Volume 5 Issue 7…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…February 22, 2002

The last of four meetings to discuss DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones' 2002 budget and plan to renege on the 100% homestead exemption under HOST was held on Tuesday 12, 2002. Unlike North DeKalb, no town hall meeting was held on the South end, therefore it was essential that Gresham Park be represented at this final budget meeting. The time allotted for citizens to speak was truncated between the regular Commission business. A model of decorum, CEO Jones presided, like a king surrounded by his knightly court. An overflow crowd grew impatient waiting for an opportunity to speak, while Jones went through perfunctory duties. After a 20-minute break, the Commissioners adjoined for an executive session.

Angrily, citizens began chanting, "Let's get started! Start the meeting!" As though he had drunk a hallucinogenic potion, the usually calm, polite and gentle Jones burst from the anteroom. Focusing his attention on the mostly black group opposed to environmental racism in the "funky hood," especially re-zoning plans to expand BFI's Hickory Ridge Landfill, a buck-eyed Jones pounded his gavel. Harshly berating DeKalb citizens, as their volume lowered, he demanded order.

Fortunately, an elderly white woman opposed to Jones' budget and tax plan took up the demand to get started. As though soothing music started to play in the background, a much calmer Jones turned to her and struggled to explain the delay. Refusing to be pacified or shushed by Jones, despite his plea for calm, the white woman became louder and even more irate; "I took off work to attend what was supposed to be a town hall meeting, not a Commission meeting and I am ready to get started!" In his most servile tone and manner, Jones continued pleading for patience and calm.

Totally disrupted, the executive session ended and the Commissioners returned. Supporters and opponents of Jones' tax scheme were allotted 10 minutes to speak. After I spoke for the opposition, the protestors erupted in enthusiastic applause. Suddenly, as though he had taken another swig of his Mr. Hyde potion, Jones began pounding the gavel and demanding order. Pointing the gavel at the mostly black landfill protestors, Jones threatened to have them removed from the chamber, if there was another outburst. He directed police officers to enforce the rules.

It was a scene reminiscent of Jim Crow segregation, when white men occupied the seat Jones now holds. Back then, they clubbed and arrested blacks for being present. Now, blacks get thrown out of meetings, if they object to being robbed by a black man's dishonest tax scheme. Classic conditioned subordinate psychology (CSP), Dr. Jekyll showed his hide and now citizens know exactly what this changeling is all about. John 2002

Disgruntled says: European intelligence and National Security Agency (NSA) experts and other critics of Bush's war on terrorism know the real reason for America's aggression against Afghanistan is control of the region's oil, gas and opium, the true axis of evil.

Disgruntled feels: Informed! Thanks to Enron, we know more about government/big business cooperation. ‘Let the buyer beware’ is a wise admonition, which applies at every social stratum. Even big business religions cash in vouchers at the federal piggy bank, while screwing parishioners through faith-based pranks.

Disgruntled wants to know: In response to questions about the Pentagon and CIA plan for war with Iraq, Bush said, "I will reserve whatever options I have. I'll keep them close to my vest. Saddam Hussein needs to understand that I'm serious about defending my country." How does attacking Iraq defend America?

by John M. Swails

Behind a picture image window...

within a timeless box,

you kept an image of me that you

never, ever lost.

Outside,

my life went on as planned.

My understanding matured and I grew,

but, that aspect of my life was something

your image of me never knew!

So, many years of hopes and pains and trials,

which come with growth in life,

but, your picture-image of my past

new drifted from your sight.

It is no surprise you do not know me.

So much of me has changed.

In truth, I had to go on with my life....

I could not wait for you.

You have a chance, now,

to get to know this person

standing eager in your sight.

Or retreat within your timeless box...

To live your timeless life.

About me: This poem is a reminder of how easy it is to categorize people for whatever reason, when we need to keep in mind, people can and do change. Some for the better, some for worse, but as long as there is potential, we should leave the door of positive possibilities open. With that in mind, I wrote this poem. I also believe that when it comes to superficial, unimportant issues of appearances, the people that matter won't care, and the people that care won't matter! John Swails 2000...

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro got sick last week after consuming dairy products, which are like poison to his bio-system. It ruined his holiday and weekend. When asked for his comments, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro very wisely replied, "I will keep milk, ice cream and cheese out of my diet."

Barely escaping detection as he eavesdropped on a meeting of G. W. Bush's 2004 re-election/war on terrorism strategy team, deep cover operative Peep City Barnabus snagged a red-eye special out of Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. to parts unknown. Trying to guard against leaks, security blanketed the gathering of inner sanctum politicos, known as the "Principal's Committee. Now that Enronitis has pared possible replacements for VP Dick Cheney to four, handicappers are realigning their lists. On all cards, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Tom Ridge and dark horse John Ashcroft are fighting for the inside track. Ironically, since Enron's tentacles touch all Republicans, faces can change at any moment; this is reminiscent of the fallout from Watergate, according to Barnabus.

Having seen some hard facts on Enrongate, Peep City warned against loading up on insiders. He hedged his bet with a caveat regarding Colin Powell and his America's Promise. Bankrolling the Bush campaign, Enron wanted to lay a solid foundation for those it wanted in Bush's cabinet. Enron needed Colin Powell, a military "hero," to appeal to the young, and possibly sway some black voters. Following the money through a maze of dummy fronts and non-profit corporations, Enron funneled funds to launch America's Promise.

Republicans, who feel shafted by the way Dick was selected, prefer a squeaky clean Colin to a constipated Rumsfeld. However, no colon is squeaky clean. Consequently, Bush's men have been very quietly squeegeeing Colin's wrinkles with young voters, as further inoculation from Enronitis. Shades of Bill Clinton, their shot up the bowels was the MTV international youth webcast. As Peep City sees it, the problem for Powell is the man conducting the Enron cover-up, AG John Ashcroft, also covets Caesar's wife.

The re-zoning application to expand BFI's Hickory Ridge Landfill was routinely approved by the Zoning Department. On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 10:00 AM, the County Commissioners will rubberstamp or reject it. Citizens against dumping in DeKalb County, Georgia are urged to attend this meeting. We must stand firm against environmental racism.

British Field-Marshal Jeffrey Amherst (1717-1797) served in Germany and the Low Countries as aide-de-camp to Lord Ligonier. He participated in the Austrian Succession war, Battle of Val, and 1757 North German campaign. In 1758, William Pitt gave him command of a North American expedition against the French. His first victory came with the capture of Louisburg (July 26, 1758), which was followed by other successes. Amherst was given the chief command of all the forces in the theatre of war. In 1760, he carried out a successful campaign on Montreal and was immediately appointed governor-general of British North America.

Amherst treated the Indians with contempt as conquered people, severely restricting trade with them, a move that angered many, among them Pontiac, the Ottawa chief at Detroit. In 1763, he led a revolt against the British. During Pontiac's Rebellion, six of Britain's nine forts west of the Appalachians were captured. Desperate, Amherst wrote Captain Simeon Ecuyer, commander at Fort Pitt, suggesting he infect the Shawnee, Delaware and Mingo besieging the fort with smallpox-infected gifts. Scabs of smallpox pustules were ground into blankets and given to the Indians.

This early use of bio-terrorism proved effective because these tribes had little immunity. The Shawnee were fighting the Cherokee in Tennessee at the time, so they carried the disease to them, and then on to the Shawnee living with the Creek Confederacy. From there, smallpox spread to the Chickasaw and Choctaw, and finally the entire southeast. Before it had run its course, the smallpox epidemic killed thousands, including British colonists. For his military victories, a college and a city in New York were named in Amherst's honor.

Betrayed and later assassinated, before his demise Pontiac made peace with the understanding the English did not own the land, but were merely leasing it; the land would remain an Ottawa possession. (Http://detnews.com/history/pontiac.htm, Encyclopedia Britannica, "Bio-Terrorism Nothing New to Native Americans" by Matthew Brown (brown@courant.com) and Http://www.tolatsga.org/shaw.html)

Email bwitanek@igc.org: Anyone heard anything on the anthrax investigation? The straight media (Washington Post), not some conspiracy web site, reported the source of the anthrax was US Army labs and possibly CIA contractors. Since then, I have not seen much. There has been no bold Baby Doc Bush promise to look under every rock until he finds the terrorists responsible for killing five Americans with the government's anthrax. I do recall his statements that El Qaeda was 'probably' responsible. Where is the bold rhetoric now? Why is the US Army developing weaponized Anthrax? While the saber is rattled toward Iraq for allegedly developing weapons of mass destruction - it is instead US refined weaponized anthrax that is unleashed upon the US Postal Service. Who did it? How? Why? Why is nobody asking these questions?

Email fboyle@law.uiuc.edu: It is shocking and shameless that law professors appeared on NPR to endorse and promote racial profiling against Arabs and Muslims. It is also shameless, but not surprising, that NPR did not have on there one law professor to point out that such profiling violates the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination--a treaty to which the U.S. is a contracting party. Right now Arabs/Muslims are among the most persecuted groups in North America and Europe--The White Western Christian Colonial World launching yet another "crusade" against the Arab/Muslim World--to use Bush Jr.'s own word for it. That is what the "Clash of Civilizations" is really all about, Crusading and Crusaders. Francis A. Boyle- Professor of Law.

Email http://www.truthout.com: Statement by Sen. Russ Feingold. "Enron's investors, employees and the American people deserve a thorough, far-reaching investigation free from any hint of political favoritism. The Attorney General's decision to recuse himself confirms the deep conflict of interest created by Enron's contributions. The Administration must take every step to remove the appearance of a conflict, including, insulating career investigators and prosecutors, immediate and complete disclosure of communications between Bush officials and Enron executives; and if evidence of impropriety arises, immediate appointment of a Special Counsel. This is an important test of the Administration's respect for the rule of law and calls for a vigorous investigation."

To Bro. Mawuli at reparationsgsu@yahoo.com: I received your invitation to the National Reparations Symposium: Beyond Rhetoric, the Reality of Reparations, which is scheduled for February 28 - March 2, 2002 at Georgia State University. Gratified an educational institution would treat reparations with such relevance, I scanned the program with anticipation. Then, there before my very eyes laid the reason why most Americans are confused about the subject of reparations. Beginning with papers on Telling Our Story through an international perspective on the UN and Reparations, followed by workshops, such as Lessons Learned to Understanding International Law and Reparations, my confusion grew. Where was one discussion that bears most significantly on slave descendants, Article 1 Section 2 of the US Constitution? Any hope of presenting an intelligent discussion on any subject begins with its foundation. America's socioeconomic and political foundation rests on slavery. Article 1 Section 2 - the Great Compromise - established the value of human capital in America. Slaves and their descendants were valued as 3/5 white and that value has not changed. Still a part of the Constitution, because it was never repealed, that 3/5 value is what G. W. Bush and Charles Pickering mean by strict construction. Dot M. Smith's Chasm of Inequality Analysis proved that the socioeconomic and political gap today between blacks and whites mirror the 3/5 value of Article 1 Section 2.

Borne out by every measure of outcomes in America's marketplace for goods and services, this is the basis of our reparation's claim today. Poets for Peace hoped US Rep. Cynthia McKinney would present it at the UN World Conference Against Racism (WCAR). A missed opportunity, slave descendants remain confused about Smith's analytical approach to reparations.

Avoiding the crucial subject of law -the 3/5 Compromise, your symposium will offer nothing new to this vital topic and the understanding of slave descendants' case for reparations. Using a sport analogy, the idea is to move the ball up the court. Opening your symposium with a discussion of the validity of the Chasm Analysis as a Reparation Paradigm would break the game open on the first drive, rather than dribbling around from side to side, which is the current reparations' strategy.

News You Use

by Sherman H. Skolnick

For a number of years the state of Michigan, through Michigan State University, owned and operated the Michigan Biologic Products Institute. They had the exclusive contract with the Department of Defense to, among other things, develop and produce an anthrax vaccine. Calling themselves BioPort Corporation, a strange and mysterious group bought out the state-owned institute in 1998, and the Department of Defense became its only customer.

BioPort Corp. stockholders include the Bin Laden and Carlyle Groups, whose members include the Elder Bush and James A. Baker, III. Some contend Baker handled the $40 million of secret dope loot used to corrupt and influence Democrats in Florida to stop the ballot recount even before the U.S. Supreme "Gang of Five" got into the picture and installed George W. Bush as White House "occupant" and "resident." The $40 million was reportedly dope trafficking funds from U.S./Colombia Medellin Dope Cartel Co-Founder Carlos Lehder. According to drug enforcement current and former officials, Lehder is the private business partner of the Bush Family. Although extradited to the U.S., prosecuted and sent to a 55-year term in U.S. prison, Lehder has disappeared from the Federal Prison System. Uncovering these details was missing intern Chandra Levy. (For more about Levy, the anthrax connection, Bin Laden and the Bush connection, visit http://www.skolnickreport.com and get an education.)

by Dot

As sure as night follows day, it never fails that when a racist Mr. Hyde is nominated to a high-ranking position, the 'biased' media find blacks that swear this person is the 'good' Dr. Jekyll. The rest of us are admonished to view his past acts in the context of the times in which they happened. "Back then, all white men behaved like Charles Pickering; in fact, he was better to blacks than his contemporaries." This is classic whitewashing of the past. Pickering is a judicial strict constructionist, modern terminology for racist, which is why Bush nominated him. Now, he wants to hide behind blacks too dumb to recognize his dual persona. To do better, we must demand better than hidebound racists!

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