the ever eloquent harry belafonte speaks his mind

Hypnospin

here mr. belafonte states bush and those closest to him are terrorists, among other things...such as pursuing imperialist ambition.
however, i see each and every of these comments as well grounded in fact rather than basesless personal attacks.
he also speaks of constructive activism, tangible actions that can be taken, things to be involved in as citizens to create a culture of oppostion and change.

so much for the wishy-washy views of those who throw up their hands and say something along the lines of "who has an alternative?".

these are often the same folks who decry celebrities from speaking out on such matters as political, current events, human rights, and national policies.

i for one believe strongly this using one's celebrity to advantage in terms of publicizing opinion is not only a right but a duty, a patriotic duty at that.

here he comments on cutting edge issues that are addressed by the commercial media with only the most superficial of coverage.

http://mparent7777.livejournal.com/6016866.html

well worth a listen, or read.
what are your views, general or specific on his comments here?

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"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present...As our case is new, so must we think anew and act anew"
Abraham Lincoln, in his address to congress dec. 1st, 1861

wolfix

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"I rule my world with a cellphone."

Colorado Ryder

DAYO! DAYO! Daylight come...........

wolfix

The bannana boat guy.. Oh yeah. Now this is a man who has a perspective on things.

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"I rule my world with a cellphone."

Colorado Ryder

Does that apply to all celebrities regardless of their political leanings or just those that agree with your ideology?

wolfix

When actors get in the celebrity political thing I have to laugh.... They have been told for so long they are great they start to believe it. Want to see the real power broker men that are the real heavy horses??? Watch the audience during the Presidents State of the Union Address..... Those are the real power brokers. Repubs and Dems alike.
People should stop and realize what actors really do for a living....... A actors job is to decieve people into thinking he is something he is not. Basically actors are paid liars. The better they are at decieving people, the more they are paid. I know it is true that celebrity status brings attention to the cause.

People fawn over celebrities. But very few celebrities actually carry any weight and are limited in the ability to bring attention to the cause for very long. A few have carried the cause for very long..... Charles Heston and Ronald Reagan are 2 that come to mind..... Lance is doing a wonderful job.
A little over a year ago Timothy Robbins did a speech that made me laugh. He was on the podium with his "serious glasses" on and went into this very dramatic speech where he used "voice inflection" to make his points. He really took himself seriously as a speaker. I think he wanted the world to think he a a "deep thinker." It was more of a Shaksperean reading then a speech.

Wasn't it a Alec Baldwin that said he was going to leave the country if Bush won the last election? Of course , he back pedaled later. So basically Alec Baldwin is a liar.
Anyone who gives any crediabilty to a man who sang"day o" and about a bunch of bannanas needs to take a long look at what they percieve as reality.

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"I rule my world with a cellphone."

Induray

-o, Day-o Daylight come and we want go home Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o Daylight come, and we want go . . .


Work all night on a drink of rum! (Daylight come and me want go home) Stack banana 'till the morning come! (Daylight come and we want go home) Come Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home) Come Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home) Lift 6 foot, 7 foot, 8 foot bunch! (Daylight come and we want go home 6 foot, 7 foot, 8 foot bunch! (Daylight come and we want go home)


Day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home) Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)


A beautiful bunch of ripe banana! (Daylight come and we want go home) Hide the deadly black tarantula! (Daylight come and we want go home)


Lift 6 foot, 7 foot, 8 foot bunch! (Daylight come and we want go home) 6 foot, 7 foot, 8 foot bunch! (Daylight come and we want go home)


Day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home) Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)


Come Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home) Come Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home)


Day-o, Day-o Daylight come and we want go home Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

jhuskey

I believe celebrities should use there power and influence just as I believe children should be issues automatic weapons and not trained in the proper way to use them.
Same mentality ,either way.

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Sobriety is over rated!

Chance3290

Kinda like asking Jimmy Carter about foreign policy questions.

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Please, don't MOO at the cows. It only confuses them.

Induray

Ya man, Irie. He smoke one spliff too many!

Hypnospin

alright, then, you know the song. there are more as well, this was the first to sell a million records, yes before sinatra or you name it...

the calypso craze, as it were.

sure, the song is kinda novel goofy to us, but then so is something like "don't worry be happy". even the motif and theme of beethovens fifth is composed primarily of five notes, and this was met with derision. sometimes these things do stand the test of time.

just look at "wooly booly. or "louie louie", pure nonsense perhaps, but they get the feet going like nothing else sometimes.

oh well enough of addressing the mockery of the man for his music.

what of his message? do any of his observations not ring true?

which in particular?

asserting that colin powell's postion to bush was akin to a slave living in the masta's house?

or is that too politically incorrect for your collective sensibilities?

there is much for this man to be respected for, he served in ww2 voluntarilly,
which interupted his career. he is a self made man, in the true sense of the term, with an enduring presence.

i have heard it put that over time, one's talents inevitably develop and improve over time. seems to me this is the case with mr. belafonte, regarding his intellect, willingness and abilty to speak upon issues.

perhaps it is not the message that he brings that can be challenged as untrue, and the only means of commenting for some is to assail by means of personal slander...

while this slander serves as an attempt to duck the issues it is only an amusing diversion at best.

__________________
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present...As our case is new, so must we think anew and act anew"
Abraham Lincoln, in his address to congress dec. 1st, 1861

Colorado Ryder

Really. Does this apply to when he slandered Colin Powell?

Hypnospin

i suppose this may depend on how much perinent truth one can handle in terms of allegorical reference.

regardless, mr. belafonte remains unappolegetic on this, and in fact is dissapointed in colin powell for not offering apology, let alone plausible
explanation for his (powell's) own behaviour...

__________________
"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present...As our case is new, so must we think anew and act anew"
Abraham Lincoln, in his address to congress dec. 1st, 1861

Colorado Ryder

So as long as Belafonte espouses the same political ideology as you he can say whatever he wants no matter how insensitive or inflammatory in may be.