Common Ground: Visions

August 2004 | Editor’s Note

Visions

Kathy Eder teaches Social Justice and Morality at a boys Jesuit high school in San Jose. Before the Iraq invasion, Eder was disturbed by the dearth of truth in the media’s reporting, not only for her students’ sake but also for her family. “There was so much hate out there,” says Eder, who decided to call the Administration’s hand on its war rationale. Inspired by the Pentagon’s well-hawked Iraq’s Most Wanted cards she came up with her own deck — “Operation Hidden Agenda” — featuring images of key administration players (including the infamous photo of Donald Rumsfield shaking hands with Saddam Hussein) juxtaposed with revelatory quotes.

Now some may prefer dealing with Gin Rummy rather than Chemical Ali, but at least this deck isn’t stacked for war profiteers. Eder donates 50% of her profits to veterans suffering Gulf War syndrome and nonprofits such as Global Exchange, Pax Christi, and Swords to Ploughshares.

When Eder’s cards began selling, she received death threats and hate mail. She sent back quotes from Gandhi, such as the one she keeps by her door: “When I despair, I remember that throughout all history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seems invincible but in the end they always fall. Always.”

Hiking in Yosemite, Eder came up with a book idea: No, George, No: The Re-Parenting of George Bush. In it, Dubya has a vision (remember 41’s famous line about the “vision thing”?): 43 becomes a little boy again and is visited by a wise, caring counselor in a purple leotard —The Truth Fairy — who counsels Dubya on adult behavior, including the ultimate political lesson that the world is ONE.

The book has been selling like hot wax at Tower Records and independent booksellers. Illustrated by political cartoonist, Clay Butler, No, George, No! is also available on line at www.nogeorge.com

Eder is one of those local heroes Common Ground likes to celebrate. This issue spotlights others like eco-pioneers Thomas Dinwoodie, founder of Berkeley’s PowerLight, and David Hochschild, the visionary activist behind the VoteSolar Initiative. We also welcome KPFA music host Larry Kelp who reviews a wondrous new box set of American Gospel music, Goodbye Babylon that includes sermons and songs from both black and white traditions—a visionary mix of soul-stirring rhythms and rhymes. As Kelp explores the complex social and musical roots of this rich American tradition, we learn how its legacy has influenced everyone from country crooner Hank WIlliams to rap star Snoop Dogg. Digital visionary Michael Gosney reflects on the 13th Human Be-In and his futuristic meme, The Transparent Network. Our entire species, he writes, is making a quantum shift, and while the technical matrix grows, the “innernet” of consciousness is expanding with new awareness and awakening sensitivities. Mona Ausabel brings another new voice to this issue with her occasional column, Second Generation, which reports on what the next generation of activists is up to. Patricia Dines continues our food coverage with a profile of the couple behind Laguna Farms, the North Bay’s largest Community Supported Agriculture venture. And for something completely different, check out the review of What the Bleep Do We Know? a new film that explores the quantum physics of the human heart.

And that’s our palette of visionaries for the month.

—Carl Nagin

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