Sharpton: Comedian's apology not enough

cnn ^ | 11-22-06

[LouAvul]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Rev. Al Sharpton said Wednesday he refused to accept an apology from actor Michael Richards, who spouted a racist rant at a comedy club last week.

But Sharpton said he did agree to meet with Richards to try to start a process to address racism in America.

"I [told Richards] you need to sit down and deal with this," Sharpton told CNN. "This is not about accepting an apology, this is about starting a process to really deal with the continual problem of racism in this country." (Watch Richards' meltdown on stage -- 1:39 )

Sharpton said he got the call from Richards earlier Wednesday.

"I think that what he did was so injurious that he has to sit down with a group and decide how he tries to ... deal with healing the obvious problem he's got in his own mind and his own heart, because it couldn't come out of you if it wasn't in you," Sharpton said.

The incident took place Friday night at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, California.

In a video clip posted on the celebrity gossip Web site TMZ.com, obtained from an audience member, Richards unleashed a nearly three-minute tirade punctuated by racial slurs at a group of African-American hecklers.

In it, he made a reference to lynching and added shortly before walking offstage, "That's what happens when you interrupt a white man."

TMZ.com is a subsidiary of Time Warner, as is CNN.

Richards apologized Monday on CBS's "Late Show" with David Letterman, saying he is not a racist.

"I was at a comedy club trying to do my act and I got heckled, and I took it badly and went into a rage," said Richards, who appeared on the show via satellite.

[aruanan]

Sharpton: Comedian's apology not enough

Yeah, his performance wasn't enough. He should have gone on to attack misery pimps like Al Sharpton (remember Towana Brawley and the doggie doo doo?) and Jesse Jackson and the way they manipulate businesses and the news media for their own personal benefit. Anything Richards said in a moment of pique at that comedy club pales in comparison to the calculated evil that both Sharpton and Jackson practice. So Richards lost control and resorted to racist language? Sharpton, Jackson, and most liberal Democrats make their living off of racism.

[hgro]

Its time for rag-tag Al, the phony hair guy, to confess to his complicity in the murder of a shop keeper several years ago. Instead, he has been embraced by the likes of crooked pol Polosi and her crooked fellow Democrats.

[bannie]

It might be insecurity; but I see it as carrying that proverbial chip on their shoulders. They put the word out there, and they just daaaare anyone to use it.

[Albion Wilde]

O Lord our God and heavenly Father, which of Thy unspeakable mercy towards us, hast provided meate and drinke for the nourishment of our weake bodies. Grant us peace to use them reverently, as from Thy hands, with thankful hearts: let Thy blessing rest upon these Thy good creatures, to our comfort and sustentation: and grant we humbly beseech Thee, good Lord, that as we doe hunger and thirst for this food of our bodies, so our soules may earnestly long after the food of eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

Prayer of the pilgrims? Beautiful...Amen!

[DoughtyOne]

I believe you are right.

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, yep...

[DoughtyOne]

No. And that's fine. As long as it doesn't reach the level of criminality, it should be chalked up to the actions of a loser.

And Im sure you agree. The absurdities of this are plain enough for all to see.

[Stoat]

Prayer of the pilgrims? Beautiful...Amen!

I'm delighted that you like it   :-)  Unfortunately, historians don't know which prayer(s) were recited at the First Thanksgiving.  This is one that "might" have been said or something similar, as it was popular during that time.  It's by George Webb from a volume entitled "Short Direction for the Daily Exercise of the Christian".  It was published in London in 1625.

Sorry for not making that more clear.

[Jezebelle]

I do agree.