ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992                   TAG: 9203050481
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BUSH COURTS BLACKS BUT NOT INDIANS

IN JANUARY the nation celebrated a holiday for Martin Luther King, the slain civil-rights leader. President Bush took an active role in this annual ritual, embracing African-American elites.

To my knowledge, Mr. Bush and his predecessors have not given such attention to the Native American Indians, our first citizens. It appears Mr. Bush was in Atlanta to appease our African-American brothers and sisters and gain votes.

American Indians had some great chiefs and leaders of the past: Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse of the Sioux tribe, Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce, Cochise of the Apache Tribe, and the names go on and on.

We hear of minorities whining about civil rights. If anybody has the right to holler about rights, it is the American Indian. President Bush speaks of "a kinder, gentler nation." We know the office of the presidency is one of dignity. Mr. Bush could dignify himself more by entertaining the Indian nation. LEWIS HAGY JOHNSON CITY, TN 


 by CNB