The DISH

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Volume 9 Issue 24…Dedicated to the Dialogue on Race…June 16, 2006

Bit of History

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd (1882-1978)

Born to William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran, and Ellen Smart, in Jenny Lind, Arkansas (1882), Sonora Smart was five when her family moved to Spokane, Washington. At age 16, her mother died in childbirth. The eldest of six children, including a newborn, she understood the challenges and hardships her father faced in raising the family. She knew of her father's endless sacrifices, felt his love and devotion to his family and saw his determination to give his children a better life.

On Mother's Day (1909), Sonora Smart Dodd, a wife and mother, listened to a Sunday Sermon and wondered why there was no day set aside to honor fathers. Shortly thereafter, she began a campaign to gain official recognition of a day of appreciation for fathers. She approached the Spokane Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) with her Father's Day idea. As a result of the support she received from these organizations, Spokane celebrated its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910.

Originally, Dodd wanted Father's Day to be celebrated on June 5, her father's birthday. Preparations and a proclamation meant deferring the celebration until June 19, the third Sunday of June. The day created quite a stir in the print media, which generated even more public interest. Initial hesitation and ridicule gave way to the establishment of a day to honor men, such as her father.

As the idea of honoring the role fathers play in rearing children grew more popular, President Woodrow Wilson approved celebrating Father's Day in 1916. In 1919, when William Smart died, Father's Day was a popular occasion across the US.

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. However, it did not become official until President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation in 1966 declaring the Third Sunday of June as Father's Day. Six years later, President Richard Nixon (1972) established a permanent national observance.

Dodd is also appreciated for her artwork and writing for children's book on the Native Americans of Spokane. A monument in her honor was erected at YMCA, Spokane. In 1974, she was honored at the World's Fair in Spokane. Dodd died in 1978. (Sources: www.inspirationline.com and www.3.kumc.edu/diversity/other/fathers.html)

Venue for an Artist

My Dad

Performed by Paul Peterson

He isn't much in the eyes of the world

He'll never make history

No, he isn't much in the eyes of the world

But he is the world to me

My dad, now here is a man

To me he is everything strong

No, he can't do wrong, my dad

My dad, now he understands

When I bring him troubles to share

Oh, he's always there, my dad

When I was small, I felt ten feet tall

When I walked by his side

And everyone would say, that's his son

And my heart would burst with pride

My dad, oh, I love him so

And I only hope that some day

My own son will say

My dad now here is a man

About Me: Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Peterson, who played Jeff Stone on the Donna Reed television show, recorded a number of records, including "My Dad." A child actor advocate, his organization, A Minor Consideration, works to change working conditions for young performers. For more, visit www.minorcon.org.

News You Use

Support the Troops, Oppose the Policy

An increasing number of U.S. soldiers and their families are speaking out against the war in Iraq. Recently, reminiscent of the Vietnam conflict, some have refused to fight.

After serving in the killing fields of Iraq, these soldiers know this war is not about weapons of mass destruction, al Qaeda, the 9-11 terror attacks or making Iraq safe for democracy. They realize the conflict in Iraq is an unjust war being fought for the wrong reason. These soldiers understand that oil is the reason the US is in Iraq and the reason it will remain there for the foreseeable future.

Some of these veterans have formed organizations to protest the war; others have joined existing groups, such as Families Against the War, and Veterans Against Iraq War (VAIW), a coalition of US veterans. According to its mission statement at www.vaiw.org, the coalition "supports our troops but oppose war with Iraq or any other nation that does not pose a clear and present danger" to the US.

In clear and unambiguous language, the statement identifies US policies the organization opposes. These include the Bush doctrine of preemption, which established a dangerous precedent in the conduct of international affairs. In addition to being illegal and the possibility of increasing regional violence and instability, "it places needless and unacceptable financial burdens on the American people," diverts attention from critical domestic priorities, distracts us from identifying, tracking down and destroying "the real" international terrorists, is unnecessary, counter-productive and presents a truly dire and distressing threat to our vital international interests and basic national security.

Furthermore, VAIW opposes the use of the US military "as the police force of the world by any administration, Republican or Democrat." Consequently, it believes the lives and welfare of US soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines should not be squandered or sacrificed for causes other than in direct defense of our people and nation.

Given their understanding of "the many hidden truths that lie behind war's easy theories and promises, as well as behind the tragic consequences that even, "victory" brings, VAIW is calling on all like-minded veterans and family members to endorse its mission statement and support its efforts to help avert, mitigate or stop a national tragedy and an international calamity by supporting our troops. Demand that they be brought home from Iraq immediately and never again be placed in harm's way except to meet and defeat any direct and immediate threat to our people.

Learn more about this veterans' coalition, read and sign the statement to support the troops and oppose the policy at www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php.

Atlanta Vibe

The Best Damn Poetry Show Ever!!!!

By Yohannes Sharriff

Malik Salaam of Goode Stuff Entertainment and Kimotion of S.P.E.A.K. (Sister Poets Embracing Altruistic Kinship) have teamed up to form Nu Blood Entertainment. This dynamic duo’s first official showcase, appropriately called “The Best Damn Poetry Show Ever” features performances by Tommy Bottom, Faona, Kelly Love Jones, Sky Hy, Cola Rum, Tamika Harper, a.k.a. Ga ME, and more.

The evening of entertainment promises to be one of the hottest shows of the summer. Special guest appearances include the vocal stylings of Miami’s own Mishal Moore and live body art by Alan Grimes.

You do not want to miss The Best Damn Poetry Show Ever!!!! When: June 22, 2006. Where: The Five Spot at 1123 Euclid Avenue in the heart of Atlanta’s Little 5 Points. Time: 9pm. Fee: $10 at the door. For more info or advance tickets, please contact Nu Blood Entertainment at 404-589-1007 or email k1motion@hotmail.com.

Comments from the Bat Cave

The Dark Knight-Batman/White Ninja/Zorro is enjoying his summer vacation. Always a night person, he now enjoys staying up well past midnight and sleeping in late. Slow and lazy on these hot days in Atlanta, heavens forbid he should be required to think! When prodded for comments, the first since the school year ended, the Dark One/Ninja/Zorro complained, “Grandma, don’t ruin a good thang!

Disgruntled says: For what it is worth, George W. Bush is a dad, the father of two lovely daughters old enough to join the armed forces. Bush has repeatedly claimed the war in “Iraq is worth it,” meaning worth the national sacrifice. Yet, Bush is not encouraging his daughters or for that matter his enlistment age nephew to enlist in the armed forces. Bush would never sacrifice his daughters or any loved one on the altar of liberating Iraq from its oil. Lesser beings, the children of other fathers will make that sacrifice, while he and his wealthy backers profit from this war of choice. The worst kind of fathers takes nations to war and use other fathers’ sons and daughters as cannon fodder.

Disgruntled feels: Stagflation! Wall Street is finally feeling the financial strain being experienced on Main Street. Spooked by Fed Chairman’s Ben Bernanke’s acknowledgment of inflation and a slowing economy, investors should have seen the billboards behind the rosy economic numbers published by the government to see the layoffs, outsourcing statistics and growing corps of cheap illegal workers, falling unemployment rates with declining labor force participation numbers, rising cost of consumer staples from food to fuel and debt, private and public, as far as the eyes can see. They should have been suspicious of the government’s numbers and its cheery economic propaganda. Truth is, for much of the US, stagflation, the combination of inflation and slow or no economic growth, has been a fact of life for more than a fortnight.

Disgruntled wants to know: In urban areas across the USA, the folks that stood in long lines to cast their votes for president felt cheated again in 2004 when Ohio was “won” by George W. Bush. It did not take the General Accounting Office (GAO), NAACP, Civil Rights Commission or the recent Rolling Stone article by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to confirm the second theft. We knew as certain as night follows day that all our votes were not counted. Fundamentally, Bush’s current low poll numbers confirm his loss of the popular vote. What we are left to wonder is, what will the nation’s leaders, other than the thief-in-chief and his minions, and the mainstream media do about it?

Hood Notes

Father for Sale

“I haven't done as much as I should be doing in the last few years of my life. My desire is not to be a hypocrite. I want to make sure my life is not a contradiction when I take a platform. I'm asking God, 'Where do I belong in this thing?' Just because I'm Dr. King's daughter doesn't mean I'm supposed to be on the front line for everything. Nonviolence is deeper than turning the other cheek.” -- Rev. Bernice King, youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King, in response to the question, 'What are you doing to proceed Dr. King's nonviolence act?' A young girl posed the question at a panel discussion for teens as part of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc., 20th Annual Conference.

Sotheby’s recently announced the June 30 auction of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s papers. In the 1990's, the auction house appraised the King collection at $30 million. The archive is expected to sell for $15 to $30 million. The sale proceeds will presumably be divided among Dr. King’s four children, since the King estate owns the papers.

Dr. King’s archive of personal papers and historical documents include thousands of handwritten items. Among them are a draft of his Nobel Prize acceptance speech and sermons he preached. Other items include letters and telegrams he received from world leaders. Historians consider the King collection a treasure trove.

For years prior to her death, Coretta Scott King tried to sell her late husband’s papers. A prospective sale to the Library of Congress failed when Congress questioned the archive’s $20 million price tag. No educational institution, library or university made an acceptable offer.

Now that the archive will be sold at auction, the buyer will determine public access. Indeed, whether or nor the collection remains intact or sold in a piecemeal fashion to others will be left to the buyer’s discretion.

To many black Americans, Dr. King is the father of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement. It is a shame that the documentation of his invaluable contribution and legacy will be sold at auction and left in such a state of uncertainty.

How does a child show appreciation for a parent’s sacrifices? Does he/she follow in the parent’s footsteps, raise a family and pass on traditions to honor the legacy?

Sonora Louise Smart Dodd showed her appreciation for her father by vigorously campaigning to have a special day declared in his honor and for all fathers that play a role in raising children. Dr. King’s four children will honor their father by selling his legacy to the highest bidder.

DISHing It Up Hot!

On Fathers!

By Dot

A member of the baby boomer generation, I grew up in a two-parent household with lots of children. Unlike the deadbeat and absentee dads we hear so much about in the mainstream press today, my dad was there for the family. We were as poor as the day was long, but when night fell, Fred Jackson was at home, sharing the modest meal momma made.

All spring and summer, daddy manned a jackhammer on construction sites around Memphis, Tennessee. When he was not manning that monster, which sometimes left him drenched in sweat and trembling, or doing other construction work, he chopped and picked cotton on farms in Arkansas and Mississippi to make the impossible ends of a practically non-existent family budget meet.

Back then, there was no such thing as jobs black men were unwilling to do. Men like my daddy worked all day for meager pay, pennies per hour. There was no such thing as fringe benefits, no health care or retirement packages. My dad worked to feed, clothe and shelter his family. He was a real father, the reason we celebrate Father’s Day.

My husband John is very much like my father when it comes to caring for his family. For that, my children and me are truly grateful. We know we can count on him. His loving devotion to our happiness and welfare has immensely enriched our lives and the lives of our grandchildren. One day of honor is simply insufficient. For all he does is cause for celebration everyday. Honey, we love you!

Mailbox: E-Mails, Faxes and Phone Calls

Email thefashionconnect@gmail.com Here's an interesting article I was forwarded: No Black People at All...A suburban development in Utah was in hot water for making the lack of black people a selling point. On the company's web site, builder Bigg Homes offered this demographic detail: "Black race population percentage significantly below state average." In a state with hardly any blacks to start with -- just 1.3 percent -- moving to a new neighborhood with an even tinier African-American population makes it likely your kids could grow up without ever encountering negroes.”

Email dogbonz@shoreline‑wireless.com Remind me to tape CNN 24/7. This morning, a chubby but dead Zarqawi was shown on that network and others. After a couple of 500 pounders, A.K.A. "225 Kg's", Zarqawi looked dead, but showed no sign of damage to his head. I think that somebody noticed that.... Somebody at the White House? This afternoon, the "new picture" of Zaeqawi's head shows a smear of blood, but still no basic injury. The "smear" has no source on his head. So who changed that little bit of media reportage, and why did they do it ? Blood dries to a dark smear. This looked fresh red. I just now searched for the "healthy looking" photo that was originally released, and it's gone from CNN, ABC, MSNBC, etc. Did he suddenly break out with a smear ? Man, those guys are fast. He who controls the past, controls the future.......-oom

Email eleuthera‑rara@prodigy.net Dear Dish: Every once in a while I feel that it is my duty to give you props for making important information available, especially in these times when the government could be surveilling you illegally for printing the truth that the "Emperor" would not want you to see. I do not remember how I found your site, but I am so glad that I did because I find it helpful, informative, and most of all necessary!!!

Email www.cnn.com Beheaded American Nick Berg's father's reaction to death of al-Zarqawi by Soledad O'Brien..."I don't get it. Why is it better to have George Bush the king of Iraq rather than Saddam Hussein?" Michael Berg talks about the death of his son and al-Zarqawi (CNN) O'BRIEN: Mr. Berg, thank you for talking with us again. It's nice to have an opportunity to talk to you. Of course, I'm curious to know your reaction, as it is now confirmed that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the man who is widely credited and blamed for killing your son, Nicholas, is dead. MICHAEL BERG: Well, my reaction is I'm sorry whenever any human being dies. Zarqawi is a human being. He has a family who are reacting just as my family reacted when Nick was killed, and I feel bad for that. I feel doubly bad, because Zarqawi is also a political figure, and his death will re-ignite yet another wave of revenge, and revenge is something that I do not follow, that I do want ask for, that I do not wish for against anybody. And it can't end the cycle. As long as people use violence to combat violence, we will always have violence.

Email hansonjr@aol.com According to Rep. John Murtha on the Haditha incident, "There was no firefight. There was no IED (improvised explosive device) that killed those innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them … and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood. That is what the report is going to tell."

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