was a discussion of
public by the Post Amerikan in January He's quite right, even though more Bloomington's sign ordinance. ACLU
(and repetitiously dragged out in people read the Post Amerikan than says that Bloomington's ordinance is
every issue since) is this: a meter ever voted for Richard Buchanan for as unconstitutional as Normal's, which
reader will first knock; if there is mayor. was recently ruled unconstitutional in
no answer, the meter reader will try an ACLU-initiated legal action.
the door. If the door is unlocked, Taseff says that some of the people Taseff felt that he and Buchanan's
the meter reader is authorized to complaining to ACLU about the water sign ordinance talk was fruitful.
enter. department's home invasions have
nothing to do with the Post Amerikan, As for the water department's home
George Taseff says the ACLU has and have never read it.~ut they invasions, Taseff said, "I don't think
received several complaints from don't like strangers entering their the mayor even per~eives that there is
residents who have been unhappy when homes without permission." a constitutional issue here. I was
they discovered that city employees disappointed that he dismissed our
entered their homes without consent. Mayor Buchanan said he didn't concern about this. It is not
He wants the city to change its understand why any Bloomington frivolous."
policy. residents with a complaint called the
ACLU, instead of calling the mayor. --Mark Silverstein
"But Mayor Buchanan would not confirm Buchanan said if someone called him
that the water department even has a about the water meter readers, he
policy of entering people's homes," would look into it.
Taseff told the Post Amerikan~

"Buchanan was upset about the way the
ACLU was bringing the matter to his

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 15

City council nixes

Wed. 25 Rock from D.C. human rights
coverage
Thur. 2 Houston, Texas

hot rockabilly TEDDY BOYS The Bloomington City Council ignored Three members of the council admitted
the advice of the Human Relations their homophobia: Jesse Parker, Jesse
for Jason & Scorchers fans Commission (HRC), the City Manager, Smart, and George Kroutil.
the Mayor, and all the citizens who
Fri. 27 s1 spoke at the March 26 council meeting. In addition, Parker and Walter Bittner
The Council rejected a proposal to made mysterious claims that the
00~~ I'I~G"~\4'~ expand the the protections of the present ordinance works: "I ·think the
city's human rights ordinance. ordinance is working beautifully the
Sat. 28 all female rock way it is," said Parker. Neither man
The council voted 5 to 1 against ever explained what he meant by this
MADAME X claim.
with guests changes in the ordinance that would
have made it illegal to discriminate The council did not want to consider
Wed. 2 cover until 8:00 p. in housing and employment on the basis approving any groups for coverage,
of marital status, sexual preference, even though their objections centered
$1.50 pitchers until 9:00 p. and unfavorable military discharge. on only one or two. Apparently it was
The vote also rejected changes that just easier to vote no than to figure
INYISI13LE would have made it illegal to refuse out which groups they might accept and
to rent to people with children under which they would not. So the single
(tentative) 14 and people who have mental or people, the handicapped, the renters
physical handicaps (including those with children under 14 went down the
IE lLVIIS IBIR()lflHIE IRS who have guide dogs). drain along with the homosexuals and
with OROO&S the veterans who don't have the right
Council person Steve Simms was the kind of military discharge.
Sat. 5 so only member who voted in favor of the
proposed changes. ********
Wed. 9 $1 cover, pitchers, drinks
7:00 - 9:00 p. The council repeatedly refused to Tim Wa l·ker, the Executive Director of
discuss their reasons for not the Bloomington HRC, told the Post
Sat. 12 King of the boogie! following the recommendations of the Amerikan that the Commission met on
HRC and the City Manager. At two April 11 and considered the council's
TO~N LEECHOOAOSTJ<ETROACNODATSHTEBLUES BAND work sessions prior to the March 26 rejection of their proposal. Although
$6 advance $8 at door meeting and at the council meeting the HRC did not take any specific
itself council members stonewalled any action, according to Walker, they did
Fri.-Sat. 25 & 26 · reggae weekend attempts to draw out their thoughts on consider makin·g some changes in the
the issues involved. Only council proposed ordinance and presenting a
with MR. M S member Donn Pierce expressed his new package to the city council at a
objection: there is insufficient later date, perhaps in the fall.
Fri. 1 reason for expanding the levels of
protection. Walker admitted that the Commission
*Note is aware tpat they can probably get
These dates are subject to change. The HRC thinks there is a need. So some changes passed if they delete
does the City Manager, William Vail. the controversial groups from proposed
Call Mosey's for confirmation. So does Scott Eathe~ly of the coverage. It's a possibility, said
American Civil Liberties Union. And Walker, that the HRC will delete some
Francis Irvin of the John M. Sco,tt controversial sections. He doubts
Health Care Commission. And Mark that the whole proposal will be
Silverstein of the Post Amerikan. And re-submitted in its present form.
attorney Jack Porte~Mayor Buchanan
agrees. They all said so at the March Walker also pointed out that people
26 meeting. who are not presently covered by the
Human Relations Ordinance should still
But the city council sat in arrogant bring their complaints to the HRC.
silence and refused to offer legal For one thing, these complaints will
protection to single people, gay help the HRC to document the need for
peo~le, veterans with an unfavorable expanding covera~es. Furthermore,
mil1tary discharge, handic~pped Walker said, there are some things the
people, and people who have children HRC can do informally. "We don't have
under 14. official authority to deal with these
complaints, but we can do things to
Although the-- council members who mediate between landlords and tenants,
opposed the changes ref~sed to go ?n for example," he added.
record at a public meet1ng, they d1d
reveal some of their objections in an --Ferdydurke
interview with a Pantagraph reporter
prior to the March 26 meet~ng. ~heir
primary objection was the 1nclus1on
of gay people in the protected groups.

The My Sister,

the punlt

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••e eI need a My Sister the Punk Rocker T-shirt.

wear it •• NHaemre.e_'_s__m_y__$_6__. ________________________________ :

Spif on it • Address •

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Proceeds go to the Post.

Let it call you names Mail to: 61702
Post-Amerikan
P.O. Box 3452
Bloomington, IL

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 16

Ex·lsrael supporter feels
betrayed

As an American in solidarity with the mind the thought that I had been lied Palestinians and the PLO. The delib-
Palestinians in their search for jus- to for so long about the reality of erate confusion equating anti-Zionism
tice and their national rights, I have the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The which is against a racist political '
been feeling increasing anger and a anger I continue to feel began as I ideology, with racist anti-Semitism is
sense of betrayal towards the liberal realized there was a deliberate sup- ludicrous. Yet this equation is
establishment and the media in the pression of facts concerning Palestine, fostered by the Zionists, many of whom
United States. naving studied the one in which the med.ia wholeheartedly call themselves liberals, and it ef-
Palestinian-Israeli conflict for over participated. fectively limits many well-intentioned
two years and having been to Occupied libe7als and progressives from·sup-
Palestine for a ~irst-hand observation This led me in a quest to know the portlng the Palestinians in their
of Israeli injustice, I am deeply struggle for self-determination. We
angered by my own past support of truth about the situation in Palestine. cannot let them get away with this
Israel, angered at being duped by the As I learned more and more about the labeling, designed to stifle all
deliberate misrepresentation of the Zionist invasion of Palestine, the opposition to Israel. We must fight
facts surrounding this conflict conditions of the occupation, includ- this and risk being labeled the
by the media. ing torture and collective punishment, derogatory, and wholly inaccurate,
I began to actively work to make this anti-Semitic as we work to make known
I remember supporting Israel in its information known to others. This is in the United States what Zionism
attack on the Iraqi nuclear reactor in when I discovered that when it comes to really is and how it has continually
1981, blindly following the mass justice for Palestinians, the liberal oppressed the Palestinians throughout
media's line that the Arab countries left in the United States forgets all its history in the twentieth century.
were still in a state of war with of its concerns over justice, peace,
Israel and this was supposed to and the legitimate rights of people I know my anger and sense of betrayal
justify the attack. I blame the media everywhere. is shared by many others. These
for my blind support of Israel because feelings alone cannot help the
of their deliberate failure to provide Imagine my sense of betrayal when I Palestinians. Yet they can compel us
a comprehensive understanding of the discovered that many people can to work and to intensify our efforts
complex causes of the greater Arab- condemn the death squads in El Salvador, to present the full reality of the
Israeli conflict and because of their yet praise the "retaliatory" bombings Palestinian tragedy to all Americans.
intense desire to confuse the issues of civilians in Palestinian refugee From the Palestinians' own efforts,
involved by always blaming "those camps by Israel. To me, this makes so Palestine will be free, but we all
Arabs." Today, I can laugh at my past little sense that I confess to lecoming have an obligation to support them in
ignorance, yet I grieve when I think irrational at times when confronted by their struggle. Since Israel could not
of the majority of Americans still this type of insidious inconsistency. exist without United States' aid, we
blindly following the media's biased And it bothers these "liberals" not at ~o have.an· active role to play here by
pro-Zionist reports and commentaries. all to discover Israel trains and arms 1ncreas1ng our efforts in the United
the dictatorships in Central America. States to end this aid and to work for
I was appalled at my total lack of Such duplicity is intolerable. The justice for the Palestinians, alongside
knowledge of this issue when it was failure of those concerned with justice of everyone else.
exposed by my first encounter with a to apply the same standard of justice
Palestinian spokesman. It was very to the Palestinian issue betrays all --Ruth McPeck
fortunate that I attended a lecture by of us working to end oppression
the distinguished Ibrahim Abu-Lughod wherever it occurs. MA
at my university, ISU. The introduc-
tion to Palestinian rights that he But I suppose the greatest sense of be-
provided so clearly crystallized in my trayal I feel comes from being labeled

wwwwwwwwwww --- ..anti-Semitic because I support the

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Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 17

Miscellaneous outrages
you may have missed

Adoption categories Caisley imposes

reveal racist world view death sentence

Catholic Social Services helps special needs children, including With the courtroom and its environs
pregnant women who wish to give their black, racially mixed and physically packed with 150 bloodthirsty
babies away. The agency also helps and mentally handicapped." correctional officers and other prison
couples who wish to adopt children. workers, Judge William Caisley
Catholic social Service Agency's sentenced Pontiac prisoner Anthony
But Catholic Social Services classification system implies that Hall to the electric chair April 18.
classifies its adoption cases in a "normal" babies (the desireable ones) Hall had been convicted of murdering a
way which reveals the agency's white- are white and healthy. By lumping all prison food service worker.
centered racist view of the world. black babies (even healthy ones) into
the same "special ~eeds" category as As one correctional officer told the
A Feb. 26 Pantagraph article about the mentally and physically handicapped, Post Amerikan, the mass turn-out of
agency said that Catholic Social Catholic Social Services Agency is prison employees was "meant to put
Services had placed 143 infants in the saying that there is something some pressure on the judge."
last two years. "Of that total, 116 wrong, abnormal, or unhealthy about According to Sheriff Brienen, the
were healthy white infants and 27 were being born black. impetus for the large turn-out came
from the office of corrections
--Mark Silverstein director Michael Lane, who showed up
in person.
Farm to get its own exit
Caisley probably didn't need any help
The City of Bloomington plans to spend who stop contributing to traffic making his decision. But Caisley's
half a million dollars so State Farm congestion. eagerness to impose the sentence
Corporate Headquarters can have its himself may result in years of appeals
own intersection with Veteran's By constructing an additional litigation.
Parkway. intersection, the city makes it easier
for State Farm employees to drive ~o Since Anthony Hall (allegedly) threw a
Plans call for extending Jackson and from work. Therefore, more •i chair at Judge Caisley during the
Street to the thoroughfare in 1985 or employees will choose to drive their
1986. own cars, rather than organize car trial proceedings, appeals courts may
pools or take buses. decide that the judge should have
If cars from State Farm are choking removed himself from sentencing.
the area, why not instead take steps The additional cars in the area will
to reduce the number of cars? State eventually create the need for even Judges aren't ~upposed to let even the
Farm could easily develop incentive more "improvements" to speed traffic appearance of revenge taint the
programs which would reward employees flow. --M.S. otherwise untarnished facade of
justice in McLean County. --M.S.

Favoritism scandal rocks county clerk's office

The Daily Pantagraph is making extra Bloomington residents·set up a Pantagraph because that's where 99% of
money on its lucrative legal notices partnership to sell their clever 'em are published."
columns because the County Clerk's Tabbygrqbber cat toy (see last issue),
office unth~nkingly gives out they filed the appropriate papers at Maybe that's why the Pantagraph gets
misinformation. the county clerk's office. An 99% of the business--because people
employee at the clerk's office think they are required to use the
Here's an example: when two instructed the two partners that they Pantagraph.
also had to run a legal notice in the
Pantagraph Pantagraph for three consecutive The Pantagraph charaged $30.24 for the
uses weeks. legal notice's three weeks run. The
trashy pix Carlock Chronicle would have charged
Actually, the law allows such legal only $10.80.
notices to be published in any paper
of general circulation anywhere in the If the county clerk's offic€ continues
county. As a county clerk's 6ffice to enrich the Pantagraph by
employee confirmed when I questioned misinforming people, the office
her about it, "you can even put it in workers should at least get a kickback
the Carlock Chronicle if you want to. from the Pantagraph. Who knows?
I just tell 'em to put it in the Maybe they already are.

--r-1.S.

Accompanying the Pantagraph's lead Questions 1• n Hendricks case
article Saturday April 14 "Kidnap
suspect kills self" with four head Pantagraph reporter Bob Holliday's Hendricks' lawyers say he was inter-
shots of slain women was tasteless and story Saturday April 14 on a SUF- ~s-
unnecessary. sion of evidence hearing in the rogated at a neighbor's house from
Hendricks murders left some open 11:30 the night the bodies were found
Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but questions. until 12:50 the next morning without
I think the Pantagraph used the being informed of his rights.
pictures because the women were all
young and attractive, implying a
sexual motive in the killings. This
is a favorite technique of the
trashier tabloids.

I resent the portrayal of a particular At the hearing, Bloomington police Prosecutors, however, contend police
section of humanity--young women--as detective Charles Crowe testified that were "interviewing" Hendricks, not
easy targets, and the use of the Hendricks did not respond to being "interrogating" him.
pictures to titillate the fantasies of accused of the murders like "an
the readers. innocent person~ would have. At that point, what's the difference?
The question is still open as to when
If this outrage seems misplaced, con- An innocent person likely would have Hendricks' rights were read to him.
sider the last time a newspaper ran a attempted to knock the accuser
series of pictures of aging male across the room, Crowe says, The prosecution, according to the
executives slain by a young woman. according to Holliday. article, implies there is something
shaky about Hendricks' refusal to take
Furthermore, the Pantagraph probably Readers should keep in mind that a lie detector test before checking
figures its readers can relate to the Crowe was suspended after violating with his lawyer.
murders of a series of young white department policy by shooting a man in
women in the eastern U.S. Why doesn't a shopping mall for no apparent The prosecution will have to take a
the paper run attractive pictures of reason. more sophisticated approach if it
the slain in war-torn countries such as expects to win the case on its merits.
El Salvador (countries like Afghanistan Given Crowe's record of violence, can Obvious pandering to the public won'~
are ignored whenever possible) where we accept his idea of what "an help; neither will appeals to the
the victims are not white and are killed innocent person" would do? public for sympathy to deny the
with U.S. money? accused his rights.
Later in the article, we learn that
--Imogene --Imogene

Mon., April 23 items to Amerikan Almanak, P.O. Box 3452, Bloomington.
*Film: "Street Angel," a revolu- Compiled by Holly and friends
tionary film from China. ISU's
Center for Visual Arts, rm. 145. Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2
7:30p.m. Free. May 1984 Page 18

*Film: "King of Prussia"--depicts Sun., May 6 Wed., May 16
the arrest and trial of the *Metropolitan Community Church *Film: "Antarctica: Unowned Land"
"Ploughshare 8" (1980 war protest 7 p.m., Unitarian Church (the· 12:05 p.m. Bloomington library
incident). ISU's Bone Student Walker Room), 1613 E. Emerson,
Center, West Lounge. 7 p.m. Free. Bloomington. Thurs., May 17
Buy a Post Amerikan t-shirt: $6.00
*Theatre: "The Lower Depths" Wed., May 9
ISU's Allen Theatre, 8 p.m. For *Film: "Alberta Sunshine" Fri., May 18
ticket info, call 438-2535. 12:05 p.m. Bloomington Public 1865: Black slaves win emancipation.
Library. FREE.
Tues., April 24 Sat., May 19
*Film: "Barefoot in the Park" Sat., May 12 Birthdays: 1890, Ho Chi Minh;
ISU's Bone Center Ballroom, *Recycle Drive: Sears, Eastland 1925, Malcolm X
6 & 8 p.m. $1.00 parking lot and ISU Turner Hall
lot. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sun., May 20
*Theatre: "The Lower Depths" *MCC meeting in the Walker Room,
See April 23 listing. Sun., May- 13 Unitarian Church, 1613 E. Emerson,
Mommy's Day 7 p.m. Call 829-2719 for info.
*Meeting: Committee in Solidarity
with El Salvador. 310 Stevenson • , May 23
Hall, ISU. 7:30 p.m. *Film: "Galapagos Island: En-

Wed., April 25 chanted Island" 12:05 p.m.
*Theatre: "The Lower Depths" Bloomington Public Library. Free.
See April 23 listing.
1930: Birthday of Harvey Milk,
*Film: "Sixth Continent" 12:05 gay rights activist slain in
p.m. Bloomington Library Commun- San Francisco.
ity Room. Free
Thurs., May 24
Thurs. , April 26 **Deadline for next Post
*Theatre: "The Lower Depths" Ame'rikan: send in items for
Allen Theatre, ISU 8 p.m. The Amerikan Almanak, as well
as articles, letters, ads,
*Public hearings on area equal money.
housing opportunities. 9 a.m.-
1 p.m. Bloomington City Hall. *Metropolitan Community Chruch
meeting at the Unitarian Church,
Fri., April 27 1613 E. Emerson (the Walker Room).
*Music: Geoff Poister, New Friends 7 p.m. Call 829-2719 for info.
of Old Time Music. ISU's Prairie
Room. 8 p.m. $1.00 NATURAL FOODS Come visit our newly remodeled store-
We have more of everything, including
Sat., April 28 516 N. Main St. . an expanded produce section, to serve
*10-Kilometer Run sponsored by Bloomington, Ill. 61701 you better.
Operation Recycle. See Community
News for details. COMMON GROUND now offers you the opportunity to cut food
*Twin City Kite Day. 1 p.m., and vitamin costs by 10%. You may obtain your 10% discount
Stevenson Park. Awards for the club card in the following two ways:
highest-flying kite, oldest and (1) You may purchase a discount card for a yearly fee of $10.
youngest flyer, and most uniquely (2) You may earn a free discou~t card by accumulating $50
constructed kite. worth of COMMON GROUND sales receipts. Simply save your
receipts until you have a total of $50, at which time we will
Sun., April 29
**DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS present you with a FREE 10% discount card good for one year.
(Spring Ahead! )
Once you have your discount card, simply present it at the •
*Art & Mqsic for the Rape Crisis checkout counter for a 10% discount ~n every purchase.
_, Center. 2:00 p.m. First United I
of""T ..-.... dutw;cfe~on
Methodist church, 211 N. School st.
Normal. $4.00 donation. lfoods ~~~ ~f::~·~J::e~I
Springtown Road Band, Tater Patch
String Band, Cloggers, etc.
Bring a Lunch!

*Open House: Western Avenue Commun-
ity Center, 606 N. Western Ave.
2:30 - 4:30 p".m.

Mon., April 30
1977: 1414 protestors arrested at
Seabrook (N.H.) nuke.

Tues., May 1
1830: Mother Jones, labor organ-
izer, born.

Wed., May 2
*Film: "Miss Goodall and the
Chimps" 12:05 Bloomington
Library. Free

Thurs., May 3
1970: Four students shot and
killed at Kent State while pro-

testing u.s. war in Vietnam.

Sat., May 5
*ISU Commencement--good day to do
something far away from Normal

CIIIIIITY IIWS Post Arnerikan
Page 19

Operation Recycle Committee on women 1• n pr1• son

opens 4th station The special problems of incarcerated proportion--85%--of incarcerated women
women will be examined by a John are mothers, and most of these are
Operation Recycle has opened a perma- single parents. There is considerable
nent 24 hour drop box for the collec- Howard Association (JHA) committee. concern among both inmates and staff
tion of recyclables in the ISU parking about what happens to these children
lot at the NW corner of College and These issues have received very little during the very difficult time in
Main. Newsprint, container glass, attention, in spite of the fact that which their mother is in prison.
aluminum and tin cans will be collect- female inmates' numbers have doubled
ed in the bright red box. since 1973. Legislative Advisory --vocational and Educational Training.
Committee on Public Aid staffer Linda The s~ate spends $568,000 a year on
Recyclers may leave materials any time Bowen characterizes women offenders: vocat2onal and educational training
at their convenience at the drop box "Disproportionately black and for women. Some of the programs have
and at others located at the K Mart been highly successful, but there
Parking lot, 501 E. Stewart and 1100 predominantly young, they live outside remain questions about how many women
W. Market. are gaining skills that will make them
the mainstream of society, are heavily employable. This question is crucial
Operation Recycle continues to buy dependent on public aid, and seem since the vast majority of crimes
newsprint, aluminum cans and contain- untouched by government programs committed by women are economic rather
er glass at its Saturday morning buy- design~d to eradicate poverty . . . than violent.
back every Saturday at 1100 W. Market There lS no large, well-organized
from 9 a.m.-noon. Current prices are advocacy ~roup for thP.se women. They --Classification. Since all women
26¢ per lb. for aluminum cans, 1¢ per also defy society's image of convicted of felonies are sent to one
lb. for glass and ~¢ per lb. for news- moth~rs (~others are not supposed to institution, Dwight, they must all
print. comm2t crlmes) and their incarceration live in its maximum security setting,
is often believed to be their just even though the majority are
The recycling center reports that reward." classified as minimum or medium
buyback participation has more than security. In addition, because there
doubled since it began buying newsprint JHA's committee on women in prison has are so few work release beds for
print in early April. At its most m~d~ the first of its exploratory women, the vast majority never see the
recent buyback, Operation Recycle inside of_a wor~ release center. They
received over 2 tons of newsprint, Vlslts to state and county facilities serve thelr entlre term at Dwight, and
200 lbs of aluminum cans, and half a then are dropped back into the
ton of container glass. holding women: Dwight, a maximum community, with no period for adjust-
ment, and no job.
The next recycling drive will be security institution that holds all
Saturday, May 12 at the Sears Eastland w?men in ~llinois sentenced to prison, Source: Update, published by the John
parking lot and the ISU Turner Hall Wlth 450 lnmates; Jessie "Ma" Houston Howard Association.
lot from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Center, the only state run work
relea~e.c~nter for women, capacity 45; Dedication of

and dlVlslon III of the Cook County Wester" Ave.

Jail, which holds 200 to 250 women

mostly pre-trial detainees. '

Three major issues have emerged:

--Mothers and children. A large

Need a summer job?

Eight hundred central Illinois youths Fulton, Mason, McLean and Tazewell Community Center
will be put to work for nine weeks
this slrnwer across a four-county area counties. The primary eligibility On Sunday, April 29,1984, an open house
served by the United Private Industry requirement--income in relation to from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. with a brief ded-
Council (UPIC). family size--will apply when youths ication ceremony will be held for the
new Western Avenue Community Center,
UPIC's Summer Youth Program, funded are screened between 1 and 5 p.m. 600 North Western Avenue, in Blooming-
through a federal grant totaling over Monday through Friday. Screenings ton.
$1 million, will provide minimum-wage will continue through the end of May
employment for economically disadvan- with eligible applicants being noti- The Western Avenue Community Center was
taged youths between the ages of 14 established in 1926 as a recreational
tna 21. fied after April 27. A parent or community center. Since then it has
guardian is required to accompany been a very positive contributor to the
The United Private Industry Council, youths under 18 during the interview. recreational, cultural and social needs
formed last year upon enactment of of the community.
the Job Training Partnership Act, has Fulton County: The Canton YWCA has
awarded contracts to three organiza- been awarded $213,979 to find jobs The Western Avenue Community Center
tions, which will use the money to for 160 Fulton County youth, in ad- Board is extremely pleased to announce
place school-age youths in temporary this dedication ceremony which comes
summer positions at public non-profit dition to providing training sessions after a tragic fire which completely
worksites. The jobs range from 15 in career skills and job search destroyed the former building on Jan-
to 40 hours a week and will become uary 24,1982.
available June 11. techniques.
There will be a short ceremony with a
Enrollees will do everything from McLean/Mason Counties: Bloomington/ few comments concerning the past hist-
cleaning parks and repairing school ory, the present, and the future out-
buildings to working as interns for Normal Trades and Labor Assembly has look of Western Avenue Community Center.
various municipalities. All community residents are urged to
been granted $341,771 to put 220 young attend and take partin this dedication
UPIC will serve another 130 youths ceremony.
through special tutoring classes for people to work in McLean and Mason
academic credit and an employability
skills workshop. counties. Bloomington/Normal Adult

Young people may apply for the pro- Education will receive $6,245 to offer
grams at any of the UPIC offices in
a tutoring program in math and Eng-

lish for 30 students. ·

Tazewell County: The Tri-County Urban
League will spend $394,468 to put
420 Tazewell county youths to work.
An additional 100 young people in
Tazewell county will attend career
awareness and exploration workshops
through a $81,178 grant to the Pekin
Area Vocational Center.

USED

FURNITURE

GAS AND GERM WAR, an up-to-date account
of the threat in a Higher Form of Kill-
ing, 1982, 274 pages. Send $8.95 (in-
clude handling) to RECON Publications,
P.O. Box 14602, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

+oorning:~on ORGANIZING, a 375 page guide for grass-
roots leaders by Si Kahn. Send $8.95
c~rner Lae Oaklond (include handling) to RECON, P.O. Box
14602, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

SNEAK ATTACK ON RUSSIA! Read Reagan's
plan. Send $9.50 (includes postage)
for First Strike: The Pentagon'~
Stra~for Nuclear war to RECON,
P. 0. Box 14602, Philadelphia, PA
19134.

Post Amerikan CIIIII~TY IIWS
Page 20

Have you been a hostage?

A call to all ex-inmates and current Can incest survivors and recovering Community gardens
inmates in psychiatric institutions alcoholics/addicts work within the ex-
and prisoners and ex-yrisoners who are inmate's movement? at no cost
incest survivors and/or recovering
alcoholics and/or drug addicts: We need feedback on these issues. Mid Central Economic Opportunity Corp-
Please share with us your struggles/ oration and the Bloomi~gton Housing
The therapeutic state is systemati- conflicts a~ou~d incest survival and/ Authority are sponsoring a Community
cally setting us up against each or drug addlctlon and/or alcoholism Gardening Program. Garden plots,
other. For example, incest survivors and incarceration in prisons and seeds, plants and equipment will be
are often incarcerated when they speak psychiatric institutions. available to low-income people. The
out and expose the men who are gardening site will be located at
responsible. Recently a 12-year-old Please write to us and/or come to the West Illinois and Olive Street, and
incest survivor was jailed because of 12th Annual International Conference a second site will be on the 800 block
her fear of life-long reprisals from for Human Rights and Against of West Oakland. For further informa-
her father and society. She decided Psychiatric Oppression to confront tion, phone 829-0691, or 829-3360.
to testify against him. these issues. Registration forms are
available from P.O. Box 61307, Denver,
A high percentage of people who are Colorado, 80206. If you are unable to
incarcerated either in psychiatric come to the conference, please write
institutions or prisons are originally to us about these struggles.
placed there as a result of drug
addiction and/or alcoholism. Intimi- --Linda Lane and
dation tactics are widespread. Barbara Wish

What are the conflicts for recovering 1232 Gaylord St. #4
people within the ex-inmate's
movement? Denver CO 80206

New employment ID GEORGE F. TASEFF ~ Business card size ads
programs .l~ttorney at law
$6 for individuals
Five new employment and training GetteiUti PJulc:tic.e (businesses slighty higher)
programs will be offered this spring ·wLth empluu..U. on
CJrJ.m.i..nal Law & C.i.v.U RA.gfW. A Great Deal!
by the United Private Industry Council
(UPIC). Designed to assist older 822 E. Washington, No. 2N Call 828-7232
workers, youth, and the handicapped, or write P.O. Box 3452, Bloomington
the pilot programs are part of UPIC's Bl0omington, IL 61701 309/827-65'-8
efforts to serve special segments of
the unemployed population. Drawing by Erica Weihs.

The Private Industry Council has granted , . PEACE AND FREEDOM CARDS WE'LL STOP
start-up money to five area organizations FROM WIN MAGAZINE
in implementing the new projects, with TBE C.O.P.I'<-
enrollments scheduled to begin this month. FOR HOLIDAY GREETINGS...
FOR YEAR·ROUND CORRESPONDENCE Dallas Republican
The programs are part oi a broad range Coaveatloa. Aug. 20·23,
An assortment of 12 disarmingly beautiluicards 1984. Be Therel
of employment and training activities - 4 original designs by talented progressive
aimed at helping unemployed workers in art1sts. Produced in the spirit of the holidays
the four-county area. they are also suitable for use as note card~
year-round. Matching envelopes included. No
To qualify for UPIC programs, applicants inside message! We've left that part to you'
must meet eligibility guidelines and
may receive screenings on a walk-in 1-3 sets of 12 cards, assorted designs and colors
basis Sam to llam, Monday through Thurs- for just $4.00 each (plus $1.00 postage and
day at all UPIC offices. handling). 4-9 sets for $4.00 each; 10 or more
sets for $3.00 each (postpaid). Allow 4 weeks
The YWCA of McLean County and the Occup- for delivery.
ational Development Center(ODC) of Bloom-
ington will provide vocational programs To order, or for further description, write:
to help unemployed persons 55 or older WIN Magazine, D!!pt. C.
re-enter the job market. The YWCA will 326 Livingston Street
recruit potential participa~ts and offer Brooklyn, NY 11217
supportive counseling. Enrollees will
undergo assessment and evaluation by For more detail.. on the Dallaa '84 plaDD.la.g eonfereoce thla No•. 18-2lat. for group. cmd
ODC, in addition to pre-employment job
1 readiness training and assistance in job r._..huUYt.dua!. lnter•ted l~ Mttlng the them.• aDd tactics of next aummer'• prote.ta. write:
plac.ement. R-IJ'IDfluoh ID ... POl 8"08, MadlooD. Wloc. 53701: or call:
212-533-5021' ' ' 415-552-1129.
The Tri-County Urban League will expand
-its Try-out Employment Program in McLean gentle men for gender justice ~~Bes~.------
County, which places non-college bound Feminist Journalism Tile
high school seniors in part-time train- -a nationwide journal on masculinity and Our 13th year
ing positions with private business. feminism for men who create lives beyond .::::.InaediMe
The project subsidizes the youths' first masculine stereotypes, who know the joy of * N.1tional and international new~ Dream
250 hours with an employer, in addition intimate equal relationships with women * about women
to providing a month-long job readiness and men, who are active in ending sexism.
workshop for enrollees. Thoughtful commentaries, and
JOST OOTI
A training program for mild to moderately * news ahead of its time
handicapped special education students The Winter 1983-84 Issue of M. Health, prison, and labor news
will be conducted by the East Peoria
Community High School Special Education -----------Fearu~-----------­ SUBSCRIBE TODAY!
Department. Participants-will be train-
ed for entry level positions during their Bth National Conference on Men & Mascu· ..... 1141 ColumbUI Rd. NW. Rm. 211
junior and senior years. After passing linity • Other Men by John Stoltenberg •
competency tests (for which academic Work Clothes & Leisure Suits: The Class W.ashinatoa, O.C. 20009
credit will be awarded), students will Basis & Bias of the Men's Movement by Harry
move into on-the-job training slots Brad • and much, much more. __ _5!!'~~---.._m!~~.!,•,:!O___ _
their last semester to attain full-
time employment upon graduation. Regular subscription $JQ (4 issues) I
Sample copy of current issue: $3 I
The Pekin Area Vocational Center will
offer vocational training and daily M. 306 N: Brooks 11\adison, WI 53715 I
supportive services for special educa- 11r I
tion students mainstreamed into regular
P-AVC programs. Financial assisbance StSiyr. eontriiMatana sub off 01111' a.-11.• ·,:
will be provided to feeder districts tNIC.._...U..NW 1
who wish to enroll special education Stllyr.reau&.rsub
students. For further information, I SlOIYFi!-:tu: •nd :;~~.c. JODDf I
phone 827-4026. l-------------~-----J

GUIDE To A hilarious cartoon historv
of the good old U.S.A. ·
FILMS ON
CENTRAL AMERICA By Estelle Carol,Rhoda Grossman
and Bob Simpson
Describes 40 of the best films
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with a special section on Grenada. Available for $2. plus Ask for it at your local Books tor~
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(reduce'd rates for multiple copies)

Rock against Reagan Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 21

In 1984, Dallas has been chosen as Greens, feminists, gays, Yippies and effects of their industrial-environ-
the site for the upcoming G.O.P. con- the San Francisco Coalition of Con- mental policies.
vention. We are seeking to provide cern. The conference group split the
an opportunity for individuals and country into 15 regions (two in Canada). 2) A "Die-In" will be staged to visibly
affinity groups around th~ world ~o. Travelers are making contact with demonstrate the effect of nuclear war.
engage in creative, non-v1ol~nt ~lVll people and movement groups. A North We will choose a location central to
disobedience in Dallas. It lS t1me American Greens Network dedicated to the convention for this action.

for anti-nuclear, anti-war, anti-draft ongoing social change and protection 3) Photographs of peace movement
issues to be addressed directly. of our planet also formed at the people from around the world who can
planning conference. be present only in spirit will be
Labor organizations, students and placed to form a carpet in front of
youth organizations, environment and The German Green Party is organizing the Convention Center. We wish to
ecology groups, independent truckers concurrent European demos involving graphically illustrate the Reagan team
and farmers, women's groups, gays and perhaps ten million people. White stepping over peaceful alternatives
crosses engraved with the names of and those who represent such.
lesbians, the economically disadvan- people who have died fighting in El
taged, drug reform organizations and Salvador will be erected at a Dallas The Rock Against Reagan Tour has com-
others will be gathering in Dallas to graveyerd and also at the convention pleted one full sweep of the coun-
say NO to the threat of global holo- site. This action has been endorsed try. We will continue to tour the
caust and death. We gather to say and will be backed by the German Evan- South, East and West Coast. The first
gelical Church and the German Roman show was March 18 in Gainesville,
YES to a world where people, animals, Catholic Church Peace Movement. Florida and will end in Dallas at the
Republican Convention in August.
plants, and the earth itself.is :e- .
spected and valued. Our sol1dar1ty .ln The Women's Caucus of the conference
met for the first time, and discussed
anger is our power; in our numbers lS making a more consolidated effort as
women within the movement. We plan
our strength. to demonstrate these concerns at the
GOP convention, as well as to contin-
On the weekend of November 18-20, 1983 The other action plans announced at ue working on the RAR Tour, organizing
the National Convention Planning con- the conference are: for Freeze Reagan/Bush, and the fem-
ference was held in Dallas, Texas, to inist movement.
plan for actions during the Republi- 1) We pledge two dump trucks to remove
lead-contaminated soil which has been
can National Convention in Dallas on illegally dumped in an economically
August 20-23, 1984. Present were 45 underdeveloped section of Northwest

people representing 26 states, Canada Dallas. We propose that the soil be
and West Germany. Groups included the
removed to a spot where the Republi-
cans can see and experience the

Public hearing on fair· housing

The Bloomington and Normal Human practices which seem even-handed, but We are now looking for civil disobe-
Relations Commissions (HRCs) are co- which may foster inequality in the dience, direct action, and networking
sponsoring with the Illinois real estate market place. mobilization oriented collectives and
Department of Human Rights (DHR) a organizations. We need more people
public hearing on equal housing Besides gathering general views on to do individual scouting and publi-
opportunities in this area. One of local housing practices, the DHR is city.
seven scheduled hearings throughout specifically interested in
the State of Illinois to be held on discrimination in rental housing Contact RAR, 2647 Broadway 2W,
fair housing issues, the public against families with children. _It New York, New York 10025
hearing will be held on Thursday, especially seeks local comment on
April 26, 1984, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 whether such discrimination is wide-
p.m. in the Council Chamber of Bloom- spread and the apparent r.easons for
ington City Hall. it.

The purpose of the hearing is to find Written testimony will be.encouraged Recycling week
out whether equal housing opportunity from those who cannot appear and
is a reality and to identify discrim- testify personally. Witnesses Registration for Operation Recycle's
inatory practices that may affect this offering oral testimony will be 10k run on Saturday, April 28 will be
area. Homeseekers, home owners, scheduled in advance and assigned a accepted up to the start of the run at
tenants, property owners,rental time on the hearing agenda. The DHR 9 a.m.: The course is an accurately
agents, and related agencies or will compile a record of all comments, measured new course through the west
organizations are encouraged to written and oral, for each hearing and side of Bloomington starti~ at the
testify. The HRCs want the widest will produce a report by year end on
possible expression of views in order its overall findings and conclusions. w.Operation Recycle (OR) off1ce, 1100
to learn whether discriminatory prac- Market.
tices prevail in the Bloomington and Residents interested in offering
Normal communities and what form testimony, please contact Amy Buchli T-shirts and awards for the top .
those practices take. They are con- at Bloomington City Hall, 109 E. Olive finishers in each age category w1ll be
cerned not only with overt discrim- Olive, 828-7361, ext. 218 or 219. given out. Run results will be
ination, but also with customs and computerized. American. Cellulose ,
Manufacturing, Inc., wh1ch buys OR s
LetteM GOP convention newsprint, will cosponsor the run.
protest
Hostage likes Post Applications will be avail~ble at the
Hi! OR office or various sport1ng goods
Dear Post Amerikan,
Here is some information about an stores. The entry fee is $5.
I am another "Hostage" in D.o.c. I event I would like to have listed in
really like the way you make u~ t the next Post Amerikan: Operation Recycle is also distributing
inmates out to be hostages,,an no posters and bookmarks to mark . .
convicts, because hostages lS what we The Dallas Republican Convention.Pro- Recycling Week. The group, wh1ch 1s
are! test will be August 18-23. It Wlll the only non-profit community
raise important issues, and yo~r pro- recycling center in McLean County,
Today is the first time I h~ve ever test will be heard. For more ~nforma­ will have a display at Eastland Mall
read your paper, and today lS the tion call 212-533-5028. Or wr1~e to on April 28 and 29, and will have
first time I've ever be~n a~le t~ read P.O. Box 392, Canal Street Stat1on, displays at both the Bloomington and
a paper and actually enJ?Y 1t. New York, New York 10012. Normal Public Libraries.
especially like your artl?le.on
"Citizen Informants." Thls lS the Thanks a lot for the help. Hmmm
first paper I've ever seen that has
the guts to set out a snitch's named --Danielle Currently, a child born without an a
or should I say C.I.? I wish ~e ha. anus and with an incomplete esophagus
more papers like the Post Amer1kan 1n Hostages costs $140,000 for medical care.
our nation so everyone would.know what
a real newspaper should be l1ke. need· letters A girl with spina bifida costs
$600,000 for medical care.
I would also like to have my name Two more hostages of the Department
printed in your "Hostages need letters A kidney dialysis patient costs
letters" column. Keep up the good of Corrections have told the Post $25,000 a year.
work and you will have a true reader that they'd like letters from the
forever. outside. Send correspondence to: However, Kenneth vaux, professor of
medical ethics at the University of
Thank you for your time and paper. James G. DiGiacomo Illinois College of Medicine, observed
that "we could fund all the neonatal
--Terry Sinks (N-08190) A-71417 intensive care units in the country
Box 711 Box 7711 for the cost of one nuclear
Menard, IL 62259 Centralia, IL 62801 submarine."

Terry Sinks 62259 --Russell Dunwilling
N-08190
Box 711 Source: NursiQg Life, March-April
Menard, IL 1984.

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 22

Shut down the arsenal !!

Midwest Direct Action on including the payment of Mass direct action narrow bridges. The island
June 4, 1984, at the Rock war taxes. We must look holds a complex of over 50
Island Arsenal not to politicians but to "Project Disarm" is the buildings. All access to
ourselves, the workers and project of anti-war groups the Arsenal could be dis-
The u.s. is standing tall men and women in uniform, from around the Midwest. rupted.
in 1984: American troops to disarm the military be- We have joined together to
and U.S. weapons are bring- fore they launch World call for effective, non- Support people
ing death and destruction war III. violent direct action that
to the peoples of Lebanon, prevents war production In addition to people who
Grenada and Central Amer- Here on an island in the and planning at the Arsenal participate directly in the
ica, while the Pentagon is center of the Midwest is for as long as possible. action, we will need a
daily perfecting plans for the u.s. Army's largest We envision small and large number of people to
a first strike and protrac- weapons-producing arsenal large groups using creative support the blockade. Sup-
ted nuclear war. --a 1000 acre complex of tactics to disrupt business port work is vital to the
factories overflowing with as usual. Stationary groups success of an action, and
We cannot allow this glob~l machine guns and howitzers, might block key bridges and we encourage everyone to
terrorism to continue. We· and a command center for roads.· Mobile groups might get involved and partici'-'
will not defeat war by de- nuclear and chemical war seek to effect smaller, pate in the action at the
feating Reagan. The arms planning. Join us in a roving blockades at points level they feel able. We
race is not caused only by mass direct action on Mon- less ~obbed by police, will need help with organ-
those in washington or day, June 4, to shut down without immediately or nec- izing, distributing leaf-
Geneva, or even by the top the Rock Island Arsenal. essarily being arrested. lets, legal and media work,
corporations and banks. fundraising, transporta-
The arms.race depends on Project Disarm The Arsenal is located on tion, and people to join
workers to build the weap- c/o Disarm Now Action Group a small island (1 x ~ mile) in legal protests in the
ons, on soldiers to use 407 S. Dearborn no. 370 in the Mississippi with Quad cities on the day of
them, and on people to sup- Chicago IL 60605 access provided by three the action.
port the daily war prepar- (312)427-2533
ations in their communities,

Rock Island Arsenal

***INTERVENTION: Rock Island Arsenal ***UNEMPLOYMENT: The Quad ~ities area ***NUCLEAR AND CHEMICAL WARFARE: Rock
is the U.S. Army's largest manufactur- reflects the military economy of the Island is the headquarters of the u.s.
ing arsenal. It produces machine U.S. in microcosm. The Arsenal is a Army's Armament, Munitions and Chem-
guns, artillery and howitzers. 40% of thriving island of over 9,000 jobs in ical Command (AMCCOM) which manages in-
these "small arms" are sold to repres- a sea of mass unemployment. The Quad ventory, assembly and transport of the
sive, u.s.-backed regimes includin~ cities area, with a population of nuclear and chemical weapons stockpiles,
El Salvador, Lebanon, Jordan, Saud~ 4000,000, is the world center for the prepares for emergency airlift of the
Arabia, and the Phillipines. Current- agricultural and farm equipment in- weapons, and keeps the computer records
ly underway is "Project Rearm"--a dustries, now severely depressed. on the U.S. nuclear arsenal. AMCCOM
multi-million dollar modernization Many of their laid-off workers can
program which will "ensure the fi~d jobs only at the Arsenal. has an annual national budget of $9
billion, twice that of the state of
Arsenal's ability to produce military Illinois and 4 times that of the
hardware in an emergency while private state of Iowa.

industry converts to military needs."

Post Amerikan Vol. 13, No. 2 May 1984 Page 23

.,

Art and music for

the Rape Crisis Center

The Rape Crisis Center of McLean A faculty member at ISU, Myers has
County announces a benefit concert conducted numerous lectures and
and the availability of a limited
mnnber of original photographs by workshops on glass art in this coun-
Rhondal McKinney and a signed, hand- try and abroad. His work has been
blown bud vase by glass artist Joel included in virtually every major
Myers. glass exhibition since the mid 1960's
and his status in the field is in part
The concert responsible for the excellent repu-
tation which ISU's glass program en-
The concert will be Sunday, April 29,
at 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of joys.
the First United Methodist Church,
211 N. School Street, Normal. It emerging plants. It is printed in The piece is a hand-blown, signed
will feature traditional blue-grass a special 16" X 20" format; a copy bud vase, 7~" in height; it is
and old-time music by the Stringtown may be seen on the ISU campus outside from a period when Myers was creating
Road Band, four Central Illinois Room 128 in the Center for the Visual intimate pieces in a painterly style.
musicians who play banjo, fiddle, Arts. A copy of the photograph will Slightly irridized colors have been
hammered dulcimer, guitar, and bass. be given to those who contribute $150 applied by the hot glass torch pro-
There will also be clogging by mem- or more to the Rape Crisis Center. Up cess: an aqua ground with abstract
bers of the Folkways Dance Ensemble, to 40 copies will be available for shapes suggestive of plant forms.
and there may be a special guest or The piece is on display outside Room
two. early donors. Those wishing to re- 128 in the Center for the Visual Arts
ceive a copy should send their check, on the ISU campus. We are asking that
Facilities will be available for pic- along with address and phone number those interested in acquiring it sub-
nicking for those who wish to bring a to: mit written bids to!
box lunch; coffee and punch will be
provided by RCC. Those who attend Rape Crisis Center of McLean County
will be asked to make a tax-deductible P.O. Box 995
contribution of $4 (or less if they Bloomington, Illinois 61702
cannot afford $4), or $8 per family.
Tickets will be sold at the door, or You may learn the amount of the current
they may be purchased in advance at highest bid by calling 438-8321. Bids
the following locations: will be acc~pted until May 2.

Roper Acoustics, Normal Rape Crisis Center of McLean County Rape crisis center
Common Ground, Bloomington P.O. Box 995
Bloomington, Illinois 61702 The Rape Crisis Center of McLean
A drawing will be held at the end of County is an organization of female
the concert at which several copies A ~ember of the RCC staff will con- and male volunteer~. It is registered
of the photograph will be given away. tact them and arrange delivery of with the State of Illinois as a not-
the photograph. In addition, several for-profit corporation and has been
The photograph copies will be given away in a drawing serving the community since 1974.
at the end of the concert on April RCC may be reached at any time through
The Rape Crisis Center is making 29. Questions concerning the photo- PATH: 827-4005.
available a limited-edition large- graph should be addressed to either
format, signed photograph by distin- William Morgan at 452-1204, or Mark Principal activities of RCC include:
guished photographer Rhondal McKinney. Siderits at 438-8602. providing trained peer counselors who
A resident of Normal, McKinney curated offer psychological, medical, and
the highly acclaimed "An Open Land" The glass piece legal assistance, referrals, and al-
exhibition at the Art Institute of ternatives to the victims of rape and
Chicago, and his work has been ex- The Rape Crisis Center is also making sexual assault; providing counseling
hibited in Chicago, New York, Paris, available a piece of glass art by in- for others affected by rape and sex-
Santa Fe, and Houston. Among insti- ternationally known artist Joel Myers. ual assault; and providing in-service
tutions that have acquired his work training for hospital personnel, law.
are the Museum of Hodern Art, and enforcement personnel, and other social
the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris. social service agency staff about
the problems surrounding rape and
The photograph is entitled, "Illinois sexual assault.
Landscape, 1982," and it captures the
typical beauty of early spring in It is the philosophy of RCC that if
Central Illinois farmland. It has someone feels raped, she or he has
classic simplicity of composition, been raped. This philosophy is the
the starkness of horizon strongly result of over 10 years of experience
contrasting with the delicacy of in counseling the victims of rape and
assault.

Donations for the concert and art
works.will be used to support the
following activities: development
of educational and training materials
concerned with the new Illinois
sexual assault statute; extension
of the services of RCC to more of
the many victims of rape and sexual
assault in the community by means of
educational activities; maintenance
of a pager system for male volunteers.

All of these activities are designed

to meet community needs which are not
now being served. Education, for

instance, plays a crucial role in

undercutting the many myths which botn
perpetuate rape and create special
psychological difficulties for the
victim of rape. Education also serves
to bring the special services of RCC to
to the attention of those victims of

rape and sexual assault who now see
themselves as having nowhere to turn
for help.

--R.C.C.

Street hassles

Ah, spr1• ng

It's spring again, and all the signs of amateur assholes, or shout back at
of the season are here. Easter has them, or do anything or nothing.
come and gone, the trees are filled
with buds, flowers bloom by sidewalks, Any response, whether something
gardens are being planted, convertibles or nothing, seems to be what they
have reappeared from storage. And want. You are actually not a part
everywhere--from parking lots to of their heckling--merely the object
passing cars to local parks to of it. It doesn't matter what you
your own front porches--can be look like or what you have on or
heard that one sound we have all where you are. The mere fact of
come to recognize as the true your existence is enough.
arrival of spring: "Hey, baby,
wanna fuck?" I have noticed that the men who
heckle alone seem to be rather
I don't know why, after all these embarrassed and sheepish about of assault every day, right here
years, I still expect that I can their behavior, but this is not in Bloomington-Normal.
pick up a gallon of milk at true of men in groups (a~j it only
Eisner's, go to the bathroom at takes two to make a group). These The New Bedford incident shocked the
Garcla's, drive down Main Street men love your response, no matter nation. The people in this country
at noon, or measure r•y own front what it is, and they seem to grow could not believe that men could act
yard for flowers, without being stronger and more self-assured the that way. I was saddened by what
whistled at, honked at, grunted at, longer they heckle and harass. happened in New Bedford, but I was
or shouted at. But it's like a not shocked. I see men acting in
successfully repressed bad dream-- My fir~t amateur asshole heckle of that way nearly every day of my
every spring I am again surprised. the season-came the day after the New life, just on a slightly smaller
Bedford verdicts were handed down. scale.
Spring and summer seem to be the And it occurs to me that although
seasons for the amateur hecklers. there is certainly a difference in So, women, have a happy spring, and
The pros are still out there, degree in a group of men raping when the amateur assholes attack,
of course, lurking in bar entry- a woman while the others cheer and remember that you are not alone in
ways at closing time, hanging egg each other on, there is no your victimization. The amateur
out in all-night gas station~, difference in k~nd. assholes attack early and often,
cowering in underpasses and and there is, unfortunately, nothing
garages, waiting for the unsus- The same motivations--domination, we can do. Except to hope that they
pecting (escorted or alone) humiliation, power, and violation-- are the few who grow out of it and
female to appear. work together with the same peer not the few who grow into even more
pressures and group dynamics in . violent attackers.
But spring brings out the public rapes and in public hecklings
of women. Certainly I did not feel --Debcr::.h Wiatt
amateurs. Boys and men from as dominated, as humiliated, as
powerless, and as violated as did the
prepubescent to young adult, victim in New Bedford, but I did
feel all those things.
both alone and in 'groups, start
And most of these boys and men will
somewhere in the middle of never commit the degree of assault
that happened in New Bedford, but
April and don't give it up until they are committing the same kind

sometime in September.

It seems to make no visible
difference if women ignore these

GOD! I FORGOT TO RENEW MY SUBSCRIPTION TO THE
POST AMERIKAN

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I remembered to take out the garbage, leave food for the oat, turn off the air
conditioner, nav the telephone bill, and water the philodendron. But all of
that means nothing, without a Post Amerikan subscription. My life is empty •••
I desperately seek thrills and find them all sordid and meaningless •••

Don't let it happen to you.
For the next 12 issues, send $4 to Post Amerikan, PO Box J452,

Bloomington, IL 61702