Posted on 08/11/2005 12:31:21 PM PDT by SmithL
Famed entertainer and political activist Harry Belafonte told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday that he was retracting his recent statement that Jews had served "high up" in the Third Reich, a comment which angered several Jewish organizations. He continued, however, to maintain that Jews had contributed to Hitler's cause and that the Bush administration resembled the period leading up to the Nazi regime.
Earlier this week, in an interview with Cybercast News Service, Belafonte used a Nazi analogy to attack black officials in the Bush administration. "Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich," he said.
"I do regret the sentence was not structured more accurately," Belafonte told the 'Post' in a telephone interview from the United States. "I, too, agree that Jews weren't 'high up'."
He added, however, that "Jews did have a role, some did, in the demise and brutal treatment of the Jewish people." He pointed to the book Hitler's Jewish Soldiers as just one example supporting his statement. The book, recently profiled in the 'Post', tells of part-Jewish soldiers who fought for the Wehrmacht.
"Was it rampant? Absolutely not," he said. "But, these things happen and people are not exempt from their behavior."
He added, "Let's not be dishonest about all of us. The more we know the truth, the better we'll be [at] improving humanity."
Following the initial reports of the singer's remark, Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham Foxman issued a statement charging, " Besides being ignorant and offensive, Mr. Belafonte's comments are dead wrong. He clearly needs a history lesson."
"The point was not to attack Jews," Belafonte said of his controversial comment.
He was surprised by the reaction his comments provoked, though he stated that "sometimes the Jewish people have laid claim to such a high and pure morality" that they take great exception to facts which challenge that claim, despite that theirs "is a DNA that sits within the entire human family."
But, he said, "I can understand why Jewish leaders would be prone to protect the image of George Bush and his administration."
He continued that the administration fully supports Israel "even when there are questions of the humanitarian, the moral, and the political [motivation] of things that are done to Palestinians."
Belafonte defended his comparison between Hitler and the Bush administration, which disturbed Jewish leaders, as "not inappropriate" given that current White House policies "detaining suspects without charges, creating an atmosphere of fear" are "very much similar to the things that were done when Hitler was on the rise."
He condemned those who didn't raise their voices in pre-war Germany, and explained his statements as an attempt to raise his voice now.
His voice is indeed well-known. Belafonte claimed the spotlight as a calypso singer who turned out hits such as "Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" in the 1950s, also making a name in television, film and stage performances.
A long-time civil rights activist who has often championed controversial causes, his long list of honors includes awards from the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith, and Yeshiva University, which gave the performer the Albert Einstein Award.
He stressed, "I've always been supportive of the right of Israel as a state and I've always fought against anti-Semitism, even in my own community."
He pointed out that his wife is Russian-Jewish - they didn't meet in a synagogue or a church, he laughed, but the theater - which by Jewish law makes his four children Jewish.
He also recounted that he once sent his brother to volunteer on a kibbutz and that he himself has visited Israel. He spent time in the theater in Tel Aviv, and, on one occasion, sang Hava Nagila for Moshe Dayan and his troops.
"I still sing Hava Nagila," the 78-year-old declared in a voice raspy from a lifetime spent onstage, "and I still do the best version of it."
NO, just SHUT UP
Well...the black conservatives are waiting for their apology.
Disgusting. "Clarifies" one thing and makes other things worse. Yes, if Jews disagree with your comment about the Nazis it's because we like Bush for abusing Palestinians. Whatever.
A fruitcake. A very mean, nasty, RACIST, poisonous, fruitcake.
Just had to marry the white girl, didn't ya?
Why is this guy still walking around?
"I do regret the sentence was not structured more accurately"
Sounds like a hahvad law-yuh or some PR advisor gave him this talking point.
What a coincidence -- some of my best friends are black.
No, Harry Hater just got caught in an act of blatant anti-semitism.
Harry! You know not what you do. And you should just SHUT UP. You are being USED.
"He pointed out that his wife is Russian-Jewish"
So that's the real reason he reversed himself. Unfortunately, she doesn't appear to have much influence on his other insane ramblings.
I love it when these kind of dolts decide they're ready to be weaned and begin spewing without a script. He reminds me of Janine Goofalo.
Belephante... one hit wonder who's skin was light enough to be able to step and fetch on TV in the 50s.... seems to me, this guys the living embodyment of the house negro.
Yeah, because if there's one group that offers unwavering support for the Bush Administration, it's Abe Foxman and the ADL.
< /moron >
Historical ignorance is the most inexcusable and intolerable ignorance of all.
His 'apology' is worth absolutely nothing.
Can't help but think his UN work tarnished him.
Why can't they just look pretty and sing?
Mr Tallyman might come and take away his banana.
Translation: I'm a one hit wonder, am a raving *sshole, and I speak out of my anal pore constantly.......... and I regret it.
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