quote:National Gaurdsmen, who dont really have anything better do than save a city full of people, have been given permission to "shoot to kill". A black man has reason to be nervous in a situation like this.
A shoot to kill order does not mean that they have permission to shoot anyone they think deserving on site. We're not talking about National Guardsmen being authorized to shoot people stealing bread.
quote:"We have individuals who are getting raped, we have individuals who are getting beaten," Compass said. "Tourists are walking in that direction and they are getting preyed upon."
quote: A day after Nagin took 1,500 police officers off search-and-rescue duty to try to restore order in the streets, there were continued reports of looting, shootings, gunfire and carjackings.
Any man has to be nervous under these conditions. These aren't traffic stops, it's an organized attempt whose sole purpose is to save people by giving them food and water--where do you think the confusion comes in?
Posts: 516 | Registered: Aug 2004
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quote:Originally posted by The Silverblue Sun: It's a free country.
It was probably not the best time for Kanye West to voice his opinion in on this matter, but it was his opinion to voice.
George W. Bush has been extremely rich people friendly, poigntly noted in the Farenhieght 9/11 video where George W. Bush says "Good to see you, the Haves and the Have mores, or as i like to call you, my base."
The republican party did have a long Southern Strategy of being anti-black, which they have acknowledged and apologized for.
So was it poor taste?
Yes.
But...
Bush has caused far more damage to this country, its future and the world, than Kanye West's words ever could.
We may live in a free country, but when West voiced his opinion during a benefit special on a network's airtime that he didn't pay for, he doesn't have the right to voice it on national television at that time. He shouldn't have used airtime that wasn't his to do this, particularly when it's to raise money to help the people of New Orleans. Quoting Fahrenheit 9/11 is like quoting a piece of propaganda. Even Moore, when confronted with the fallacies of the movie, called it such. Either way, though, both of the major parties in this country have at their base the rich; it's where they get the money to run campaigns. You seem to forget that Abraham Lincoln was president during the Civil War. Oh yeah, he was a Republican. This isn't to say that the Republican party hasn't treated blacks badly, but it was a nationwide trend to do so, so the blame doesn't lie solely with them; at least they did more than the Democratic party did. As RoyHobbs stated, Bush has appointed a number of minority people to his administration. Calling him a racist is unfair and untrue.
Posts: 143 | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I don't think so, he sponsered the largest social program of all time, the very thing that the Repblicans ridicule and protest agains these days. Hell, they run entire campaigns using a "that isn't us" platform, and win. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
LBJ did more than FDR, although the New Deal was a bigger change from the status quo than the Great Society was.
Posts: 26071 | Registered: Oct 2003
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No I suppose not Rakeesh. I'd say in foreign relations he is closer to a 21st century Republican. But in almost all domestic policies he's more akin to a 21st century liberal.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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What a jackass. I think it was uncalled for and racist. But whatever... I won't get started on the screwed up view of racism in todays society. I hope his career suffers from his poor timing and 'everyone's against us' attitude, but I know that his target audience loved it... and he will only get more fame. Everyone who hated him before still does, only more. He doesnt care though. He's laughing at the hate all the way to the bank, in his mercedes.. stretch limo... with platinum diamond rims....
Posts: 46 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Also... Uhm.... people who mostly listen to country or classical music. Perhaps... fans of punk and ect.
btw... when I say 'hate'.....
'hate' = disliking his music and world views ect.... not... I hate that person and I hope they drop a hammer on the toe when not wearing shoes... hate.
Posts: 46 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Ahhh, while I do know the difference between them, I had a brain fart and though you were talking about FDR...sorry 'bout that.. Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I like his remake of "Though the Wire." But other than that I can't stand rap/hip-hop.
But I always liked him a little bit more, because he was championed as the artists who wasn't talking about bitches and hoes.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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In her press conference Condoleeza Rice seemed very angry at the mere suggestion that the government didn't care about people due to color.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Don't make assumptions about who "hated" Kanye before (or after) this.
I can't stand 99.95% of rap/hip hop/modern r&b/punk/pseudo-glam rock/pseudo-alternative/emo/"indie"/pretty much anything that gets played on the radio these days.
But I think on the whole, Kanye has been taking steps to spread a message (which I happen to agree with), using the means most readily available to him.
He did the same thing with this broadcast, and it was wildly inappropriate, damaging, and hurtful to many. But I don't think for a second that he said it with the intention of hurting the victims and their families of the tragedy. So while I certainly think he should apologize at some point, I don't think what he said makes him a terrible person.
You hope his career tanks? Dream on - purely by talking about it, you're helping him.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I don't know who Kayne is. Doesn't appear he has anything of value to say in a time of crisis to help the crisis.
And I don't ususally look towards talented musicians with apparently small intelligence for sage wisdom.
I hope his big mouth didn't cost the concert any money, otherwise he needs to apologize to those it was meant to benefit.
Posts: 1533 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I'm with Stroman, never heard his name before I read this thread.
What he said was in poor taste, and not backed up by facts. I agree that he may well have cost victims money. I hope the "message" he spread is worth it, considering what it may have cost the people who needed the help the most.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
He did the same thing with this broadcast, and it was wildly inappropriate, damaging, and hurtful to many. But I don't think for a second that he said it with the intention of hurting the victims and their families of the tragedy. So while I certainly think he should apologize at some point, I don't think what he said makes him a terrible person.
You hope his career tanks? Dream on - purely by talking about it, you're helping him.
................................................
Well, did you read my post at all?? I HOPE he suffers from it, but I KNOW that he won't. There's no need to tell me that esp. if I've already said it. And I don't think he said anything to hurt the victims of Katrina... And I never did say that. I just do not like the man, deal with it. That's my opinion and you don't have to agree, so let's move on. I don't think it was a matter of race why the response was so bad in N.O. and other cities, and I think that saying so is slightly racist and really... just plain stupid. oh well though.......
Posts: 46 | Registered: Apr 2005
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whatever... classist... racist. The point is... shut up Kanye West. That's what I really wanted to say. And shut up all rap artists. Except for Snoop Dog.
drop it like it's hot. Posts: 46 | Registered: Apr 2005
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quote:I hope his career suffers from his poor timing and 'everyone's against us' attitude, but I know that his target audience loved it... and he will only get more fame. Everyone who hated him before still does, only more. He doesnt care though. He's laughing at the hate all the way to the bank, in his mercedes.. stretch limo... with platinum diamond rims....
Here's what I said.
quote:You hope his career tanks? Dream on - purely by talking about it, you're helping him.
I'm well aware you know that his career won't tank. My response was pointing out that by even talking about him, you're actively helping his career NOT tank, which is working against what you "hope" for - which I find silly.
Also, if YOU had read any of the OTHER posts on this thread, you would recognize that my response was directed at several other posts on the thread - so many that I didn't bother quoting them. I apologize if that confused you. I assumed that you would recognize that because the first four paragraphs had nothing to do with your post, you would assume I wasn't talking about you, not that I was trying to put words in your mouth.
I won't assume any such things in the future. That's how I'll deal with your opinion.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I think so too. But I think Ray Nagin is way cooler... and has a better chance of moving up and being good politically. Anyone else hear that interview on the radio station LLW or something in it's entirety? Good stuff. Good stuff indeed. If no one has heard it... I can provide linkage.. but later on tonight. (I am at work right now) -leaf
Posts: 46 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
after watching the clip, I think it was Kanye's call for black people to help black people.
meaning "black people we need y'all to help black people" because "George W. Bush doesn't like black people".
Remember, in the 2000 election, 90% of black people didn't vote for the men, so kanye was a black man talking to black people, and now you have white people telling a black man to shut up on a predominatly white forum.
quote:Have black people been good and fair to America?
Pre-slavery, or Post slavery?
Pre-3/5ths human or Post 3/5's human?
Pre right to vote or post right to vote?
Posts: 2752 | Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:meaning "black people we need y'all to help black people" because "George W. Bush doesn't like black people".
Assuming that Kanye's an intelligent man, do you think that he was unaware these comments would provoke controversy?
Posts: 516 | Registered: Aug 2004
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I know pretty much nothing about Kanye West, besides the fact that he is a celebrity in the music world.
My feeling about this whole tempest in a teapot is that George Bush is not so much racist as he is classist. So, Kanye West probably made a statement that was not factually true. But it was abundantly clear that Mr. West was quite upset about what has been going on in New Orleans, and sometimes people say things that feel emotionally true but are not factually true when they are upset. And, even though I'm as white as they come, I can see how it might seem to people of color that there are racist overtones to the unconscionably long amount of time it took to get the federal government mobilized to take care of this emergency.
So, I feel inclined to cut Kanye West a break on this one.
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Go ahead...I won't, but then again while I don't dislike his music I wasn't going to go out and buy his CD either. I did enjoy him at the Grammys, but that doesn't mean I think he has a clue, sitting in his limo covered in gold.
We MUST be racist, since no one black can succeed in this country.
posted
I was going to ask the question whether Bush can really be considered racist. I did a search and Bingo! There had already been a thread. Love it.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
I totally disagree with Kanye. Sure we have freedom of speech but that was deffinately the wrong place at the wrong time.
He can think what he wants about Bush, whatever, but to make public statements saying that people were ordered to shoot black people is completely unacceptable.
Plus, the mayor of NO is black, and it was his responsibility to evacuate the citizens of the city. He had plenty of school busses at his disposal he could have used to evacuate those who were unable to evacuate themselves. Did Kanye make any statements about that???
Celeberties just need to think before they make public statements like that.
Posts: 218 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I'd say that people in general need to think before they make any sort of public statement at all. If Bush can't, I don't expect much better of anyone else.
But in reality, it was the heat of the moment and he was upset. Yes he showed poor judgement, but somewhere in there were good intentions.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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