Volume 2 Number 34 …….Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race …….September 3, 1999

The DISH's camera obscura reflects an obtuse perspective providing a panoramic vista of candidates for President in 2000. Like cocktails, these delectable morsels are feasts for the dinner party set. Pat Buchanan merges George C. Scott and Slim Pickings in Dr. Strange Love, but with Darth Vader's sharp edge. Pat is prepared to go down in flames and take the country with him.

Steve Forbes, an upscale Mr. Scratch, masquerades as J. P. Morgan in The Devil and Daniel Webster. Offering America a deal too good to be true, Steve is like a use car salesman - you have to trust him with your soul.

Al Gore has backers like William Jennings Bryant in a remake of The Scopes Trial. Rather than a lawyer, Al is a stand-up straight man, who is always dropping his punch lines, but never figures out why no one laughs.

Elizabeth Dole is peddling a Cole Porter script based on Peggy Sue Got Married. Returning to high school, a wiser Libby gives up cheerleading and popularity to becomes leader of the debate team.

Gary Bauer is Elmer Gantry, a flame-thrower, leading a "hellfire and brimstone" survivalist cult crusade to save the world from all the vices its loves. Like a preacher without a church, Gary cannot hide his "lean and hungry look."

John McCain debuts in a low budget independent remake of PT-109. No swashbuckler, McCain's script leaves audiences flat. John's escapades show him as a reluctant hero, far enough out in the water to be taken seriously, yet too close to shore to inspire commitment.

Orrin Hatch, a low-impact high budget docudrama of Brigham Young's epic journey to Salt Lake. A direction reversal, Orrin leads Mormons east to the Potomac. However, rather than sea gulls signaling salvation, Sen. Hatch has lobbyists flying over and dropping money.

Dan Quayle, The Best Man, a Ronald Reagan look-a-like, is having difficulty finding a supporting cast. A 1950s version of Bedtime for Bonzo is crossed with Newt Rodney. Dan emerges as the hero when the "Gipper," is saved by a faith healer and wins the big game.

Bill Bradley steps into the challenging role of a slightly over-the-hill basketball player in search of relevance. Paying a debt, he comes out of retirement to save some dead-end kids. A remake of Amazing Grace, Bill teaches an impoverished inner-city team to play and prosper.

Allen Keyes, a parity on the life of Al Jolson spoofs The Great White Hype. Keyes is out to prove blacks are as superficial and exploitative as whites. Keyes appears in white face with black lips, so the audience can see his lips move.

George W. Bush, Jr.'s family production merges Richie Rich and Problem Child is an Alfred Hitchcock shocker. George, Jr. is a whining frat-brat cocaine dealer, who receives public acclaim. Rather, than admitting the true source of his wealth, Jr. eliminates all witnesses to his past. Presidential Politics 2000

By John Burl Smith

The cornerstone of Reagan/Bush's strategy to reverse affirmative action rested on appointing ultra conservative judges. Yielding positive results in the courts, their strategy has Atlanta's program in the crosshairs of Matt Glavin and the Southeastern Legal Foundation (SELF). Recapitulating America's tortured beginning and adoption of the Constitution, case law affecting slaves and their descendants laid the foundation for Plessey v. Ferguson. Legal segregation was based on that case law. Race was the foundation of those laws, which justified discrimination and exclusion of slave descendants.

In 1954, having lasted one hundred seventy-eight years, slavery and segregation, legal racial discrimination, were finally outlawed by Brown v. Board of Education. Just twenty years later, Reagan/Bush and conservative judges began undermining Brown v. Board of Education. Although no one made the argument, judges ruled on narrow issues, which suggested affirmative action programs have the same effect as legal segregation. Based on these tortured decisions, courts outlawed race as a factor in fashioning remedies for past or present discrimination. By eliminating race, judges removed the sole legal criteria used in specifying who could be legally segregated or enslaved.

Congressional Republicans played a pivotal role by confirming only ultra conservative judges. As during segregation, it mattered not whether a judge was Democrat or Republican, only whether he would decide in favor of white males. Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. threw out Fulton County's affirmative action program stating "General discrimination in the marketplace is not enough." Statistical evidence must show "they have discriminated actively or passively, against minority firms."

Ending affirmative action has nothing to do with law or justice. It is about maintaining white male power. A practical example of passive discrimination is found in DeKalb County. Voting unanimously to end affirmative action in October 1997, Commissioners learned in July 1999 of pervasive discrimination against blacks by the county. MGT of America, Inc. was hired to study, if DeKalb County had ever been justified in having an affirmative action program. MGT's findings revealed, "from 1987 through 1997, white males received 85 to 97 percent of the $744 million in contracts awarded for commodity purchases, construction, subcontractors and service contracts." Supporting other studies, which found institutionalized racism explained disparities, such as these, between minorities and white men since slavery, this study shows DeKalb still uses the Reagan/Bush play-book, because it has not considered reinstating affirmative action. Other Essays by Mr. Smith

Disgruntled wants to know: How does DeKalb County's School System justify spending millions of dollars annually to collect data when they are unable to answer the most rudimentary questions about the system?

Disgruntled says: Affirmative action is all about remedying past and ongoing discrimination. In the grand scheme of things, it is crumbs relative to the larger issue of reparations.

Disgruntled feels: like a majority minority! More Disgruntled

Arthur Ashe: An American Statesman

In this U.S. Open Tennis Tournament week, it is appropriate to reflect on the life and times of the man for whom the stadium court where the championship match will be played is named. Tennis players from around the world will flock to Flushing Meadows, New York and Arthur Ashe Stadium to compete in the final hard court grand slam championship of this millennium.

Arthur Ashe is a tennis legend. An African American, Ashe was born in 1943, at a time when few blacks played tennis. Ashe was a black first in so many aspects of the sport, on and off the court. First to play in an integrated event, first black Davis Cup captain, only African American male to win the U.S. Open, winner of three grand slam tournaments, including Wimbledon, Ashe is best known for his great humanitarianism and statesmanship. Ashe helped create the USTA. A man of deep convictions, but always a diplomat, Ashe not only spoke to, but sought to impact issues involving youth, human rights and education. Arthur Ashe- an American. Other Bits of History

by Dot Smith

There was a time when golf and tennis were sports of the elite. Back then, only the elite possessed the money and leisure time to engage in them. Tournament winners received a hero's welcome at home and were revered abroad; they were considered great thinkers of the games; they enjoyed celebrity status. Sports elitism, in terms of who plays these games, is no longer so overt.

For example, there are free public tennis courts all over the metro Atlanta area. Tennis rackets and balls are relatively inexpensive. Many people, who are not rich, nor even middle class, can enjoy the game of tennis. On the other hand, I am not so sure the same can be said about golf; green fees and golf clubs can be expensive. Yet, more and more, Americans are participants and/or fans of these sports, especially African Americans.

The growth in the interest being shown golf and tennis by this group can be attributed, in part, to Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus. Though Woods does not see himself as an African-American, he stresses his multi-ethnic heritage, he is one of us in the hearts and minds of African Americans who admire his prowess on the golf course. Woods is part of the great American melting pot, which is where our society seems headed, as more and more, we are not just Caucasoid, Negroid or Mongoloid, instead we are some hybrid of two or all three races; we are Americans. Woods is a triple combo. When golf fans boo and behave like ugly Americans will do, Woods assumes their actions are not racially motivated. Woods and the mainstream media blame boos on a few beers too many.

The shine of their slick ebony skin, the rattle of hair beads and their awesome ability to play tennis are hallmarks of the Williams sisters. Still young at 19 and 17, respectively, Venus and Serena are full blown African American. Ranked in the top ten in the world, the sisters are sometimes booed and treated like pariah by their fellow tennis players. Racism is telling when American fans boo a fellow American. More telling is the media coverage.

Using the Atlanta Journal Constitution as an local example, two of the hottest events in tennis and golf were played this weekend. The Pilot Pen International and the NEC Invitational. Venus Williams won the last hard court match leading up to the U.S. Open, the Pilot Pen International. Defeating number 2 Lindsay Davenport in straight sets, Venus is ranked number 3 in the world. CBS aired the match. Tiger Woods' brilliance on the greens showed in his -10 stroke win to capture the million-dollar purse of NEC tournament, which also aired on CBS. The paper's sports coverage of these prestigious events was, in a word, parsimonious. If we can blame fan rudeness on a few beers too many, then to what do we attribute the vagaries of the media coverage. More Hot Dishes

By John Burl Smith

A most beautiful rose vainly admired its reflection in a crystalline drop of rain. The rose was asked if it would like to be reflected for the world to relish through eternity. The rose gleefully answered yes! It was promptly cut and placed in a crystal dome and displayed on an exquisitely crafted mahogany mantle. The Circuit Rider, Rev. Burl Lee taught, "Before answering any question, one needs to be clear about what is really being asked. Patience is the key that unlocks caged desire."

Al Gore's desire to avoid an embarrassing situation led to his now famous statement, "no controlling legal authority." At worst a political indiscretion, Republicans ascribed the most sinister motivation to Gore's evasions. Recent statements by George W. Bush, Jr. have Republicans slithering away from the moral indignation they heaped upon the Democratic Party frontrunner. The Republican's desire to recapture the White House is so overwhelming, they are willing to sacrifice any political value, or endure moral torture in its pursuit. Like the rose, lustfully George, Jr. sees the reflection he desires, and he is willing to adorn any facade to bask in its glow. Although shrouded in the trappings of elegance and ensconced at the pinnacle of power, crystal domes are caskets. Essays by Mr. Smith other essay this issue John2

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro went to Six Flags with his granddad. According to the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro, "Six Flags is bad!" More Comments

Another child chose to die rather than live. The 16 year-old drove to her Georgia high school and committed suicide. All we know about her is "she was quiet and had some friends, but not very many." This appears a common characteristic of outsiders, the children committing suicide and killing others. These are the young people who do not fit into the mainstream of their schools' environments. Some are picked on and bullied by their "betters." The faculty seems oblivious to their presence. Generally, these outsiders are shunned by peers and the school's social elite. Too often, their parents fail to recognize the desperation of their existence, cast as outsiders.

Whether we admit it or not, public schools are a microcosm of the larger American society. The same hypocrisy that threatens the American social fabric is already exploding on school campuses across the country. Outsiders are choosing to use violence to vent their anger and frustration with a social hierarchy riddled with double standards. More Phantom Scribblings

The Aborigine is native to Australia. Since colonization by Europeans, Australia's indigenous people have endured the same disdain and genocidal treatment accorded native American Indians. According to a news report by Reuters News Service, "Aborigine represent only 2.1 percent of the country's population;" it is also the "most disadvantaged group" down under. Australia expressed regret for the past mistreatment of its Aboriginal minority in a motion for reconciliation that passed parliament unopposed. The motion came under immediate fire from Aboriginal leaders, "who said only a full apology would do."

A full apology includes reparations. Verbal apologies will not mend the divide created by the centuries of social and economic disadvantage experienced by the Aborigine. The same can be said for South Africans and African Americans. Reconciliation is not realistic without reparations. A verbal apology at this level of inhumane criminal activity is useless. An apology must be backed up by an honest effort to level the economic playing field. More Hoodnotes

A Thank You Note:

From John to Dot!

"When we met, it was as though we saw the same possibilities in each other, "diamonds in the rough." Perennial late bloomers, we have spent our lives smoothing rough edges. Although we did not always hit it just right, reshaping and adapting redesigned concepts of what freedom in oneness really means produced a unique stone in each of us.

Your patient artistry has produced a brilliant reflection of you in me. Like any rough stone, I could have laid unnoticed an eternity. Even if picked up by other prospectors, there is no guarantee they would have seen trapped in my crusted shell what you recognized. Like Michelangelo, it took some lovingly gentle strokes to release the true beauty within this stone. My love, I thank you!"

l

"I am seeking information on a condition the doctors say I have; it is called " Stevens (Stephen) Johnsons Disease." Symptoms are painful swelling of the joints and a dripping ugly weeping rash all over the body. Most of the time when I have these attacks it seems to start in the upper arm with very painful swelling. Large areas of the skin get filled with liquid, which leaks, or as the doctor says it weeps. They think it might be from aspirin, but no has told me for certain. Question: Has anyone else ever heard of this condition? Does anyone know of any treatment? And what causes it? Ron. Summons.@pacbell.net More from the Mailbox

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