Volume 2 Issue 11

On 1999: State of the Chasm

by Dot Smith

In 1998, Intuit Creative Ideas Manifested, Inc. (ICIM) examined the state of the American economy from a bottom up perspective. Commissioned by the Richard L. Kirksey, Jr. Foundation, the study identified some of the problems confronting our nation. "1998 State of the Chasm: Probing the Ache" found hypocrisy to be the most pressing problem afflicting poor and minorities.

Poverty, racism, crime and police brutality are intricately intertwined in this assessment. These are issues to which the country seems blind. The criminal justice system profiles blacks, creating a pool of free and cheap labor, which guarantees defacto slavery.

Let us be real. Blacks rot in jail, imprisoned for petty drug offenses and other non-violent crimes, while murderers roam the streets masquerading as lawmen. The real drug users, pushers, con artists and mega-buck thieves go free to find fame and fortune, like the Kennedy's during prohibition.

For 1999, the most pressing problem facing our nation remains hypocrisy. America's black youth traditionally reside at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. It is called the chasm of inequality. Since no positive change occurred in the life of black youth, the group for whom the study was commissioned, the foundation sees no purpose in a new study to reach the same conclusion.

Members believe conditions have worsen. The foundation is asking you to get involved. Write U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Clinton and any others who may be able to make a positive difference. DISHing It Up Hot!

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro promises to listen to his teacher and behave in school. With a birthday real soon and no video privileges to speak of, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro is committed to obeying all the rules! Bat Cave

Disgruntled wants to know: Has anyone else noticed the world seems at war and we, the US is supplying the guns and ammo to all sides?

Disgruntled feels: It takes time to learn to appreciate a bush, so for now fried and laid to the side is preferable to a head of weeds.

Disgruntled says: When a duly elected representative fails to respond to a constituent's request for assistance, it should be called taxation without representation. Disgruntled

by Dot Smith

Personally, Secretary of State Madeline Albright has performed well, considering the incredible set of circumstances she inherited. Albright's downfall in foreign policy is similar to Clinton's domestic entanglement with Lewinsky. In lying about his "sexual relation with that woman," Clinton discounted the semen-stained dress. Albright is good, but she does not look good lying. Albright's performance is undermined by the frequent lies necessary to advance a duplicitous foreign policy. For example, it stretches the bounds of honesty and integrity to be the world's most avowed peacemaker when arming all sides in conflicts around the globe. The U.S. advocates human rights, but it is the main hold-out in banning land mines, which kill and maim humans daily. Aptly, the Chinese sees the U.S. as the "pot calling the kettle black," because its prisons are packed with the nation's second-class citizens, among other documented human rights abuses.

Such contradictions make Albright's job all the more difficult. To improve her performance, Albright must eliminate these inconsistencies.

Sanctimonious

by dot

 What's a bad word? I've never met one.

Granted, I've been angered

Or otherwise moved by the message,

Mood or attitude conjured up by 'em.

But, I've never met a bad word.

To ban some from the lexicon,

Like 'niggard' and 'nigger,'would be horrendous!

How else does one say stingy so succinctly?

Outlawing words is just plain ridiculous!

'Lie,' 'damn,' and sometimes even 'darn'

Might become forbidden by the sanctimonious.

If we let 'em have their way, humans will go to jail

For a word delivered politically incorrectly!

'Hell' is a word we must use sparingly,

It just may raise the Devil (in them)

'Shit' sends the sanctimonious reeling in shock

Just say it, stand back and watch the drama unfold.

Buttocks squeezed tight, they dive for cover.

Ears burning shut, some erupt into conniptions.

Poetically objecting to the words used

They hide behind a pretended offense,

Nonexistent sensibility and fragile constitutions,

The message goes unappreciated.

I've never met a bad word,

But I've met plenty sanctimonious hypocrites. Venue

A Moment With My Father

by Yohannes Sharriff Smith

We stood at the edge of forever

And watched her paint deep torrent Atlantic blue

Against the rocky shore.

Mist and spray danced light in the crystal air

The sun cooperated benevolently, creating gentle

Rainbows, signifying our little moment in heaven.

Father rested his hand upon my shoulder,

We gazed into the hereafter where pale azure sky

Made love to life stirring liquid.

Losing definition, forms melted into one another.

With violent passion, that shapeless body of chaos

And creation let its power be known.

Anxious to consume those who dared watch

Such ancient beauty,

She stormed the patient earth

Producing electrified white foam,

Ending in a swirling swell of energy.

After each massive surge, salty drops kissed our faces.

Life's water rushed over the cliff by thundering wind.

Her thanks for our appreciation. Intuit

Freaknik is young people having fun. Picnics in the park and rolling street parties are hallmarks of the annual spring event. Citing traffic snarls, and the lewd behavior of a few, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial staff called for an end to Freaknik. Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell agreed.

Atlanta's plan contained three elements: a name change to Black College Spring Break, no city-sponsored events and a campaign to discourage students from coming to Atlanta. In '98, the city impounded cars, caused traffic snarls and wrote hundreds of tickets. With Piedmont Park off limits, the city sponsored a job fair. Until it threw together some last minute Auburn Avenue venue, the city offered nothing for Freaknik '99. None should be surprised the plan to kill Freaknik is working. The city's disdain for our children is plain in its intention to build them a park on a landfill.

By John Burl Smith

Environmental Conscious, the fourth principle of T.H.I.N.C., relates the concept of "Awareness and maintenance of our symbiotic relationship with earth." Darwin's ultimate point recognizes the interdependence of all creatures, and their dependence on Earth as a biosphere. Galileo and Darwin deciphered laws underlying physical relationships with mental consequences and life's reaction to these forces. Environmentalists see their presence on Earth as stewards. Graciously granted a precious trust, each successive generation must T.H.I.N.C. in terms of preserving and conserving all finite resources to increase survival probabilities for the species.

Externally, as well as internally, environments require close observation, accurate assessment, precise diagnosis and appropriate responses to life's ever-changing demands. Environmentally conscious individuals take personal responsibility for addressing degradation to or disregard of humanity's obligation to protect the unprotected and defend the undefended. Consequently, racism, discrimination, sexism, homophobia, exploitation and genocide are just as grievous as clear-cutting. All diminish the chances of humanity's survival.

As children, such horrors are hard to imagine, but, in a hip hop world gone mad with rampant poverty, war, global economic melt down, ethnic and religious conflicts, it is easy to imagine a "Project Soldier" scenario. Whether one agrees or not, as the chasm widens between the haves and have-nots, the relevance of relational reverence decreases proportionally. Yohannes says, "....positively expressing wants and desires facilitates honest communication, and eventually the true need is fulfilled. We are multi-dimensional entities. Considering our complexity, patience and compassion are a necessity. Humanity must acknowledge the internal world (Spiritual, Emotional, and Mental) and work to balance all planes of being. Respect the connection or suffering is sure to result." Other Essays by John Burl Smith

With gas deregulation, Atlanta Gas Light's customers must switch to one of the eighteen gas marketers. A bill sponsored in the state house will speed up the deregulation schedule. On May 3^rd, AGL customers will be notified they have 100 days to Oct. 1, 1999 to select a company. Those who do not will be assigned to a natural gas competitor.

In a three-part study, The DISH is providing a brief look at gas suppliers. Listed below are six of those companies. The chart includes contract and deposit requirements, budget plan or level billing availability and per therm (cubic feet) price in cents.

News You Use

Whispers in unmentionable places are saying desperate Republicans are touting recent hard times as, "the good old days." With no new ideas, the Republican promise land is Ronald Reagan and a condo in tax cut heaven. Reminiscing and praying for 2000, Republicans salivate at the prospect of reviving "voodoo economics, "stagflation, stampeding deficits and cavernous debt. To outdistance lost credibility, Reaganites are repackaging a bankrupt election gimmick that is shades of the "Contract With America.." Those ready to revisit a time everyone admits was worse than now can "Take The A-Train now leaving on track 69." The Phantom Scribbler, the hand that writes and moves on.....Phantom Scribbler

N.U.D.

"N.U.D. is the acronym for Non Urban Dictate. A NUD label means a company does not want its marketing and advertising materials placed in media claiming to target an urban audience. Legitimate reasons for companies not using urban radio may include the fact that Blacks do not index high in certain categories or that a company's strategy is to market to the Black consumer down the road. NUD usually means a company is not interested in the Black consumer. Companies evade discrimination liability by embracing it as theory rather than policy.

The Urban Institute will list all companies that have a NUD policy. Armed with this information, we feel that Black consumers will be able to make informed buying decisions. Please forward this information on to any other consumer that you consider a friend and advise them to do likewise. Remember, we can't act wisely unless we are informed wisely." Mailbox

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