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?"
No pun intended.
L
Performers will NEVER learn, they're paid to perform NOT think or preach..
Most could hurt themselves trying to think...
Semper Fi
Probably...and if she were poorer, almost certainly. But sometimes people do release their hold on things...just to provide others with a little happiness.
As tragic as this whole thing has been, excuse me while I say...
BWAAHHAAHAAAAAAHHAAAA!
She should let them stay in her home for awhile and then take her bony derriere back to Al Qanada!
L
What a degenerate. Man these people are crawling out from under the rocks.
Why would anyone expect anything less from a French-Canadian who also happens to be the greatest singer in the world? (Don't believe it? Just ask her.) What amazes me is anybody would even bother to discuss this with her. Too bad she wasn't on Sean Penn's S.S. Minnow...
Yeah, well your friend must be very old now to have been around then. Seriously though, the Pavlov's dog analogy doesn't work here. Knowing the difference between right and wrong is not a difficult concept. At least not for humans. Surely you're not saying these people aren't human, are you. (pssst...see, this is the part where you backpedal, ok?)
She should pack up all her treaured belongings and let the looters rifle through them and take whatever they want.
What's amazing is that these fools have an audience who pay any attention to their malign drivel.
Exactly who has been treating black people like dogs? That was a crazy statement.
So because some black people alive today had great grandparents or great-great grandparents who were slaves means it's just fine for them to act like vicious animals?
Are you out of your freaking mind?
"We have the technology to drop bombs to kill an entire city but we can't rescue a city of people."
Made me glad that we have someone with more of a level head that runs this country.
I guess it never occurred to her that the Iraq war was planned months, and even years, in advance. (The Clinton Administration even had plans drawn up to attack Iraq.)
And once Bush made the decision to fight Saddam, there was MONTHS of coordination and logistics.
If you can understand her point of view, than to actually live out your philosophy you should pack up all your belongings and send them to NO or the Astrodome and let people pick through them and take what they like.
It's awfully easy to condone people stealing OTHER peoples' stuff. How would you like it if people broke into YOUR home and stole YOUR stuff?
These looters were (and still are, I guess) stealing from stores, banks, ATMS, and private homes. Got it? PRIVATE HOMES. People like you.
That's okay with you? If so, then you are being a complete hypocrite unless you invite them into your house to steal as well.
You name says it all - liberals are the ultimate hypocrites. I bet if someone broke into your house to steal you would call 911. But according to your point of view, you should offer them a couple of large bags to hold the loot.
"If you try to make policy from her statements she looks like an idiot...but if you look at the human side of it... Well, some very wise people have warned us about the dangers of judging others."
Do you realize you're passing judgement on people who pass judgement?
Consider it.
Plus, no one wise ever said that every statement, whether foolish or wise, should be swallowed whole without discernment.
She will get over it as soon as it is not on TV any longer. What she really objected to is that she had to watch it. If she really cared, we wouldn't tolerate this situation in inner cities across the country. Watch. It will blow over, probqably Tuesday. Roberts hearings. They have about wrung the drama out of the situation now.
Amen!
I don't care if they have food, clothes, or even books and board games, but jewelry and TVs/dvd are definitely on my shoot list. And if I find them selling looted clothing, etc...take the safety off,...
One American Voice
She is as dumb as she looks
What's Celine's address?
Ignorance is expensive. - One American Voice
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