NBC Video

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

George Bush doesn't care about black people, they've been given permission to go down there and shoot us

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

[calista]

wow......yeah mike meyers looked uncomfortable to say the least....but I guess in Kayne West's eyes growing up in a world where african american people came second it makes his view that it is always that way.....especially when the majority of the population in n.o. and people at the superdome were african american......the response was bad to this leavign all those people like that with no food or water with dead bodies all around..people ddied at the place they were supposed to be evacuted to for safety because of dehydration nd starvation...even our president admitted that......the looting is horrible and the people taking shots at rescuers etc - I definitely do not blame people for looting food and supplies they need but taking tv's etc??? what are you going to do with a tv carry it out of the city on your back? the whole situation is just horrible and so saddening I just pray they get those people to safety soon......I htink the comment made by the govenor about the military being "locked and loaded" could have been left unsaid though - it didn't help

[DeeDee]

Ceo of Red Cross base salary is $450,000 ..half a mil....

trying to find the base salary of the CEO of Salvation Army.

I know the salary of the minister I talked to today who is putting refugees in homes...$35,000 and a house.

Posted by: farmgirl

Correct.....the Salvation Army has a better spending plan if you ask me. I will never give another dime to the Red Cross after this. President Bush has face more adversity and trying times than any president since the great depression. He has been thru the mill. Some people would not be happy about anything he would do because they have a "one track" mindset that doesn't peek out to reality on occasion.

[farmgirl]

thank you ,,,I am too...

[George Bush Lover]

Hydrangea-I no, there is always that double standard- I understand racism still exsists, but geez, I don't see why this has to be a black/white thing- these are American people that need our help, and we don't need to turn this into a politcal or racial problem.

[calista]

it is definitely things like this that just make me stop and think who cares if we don't have alot of money or have this or that problem...we are safe and ok and together......I keep seeing these poor little babies out there with no food in the heat crying and it breaks my heart..........I would loot every store I could to feed my child and if they would shoot soemone for that then that is just ridiculous

[farmgirl]

Judgesmail..your comments are worrisome..

Can you ease up a little on your antisemetic remarks? Just for tonight at least?

[mom4nra]

I was watching the telethon at the exact time this aired and luckily for the TV, there were too many kids hollering in playroom! I totally missed that statement! We changed the channel to CNN (why I do not know) and watched Larry King interviewing the head of the Congressional Black Caucus and Jesse Jackson. I got so mad, I had to walk outside and scream obscenities! Are they that ignorant! Jesse had the audacity to bitch about Clinton and HW Bush not asking any black people to join their fundraising campaign!!!! Unbelievable!!! They bitch because the white people aren't doing anything and then, when the white people get the bandwagon going, they bitch because they didn't invite Vivian Figures or some other black politician!!!! I HAVE TO YELL!!!!!! WHAT THE F*CK CAN WE DO TO GET IT RIGHT!!!! This is not a race issue. The white people didn't make only black people live in the 9th ward of New Orleans. How many black reporters have you seen down on the front lines reporting the needs of the BLACK PEOPLE!! I am furious that this has become such a piss pot of racism because I AM NOT A RACIST!! I grew up in South Alabama with as many black friends as white friends. I have raised my children so they do not see color. But I have had enough. My home town is hosting over 300 refugees from New Orleans and Mississippi and I have decided to keep my giving of money and time here. Check your own hometowns for local needs if you don't want to give to the Red Cross. You can also send money directly to towns in Louisana and Texas who are sheltering refugees. There are ways to ensure that your money goes directly where you want it to go. And remember, there is only one race that matters, and that is the HUMAN RACE!

[Hydrangea]

GBL Yes you are right the bottom line is helping these folks period.
However, I am white and I am VERY tired of my race being blamed for everything. AND most of all I am getting sick and tired of being quiet about it!!

YES REV AL SHARPTON IS SUPPORTING KANYE.
on MSNBC right now.

SEEEEE...SICK OF THIS.

[George Bush Lover]

Reverand Al Sharpton is a joke! They need to stop pulling the race card- I am appalled that people are acting this way, I would think they would band together like we did after 9/11.

[George Bush Lover]

MSNBC & NBC ARE A JOKE FOR PROMOTING THIS PROPAGANDA!

[simpson]

it's stupid to blame nbc, and it's stupid not to give money to the red cross because of kanye west's personal political agenda. i think everyone blaming the red cross for that is more ignorant than he is.

[George Bush Lover]

it's stupid to blame nbc, and it's stupid not to give money to the red cross because of kanye west's personal political agenda. i think everyone blaming the red cross for that is more ignorant than he is.

Posted by: simpson | Sep 2, 2005 11:42:42 PM

NOT Blaming the Red Cross, I am blaming NBC, they should put this stuff on a tape delay, I would never deprive the people of New Orleans because of one idiots personal agenda.

[Hydrangea]

it's stupid to blame nbc, and it's stupid not to give money to the red cross because of kanye west's personal political agenda. i think everyone blaming the red cross for that is more ignorant than he is.

Posted by: simpson | Sep 2, 2005 11:42:42 PM

I blame Kanye. But it is time for a black person that has a voice to stand up and state loudly and clearly that this is not acceptable behavior. That it does nothing to help stop racism. That they need to lead by example and stop the whining and complaining that all of their problems are the white mans fault.

I should not be getting so worked up because this Kanye is an ass. SORRY DAN.

Hurricane Katrina wasn't racist!!!

[George Bush Lover]

I agree Hydrangea, they are just making things worse, making more problems instead of helping these people.

[farmgirl]

Calista they are not going to shoot anybody in New orleans.

well maybe the guardsman that threw the little dog Snow Ball away might..so look out for him..

The police have shown remarkable restraint and under great provocation. They are there, they know what the stressors are.

I will not say that about the Shreveport police ..if these thugs continue to pillage there, then they are indeed locked and loaded..

And they should be..whole different situation.

And you are right..scavaging and looting are different. I would
have taken supplies for my babies...under the circumstances..

But looting..stealing guns..stealing TV's and Jewelry..not acceptable under any conditions.

Its hard for people not from the Deep South to understand the intricacies of the racial relationships between black and white.

There are just too many nauances involved, and things are sometimes not as they appear.

The two races live very closely together. The racial mix is predominately black in the cities.

I knew that as soon as the TV news sent out the pictures of the solidly black population of the people in the dome that there would be trouble over it.

People in other places do not realize that the black population is in the majority in New Orleans.

I travelled to Tucson recently..no black faces at all any of the places I visited..felt strange.

But for someone not from the South the preponderance of black faces is eye catching. It has nothign to do with the level of caring or aid and support that the white population here feels or gives.

FEMA is from Washington..they were not compassionate toward the people who ignored the mandatory evacuation order.

Bush needs to appoint anew spokesperson for FEMA now.

A rapper from California is exploiting the black people in the South.

that's also unaceptalble.

It was not the people from the South that delayed getting aid to the people in NO..We were ready to wade in in rubber boots and in our pireaux's ...and bring them out.

Its not the Fema or red cross that is feeding them here in this town tonight..its the southerners themselves.

[alabamajazz]

One question remains.....

WHY SO MANY PEOPLE STAY UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION?????????

I understand the reasons for the sick and elderly but their ain't a damn thing wrong with most of those peoples feet. They could have walked to Texas by now. Katrina did not materialize out of thin air, they had warning but THEY CHOSE TO STAY!!!! Now, they don't wanna blame themselves for their STUPID actions, they want to blame the Pres, or the mayor or the whities. Good greif, I am so over this. These people KNEW they lived in a flood zone, KNEW the levy's could only withstand a Cat.3, KNEW this was hurricane season and they CHOSE TO STAY!!!
YES, I feel sorry for them, YES I want to help them and YES I feel as though the government should have intervened sooner. So, go ahead, flame me! But I have lived near the ocean for all of my life, have been in the path of those hurricanes for all of my life and there seems to be a common demoninator....those who evacuate survive.

[John from WuzzaDem]

judgesmails11,

I'd be very grateful to you if you'd stop wasting oxygen that could be put to better use.

Failing that, don't let us stop you from relocating to Europe. Immediately.

[Michael T.]

The truth hurts. Kanye does have a unique style of delivery, but what he said was true. It took five days before the president visited and it will be even longer before many people are helped. They took 1,500 people off of search and rescue and onto worrying about looters. Material goods over people...Why are people angry? People are angry because they are trying to survive with guns in their faces. As usual the Christian hypocrisy is unreal. Once again people - there is no such thing as a Christian president!!! Wake up! It's all about economics and always will be.

[Michael T.]

Oh and btw, thanks for the Kanye West lyrics - good to see that people have something to do with their free time. Go help somebody, find a cure for cancer...get a life. Clearly most of you are European - please stop judging people unless you have walked in their shoes. You don't understand racial issues because you don't have to. All you have to do is bitch and moan when someone illuminates the evil.

[tennessean]

farmgirl -- you make me proud to be a southerner with you! Your comments are intelligent, articulate, and color-blind. I'm with you 100%! I nominate you as the new FEMA spokesperson; you'd do a heck of a job at it! better yet, you should run for Congress -- you've got smarts and realism and a great handle on the race relations in our part of the world.

Thanks for a breath of fresh air.

[George Bush Lover]

Michael T- We ARE AMERICANS NOT EUROPEAN! And hw can you say we don't understand racial issues- you are blaming the white man for this- that Michael, is a racially motivated statement.

[g/m]

I have family members who are RNs who are considering making a long drive to Houston to assist with triage. Medical personnel are needed to take the overnight shift and assist in processing over 150 patients PER HOUR...damn difficult for 50-60 year old nurses btw. If they come, they will stay with us and we will accompany them to volunteer at the clinics. But frankly, when I hear rhetoric from sources like this moron, and Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton, and AOL...it just kills all desire to help. But then I remind myself those who need help are also being victimized by these idiots who are consumed by their political agenda.

So Kanye Whatever just couldn't KEEP his mouth shut ... what he just had to say was far more important than all the donations lost when hundreds of thousands of Americans heard it and turned their TVs to another channel without donating. Shame on him for victimizing his own people. He is no better than the armed thugs roving the streets of New Orleans.

[complex brian]

it's unbelievable to me that at a time where everybody should be coming together to help a support a cause that one ignorant individual has to turn a worthy cause into a black and white issue and a political issue. kanye west is an awful, overrated, third rate musician to begin with and the fact that somehow he feels his opinion stands above all the other people who made appearances on that show by trailing off script to vent his own frustrations and political agenda (the bush bashing is just getting really, REALLY old and i'm not even a full blown bush supporter) is not only disrespectful but down right ignorant.

it doesn't take a rocket scientest to see that this will not only anger many people including those who want to help, but could very easily deter them from wanting to donate to a cause where an individual who slanders our president and goes out of his way to further drive a wedge between whites and blacks. we're all people, we all bleed the same. someone should remind kanye that because he clearly doesn't even know the ramifications off his own words. kanye, you're not the solution. your the problem.

[galloway]

Michael T.

It is a little difficult to deliver food and water when people are shooting at you.

The huge error made here was not at the federal level. The plain truth is Governor Kathleen Blanco blew it. She should have assumed infrastructure including phone lines would be gone and that satellite phones would be necessary. She should have coordinated with the Mayor of NO to have a hierarchy of government officials at every shelter and throughout the city and all should have been in constant contact with each other.

And btw...the Mayor of New Orleans send buses into the 9th Ward to remove the poor and indigent from New Orleans before the storm hit. Most refused to go because they knew looters were staying behind to ransack property. If these residents knew security was going to be a huge issue, the Mayor knew. That he didn't coordinate security with the Governor is criminal on both their parts.

[xanna]

What is interesting to me about Kanye's posturing is that Time recently had a big article about him and although he did grown up in a single parent household (I'm not sure how much the father was involved; I think he was always around)his mother was a college professor who shadowed him to concerts so he wouldn't get in trouble. He has no first hand knowledge of deprivation due to race except for what he has seen of others and his desire to be thuggy to fit in with the rap scene so he can make. . .money. Even his statement was probably a self-centered act to shore up his bad-boy wanna be image to boost sales for his recently released second album.

[!]

HELL YEAH....GALLOWAY....RIGHT ON!!!

[Ring]

Michael T,

Look at this link :

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/16/national/main636126.shtml

scroll to the bottom. There is a detailed section on criticism of Bush after hurricane Charley rushing down to Florida so quickly. So he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, but then consistency was never an issue was it?

As for looters, it's not so much the looting they are trying to stop but the gangs roaming with guns shooting police officers, shooting at rescue helicopters, and sniping at hospitals. It is dangerous to send aid, and rescue people with these nutters around. The sooner the area is secured, the sooner the problems can be resolved. Then again, viewing the world through your prism, it seems everything is a conspiracy by rich white christians.

As for the Keyne ass, I'll be using my money to send some more packages to the troops. Nice job.

[galloway]

I just received this in an email...it is very enlightening as to the difficulties encountered. I'm a Native Texan who also happens to be a University of Louisiana graduate. Take it from me... there is no one more honest than a Ragin' Cajun from Lafayette, LA...so I trust this to be true. I hope Dan doesn't mind the lengthy post.
-------------------------------------------
This was a post made on BassBoatCentral by one of the members...

Three Days in New Orleans

I got back from New Orleans last night about midnight. I was there since Tuesday morning. I had six hours of sleep during that time.

Lafayette fared pretty well during the hurricane. It missed us for the most part and we just caught a bunch of wind and rain. All I had was a bunch of leaves and some branches come down...about an hour's worth of clean up, as opposed to two weeks' of cleaning up after "Lilly". I took the day off to watch the house and keep an eye on the big oak tree that's behind the house.

We got a call from Baton Rouge on Sunday to be ready to be activated. We shipped out Tuesday morning. We (about 600 Probation and Parole Officers from all over the state) had to empty the Orleans Parish Prison which had 4,000 prisoners and transport them to state facilities in other parts of the state. They were rioting, killing each other and holding civilian hostages. This never made the news, at least not to the extent that actually played out. We had to have our State CERT teams go in there and use lethal force. I still don't have the exact count of how many had to be shot. I saw the body of one after having been shot and having fallen from the window they had broken through to escape.

Nearby I saw the body of another guy who appeared to have been robbed and killed, then thrown off the expressway that all the refugees were using to get around above the flooded street. There were bodies everywhere. Dogs were dying all over from drinking the water that was flooding the area. We were stationed on the expressway right opposite the Super Dome, about six hundred yards away.

The rioters had stolen all the mail trucks and were driving them around the non-flooded roadways, looting and stealing other vehicles. I saw one guy in the back of a mail truck carrying an AK-47 type weapon. He started to point it at us as the truck drove buy and the only reason we didn't fire was because there were also kids in the back of the truck.Fortunately, he never fired. You heard gunshots all the time. These people were shooting at National Guardsmen, police officers and rescuers in boats. I saw approximately 60 Wildlife Fish and Game Officers leave the area with as many trucks and rescue boats after having been shot at. The helicopters that were bringing food, water and people that had been picked up from roofs and other flooded areas were being shot at and they had to stop landing. I saw a caravan of FEMA vans and trucks come into town right past my checkpoint and then leave after an hour because they said it was too dangerous.

I saw, from day one, miles of charter buses come in and take out thousands of refugees, right through my checkpoint. When I finally heard the news on TV after getting home and heard Mayor Nagin complaining that he wasn't getting any help and nobody wasn't doing anything I almost got sick. I would have knocked him out if he was standing in front of me. (You have to know this man's history of running / ruining this city). There was more help and aid coming into that city from day one than you could have ever imagined.

By the third day they were setting fires to homes and businesses. It is my belief, based on experience, that a lot of fires were intentionally being set to cover up other crimes, many being capital crimes. The death toll is expected to be in the thousands and won't be known until after all the water is drained and some semblance of order is restored.

I must have given bottled water to a hundred women carrying infants in the 90+ sun and walking for miles. They were pushing the elderly and infirm in shopping carts and dragging dresser drawers with clothes and personal belongings. It was so hot we had agents close to passing out because we were in the sun, wearing our vests.

The last caravan left the prison about 7pm last night and it felt good to get home, take a shower and sleep in a bed.

P.S. We have several thousand evacuees in the Cajun Dome right here in town, about 2 miles from my home.

[Mike R]

Who the heck is this dumbass Kenya West???

He says that they have been given authority to go down and shoot us.HUH,how in the hell does this racist guy consider himself to be US when he is comfy in a studio many miles away from THE US as he refers to the folks in N.O..

Quick somebody airlift this fool to the convention center in N.O. before he misses his bullet.

Damn what a disgrace to his race but more importantly what a disgrace to the country as a whole.

Anybody for pitching in to get this Kenya fellow a first class ticket back to OH SAY Africa,yes maybe even to Kenya

[Mike H]

My $.02 to the folks dumping on NBC-

I work for a CBS affiliate, so I know how live TV works. Notice that as soon as he made that last idiotic comment, they dumped out to the next remote who looked a little unprepared. No one at NBC could have known this would happen... most people would assume that if you were doing a disaster relief telethon, one would have the decency to stick to the script and not launch into a diatribe about Bush "hating black people". Plus, a ten second delay would only be effective to bleep audio, or to dump out of the program completely.

I feel so sorry for Mike Meyers... he did a wonderfull job of trying to keep going with the script.

Michael T -

First, Kenye West is an idiot, or at least that's what he appears to be after that rambling, incoherent tirade. And he speaks no truth. The disaster area is 90,000 square miles. That's the size of the UK. There is no effective way to properly bring in relief to an area that big with that much damage in a short time. As for five days? He did a fly over then next day. Plus, I woulnd't want a president visiting right away... the security involved would only get in the way. That was one of the first complaints after the tidal wave in SE Asia, diplomatic details who were visting were only getting the way and slowing things down.

Plus, as stated before, kinda hard to rescue that many people when thugs with AK-47s shooting at you. That is why the police had to be removed from rescue duty. Of course, if the Mayor and Governer had done their job and mobilized the Nat'l Guard on Friday night or Saturday morning when they knew this was going to be huge, this probably wouldn't have happened like it did. But that's Bush's fault as well, right?

[Michael T.]

My issue was never about Kanye West. Yes, Kanye -not Kenya by the way. Always a lack of respect for black people...Relations will never improve in the US until people either develop compassion or some form of unbiased capacity to look fully at what goes on in America. Until then you will all be sheep and blame problems between the races on people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton who by the way have most likely contributed more to this world than of you ever will. Kanye West is a rapper people - does anyone go this ballistic about the things white music artists say? Ummm...NO. I still believe in the "truth" of the statement although like I said originally it wasn't delivered well. I will not comment again because these issues will continue to exist far after we are all dead and gone. Denial, ignorance and plain ole apathy until the end of time. The sheep will continue to be led.

[disgusted]

The sheep will continue to be led...hmmmm. And thinking you're always the bottom man on the totem pole, even when others don't think of you as such, isn't that another form of "pedestrian mind", another cultural sheep lulled into believing you can’t “have it all” by just working for it? Rather ironic of you to accuse others of racism and ignorance, Michael, when you flock around Reverend (and I use the term lightly) Al Sharpton and others who play the race card so often…like after a naturally occurring and devastating meteorological phenomena…such as a 'hurricane'. You may have heard of it. It ran for office with Carter in the late seventies but was dropped when it was deemed to racially motivated. I mean, we all know how hurricanes naturally gravitate towards poorer, marginalized sections of a city, just like tornados are magnetically pulled towards only trailers and desolate parks. *rolls eyes* Please.

Yes, denial, ignorance and apathy will be around, today and tomorrow like it was yesterday. Yes, people are hungry, distraught, and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Can you blame them? No, probably not. Due they deserve all the help they can get? Certainly, without a doubt. Should gunfire and armaments be deployed by either side in this makeshift ‘urban warfare’ that same claim New Orleans has turned into? No, by all means, no, never.

But when you’re told to leave for the sanctity of your own life and your excuse to stay behind is because of looters, I have to ask who has place materialism over life.

And it really is sad, Michael, that you defend Kanye as the current soap-box representative to a particular culture’s given social plight, at a time when he may have single-handedly devastated the best chance of unilateral hope some people in New Orleans could have received in humanitarian donations and graceful assistance. Black, Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, it doesn’t matter, for someone’s child in New Orleans *will* go hungry tonight and the next few days. And your Kanye West, while flinging his own ignorance and general, thug-like lack of respect towards other so he could push his own racial agenda on people who just want to survive in a situation furthest from racial chasms, may have chiseled his hatred on some poor child’s heart and a family's chance to make it through...

And you call others “sheep”…

[Selena]

Well, big ups to Kanye West for speaking from the hearts of many African Americans today. From what we have witnessed this is very disheartening and begins to render feelings amongst many of us of days long ago. Days that we thought were behind us only to realize that our lives are not important in the eyes of America. The World sat and watched as thousands upon thousands were ignored until the American viewers and radio listeners could not take any more. It is shame that a turtle could move faster than our Gov't. Big ups to Mayor Nagin too. We know how we are put in positions of power only to find out we are just figure heads Tokens for the oppressor. I know you did everything in your power. It like giving someone in the desert a cd player without any batteries or a CD! God has seen how those who could make a difference didn't and those who wanted to said a prayer to Heaven and GOD will fight this battle. African American people rise up and use your Third Eye and Third Ear. They didn't think we would survive Katrina, but we are still here. Still We Rise. Aluta Continua! May The Struggle Continue! Power to the People!

[Selena]

Disgusted - I'm disgusted at your post and your ignorance. Race was used throughout the broacast. NBC just did a show regarding Race and Hurrican Katrina today at 6PM Eastern Time. Duh! If you think that race was not a factor than you are walking around with rose tinted glasses and must be on some type of induced drug state of mind right now.
On another topic - REFUGEES? WTF! These individuals are victims of a natural disaster and not refugees. Elian Gonzales was a REFUGEE! Get it right? Why can't they be American Citizens. When Florida was hit they never called them REFUGEES! Bush flew down there in 24 hours and was by his brother Jeb's side with a blank check.
This is a sign of the times. I don't consider myself to be on Left or the Right. I just call it how I see it. I am just putting it where the Goats Can Get It. It doesn't take a brain scientist to see that RACE is an ISSUE in America and I will not be fooled by these racist trying to devalue and maginalize African Americans. I will not continue to accept descrimination in any form. The way the American Gov't responded to the victims of Hurrican Katrina was the very last straw. African Americans are not 2nd and 3rd Class citizens. They were tax payers too. They deserve the respect and dignity that any human being would want and deserve. I like to see some of these folk who are wearing their rose tinted glasses to wade in waist high water or higher for 5 days.Sit and stand in pure darkness not knowing whats in front of you, pushing corpse out of your way, having to leave your family dead floating and hoping you'll find them later. God Be With Us All.

[Ann]

Alrighty then, Although I am a fan of Kanye's, I will say what he did was not the smartest thing. Why? Many many reasons. But..... isn't this America?? umm....Democracy??? Should'nt we as Americans have the freedom to express our true feelings on our issues. I don't think Kanye was calling you guys racists (ie Mike R, George bush lover, especially, DANA SCULLY) He was just saying that PRESIDENT BUSH IS A RACIST. BTW. Dana Scully, I am embarassed by your "little comment" Two Blacks (What are blacks)? HUH? Anyway, they were TWO LATINAS or hispanic women. I mean we are sitting comfortably in our air conditioned homes, having at least 3 meals a day, and using a working toilet. So, for us to say whether or not Bush and his administration are handling the situation acordingly is not up to us to decide, but to those "refugees". Oh no, its definately not a black or white thing. It's an economical issue. Poverty ridden individuals do not need the proper necessities like FOOD. Although, I do agree why are looters stealing TVs? (no electricity), but on the contrary, why do CEOs steal money and buy expensive shower curtains? I mean there are always bad seeds and I am def.not making any excuses for them. The real question in hand, does George Bush dislike blacks*?(Dana Scully) Does it matter? I am a black*(Dana Scully), college student live in a nice town, have friends of all backgrounds. Im loving life, NJ & NY, and could'nt care less about how doesn't like me b/c of my skin color.
Piece in the Middle east* ( A black* slang from the 80's).
P.S. Please don't boycott West like The Dixie Chicks (I love those girls).

[Selena]

As I began to read through the post from earlier I am appalled at the ignorance of many of the post. It just confirms my original thought and reality that RACISM is alive and well. If you are not African American I don't expect you to understand how Kayne and other African Americans feel daily. You don't live our lives if you are not African American. However is you are one of the "good" White people I guess you were just unaware that some of your fellow White brother and sisters still think Jim Crow is alive and well, many think that White is Superior and Black is inferior. If you don't than good for you. You can't discount the experiences of African Americans daily life and what they see everyday. This country has a long way to go in the area of Race Relations. Its a shame that so many folk are in denial. Also, for those of you who believe that Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are jokes that is a shame too. They have done more this week than many of you will do in your lifetime to help someone other than yourself or someone you know. They have helped strangers from all over the World in spite of the ignorance of others. Peace and blessings to the victims of Katrina.

[Viscount Fida Clavo]

Kayne West, man of courage, conviction and truth. Finally someone brave enough to tell it as it is with emotion!
White America has no idea how balck America lives, they don't want to know.
For those white people who don't know Kanye West.....QED...WAKE UP!!!!!

[Tax Payer - Not on Welfare]

Kayne West is an idiot. Wake up people. I get very pissed off when I hear these type of comments from a worthless rap singer. All his comments are going to do is start a huge riot. First of all everyone is jumping on the band wagon about how slow the government is in evacuating the people. Were not these people told to get the hell out before the hurricane came because they may not be able to rescue them? Now it's the governments fault because they were to damn stupid to leave. Unfortunately there are a few bad people in New Orleans that make the rest look bad (black and white). I think Kayne West should first start aiming his comments toward the worthless Mayor of New Orleans (who is black) first. What hell kind of plan did the city have to evacuate these people? Oh yah, once again rely on the tax payers and federal government to bail your ass out. Get off the racial kick, I heard enough about that bull shit.

[Black Ambition]

Just for clarification, it is unfair to link Kayne West with any shooting. Kayne West was in the news recently for winning music awards. As you know he is a Grammy winner and a talented music producer. Unfortunately, Mr. Knight, who he is not connected to, was injured at a celebration gather he had after winning a VMA. Mr. West was not connected.

With that said, I am very pleased that Mr. West was able to express his feelings. He is saying something that many people wish they could say on national television. It is not just President Bush. America has a long history of not caring about its black citizens. This trend continues. Is it better to silence Kayne West, or actually deal with this reality?

[viva Kanye West]

I do not understand why you all trash Kanye West. Are you all stupid and ignorant? Are you simple minded... You may disagree, but you shouldn't persecute.. He is restating the facts that he has seen and express what he has been perceiving...

YOU DON'T KNOW WHO KANYE WEST IS?? You are missing out... Go grab the Time magazine.. He is on the cover and read what Time got to say. Just because he made a mistake, it doesn't mean that you have a right to say he is an idiot.. stupid or something... He is one of the most talented person in the music business. You may disagree, but you shouldn't shoot down people who has different opinion...

I think that it is a wrong move for Kanye West to state his opinion. It is very important for public figure to maintain his image, but I am touched by his concern and his guts. As his fan I am disappointed.. but I am more disappointed at people in this website..

I read a comment about his songs.. etc. Now, have you listened to his music.. have you listened to his lyrics. His music has truth and contents.. He comes from an educated background, he is obviously not an idiot.. So before you trash Kanye West.. find out about who he is first.. if u don't know don't say anything.. Your words have no contents.. If you have nothing good to say and has nothing to support it with.. don't say anything...

AND WHO THE HECK MAKE PINK SHIRTS SO POPULAR.. Kanye.. CHI TOWN REPRESENT!!! I will never visit this website ever again..

I hope you realize that the US is a country of free speech.. You can state your opinion.. Please don't be ignorant. You just sound stupid.

If you want more info on Kanye I'll be happy to provide you with it.. but don't send me hate mail.

[brian tester]

you all are some crazee white people. you should be ashamed of yourselves. do you really think that just because bush has $3000 shoes-wearing oil-company-apologist condi rice in his cabinet that he really does care about black people? show me some evidence. i can show you a record 200 executions in the state of texas under gov bush that speak to the contrary. open your eyes and ears people. black american citizens are being referred to as "insurgents". these are american citizens. on top of this, when is it more admirable to read scripted bullshit off a teleprompter than to speak your own feelings? denying that there is a race problem in this country doesn't make it go away. and if you haven't seen it, you're not looking very hard.

[Viscount Fida Clavo]

Kayne West has the courage to speak the truth!!!
Most reporters dare not speak out against the fascist regime.
The Truth hurts America...so wake up and deal with it. The world has a good view of American society. And we wonder why the world detests American values....are these christian values...mr bush? Leaving people to die?
Bush has a corrupt soul...if he speaks for America the God will not bless America..why should he? His defining moment will be when he leaves office...the world awaits with eagerness.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Bush crisis management 101, Holiday, Denial, Read Kids Book again, Denial, Holiday, Press Conference, blah, blah, blah.
Kayne has a true heart speaking directly to the people who are able to balance truth from the fictionalised reality promoted by the jah-jah binks types in the white house. America is not and never will be a United States.
Speak up brother Kayne the world is with you!!!!

[a_jinni]

Kanye spoke the truth and challenged a lying president and doing so with class and calmness, he spoke what is in his heart, to stop and injustice….many of us including myself have called out bush by swearing, bush a bitch and a liar, but not KW, called BUSH out on the TRUTH!!! Hallelujah there’re is hope for the world.

Yes realize the white privilege structure and all the inequality in the world, esp. in America, then demand change by ADVOCATING for the change you want to see in the world [a play on a quote by Gandhi jii); be JUST & FAIR ---- rock on, we can build a better world community, if we work for it and believe it and of course spread the hope and determination to others.

There is both classism and racism, don’t kid yourself if you think racism is over, it is as prevalent as classicism, that is how the lower class just took it up the A** with all of the conservative BUSH policies that have been passed over the last 4 years and some of the more resent bills like the energy bill and the bankruptcy bill

If only congress would smarten up and demand a 10 percent fuel efficiency hike for next year’s car fleet and progressive increases for the foreseeable future like 2-5 whatever is attainable,. That would reduce fuel costs and save the environment too. Let’s look for proactive solutions instead of more drilling and other supply side arguments, conservative don’t always have good ideas that are sound in their mechanisms.

-PS if you like Kanye then you will like Immortal Technique
-PS if you hate Kanye then you will love to hate Immortal Technique more.

---a_jinni

[Daniel]

Perhaps you should all wake up to the fact that the richest country on earth has a population of people (mostly black and hispanic) who are so poor, so bereft of basic human needs, that theyre dying by the thousands unnesessarily. So much money over in the States yet the distribution is so one sided that the slim veneer of civilisation has be shown for what it really is. Mr West was just pointing out the obvious in his speech and it was about time someone stood up and said as much. Im proud of him to have the courage to do so. I wonder how long it would take for the federal government to react if this tragedy had occured in the middle of Beverly Hills.
Shame on America for allowing this growing tragedy to occur.

[truth]

It aint rocket science to understand that if this tragedy happened in lets say "orange county" the response by the govt. woulda been far more prompt and adequate....and thats real...Yall can talk shit on her and blind your eyes to the facts. Glad someone finally said it.

[truth]

It aint rocket science to understand that if this tragedy happened in lets say "orange county" the response by the govt. woulda been far more prompt and adequate....and thats real...Yall can talk shit on here and blind your eyes to the facts. Glad someone finally said it.

[Matt]

That's damn true. You all can sit here and talk about how it was wrong of kanye to say what he had said. However, right after that commetn was dropped, Bush and his officials finally met with black leaders about rescue efforts, housing, etc. That's strange that he did that after Kanye's comment is it not? The U.S. is digging a ditch it can not get out. Check gas prices, depression is on the rise. I ask all of you to read and inform yourselves. Don't let corporate news controll you with lies and propaganda. The picture is much more distinct in color then jsut black and white. 1 love and 1 world.

[Locks]

Kanye spoke his mind, and he has a first amendment right to do so. It was very obvious West's comments were fragmented, as he was tried to convey his thoughts. It is very easy to say that his comments caused you not to donate to the Red Cross. The is simply an excuse and excuses are tools of incompetence. Incompentence seems to be the theme of the day with George W. Bush leading the way in regards to this effort. I understand it is difficult to understand Kanye's comments if you are white living in this country. However, his comments have a meaning to blacks in America that whites could never understand. I do not take offense to any comments bashing Kanye, because they are made out of ignorance. I also dislike the way the media has portrayed the people of that region. If this tragedy happened in Boca Raton, FL, would we call it's diplaced inhabitants refugees? Refugees?

[illphacen]

Had a natural disaster occured in Seattle, I guarantee you that we wouldn't be discussing
federal response time.

Kanye was right

[C]

The very fact that this is even a news story says a lot about our priorities. This reminds me of what happened to Pat Robertson 2 weeks or so ago when he said the federal govt should take out the president of Venezuela. Do we have nothing else to talk about? I saw the news and read all these posts and although you all have interesting opinions…is this all really necessary? People say dumb things all the time in public, from the president, to kayne west, to the average joe on the street. Ok, so some of you are outraged. Deal! I’m outraged everyday about something or another. (don't get me started) But aren’t we all? I mean those of us that don't live under rocks. People are stupid and stupid people say and do stupid things. It's the way of the world!
What I am pretty upset about is that we saw this all coming; 2 weeks before it happened. Hurricanes don’t just pop out of nowhere. They have to develop. Doesn’t anyone else think it a little odd that we saw this during weather segments of news broadcasts for days on end but waited until the hurricane was on their doorstep and ridiculously powerful before we screamed “run for your lives!” I think that’s an outrage in itself. Also for the gulf coast states to not have evacuation plans in place for “worse case scenario shit” like a hurricane is also outrageous. It’s like someone in California living near the fault line not getting earthquake insurance or frankly, not expecting an earthquake to ever hit. Pretty stupid right? EXACTLY. A lot of this could have been avoided with a little planning. From the lowest levels of government to the top, to the media, to private groups, and yes even to some of the stupid residents of the gulf coast states; there’s piles of blame that could be spread around. But if we all go around pointing fingers and being sore b/c some rich black man offended some of you by saying your beloved president is a racist then we all have bigger problems than just the mass devastation that has occurred. What’s more devastating is that SOME OF YOU WERE ACTUALLY OFFENDED. My goodness, are we really that soft of a society that some random man could spark so much public outcry? He has the right to be a moron in public, as do all of us…it’s called “free speech.” Perhaps you want him to apologize? Maybe that’s it. That’s incredibly childish by the way. Let's all get on the "let's act like a child" bandwagon! WOOT! It's as if what he said wasn't bad enough. Pull your heads and/or sticks out of your butts and take a look around. I’M GOING TO SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME SO IT STICKS: The fact that anyone is offended over this at all is laughable. Give me a friggen break. Are we all really that sensitive? Who cares! Mass media, can we please report on something worthwhile for once? You know, maybe some “feel good shit” to counter all of this drab. I URGE ALL OF YOU TO BE ABSOLUTELY LIVID! Livid at each other that this is even a topic of conversation! Get over yourselves. You shame me by forcing me to be involved in this nonsense(I couldn't live with myself if I let any of this slide). George Bush does not need your sympathy or “fighting words.” He’s a big boy, he can take care of himself. If someone wants to talk out of their ass on TV, by God, let them! This wouldn’t be America if we couldn’t do that. C'mon! Cough:::Reality TV:::Cough

Give money, donate blood, send food and supplies... hell drive or fly down south and help in person. Just do something useful with your precious time instead of debating this. You’ve all beaten this pathetic horse to death. Along with every media outlet in the world. Just let it goooooo.