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Volume 3 Issue 41… Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race… October 20, 2000

Note: The DISH is based on themes from T.H.I.N.C. (Teaching Humanity In New Consciousness): The Chrysalis of Evolution. According to the President's Initiative on Race, "The issues that this book brings to the forefront are important in our efforts to achieve the goals set forth by the President for the Initiative. This work will serve as a solid resource for us as we begin to examine these critical issues." For your copy of T.H.I.N.C., The DISH or to submit comments, contact ICIM, Inc. at (404) 244-6023 or email us at icim@bellsouth.net. The DISH © 2000

by John Burl Smith

Basking in the glow of world prosperity, fifteen thousand people including delegates from 182 countries attended the IMF and World Bank September 26, 2000 meeting in Prague. Worries about a weak Euro and higher oil prices threaten to push third world debt relief to the back burner. Eastern Europe had not seen such a confrontation over fairness, equality, and justice regarding "haves" and "have-nots" since workers battled with the old guard following WWI.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers gave only lip service to debt relief saying he supported, "reforms by the IMF and the World Bank to streamline their lending practices and provide greater openness on their decision-making processes. Moving away from economic globalization would set back efforts to lift billions of people out of poverty." World Bank President James Wolfensohn and IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler differed with Summers. They see third world nations shut out of international commerce and urged, "rich countries to lower their trade barriers on exports of farm goods and other products from poor countries. Such trade could mean $100 billion annually in extra sales by poor nations." Their approach would have a more direct and lasting impact on poverty in poor nations, than what Summers proposes. America exercises greater control over access to export markets than any other nation.

Anti-globalization contingents conjure up images of America's anti-war protests during the 1960s. Nearly 10,000 supporters of debt relief for poor countries and environmentalism converged on the IMF and World Bank meeting. Students, workers, farmers and clergy personify international corporations as the "evil empire," and vow to smash globalism. The Initiative against Economic Globalization (INEPG) dramatized the IMF and World Bank threat with marches, sit-ins and lie-ins.

However, more aggressive networks adopted a "by any means necessary" approach and fought pitch battles with 11,000 police. Protesters blockaded the only exist forcing delegates to escape through a subway. Anti-capitalist struck KFC and Mickey D's, symbols of America's profit motive. Led by a woman dressed in bright feathers and marching to the beat of drums, activists trashed the trashy food sellers. CRO public radio reported throngs of protesters chased fleeing financiers scampering to reach their hotels.

In the US, 300 protesters targeted Hartford, CT's United Technologies Corp. for ignoring workers' rights and allowing subcontractors to pay low wages to janitors. Thirty-five activists were arrested blocking Washington, D.C. streets protesting the IMF and World Bank. Citigroup banks in Denver and Indianapolis faced protesters. Twenty were arrested outside Salomon Smith Barney, a World Bank underwriter. Boston rallies were aimed at pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Pfizer adds billions of dollars to the current mountain of poor nations’ debts selling AIDS drugs. Rev. Tsitsi Moyo of Zimbabwe said, "If the debt is not canceled, if AIDS is not curtailed, there is no hope for my country." Palestinians must follow Omar Al Mukhtar’s example.  John 2000

Boycott World Bank Bonds

Tell Salomon Smith Barney to stop underwriting World Bank Bonds. World Bank bonds are debt securities issued by the World Bank which are purchased by investment managers, bank trusts, pension funds, and insurance companies. The Bank depends on private capital to finance projects that often negatively impact communities and the environment. Socially responsible investment firms, environmental, human rights and labor groups around the world are joining the boycott of World Bank Bonds.

Today, visit the site below and send a free fax http://www.corpwatch.org/action/2000/18.html and tell the CEO of Salomon Smith Barney to set an industry standard and boycott World Bank Bonds! 80% of the World Bank funds comes from bonds sold to institutional and individual investors. Since most of its resources are raised on private capital markets, the World Bank avoids public scrutiny. However, the wide ownership of its bonds gives activists a way of pressuring the World Bank. Activists against World Bank policies of economic austerity, reckless deregulation and privatization in developing countries have called for a boycott of World Bank bonds until it cancels its debt claims against developing countries and ends destructive lending policies. Citigroup buys World Bank bonds through its subsidiaries, Citibank, Salomon Smith Barney, and Travelers. For more on this topic, see http://www.worldbankboycott.org.

Disgruntled feels: Worth thousands of words, the newspaper layout described below epitomizes the bias in the media. Above the fold, a large photo of a woman hugging a dog of an undetermined breed accompanies an in-depth look at animal cruelty. Beneath the fold, a small picture accompanies the brief news that John F. Brown, a black man, died in police custody.

Disgruntled says: For African Americans, a sign of blackness is the kink (curl) of our natural hair. In Australia, the blacks have that "good hair," meaning it is less curly. The good hair, bad hair stigma must be overcome as Black people come to terms with their natural features. It was good to see Marion Jones embrace her natural black self during the Olympic games.

Disgruntled wants to know: If art funds are so abundant that land can be purchased in some remote area of the state for future art venues, why so we have none in the Mecca for artistic black children?

by Dot

Written by John Grisham, The Pelican Brief is a real page-turner. A bestseller, its combination of adventure, suspense and romance made the novel a delight for this reader. Having enjoyed the book, I looked forward to seeing the movie, which came out circa 1993. Though entertaining, the movie seemed to be missing something. With judicial appointments a hot topic among presidential hopefuls, I thought about the book and watched the movie again; it reaffirmed my initial impression that something was missing.

The Pelican Brief begins with the murder of two Supreme Court justices. A young law student, played by Julia Roberts, develops a theory about who ordered the assassinations. Called the Pelican Brief, it is dead on target. Teamed with a Washington, D.C. reporter, played by Denzel Washington in the movie, the young people narrowly escape assassination. In a life and death race to expose the culprits, the young people fall in love, at least they do in the book. On the big screen, the relationship is plutonic. Characters in the book possess no racial identity, so color is not a factor. However, on the screen, it loomed large. Given the absence of a romance, which is central to the relationship of the leading characters in the book, race must have been a factor behind the scenes in making the movie.

The Brief is a compelling piece of fiction; it raises the important issues of campaign financing, the influence big money exerts on American politics and judicial appointments. Given the next President will likely appoint two maybe more justices to the Supreme Court; the stakes are high in the current election. The conspirators in The Pelican Brief had connections that extended to the Oval Office. The President is implicated in the scheme to soften the Court’s stance on environmental issues in order to secure a favorable ruling in a lawsuit to prevent oil drilling in an unspoiled Louisiana region. Fiction is not far from reality. What if a Microsoft or the oilmen behind efforts to drill in Alaska will benefit from a more amendable Court?

by John Burl Smith

The Southeastern Legal Foundation (SELF) was rocked by the resignation of Matt Glavin, president and CEO (AJC 10-5-00). Dedicated to blocking equality in America, Glavin and SELF rank with bottom feeders like the KKK and Conservative Citizens Council (CCC). The Black Chamber of Commerce of Georgia revealed SELF’s political clout during its boycott of bakery giant, Flowers Industries. Its Chairman was a member of SELF's board of directors.

Lockstep on Confederate heritage with compassionate conservatives like Jesse Helm and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, SELF claims to fight for equality. They oppose Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka as unconstitutional. SELF insists, the Court had no right to end "separate but equal," because the Emancipation Proclamation did not repeal Article 1 Section 2 of the U. S. Constitution. Therefore, they posit slaveholders were deprived of their property illegally. According to SELF, this article makes it illegal for the Court to do anything to address residual effects of slavery, segregation, and institutionalized racism that results in depriving whites of opportunities. Their case law is called "reversed discrimination."

Glavin relinquished control to board Chairman Kathy Barco, president of a Jacksonville FL. company. Barco took over SELF in August when current senatorial candidate Mack Mattingly resigned to challenge Zell Miller for the remainder of Paul Coverdell’s term. SELF also furnished Bob Barr a platform when he made his transition from U. S. Attorney to congress. A board member of the CCC, Barr most clearly represent SELF’s support of white supremacy. SELF’s pro-life, death penalty and school voucher positions shaped George W. Bush Jr.’s compassionate conservatism.

Glavin only points up the hypocritical doublethink behind compassionate conservative claims, they are for equality but oppose affirmative action. Similarly, denying the Confederacy bears responsibility for lynching, hatred, racism and slavery is the wool pulled over their children eyes in order to pretend theirs is a glorious heritage. Institutionalized racism in America grows in seedbeds like Bob Jones University. White parents cultivate SELF’s philosophy of white superiority as justification for better schools, homes and community services, more employment opportunities, better health care, longer life spans and livable retirements. SELF believes the 3/5ths Compromise of Article 1 Section 2 dictates outcomes and makes it legal to discriminate in favor of whites against blacks. Finally, whites claim the fact that blacks endure a reduced standard of living on all these variables is like an act of God, "it’s no one’s fault." John 2000

As a child I read a biography of Wilma Rudolph that left me with a weighty sensation that I lacked the words to express. With more maturity, I recalled that sensation recently after covering the 2000 Olympics. Wilma’s trials, tribulations and her triumph in winning gold at the Olympics did not tell the whole story, at least not directly. The truth lurked in codes children cannot interpret. I suppose maturity provides insight that helps to break the codes and words to express sensations.

Like the biographies of Paul Robeson, Martin Luther King, Jr. and so many others, Rudolph’s story is a cry for acceptance that goes unheeded. Champions, this unrequited love goes beyond the desire to be number one - a winner - a trait one expects to find in Olympic athletes. Ironically, in African Americans the cry for acceptance is pathetic, particularly given the recent absurd media coverage.

Wilma showed the world she was the fastest. But, she could not run fast enough to shed her black skin to gain acceptance as an equal in her beloved country.

Some AJC disgruntled subscriber wrote that he/she found the way the US men’s 4 X 100- relay team sported the flag after winning the gold was disrespectful. Could that be because the bodies, heads and hearts it was draped around were black? Can you imagine Americans complaining if four white men had won the gold medal and wrapped themselves in the U.S. flag in celebration? What loyal American could complain about such a display? America loves a winner! Being one guarantees a shower of affection! Superstar! Right?

The biased Olympic coverage spoke volumes. Look at how American media covered Marion Jones. One would think she was not an American. Blah on this country’s media for making it painfully obvious that she is not the beloved American. Blah on Olympic bias!

Kudos!

Tyrus Chi Laster, born in the year of the Tiger, fits his name or vice versa. A delight just the same, he is demanding. In September he turned two, though the "terrible twos" started much earlier.

Ty is an entertainer. He likes people; he mimics everyone; he is a comedian. Ty loves music and tries to sing the songs and mimic the dance moves in music videos. Janet Jackson is his favorite artist. When she comes on my Ty Chi comes to instant attention. Nothing holds his interest like music videos starring black people.

Ty seems more interested in videos with black artists. He pays more attention to television programs and commercials that feature black people. Is this a cultural bias? Do humans innately prefer those that look like them? Could it be the beat, an unspoken language of movement that explains his preference for black people dancing, singing and entertaining over others?

Ty is only two, so how much can one safely infer from his preferences. His favorite cartoon character is Scoobie Doo. What does that tell you? Kudos to the little entertainer! There is nothing like Ty at two.

Telegraphing code that could get broken by the opposition is one of the perilous pitfalls of politics 2000. In the wrong hands, broken code is detrimental. Campaign rhetoric is less esoteric now that The DISH has broken the codes "strict interpretation" or construction" and "traditional family values." We dissected Dubya's campaign theme - compassionate conservative - and found it to be an oxymoron.

"Traditional family values" refer to the 3/5ths Compromise, which says a black man is worth 3/5ths of a white man. This relative value finds expression in the historic median family income ratios of blacks and whites. Strict construction or interpretation leaves the 3/5ths Compromise of Article 1 Section 2 of the US Constitution intact. While he claims to have no litmus test for judicial appointments, Dubya promises to appoint Supreme Court justices that will "strictly interpret" the law. What does that mean, and what is the case law? Jim Lehrer, moderator for the Presidential Debates, did not ask these follow-up questions. Yet, they are crucial to voters knowing the kind of people he would charge with interpreting the laws that shape American socioeconomic and political intercourse. Lehrer should have asked these important questions and held Bush to some standard in the way of a coherent answer.

The next President may appoint as many as four Supreme Court judges. Dubya needs to tell us what he means so voters can decide if they want individuals on the nation's highest court like the John Rocker of all Justices, Roger Taney, who wrote the majority opinion in the Dred Scott case. It basically said, "a black man has no rights a white man is bound to respect" in keeping with Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution. It is clear Dubya's code is racist, like his visit to Bob Jones University. To large audiences he telegraphs his intentions to continue the national heritage of legally discriminating against blacks. Come November 7, 2000, we should let him know we understand his code. So, voting for him is out of the question!

by Dot

Whether one calls them conspiracy theories or urban legends, The DISH focus group convened to create plausible scenarios to explain all the dirt being dug up by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Atlanta. Privy to little insider information, off the record conversations, informed speculation and office gossip, the group weighed the pros and cons of everything from minority contracting and affirmative action to the fees Mayor Bill Campbell received for his speeches.

Under the FBI microscope, Atlanta’s mayor cried foul; he is a likely target of the federal probe. The mayor’s speaking engagements produced a tidy sum that was not reported as income. A serious oversight, it is likely to be viewed as a crime in some quarters.

The DISH focus group connected some dots and came up with stress to explain the public indecency charge against Matt Glavin, former head of Southeastern Legal Foundation (SELF), the conservative group that successfully challenged Fulton County’s minority business program. SELF pressured DeKalb County into paying them $5,000 for a threatened lawsuit to end the county’s voluntary school busing program. Now, Matt is under pressure. Under cover, the legend is, SELF conspired with Josh Kenyon and Mitch Skandalakis to use black front men to get affirmative action contracts. Publicly exposing himself relieves his stress!

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