Volume 4 Issue 8…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race… March 1, 2001

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. The DISH © 2001

by John Burl Smith

Sitting at Richard L. Kirksey, Jr.'s kitchen table looking into the face of Derrick "Teddy" Withers sporting an Afro as large as Dr. J's or Sly Stone's, I pondered the future, should this twenty-two year old live up to his real potential. It was the spring of 1974, and the Democratic Primary was the topic of conversation. Richard asked me to organize a community campaign around the kids of Big Brothers' Jr. Achievers, the youth group he started in honor of Professor Nat D. Williams to support Teddy. Teddy was challenging the strongest white Democrat in Tennessee, labor leader T. H. "Tommy" Powell, who polled more black votes than any legislator in 1972.

We faced the daunting task of defeating Tommy Powell, who had money, machinery and black leaders, who openly ridiculed Teddy as a loud mouth radical black-power upstart without any experience. Branding him a hothead for challenging "a true friend" of black folks, Teddy was unable to get black leaders to endorse him or contribute to his campaign. His father, Ernest C., in a last desperate gamble, called in a favor from Richard to rescue his son's dying hope. Teddy's Afro and black power aside, I knew nothing about him and his campaign consisted of a few high school buddies, some good sisters from district churches and a couple of girlfriends competing for attention. Starting there, my job in a statement, was to figure out how to beat the "slave master" at his own game on his own court, with his own referees and the crowd behind him. Shades of "Walnut Grove" and "Cut-Lov" turning the corner and throwing up winners from just beyond the tree stump; from where I sat, Teddy's only chance for victory lay in trusting black voters to understand what was truly at stake. The votes to win were in black precincts; Teddy's choice was to try a middle of the road approach that appealed to whites or pledge to represent black people, if they elect him. My plan took politics to the streets.

We devoted every dime to a door-to-door meet people where they live campaign. Silk screening signs and bumper stickers ourselves and spending only for transportation and food, we hit the scorching Memphis streets beginning in July. Working from early morning to late at night, Teddy's campaign maintained high visibility through the dog days of August. Operating in full attack mode, Teddy forced Powell to come personally to the black community asking for votes. Teddy inspired hope and determination by raising issues such as black economic development, job training, home rehabilitation loans, park and recreational improvements, equalizing the tax burden and election reform.

In this desperate battle against incredible odds, I shifted focus the week before Election Day toward getting volunteers for the polls to help people with voting problems and count votes on the spot as totals came off the machines. This move proved decisive because there were efforts to intimidate voters and several incorrect totals were announced that could have changed the outcome. Derrick "Teddy" Withers became the youngest Legislator ever elected in Tennessee because he believed in and trusted black voters rather than black leaders. Run Children Run, all you will lose is your inexperience. John 2001

A Candid Ivins

Molly Ivins is a columnist whose articles appear in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) on Wednesdays. This Valentine's Day, (2/14/01), Ivins candidly wrote, "Bush tax-cut proposal redistributes wealth from poor to robber barons."

Before getting into the nuts and bolts of her subject, Ivins let readers know she was not following the one-mind media script for the week, which was on defense; instead, she was discussing Bush's tax-cut proposal, which was the script from the week before. More important, she let readers know she did not adhere to the supportive line specified in the one-mind script.

Ivins' commentary echoes The DISH's contention: mainstream media is one-mind controlled. Her observations confirm there is no free press in America, because the leading media outlets are told what is news and information and how to report it for public consumption. Ivins comments are objective evidence that supports the line from the poem "Voodoo Child" about "CIA and secret service agents pistol-whipping CNN behind the presidential motorcade." Kudos to Ivins! She spoke to the facts and not the dictates of those who wish to shield this fraudulent presidency from the light of public scrutiny.

The personal income tax is the focus of President George W. Bush, Jr.'s proposed tax cut plan. According to him, everyone that pays taxes will receive a cut. However, low income wage earners exempt from paying income taxes will see no benefit from Bush's tax-cut proposal. According to Molly Ivins' article, the Bush tax proposal redistributes wealth from the poor to robber barons. "Passing a tax cut that gives 42.5 percent of the cut to the wealthiest 1 percent of the citizens is, in fact, class warfare. The top 1 percent of taxpayers pays 21 percent of all federal taxes but will get 43 percent of the tax cut-which, if you do the math, is more than twice their share." Calling the rich greedy, Ivins cites the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which states that "under the Bush plan, 12 million lower-and moderate-income families, supporting 24 million children, get absolutely nothing out of this tax cut."

The Bush tax-cut does not reduce payroll taxes, which go to Social Security and Medicare; these are not considered paying taxes under Bush's tax-cut scheme. Yet, according to tax analysts, payroll taxes impose a greater burden on most Americans than income taxes. More than seventy percent of working families pay more Social Security payroll taxes than personal income taxes. "A $26,000-a year couple with two kids would have their income tax liability eliminated, thus saving exactly $20, but they would still be paying $2,689 in payroll taxes." An example of the disparate advantage in Bush's tax cut proposal came from The Wall Street Journal; "a middle-management couple with two kids making $180,000 a year would get a $2,000 tax break, but the $18,000- a year worker with wife and two kids would get nothing."

Payroll taxes have been raised 13 times in 61 years -- from 2 percent of pay to 12.4 percent. The amount of income subject to the tax has been increased 26 times -- from $3,000 to $68,400. Meanwhile, Social Security and Medicare payroll tax receipts went from 0.6 percent of gross domestic product at the end of World War II to 6.4% currently. See additional sources: http://www.ncpa.org/pi/taxes/may98c.html and http://zeus.townhall.com/taxcom/ent3.html Payroll taxes are regressive since a larger percent of the low income worker's wages goes to pay these taxes. Bush's proposed tax cut does not reduce payroll taxes, nor will it make the tax system more progressive, which makes Ivins' essay on point in its criticism of a scheme that basically robs the poor to enrich the wealthy.

Disgruntled wants to know: Compassionate conservatism is the oxymoron used to justify Bush's faith-based initiative. Given America's history of separation of church and state, does Bush's plan to give organized religion a bigger piece of the federal budget violate the letter, if not the spirit, of this rich legacy?

Disgruntled says: What went down in Florida during Election 2000 is bigger than Watergate. If mainstream media were not one-mind controlled, 'news' coverage would not be fixated on a possible abuse of a presidential prerogative exercised by former Pres. Bill Clinton!

Disgruntled feels: While our voices are one-mind media-muted, blacks oppose neo-disenfranchisement.

by Yohannes Sharriff Smith

Right now, is this big, and it's got life written all over it.

Reverently celebrate the gift by photosynthesizing ripe fruit from each moment.

The veins of our bodies mimic the veins in the leaves of the trees whose rings reflect the spiral shape of galaxies.

When connected, life cycles form spiritual balancing.

Within the whole apart was not meant so my blue green existence resides within the dimension of a piece phytoplankton while being as vast as the sea in which it thrives.

To be the sky, I alter my molecular structure.

To soar I transform the elemental table of contents in my conscious and concentrate until creation is a sweet mango delighting my taste buds.

Right now is just a spec of dust..

I witnessed the first dawn, when life was distilled into its simplest form, just as earth is but one grain of sand floating in the heavens.

To resurrect the walking dead, we thrust ourselves off the cliffs of reality back into the womb to touch that purest part of ourselves.

Trust love...

Like the arms of a jubilant child hugging mother and father in appreciation, the grooves in my hands resemble indentations detailing the path of a glacier.

Right now is so fresh and clean even figure eight's swoon sideways to share the infinite pleasure of the jade gate.

On this ninth day, the divination is simple.

God is in the detail. The ocean is but a puddle; the largest volcano is just a pimple

Your exhale is the wind

Every creature great and small is your kin.

The great council gathers in the family tree to summon the sons and daughters of light.

Chanting and dancing to the heartbeat of the inner ear drum, their song calls to us to remember.

Remember the rhythm...Right now...

Harmonize with signs and sounds signaling the end of summer.

Fall in love with the mosaic of an autumn park.

Seen winter dreams turn into spring.

Out the cocoon with butterfly wings.

Alive, only to plant a seed.

And this rebirth is as small as a piece of phytoplankton as vast as the sea of life; right now is this big and present is written all over it.

Right now is this big and your name is written all over it.

Having lived for more than thirty years in metro Atlanta, I am skeptical of anyone who receives the unqualified endorsement of the status quo power elite. I have watched DeKalb County become blacker only to see blacks exercise less power, which became concentrated in the county's chief executive office.

When Derwin Brown ran on a platform of reform, DeKalb County residents voted for him. None of the candidates for sheriff, especially his anointed replacement, Thomas Brown, no relation, speaks to Derwin's reforms. DeKalb's long-timers are suspicious of Thomas Brown's selection, which gave him an inside track. His reasons for seeking the sheriff's job are unclear. Obviously, his reasons have nothing to do with the reforms Derwin Brown advocated.

A Thomas Brown coronation preserves the status quo. We question his motives for seeking the sheriff's position. His current job, from which he is on a leave of absence until after the March 20^th special election, has more law enforcement power than the sheriff's position. It is strange that he would willingly relinquish such power and not speak to reforming DeKalb law enforcement. Cover-up is what some of us are thinking. Notice Derwin's lynching remains an unsolved mystery. If Thomas Brown is elected, DeKalb County law enforcement will be back to business as usual. DeKalb lost a good man in Derwin. We should not dishonor his memory by brown nosing and allowing the status quo to get away with his lynching.

Comments from the Bat Cave

The Dark Knight/Batman/White Ninja/Zorro is a lover. Born in the year of the Cock, when he goes to school looking 'sharp' something happens. On Thursday, he said one of his female classmates pushed him into a puddle of water, because, according to the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro, "I think she likes me."

News You Use

In response to public outrage, Georgia's Public Service Commission passed emergency rules, which include a moratorium on residential gas disconnections until April 2, 2001. Consumers can change marketers once a month, if the switch is processed before the 20th. Consumers switching more than once a year are charged a $7.50 switch fee. New rules allow consumers to switch regardless of their collection status. If shut off for non-payment, you no longer have to pay before switching. These rules will be in effect for 60 days, at the end of which the PSC will re-evaluate them.

High gas bills are about more than just the rising cost per therm. While the PSC and Georgia lawmakers pretend customers are complaining about forces of supply and demand that they have no control over, deregulation rules make the captive customer and other predatory practices possible. Marketers charge an array of fees, but consumer choice is restricted. More about fleecing the consuming public than free market competition forces, Georgia gas deregulation is an oxymoron. Higher gas bills mean Georgia rakes in more taxes and the gas marketers realize bigger profit margins.

Has anyone wondered about the gooey caked on gelatinous residue that continually builds up on the surface of your stove. I noticed this phenomenon some time ago when it became harder and harder to clean the vegetable oil container. One day in disgust, I threw it into a pot of hot water and bleaching solution. That stripped away the residue, but it also ruined the surface of the metal container. Oil is no longer just greasy.

The stove has been another story. Completely resistant to commercial household cleaners, I have been reduced to scrapping its surface with a paring knife to remove this stuff. The gook that comes off has a spongy elasticity that rolls into balls reminiscent of hardened mucous (buggers). As world problems or international concerns go, this does not rank high on anyone's list of priorities, but the thought occurred to me in observing the residue, "synthetic vegetable motor oil." What if bio-techies have developed a synthetic cooking oil derived from genetically engineered corn? What is so bad about that, you ask? Well, what if this stuff I am scrapping off my stove collects in the food we prepare using the oil, you know like saturated fats. Just another kind of cholesterol you say. Well, like any good self-respecting conspiracy theorist, what if in consuming this gook saturated food, it is collecting in our body tissues. Scare tactics that is just speculation, you counter. So here comes the coup de grace. What if the hour or so we spend each morning couching, sniffling and gagging to clear mucus from our sinuses is necessary to expel the residual build up while the body is inactive. Moreover, those with chronic respiratory problems literally could be drowning in this stuff. If someone has any information give me a heads up? THINC about it!

On Metamorphosis

by Dot

At the start of the decade of the 1960's, I was nine. At that time, the black community demanded better schools and equal opportunity; I did not understand. How could we not already enjoy equality? After all, this is America! A public school student, I read books which glorified my country, and every school day, I pledged allegiance to the ideas of freedom, justice and equality. I was taught these were the things for which my beloved country stood. The black struggle for equality did not fit the America described in my books.

In the late sixties, students at my high school demonstrated against the food in the cafeteria, the absence of books about black American life in the library, outdated textbooks and course curriculum and arbitrary dress codes, which made wearing an Afro, i.e., being natural, cause for school suspension. I worked part-time to support myself and tried to get a 'good' education, the ticket out of poverty, or so I thought. I ignored the protesters and went about the business of being indoctrinated a 'good' black American.

Ironically, it took me thirty (30) years to realize the student protest at Carver High School in Memphis, TN had already debunked the myth about education as the solution to improving the black human condition. Had I known then what I know now, when the students pressed their demands and the principal called the police, rather than hiding beneath my desk with the other eggheads in the rising senior class, I would have been in the streets protesting. But, like fine wine, we learn in our own time; a metamorphosis cannot be rushed.

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