Volume 2 Issue 12

by Yohannes Sharriff Smith

Meanwhile, begging politicians deny

Big businesses' lie, as the environment toxifies,

While police fortify and churches sanctify,

The poor are crucified to hide the truth.

Inside, too many spend a lifetime,

Caught in this vicious loop of why's it

Bad business to heal the sickness.

But we subsidies defense,

Budget cutting our children out of existence.

Meanwhile...There's more money in making new

Improved boots for better trained troops

Who shoot everybody in sight...

Change of power is a hostile environment

Meanwhile... oil prices are driven down

By the need for immediate cash flow

To buy more weapons and supplies

From the same folks WHO started the crisis. The CIA gets paid

Meanwhile... If I'm not a slave,

Why am I required to have a license and registration.

Meanwhile... (tick tock)

Tyrone is holding onto cell bars (tick tock)

Crushing rocks over back breaking chains

Heart aching chest pains and

Blood stained tears cascade for sisters

Spending years living off of collect calls.

Sisters too strong to be soft,

Vulnerability gets your hands cut off.

"So I can't feel you...Brother." Single mother two

In love with a no good baby daddy hustler,

Who rarely sees his children.

Meanwhile... just cross the tracks

Another brother got shot (tick tock)

Watching the ambulance race against the clock.

Up the block, cameras document the drama

His mama grieves

'Cause the trauma unit couldn't stop bleeding

But 11's Alive and ratings are peaking.

Meanwhile...the whole world is making hard choices

Desperation seizing your voices, as you choke on poison

Air so hot and thick, it scorches as it courses

From Chocolate City to Nepal here fathers call the pimps

To mortgage their 3 year old daughters

For enough money to barter enough goods

To make it thru another year.

Or... would you wait four more years until she's seven

And sell her directly into the flesh trade in Beijing? Dehumanized and raped!

Taught to suck penis before you reach your teens

Before you get your last set of teeth

Knocked out of your mouth

For holding out... for saying no

Meanwhile, I sell my soul

With a side order of righteousness

Yeah what's in your bowl might be the spiciest

But which one of you trifling poetically inclined niggas

Would pretend like they don't feel this way

Like no matter how hard you try

You keep coming up short?

Keep coming up short skirts and on pretty faces

Masking tape down the pain.

Not to accept but to reflect the blame

Shame on you for pointing the finger

And hollering don't judge me

But hey I'm just breathing.

Meanwhile...Intuit

by John Burl Smith

Principle 5: "Love Reciprocity: "By internalizing life's lessons, and reciprocating the wealth of experiences gained, one clarifies his/her reflection. Manifesting dreams convert nebulous visions and information into usable knowledge..the cycle of student and teacher....expands our knowledge.... fulfilling our basic need to give love..." (Reprinted from T.H.I.N.C., 1997)

Rightly so, the English proudly and possessively cherish the legacy of William Shakespeare. Although today's neo-Elizabethans see him as a white boy living large, Shakespeare possessed a profound insight regarding humanity's basic character. Beyond art and artist, Shakespeare understood the real dilemma of being black in a white world. Othello represents the classic double bind. Accordingly, in the drama and real life, Paul Robeson is the best Othello to ever live the role. Both are victims of a conspiracy supported by the larger white society. Their credibility undermined, doubt is created about who or what to trust.

Underlying all positive human emotions, trust is learned as an infant or it becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to build as life advances. However, once experienced, associations develop linking pleasant feelings to certain types of bonds. The strength of those bonds are proportional to the amount of positive energy associated with such encounters. The dilemma Shakespeare examines in Othello probes the ultimate reality of America's raw canker. Sheathing racial conflict, America was the unending nightmare of Othello, for Paul Robeson.

Labels highlight differences, which accompany perceptions. To the degree rational thoughts are abandoned, invisible enemies are created. A tragic hero to African-Americans, Paul Robeson, like Othello held the reigns of power. A leader in the emerging civil rights movement during the 1950's, white society viewed Robeson as a "dangerous man." The question was: How to take him down? Enter "the red scare and black listing."

The importance of love as a counter to doubt, hatred, racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry, and genocide is the building of trust. T.H.I.N.C,'s principle adds to social cohesion. When citizens fail to experience trust toward the larger society, strong bonds never develop. Ipso facto, New York is a poster city of Othello's Shakespearean dilemma.

Shakespeare's allegorical visions satirized life's ironies as tragic lessons. His art did not romanticize the absurdity of what erstwhile patrons see as the glory days of white society.

Other Essays by John Burl Smith

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro promised to stop rough-housing on the playground and pay attention in the classroom. The Dark One/Ninja/Zorro is just experiencing a few technical difficulties. Bat Cave

Disgruntled wants to know: Why does my mother keep bugging the hell out of me for this week's contribution?

Disgruntled feels: Used and abused!

Disgruntled says: A revision on an earlier thought is definitely in order. Remember the one on getting ahead in the labor market being all about who you know, rather than what you know? Well, on second thought, it's whom you blow! Ask Bill Clinton! Disgruntled

Gas Competition: Part II

In the second part of The DISH's three-part look at natural gas providers, 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. All natural gas customers should be forewarned that there may be hidden costs, which could increase the cost per therm. Pan-Canadian charges a $200.00 deposit that is refundable. Infinite Energy does a credit check on prospective customers; it may or may not charge a deposit depending on the individual consumer's credit history. FPL not offering gas service to Atlanta consumers.

 News You Use

It's been a while, but I caught MARTA recently. It proved smarter than driving to downtown Atlanta on the day of the Falcon's parade. My ride began at the East Lake Station. From there, I transferred at Five Points to a Northbound train for the final leg of my trip to Peachtree Center Station. The ride was quiet and fast. In a little over fifteen minutes I went from the East Lake Station to the heart of Downtown Atlanta. It was great!

I recommend it for convenience and speed. Imagine avoiding all that traffic with no parking hassle at the end of the trip. The last time I rode MARTA, it cost $.75. Today, it costs $1.50, a lot less than most downtown parking Take MARTA! It is definitely worth it!

by LaTonya Shante'

 Momma, I love you.

You made me what I have to be.

My faith is what keeps me,

I know you are going to be alright.

My insight into the future sees us together.

There will be a time for you and me.

You are my sweet lady,

All that I have known.

The past is in the past.

So, now we are on our own.

I believe, we are where we belong

For a lifetime you and me.

My love, you are my love you see,

Our minds are together

And through the spirit I feel closer.

Sometimes I am quiet and ill,

Then tears fill my eyes.

Momma,

You are my prize and I am your baby-girl.

With faith, I can't wait to see you again

And with patience, I will gain that win.

I know what God will do for you and me,

Momma, we will be together again

This is part of our destiny. Venue

By Dot Smith

In the fourteen-month existence of this weekly newsletter, we have grown in more ways than one. It started as a means of venting personal feelings of helplessness against a system we know is racist. Now, The DISH is a voice for others, i.e., Tyisha Miller, James Byrd, Jr. and so many others.

Based on themes from T.H.I.N.C. (Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness), The DISH is free; the publication is available primarily via facsimile and email. Its circulation is unknown. Hard copy readers are asked to pass it on. They read it while riding on MARTA (Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) and leave or give it directly to another passenger. It's a smart way to share information.

Email readers are encouraged to print a copy for non-Internet contacts and forward it to e-pals. Word gets round, like the Neiman-Marcus cookie recipe. Fax readers are asked to share the information with co-workers and family members.

Feedback indicates the distribution system works, even though where a copy ends up and how many reads it along the way is impossible to calculate. More important, indications are the information contained in The DISH is appreciated, and more people would read it, if they could get it.

How do we meet that need, and where do we go from here? Our goal is to be the most widely read weekly newsletter in the world, starting with the local metro Atlanta area, where most of our fax copy readers reside. Certainly, to increase our readership, more copies. Doing so requires capital. The DISH is seeking suggestions for generating the necessary funds. All ideas and practical assistance are greatly appreciated. Thanks for all your comments and support, The DISH. DISHing It Up Hot!

"Do not throw away your VCR in the year 2000. Set it to 1972, because the days will be the same. Thought you could use this information. Pass it on, because you know the manufacturer will not share this info. They want you to buy a new one! Let's fool them and correct (it) the Y2K problem ourselves." Email: WinkeyA@dmjm.com

"I read with interest the Georgia Demos' new strategy that combines high tech and traditional grassroots politics. I wonder what traditional forms the grassroots efforts will take. Will it be the usual lipservice we have come to expect in black communities? Even Republicans are learning to pay the Demo game to get minority votes; they are compassionate conservatives.

Seeing Steve Forbes, Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Sunny Warren praying for the flat tax in the Atlanta Journal Constitution drove home the fact there is no difference between the two parties; Democrat, Republican, black and white representatives deliver the same shoddy service.

The traditional black loyalty to the Democratic Party needs to be re-examined. Come 2000, if the Republicans put together a McCain-Dole ticket, I will vote for it, because Dole is a woman and I like McCain's efforts to cut out government pork, the kind that goes to big business. Democrats must do better to get my vote in the new millennium." A loyal DISH reader.

"I do not own a cell phone, nor do I drive one of those big trucks or SUV. Hell, who am I fooling, I don't own a car. There is no telephone in the one I ride in. Don't get me wrong, I ain't hating on those people who possess these machines. To be honest I sometimes envy them, but mostly, they frighten me, especially when they use them simultaneously. Distracted by a telephone conversation or looking away from the road to dial a number, these people can be seen all over the metro area highways, speeding in their vehicles, dipping and drifting from lane to lane without a signal. With one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the phone, they are scary. I'm not surprised there are occasional fender benders or a real tragedy on the roads caused by someone talking on a phone while driving." A concerned motorist. Mailbox

Back   ||  ICIM Home   ||  THINC  ||  The DISH || 1999 Issues