Posted on 09/04/2005 8:55:02 PM PDT by wagglebee
International singing star Celine Dion has little problem with the large amount of looting taking place in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, and she's slamming the U.S. government for its perceived slow response to Katrina's impact.
"You know, some people are stealing and they're making a big deal out of it," Dion said on CNN's "Larry King Live," as she said she'd donate $1 million toward relief.
"Oh, they're stealing 20 pair of jeans or they're stealing television sets. Who cares? They're not going to go too far with it. Maybe those people are so poor, some of the people who do that they're so poor they've never touched anything in their lives. Let them touch those things for once."
Dion, an celebrity from Canada who now lives and performs in Las Vegas, took a double swipe at U.S. war policy while criticizing the recovery effort.
"How come it's so easy to send planes in another country to kill everyone in a second, to destroy lives?"
"I open the television, there's people still there waiting to be rescued and for me it's not acceptable. I know there's reasons for it. I'm sorry to say I'm being rude but I don't want to hear those reasons."
Fellow singer Harry Connick Jr., who hails from New Orleans, and was able to make it into the hard-hit region last week, said he was horrified by the number of bodies, including an old woman in a chair at the city's convention center.
Connick also told King a friend commandeered an abandoned city bus to help evacuate refugees.
"And I'm thinking, if [she] can get on a bus and drive a bus out with sick people, you know, well, we can't get a barge to park back up on the Mississippi behind the convention center and get these people out?"
The Bush administration was also accused of racism on national TV during a celebrity relief effort on NBC.
"George Bush doesn't care about black people!" exclaimed rapper Kayne West.
West continued:
I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, "They're looting." You see a white family, it says, "They're looking for food." And, you know, it's been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black. And even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I've tried to turn away from the TV because it's too hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I'm calling my business manager right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give, and just to imagine if I was down there, and those are my people down there. So anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help – with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible. I mean, the Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way – and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us!
Meanwhile, actor Sean Penn made his own personal attempt to aid those in New Orleans, but the small boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak.
The 45-year-old Oscar winner had planned on rescuing stranded children, but an Agence France-Presse report indicates he apparently forgot to plug a hole in the vessel's bottom, which took on water within seconds of its launch.
Asked about his goal in the soaked city, Penn replied: "Whatever I can do to help."
But with the boat loaded with members of his entourage, including his personal photographer, one bystander taunted: "How are you going to get any people in that thing?"
When I lived in Houston, it was common to hear news stories of people from Houston being robbed and killed in N.O. They warned people not to get off busy streets.
I think that if N.O. does rebuild, they will find out that their tourist industry is ruined.
IMO: have her spayed and dragged back through the closest border crossing.
Your response proved it.
I'm not a liberal. I'm an independent mind.
Then why have a moniker that calls yourself a liberal? You make me laugh.
Let's assume that I actually held the positions you accuse me of holding and had to defend them.
Why defend them if you don't hold them? That's silly...unless you're lying. Or is it that you're such a super intellect that you can defend any position regarding any subject? You make me laugh...again.
Specifically, what's wrong with taking TVs and other electronics? Uhhhh, because it's illegal?! Most of that stuff will have to be written off anyway. Uhhhh, it's still illegal. Or do you think owners will be able to sell it as new given that it's been unattended in a muggy flood zone for weeks or months. That's like saying, "Your honor, it was OK to kill that guy cuz nobody liked him anyway." See what I mean about a lack of common sense and logic? (pssst...I know. It doesn't compute, does it? That's the elitism in you)
Here's a novel approach: How about instead of looting, these individuals help rescue their fellow citizens? These thugs were already there. They could have done something helpful and constructive--like saving lives--in an otherwise terrible situation. Instead they chose to compound the problem. ...the poor who are stranded in that area can sell it for a few bucks and live. Sell it to whom? Other poor people?! You make me laugh...a lot.
I can't make any sense of your argument about blacks in prison so I can't respond to it.
It's called "moving the goalposts." It what you liberals independent minds do. Go back and reread it. If you still don't understand it then you should be able to appreciate how we feel. We have to deal with that nonsense from you guys on a daily basis.
They know it's illegal but not necessarily immoral. Many of them think their actions can be justified and that the legal system itself is immoral.
So it's acceptable to break the law if you can justify your actions or...oh, screw it. This is so absurd it doesn't warrant any response. Just keep this BS in mind if or when someone perpetrates a crime against you. "They did it cuz they decided it was right and the system isn't fair." You make me laugh...out loud.
If everyone thought like you we'd still be British citizens. But you, no doubt, think that's irrelevant too...and that black criminals in New Orleans are not in any way like those who founded the Republic.
God, where do I start? This is even more absurd than your previous gibberish. Are you saying the founding fathers were no different than the thugs and looters in New Orleans? The fact that you can even draw such a comparison is nuts. BTW, as for still being British citizens, it appears you're saying America in its' present form is no different from the oppressive, tyrannical British monarchy that ruled with an iron hand and "black criminals in New Orleans" are actually freedom fighters against that oppression and tyranny. My friend, you are not only wrong. You're friggin' warped. What kind of country are you advocating we live in? Methinks Teddy Roosevelt would be rolling in his grave knowing someone with thought like that actually believes they have something in common with him. You make me laugh...but with a great deal of concern and anxiety.
I know I'm an elitist. I'm not apologetic about it.
See? You don't get it. You can't be apologetic about it. You're an elitist. The concept is foreign to you.
And "likening" them to dogs is not at all the same thing as calling them monkeys or subhuman.
See? That's my point. You call them dogs and it's ok. I call dogs and I'd be a racist. That's how you liberals operate. You make the rules but you don't abide by them. Yet you and your ilk insist everyone else must. Elitism once again.
Look, apparently you believe black criminality is justified in its' existence if blacks say it is. OK. I don't agree. And most people wouldn't either. But then most people aren't elitist liberals. Thankfully.
Of course, this could all be moot because as you said this is assuming you "actually held the positions you accuse me of holding and had to defend them". I'm hopeful you don't hold these positions because not only have made woeful attepts at defending them--and rightfully so since they are indefensible--it's scary to think liberals would not find them problematic to begin with.
You still make me laugh...but cautiously.
ok
Your deepest thought so far...
Reasonable enough - I don't disagree with anything you said...
Dear Celine,
Have you ever been a small business person, who built a place up from the ground with your own hands only to have thugs rip you off and take advantage of a natural disaster?
I suspect you've never worked a "blue collar" workday in all of your life. While I can perhaps see the need to steal food (although I don't condone it) I cannot lay my finger on one single legitimate defense of stealing non-essentials, ever.
Perhaps your point of view will change when there's an earthquake in the Hollywood Hills and your home gets looted. Or, maybe, if you feel so strongly about letting the poor 'touch' these things why not take all of your belongings to Compton and leave it for people to take, including I'm sure your fleet of cars, and Lear Jet.
But you won't do that and do you know why? You're a limousine liberal. You got yours, screw the small business man for trying to get his.
P.S. Screw you.
Apparently I missed the obliteration of an entire Iraqi City by the Bush Administration. Probably so Halliburton could rebuild it.
This dame is certifiable. Maybe attendance has fallen off at her concerts and she needs to get on TV. My guess is if she pulls a Linda Ronstadt and talks this crap from a Las Vegas stage she's going to find a huge walk-out on her hands. People paying that much for tickets are not likely to think appropriating their property by illegal means is a righteous thing to do.
"Let them touch these things?" I'm sorry, does Best Buy kick poor people out of their stores with a "don't touch that!" Geez, drama queen, dial back the rhetoric, okay?
Michael Savage said the other night that if Silly Dion (as he calls her) believes this that there are a lot of men that would never otherwise get to touch HER so therefore she should let them...
A lot of men have never touched Celine's rear end or breasts either...wonder if she thinks she should let them touch those?
LOL. Thanks. I needed that.
Still laughing! "Kind-hearted, compassionate Celine, do you own priceless works of art, valuable furniture, ruby, diamond and emerald jewelry? This is your opportunity! Invite the poor people to your home (is it homes?). They need to TOUCH your fine treasures! Never mind if they pocket some. They never HAD such luxuries. Com'on, Celine, you're not going to let Walmart get one up on you, are you?"
I see Babs' moonbatiness rubbed off on Celine from that duet they did together.
Oh, please! Let me get on the bus, too. Today's my birthday. Yippee! I have a new number. Do I like it? No. Let me on the bus, just to ride with you. I want to be around anyone who makes me laugh like you did. Maybe I can pick out a birthday gift from Celine's treasure trove. We all know how gracious and giving she is to the poor. And like you, I am destitute next to her worldly wealth. Why wasn't I born with a money-making voice?
What is her home address in LV and Canada?
Larry King react? Oh come on! He hasn't heard a word his guest have said in his career! He is only thinking of his next brilliant "question" while waiting for the opportunity to interrupt whoever is speaking!
Celine, I don't have a problem with people stealing food and water or necessities either. But a Television? Be real. If you are so concerned about the poor "touching" these things, use your millions and buy them all one. It is my experience that no matter how poor a person is, they manage to get a TV anyway.
If you decide that Celine deserves to read the truth about herself, you may consider sending the exact words of your post to her via letter or email. I missed(?) her heartfelt pity for the looters (on Larry King) and will hear the audio online when I figure out why I'm not getting it. I like to know just what I'm talking about before commenting. Let us know if you "straighten out her erroneous zone".
Not only Michael Savage! Some of us got together for my __th birthday, Sept. 7th, and one of my daughters joked about the same thing. "Let them touch it!" Though it's becoming a cliche, I'll say it anyway: "Shut up and sing, or DON'T". "Got along without cha before I met cha..."
'It's unfair that these people have never had these things (dvd players, plasma tv's) and we shouldn't stop them from laying their hands on these things'.
Essentially, let the poor loot and get their hands on the goodies because it's all our (whitey Republican's) fault they live there and they were/are poor.
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