Kanye West: Unedited Video

Just listen to this via NBC - went over every network, I'm told.

Update: You might want to visit popular rapper Kanye West's website. He was recently in the news when Shug Knight was SHOT at a party West was hosting. How lovely.

rap mogul shug knight has been shot at a party hosted by kanye west. he was apparently shot in the leg by an unknown assailant...more to come...

Comments

[angelaberdine]

Ah, Kayne was just upset that he was not able to be down there with the home boys doing a lootin' and shootin'.

[LALady]

How disgusting...just what the people suffering need..why are the blacks trying to turn this into a racial issue????? I do not understand this type of mentality..Sicko, stupid, militant!!!

[RightMan]

Indeed, George Bush doesn't care for the poor black people. He let them rot in their misery. Great that someone tells the TRUTH!!!
It's a SHAME that he let this happen. This asshole should be impeached and bring to justice right away!

[globetrotter]

"why would anyone want to rebuild anything to rehouse those welfare leeches?....10 billion dollars indeed.....it's a shame eugenicists gave up the debate long ago."

Posted by: judgesmails11 | Sep 2, 2005 9:59:17 PM
*************************************************
Well, Dan,

You have a sad group of readers here.
Have any of the zealots screaming about social welfare ever heard this?

"Whatever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do Unto Me"

Our president attended a parade in San Diego the day after this tragedy hit. There he stood with his chest puffed out and a silver spoon rammed up his ass, his lovely wife beaming at his side as they posed for the cameras. He should have been rounding up every darned member of his cabinet at that critical moment to create an immediate response to a dire emergency of catastrophic proportions.

Condolezza Rice is an articulate, refined Afro-American woman because she was born into an envirornment that afforded her opportuniies to be successful. The sick perverted white man (his name eludes me) that so horribly killed little Jessica Lungsford in Florida was born into abject poverty.

We cannot influence the circumstances and families into which we are born, but we have a responsibility to be compassionate for those who have significantly less than us.

It's very frightening to me that it has become so difficult to speak out about how we feel about this President without being verbally stoned. He is seriously wanting as a leader and has never lived a day in his life in which he's wanted for anything.

I am sorry that you are putting such trash on your blog as headlines. In spite of the fact that you are conservative, (which I was too for my entire life until this President decided to start a bogus war,) I thought you were better than that.

[bobup]

President Bush could have activated National Guard units from other states on monday, but he proved again he is a slacker and an idiot, I hope all that voted that moron in are proud of them selves

[wirefox]

Gee Bobup, how come Florida didn't need the President's help during the multiple hurricane hits of 2004? Oh wait, the Governor of that state took care of business. Push your political agenda all you want. Face it Louisiana officials had 5 to 7 days to prepare, they gambled and lost.

[disgusted]

Rightman- you really need to change your postname to Wrongman.

Globetrotter- you are too soft. Are you a member of the ACLU?

Bobup- Do you know anything about hurricanes and if you do, have you ever been thru one? How about 2 back to back 2 miles apart, 2 weeks apart? You are the idiot, not George W. Bush. Why don't you run for prez.,better yet, please don't.

[GOPGG]

Uh Bob.. No went through the hurricane and was reporting it was not as bad as they thought. On Tues after the levee broke is when the disaster started. Shortly after he activated.

[ajjig]

People of all ilks and isms love to simplify and generalize. The subtleties and details seem to not interest them in the least. In our country celebrities love to grab a podium and wrap themselves in the agenda of various reactionary organizations who have more to gain from the "problem" than the "solution". Kanye is just another.

The guy's not dumb and he is no Suge Knight. He just has bought into what young blacks have been hit over the head with for generations now: Everyone hates you because you are black. Any criticism you receive is based not on your actions, but on your skin color.

The truth in my opinion is that there have been failures at every level in this situation. A black mayor and the black political structure of New Orleans included.

My biggest question is, given that New Orleans is known to be a crime-ridden city, and given that most of its crime comes from the exact population that would not(for whatever reason, justified or not) evacuate the city, why were troops and or national guard not on the ground in anticipation of this lawlessness? They should have been in the surrounding area, ready to go in at the first opportunity.

As an American, I believe we must help the people of Louisiana in this emergency. However, I will not suspend reality and what I already know, to cannonize the people who are looting, demanding this or that "now", or raping and victimizing other refugees.

Poverty is not a badge of honor. It is something to get out of. Kanye West would best serve the people he is speaking on behalf of, by espousing the work ethic and perseverence it took him to "make it out of poverty". People who have been on welfare for generations don't need another celebrity to make excuses for them. They already have liberal politicians and themselves to do that.

[FloridaPatty]

Excuse me but I didn't see the National Gaurd from multiple states having to take over law enforecement in 2004.

Hurricanes Charley and Francis had tracks that within weeks of eachother intersected paths in Osceola, Orange and Polk counties. These people were MONTHS without power and running water.

It's been less than a week.

1993, response for FEMA was 6 days, Red Cross 5.

I'm white.

My hispanic brothers and sisters can remember 1992 and "tent city".

[FloridaPatty]

As an American, I believe we must help the people of Louisiana in this emergency. However, I will not suspend reality and what I already know, to cannonize the people who are looting, demanding this or that "now", or raping and victimizing other refugees.

Poverty is not a badge of honor. It is something to get out of. Kanye West would best serve the people he is speaking on behalf of, by espousing the work ethic and perseverence it took him to "make it out of poverty". People who have been on welfare for generations don't need another celebrity to make excuses for them. They already have liberal politicians and themselves to do that.

Posted by: ajjig | Sep 3, 2005 11:23:42 AM

THANK YOU!

[LadyK]

I think that Kanye said what a lot of others were thinking. Yes, there are a percentage of looters and people doing wrong---- but in what city is that not happening in right now. Yes, there are bad people there, but the majority of those people are tax paying citizens and families who are starving/dying because we have proven to be inept in this situation. How could anyone ignore the FACTS that 300 people at the Ritz Carlton were saved yesterday by buses and the poor and minorities were left at the conference center(that they were told to evacuate to). The people at the Ritz at least had shelter and food, but what did the people at the conference center have--- babies without formula, sitting in 90 degree weather, no medical treatment for the ill, living among feces and corpses, and no way out of the city. It's terrible to even think that many people made it through the storm but died from lack of supplies in the most powerful country in the world. The determination of living and dying should not be based on having money or not- especially when the government is the one doing the rescue missions. I can guarantee if any of those people at the conference center would have been our presidents daughters--- we wouldn't even be having this debate. Another issue that we have is our level of preparedness (or lack of) and our ability to handle large scale disasters. The only good thing that has come out of this is that hopefully a cabinet member/organization will be designed to handle mass evacuations and natural emergencies, so this will not happen again in our country.

[abby]

Did you see Mike Meyer's reaction? Classic live television moment...the random pairing of Mike Meyers and Kanye West is funny as well. I hope that they raised alot of money. God Bless New Orleans, we are going down to a shelter here in Dallas today to work with victims. We'll all get there! Hang in there!

[ajjig]

Lady K

I wouldn't deny that there are INSTANCES of racism and classism: the Ritz situation, the AP captions of white "finders" and black "looters".

However, as you said about "bad people", they are everywhere. I would not, based on these incidents, characterize what is going on in New Orleans as racism in action.

And correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't the mayor who had these tourists moved up to the front black?

This city broke down a long time ago. It was the odd combination of a cesspool and cash cow. Any city with the crime, literacy and poverty rates of New Orleans is not a good place to be. I cringe when I hear people from there interviewed. I noticed that the older generations are actually easier to understand than the younger generation. What does that tell you?

God help every last one of these people in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama. I pray they all are able to get on their own two feet again. And I also pray that some of them do it for the first time.

[Jim]

It seems sad that FEMA had actually held exercises and drills to respond to such a disaster as this.

Read this and be amazed at how FEMA can plan and practice... but still F* it up!

From July 26, 2004!
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/newsrelated/hurripamends.htm

NOTE: This is from a GOVERNMENT site and not some right or left bent idiot's perceptions!

How is it that the Department of Homeland Security was created to respond to disasters such as this, yet couldn't! If we can't deal with this, imagine the dreaded "dirty bomb" and how we will cope!

[ajjig]

Jim said
"How is it that the Department of Homeland Security was created to respond to disasters such as this, yet couldn't! If we can't deal with this, imagine the dreaded "dirty bomb" and how we will cope!"

Good question. It is truly scary to think of a scenario in which we were attacked with nukes or a dirty bomb. With our disorganized response organizations and the lawless character of many of our fellow citizens, it could be a nasty scene.

[\\\\CroSSBronXXPress////]

Suge Knight shot HIMSELF in the leg a week ago...

What at all does this have to do with Kanye Wests comment????

NOTHING...

Speaking of bringing up unrelated items ...

"Fuel storage facility explodes and burns in La."

...HERE COMES BUSH AND THE CAVALRY!!!!!!!

[bobup]

wirefox: Florida didn,t have 80% of a major city under 10 feet of water for what may be weeks, this disaster covers three states not just one but not urgent enough for Dubya to shorten his vacation a week, deep thought not one of your strong points huh

[FloridaPatty]

Condolezza Rice is an articulate, refined Afro-American woman because she was born into an envirornment that afforded her opportuniies to be successful. The sick perverted white man (his name eludes me) that so horribly killed little Jessica Lungsford in Florida was born into abject poverty.

Check your references globetrotter. I am thisclose to this particular case. John Couey is a sexual preditor which has nothing to do with being born poor, rich or middle class.

[007Scarlett]

When cooler heads prevail, they need to remember that the local government agencies in New Orleans waited two days before asking for Federal help, which was a logistical challenge at best. People also need to remember that the New Orleans natives were given ample chances to evacuate before this tragedy occurred. I heard someone remark yesterday that "if this had happened in white Florida, they would have received help right away." Well, if this had happened in white Florida, we would have most likely NOT seen the looting, raping, murdering, and pillaging that prevented a lot of the help from reaching these people sooner. I love the "selective memory" of those who play the race card in everything they do. Do some research on Hurricane Andrew, and see how long those people waited for help. Even the "white affluent snowbird" population of the Emerald Coast has not fully recovered from Ivan. Many there are still living in FEMA trailers. Some of you should heed the words of Abraham Lincoln, "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Shut up and get to work helping your fellow man, or get out of the way of those who are.

[FloridaPatty]

Ignorance does have a voice:

I heard someone remark yesterday that "if this had happened in white Florida, they would have received help right away."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Oh for crying out loud. I think I have posted here no less than three times when we got hit there was a similar timeline for FEMA response and Red Cross. They don't show up the next day!
It was several days before we saw relief coming in. That's why we have hurricane preparedness.

Even I take bottled water to shelters. Just in case! Where did this mentality of government take care of ME come from?????

Scarlett said:
Well, if this had happened in white Florida, we would have most likely NOT seen the looting, raping, murdering, and pillaging that prevented a lot of the help from reaching these people sooner. I love the "selective memory"

THANK YOU! We didn't have this happen.

These people screaming black prejudice have to be some of the most biggoted people I've seen in years.

[angelaberdine]

God help every last one of these people in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama. I pray they all are able to get on their own two feet again. And I also pray that some of them do it for the first time.

Posted by: ajjig | Sep 3, 2005 11:52:59 AM

In other words, "let the dead bury the dead." I agree with you there. Shed that cloak of dependence, pull yourself up by the boot straps and quit depending on Uncle Sugar to do everything.

[wirefox]

Bobup, no deep thoughts needed to see beyond what you are spouting, your political agenda. Of course everything is Bush's fault. Please review your American Government textbook. It may help you understand the responsibility of the local, state, and federal branches of government. Also, read up on tent city 1992, Hurricane Andrew, it may enlighten you.

[angelaberdine]

Bobup, no deep thoughts needed to see beyond what you are spouting, your political agenda. Of course everything is Bush's fault. Please review your American Government textbook. It may help you understand the responsibility of the local, state, and federal branches of government. Also, read up on tent city 1992, Hurricane Andrew, it may enlighten you.

Posted by: wirefox | Sep 3, 2005 12:40:49 PM

Bobup does not want to understand it. He probably feeds at the trough, and that would deny him that opportunity to wake up and smell the coffee, if he had to face facts.

[par3]

I also think some people need to remember that the flooding in New Orleans is not a result of Katrina; it is a result of the levees breaking AFTER Katrina. Again, if anyone should have prepared for that, it should have been the LOCAL government, and the LOCAL EMA, not the Federal. Why would George Bush dispatch the National Guard from other states beforehand, when the hurricane never even hit New Orleans directly? He also did not dispatch them to Mississippi or Alabama, either. They also sustained damage, and some of those areas are predominantly white. There goes your race theory. There are people as far away as Birmingham, AL, and towns in Georgia that sustained flooding, and lost power, but which have resumed normal life without the help of the Federal government as peacekeeper. So, it's not race, or some right-wing conspiracy...

P.S. Mobile and Birmingham have large black populations, too. How about that, Jesse?

[Lady K]

There is not point in blaming others for this tragedy. Neither side will win. It doesn't matter who suffered the most or who didn't act fast enough. If you really want to be of help, maybe you should take in a family, donate some $$ or goods to the Red Cross, or go volunteer. Instead of having these debates that won't result in anything productive, you should help out a person or family in need.

[007Scarlett]

Some fool compared Condy Rice to John Evander Couey? OMG!!! John Couey is a pedophile. Pedophilia is a disease for which there is no cure or rehabilitation. It is not indiginous to poor people. John Couey could have been born into the Kennedy family; it would not matter. He is sick; beyond sick. He needs to die. Condoleeza Rice was born to a family who was originally poor, as all blacks in the South were, but who overcame poverty to succeed despite the obstacles their race and the social climate provided. There is absolutely no comparison. That is the most blatant example of twisted liberal rhetoric I have ever seen. May God have mercy on your soul.

P.S. I have given money, and I am working in a shelter for the displaced families, so I can express my opinions here in my spare time if I choose to.

[anonymous]

What are you white people doing damage control??? We all know that he said is 100% accurate. Truth just hurts sometimes.

[anonymous]

What are you white people doing damage control??? We all know what he said is 100% accurate. Truth just hurts sometimes.

[ajjig]

"What are you white people doing damage control??? We all know what he said is 100% accurate. Truth just hurts sometimes."

Is that your argument? "Truth just hurts sometimes."

I have donated money while my wife has donated money and clothes and has even taken my daughter with her this morning to volunteer at neighborhood center that is collecting clothes, diapers, etc.

Although I believe a large number of the people in New Orleans have brought a an unfair burden on rescue workers by not heeding the order to evacuate, I still believe we must help our fellow Americans, period. But please don't make me listen to this "racism" garbage. Blacks who run that state have replaced the white "good old boy" system of mismanagement and corruption with a black one. And to what end? Are condtions better? The Jesse Jackson's of the world should start educating, a la Bill Cosby, and stop profiting from the problems(real and manufactured) of American blacks. Is there anything more racist than what he is doing?

There is still enough real racism in the world to worry about as it is. Let's not run around trying to conjure it up at every opportunity. The best way to demolish it, is to WORK past it...although I have to admit, you'll get more attention by sitting on your ass whining about it.

[007Scarlett/par3]

Anonymous:

What I said was 100% accurate. If you can read, please research the facts regarding this situation, what was done for the people of New Orleans and when, before commenting again. By the way, I am black. HAHA!!!

The people of N.O. were sent help immediately...they chose to shoot that help out of the sky, or rape and murder their help, and then that help gave up. That is not the fault of our president, who has a solid record of helping minorities. Get a clue before you embarrass us anymore.

[Cindi in PA]

I look forward to a debate! Problem is as Mark Twain said addressing a crowd in France,"They cannot even understand when I speak to them in their own language.

There will be no debate. These clowns cannot debate working hard v. dependence on government hand outs. If they really desired to make things better for "their" people, they would have been out there making a difference. But no, they only cry "racism." Give me a break. Many other nationalities in this country have been suppressed. Why is it, they could move on, make their life better but according to Jack$on and clowns, blacks are still being held back?
They speak of unity, but they appeal to the worst in human nature by dividing Americans into dependent on government and those willing to try harder. They support freedom of thought, unless your thoughts don't meet with theirs. They preach tolerance and promote intolerance. They resist open discussion and debate, unless it equals what they believe.

Jackson supports abortion, "right to choose." Tell me, how many of Jackson's "people" have been murdered on that belief alone.
The race card won't work in this case, Americans are not going to buy it. Good work JESSE........ANOTHER NOTCH IN THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
ps; Jack$on paid for 5 buses to go to NO for evacuation, common Jess, 5 buses? Surly with your pocketbook you can afford to spend more for your "people".

[Cindi in PA]

Get a clue before you embarrass us anymore.

Posted by: 007Scarlett/par3 | Sep 3, 2005 1:34:07 PM

^5 Scarlett :)

[Cindi in PA]

"What are you white people doing damage control??? We all know what he said is 100% accurate. Truth just hurts sometimes."
Posted by: anonymous | Sep 3, 2005 1:05:47 PM

You were able to understand him? lol

[Lady K]

Cindi that tone of "your" people and they isn't helping. People who have never experienced racism and bigotry are always in denial that it even goes on. Some people would rather be blind and believe that every race has equal opportunity. But what about the terrible schools that are located in the inner city, with lower curriculms. It is possible to overcome poverty but it is a struggle and everyone doesn't make it (but it's not from lack of trying). Sociology term for you...the working poor-people who work more than 40 hours a week and are still below poverty level. Some poor people work harder than middle class workers. But to deny the fact that inequality still exists (not as bad and sometimes more covert) would be ignorant. But I guess if you can never understand the plight of other people, then you will never be able to see beyond just yourself.
I don't know if you know how much it cost to charter buses to to into that area, but it is expensive and especially for a minister of a non-profit organization. But 5 buses is better than nothing at all!
I commend all of the people that are working day and night trying to rescue the people that are still in N.O. !!!

[ajjig]

As a Hispanic, what bothers me most about the LULACs and NAACPs of the world is their counter productive focus on the segments of minority populations who don't want to do anything for themselves. This takes the focus off millions of Blacks and Hispanics who have WORKED to create a good life for themselves and their families.

In every nation on earth, there is a group of people who do not wish to work their way out of poverty. Unfortunately, here in the U.S. it is quite PROFITABLE to keep them there and then take up their cause.

[ajjig]

Jesse Jackson, "non-profit". LMFAO. That is without a doubt the funniest thing I have heard in weeks.

[brians2000]

First I would like to say New Orleans knew this Hurricane was coming days before it hit. The day it hit Fox news showed people sitting in bars drinking and laughing saying the storm missed them. The next day the levee's broke and their has been no coverage of people sitting in bars. New Orleans and the surrounding areas were run by black officials who failed to do their job yet Mayor Ray Nagin blamed President Bush and the Bush administration for not doing their job. Does Mayor Nagin think he got the job as Mayor to recieve a big paycheck only, and to pass anything bad that happens to New Orleans off to the Federal Government. If the Mayor would have done his job we would have less crime, better paying jobs, and an evacuation plan in case there was a hurricane or big fire. This Mayor should be kicked out of office but people like Jesse Jackson said this morning that he should be praised because he asked for assitance when he realized things had got out of his control. I beleive people should stop blaming the problem on racism for an entire breakdown of the New Orleans system. New Orleans was full of crime, poverty, children and adults were not educated yet they have no one to blame but themselves. Other areas were hit just as hard are harder than New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and you do not see people just lying around waiting for the national guard to come in and save them. A great deal of these people sitting around have depended on the government from crandle to grave and they are not about to try to help themselves. The sad part about this is most of them do not know how to help themselves because they have never had to work or turn their hand to support their families. They have become so dependent on welfare without help they would continue to sit in the filthy surroundings until they died. Everyone needs to stop blaming the Federal government as well as the President for the life they have choosen. Brian

[junius]

Disaster prevention experts have been studying New Orleans for years and urging upgrades to its levees and other preventive measures. The Army Corps of Engineers was supposed to carry out some of this work last year, but its funding was cut.Thanks Mr. President.
http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf
Also Louisiana asked for help 4 days before Bush ended his vacation. What did he do during this time shop for shoes like Condie Rice?
Michael Brown head of FEMA - admitted he didn't know until Thursday that there were 15,000 desperate, dehydrated, hungry, angry, dying victims of Katrina in the New Orleans Convention Center. What doesn't he watch the news? I guess Bush doesn't either cause he said, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." Yeah that's one of heck of job you're doing there.

[adam]

Amazing that NBC would let a blackie on live TV, huh?
All those dead niggers are making great alligator food, right?

Here is why New Yorkers hate George Bush:
http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2005/09/we-told-you-so.html

He should be tried for murders.
He has shown his incompetence very clearly.
He cares about money and rich people more than anything else.

[Sam]

The people of New Orleans are hurting. Lets not make it a race issue or a President Bush issue. We have to face the fact that good and bad come in all colors.
I believe the Mayor dropped the ball when he made it about USA government. It would have been so much better if he had had the school buses ready to go to start evacuating these folks both before the hurricane hit as well as after.
I realize there are alot of poor folks who could not afford a bus ticket out of town so this would have been away of helping before. Maybe ask folks to bring toilet paper, soap, toothbrushes and a extra set of clothes.
They should have tried to get them inland aways even though the storm did go up to 225 miles inland.They could have left the prisoners to fend for themselves.
Just my honest opinion, Sam

[Cindi in PA]

Cindi that tone of "your" people and they isn't helping. People who have never experienced racism and bigotry are always in denial that it even goes on. Some people would rather be blind and But what about the terrible schools that are located in the inner city, with lower curriculms. Posted by: Lady K | Sep 3, 2005 2:02:35 PM

I believe that every race has equal opportunity. Some more than others. Have you ever sat down and paged through the many college scholarship books out there? More is available to "minorities" than anyone else. Minorities at some private colleges are given extra points for being so, even if both families come from the same area, same income level. My children had to work for any scholarship they received. Does that piss me off?
Hell no, I have two nephews that are half mexican, I encourage them to take advantage of every opportunity for a higher education, I also stress to them the importance of being good citizens and working hard school.

The term "your people" was set when Jesse boy and a few other raciest decided to again make this tragedy an issue of race. I went to school in the "inner city," we all had the same opportunity to learn. I raised my children in a neighborhood with many races and nationalities. They went to private school for 9 years, with many minorities sitting in a desk next to them, many there on the goodness of our Pastor, who also thinks, we all deserve the same chance. More than 25% not even children of the parish religious denomination. My children have gone to date dances, proms with minorities, I do not make race an issue. My husband and I made the decision to raise children who know how to accept others for what they are, not the color of their skin. What they learned, they will tell you, the ones who do not take advantage of education, those that tag their self as suppressed, are the ones not going anywhere. That is a fact of life, like it or not. If encouraged at home, in the community, they will succeed. Five of the "black" boys, as Jesse and company like to describe them, graduated and took advantage of their education and are all starting their second year at colleges around the country. I can tell you this, none of their parents with the exception of one, has a pot to call their own. They still managed, with encouragement to find a way for their children to live a better life. That is what Jesse needs to center his attention on, showing people how to get over it, move on.
In the year 2005, I refuse to take responsibility for any minority who still believes they are being suppressed. Women in this country were suppressed for a very long time, they managed to move on. I am of Irish/Spanish decent, we were discriminated against at one time. We moved on.
What is it about moving on Jesse does not understand? Jack$on needs a soap box.
Shame some blacks are still falling for it.

[ajjig]

All this DIRECT blaming of Bush(I didn't vote for him,by the way) reminds me of when during the Lewinsky scandal, ultra conservatives tried to blame Clinton for everything under the sun with the exception of the JFK assassination. Same thing is going on now. I am not pleased with a ton of things Bush has done, however, between the streets of New Orleans and the White House, there are an awful lot of incompetent people, and disorganizations. To put this all at the feet of ONE person is comical.

Judging by the pronouncements of reactionaries on the right and left, it"s too bad we can't just ship Bush and Clinton off to the moon. Everything in this country would be perfect and the only problem would be that we no longer had anyone to blame when something bad happened in our own front yard.

[Cindi in PA]

They should have tried to get them inland aways even though the storm did go up to 225 miles inland.They could have left the prisoners to fend for themselves.
Just my honest opinion, Sam

Posted by: Sam | Sep 3, 2005 2:38:24 PM

Yes Sam, that is a question that needs to be addressed in the near future. As for the prisoners fending for their selves? I do not agree, they are human beings also. I worked in a drug rehabilitaion facility for years, many of the friends I have today were at one time convicts. One of the biggest cons I ever met is now the director of the drug and alcohol commission in my county. My x husband was a convict, now very successful in life. All life is priceless.

[Cindi in PA]

Judging by the pronouncements of reactionaries on the right and left
Posted by: ajjig | Sep 3, 2005 2:49:01 PM

Amazing isn't it? I voted for Clinton, not once but twice, I believed he had America in mind. Only to be dissapointed later on. I was raised to show the utmost respect for our President. It was ok to voice an opinion as long as you could back that opinion up. Today, I am trying to teach my kids the same. Just last night my youngest son said to me "are you glad you voted for Bush now"?
The price of gas will soon be 5.00 a gallon. MY response,hell yes and come back tomorrow when you can back up what you are saying. Also told him to bring a plunger so I can flush his brain of his Liberal views lol.

[Lady K]

Cindi, you said you sent your kids to private schools and you lived in the "inner-city". How many people who live in the inner city can afford private schools? Yes, some children are lacking parental guidance--but that's when you hope they can at least get it at school. I was a teacher cadet at a school in the inner-city and the resources were slim and the teachers were burned out or lacking skills. The children that I helped were in the 6th grade, but couldn't read as well as my sister in the 2nd grade (she lived in a better part of town and thus had a better education and better teachers). Do you think that is fair? In my county many good teachers refused to teach in certain areas of town. So therefore the schools can't be equal and probably will never be (not even with the no-child left behind policy).
I seriously doubt any minority person wants you to take responsibility for them, so please don't (but I don't think anyone is asking)!!!
Just because you made it or moved on, do you really think everyone can? How can some people move on when institutional racism is still evident (explain that)---this has been studied over and over by many criminologist and sociologist, it really does occur whether you choose to believe people with PhD's who have seen it first hand or not. You should read "The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison: Ideology, Class, and Criminal Justice by Jeffrey Reiman. There are people with issues and I am not going to judge them. If more people were educated and read up on topics, maybe they wouldn't be so oblivious to our surroundings. But back to the matter at hand, why are people still at the SuperDome as we speak or at Charity Hospital?

[ajjig]

I teach in the inner city. I taught at one school that served the homeless poplulation in addition to its local population. I resent people assuming I am not very "skilled" or burned out since I teach in the city.

Lady K, you sound like you're talking "theory". You really don't have a clue. I am fortunate now to teach in a school where I get to see lower income Black and Hispanic students graduate and go on to good colleges. Sometimes even elite schools. There is one difference between the kids at my school and the kids in schools only blocks away. It is not their color, nor their inteligence. The difference is that the kids at my school have "working-poor" parents who make their child's education a priority. Most of the problems in education, unlike what you implied, are not the teachers, or money. The problems tend to be ignorance, one parent households, grandmothers raising kids for their incarcerated daughters, poor parenting skills, undisciplined children, and a lack of good priorities.

Money is only one aspect of education.
I would rather not, but if I had to, I could teach a class full of kids without a single textbook. I am a good teacher, and I work along side a team of GREAT teachers. Most of them are black, then white, and a small number of Hispanics. No matter how good our teaching is, if the students do not receive good rearing at home, it is all for nothing.

Money is not the be all end all. No amount of head starts, free meals, minority grants for schools, and any other type of government funding can take the place good parents.

Stop making out the poor to be some mass of noble people, who have been denied opportunities at every turn, and are just waiting for their one chance to shine and excel. The truth is some of them are good people who would benefit from QUALITY educational programs on how to change their situations. Others just have a knack for making bad life decisions, i.e. drugs, early pregnancies, etc. and only want someone to fix everything for them, WIC, stamps, free housing, etc. And lastly, some of them are people who are not worth a Goddamned dime. You would be better served by light money on fire and pouring it into a bottomless pit, than giving it to them. Sad but true.

Of course what do I know, I was once poor, and am now a low skilled, burn-out teacher who wants his students to work and think for themselves.

[Lady K]

But ajjig I do have a clue, I have written many scholarly papers, have a degree in this field, and have seen some of these situations with my own eyes. Ok ajjig you know your situation, but how about you read up on others before you think every school is like yours. I didn't say teachers were burned out in the inner- cities, I was speaking of the teachers at the school I taught at. Of course there are bad parents (like I said already), but you at least hope that teachers can be motivators at school. Of course it's not just the teachers (I never said that), there are a host of other problems that effect this problem. Some students only have teachers to encourage them. And when people hear someone make comments as Kanye has made, they are quick to say "Well i was poor" or other reasons why racism doesn't exist. But your situation doesn't reflect the entire nation!

Finally the people at the hospital are rescued, but there are still 2000 still at the dome.
I want to encourage everyone to give money, because these people still need some shelter after they get out of the city.

[Cindi in PA]

Cindi, you said you sent your kids to private schools and you lived in the "inner-city". How many people who live in the inner city can afford private schools? Just because you made it or moved on, do you really think everyone can? How can some people move on when institutional racism
is still evident (explain that)--
Posted by: Lady K | Sep 3, 2005 3:20:06 PM

What I said was, I went to inner-city. My children were raised in the suburbs. I also said 25% of the children in the private school my children attended were accepted without any type of tuition being paid. The teachers at the private school all made under 29.000 a year, all while living and working in one of the highest cost of living areas in our Country. These teachers were there because they had something to offer. At the time our kids were in school, we were living on one income, my husband worked 70 hours a week, to make a better life for our kids, he sure as hell didn't come home after 40 hours and say, well I did my part. As the years moved on, ourincome increased by hard work, tuition became less and less because the children worked hard, because we taught them about hard work, and they were rewarded with lesser tuition the following years. That sure as hell did not happen without any hard work, on their part or ours.
(Just because you made it or moved on, do you really think everyone can?) Yes as long as they have someone behind them to push and encourage.
Shame on the community and the parents and the likes of Jesse, raising these children, who have no back bone or desire for their children to be more successful than they were.
Until they learn to move on, Jesse will still have his soap box. And they will still be living in poverty.
(If more people were educated and read up on topics, maybe they wouldn't be so oblivious to our surroundings.) Do you always talk in circles?
That is exactly what I said in several post above, however you still want to make this about race. Get over yourself. Even those that cannot read can be taught hard work, not hand outs.
(But back to the matter at hand, why are people still at the SuperDome as we speak or at Charity Hospital?) That was not the matter at hand, the matter at hand was racism.

They are still at Charity and the SuperDome because the governor and the mayor failed to act before hand. They had years to prepare this city/state for this disaster, they failed the people. Each and every state in this country is responsable for their own homeland security.

[ajjig]

I agree with you in that racism does exist, but not to the extent that it once did. I do not feel it should be ignored, it should be confronted. Nevertheless, I don't think we are doing the youth a favor by seeing it in every nook and cranny. I can tell you that in teaching minority students, I have found that there is a certain level of "deprogramming" that you must go through with them before you can actually get them to think or realize that they are not powerless, but rather hold within themselves the keys to their success. I would liken this process to coming upon a person crouched in three feet of water, not willing to walk into deeper water because he/she has reached his limit, and then trying to convince them that they can stand and walk further.

I cannot tell you how many of my students give the spectre of "racism" or "white people" almost God-like powers to hold them back. It is mind-boggling. I am not sure as to the parameters of your work or writings, but I will tell you that this phenomenon has a uniquely American character.

I have noticed in my immigrant Hispanic students, that within just a few years in our system, they quickly take up the identity of "minority" or "disadvantaged" in a "White" world. In other words, upon arrival here they eventually learn to adopt an "underdog" identity. This greatly limits their capacity to dream and perform. This is my concern.

I wish you luck in your work/writing, and urge you to look into the effect of what I described.