The Trouble with Harry [Bellafonte]

The Wall Street Journal ^ | October 21, 2002 | WSJ OpEd page

[spald]

Bellefonte: Democrat plantation politics at its best.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

You nailed it.

[Paul Atreides]

Not to mention, spoiled brat.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Shock the Monkey!!!

[BrooklynGOP]

Those who stray from the Democratic Party's ideological "plantation" -- to use his favorite metaphor -- are Uncle Toms

Very well put.

[Ohioan]

Harry Bellefonte was a skilled Calypso singer from the Carribean islands. Why would anyone care what he thinks about American politics or American political figures? That the man is taken seriously enough in this context to warrant the article is a sorry commentary on the absurdity of our times.

Personally, however appealing it may be to some to jump down the rabbit hole with Alice, it has no appeal to me. (And, incidentally, Bellefonte was never that good a Calypso singer. He was skilled--as I stated--but he always seemed a bit too much of a would be "Whitey." When I was a boy, my dad got an albumn of the real thing, and it had a lot more dynamism to it than any of Harry's pablum.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[fight_truth_decay]

[Mr. Mojo]

Seems Belafonte was ok with Powell when it appeared that the latter was appeasing Arafat and his ilk, but when it became obvious that he (Powell) was doing nothing of the sort, all of a sudden he became a "planation slave" (in Banana Boat's mixed-up head). Rice has been much more of a hawk on the issue of the Middle East than Powell, so it's no surprise that Belafonte claimed that Rice is "worse than Powell." I'm farily certain that one can accurately trace HB's ire back to Israel/Jews.

[sheik yerbouty]

Yeah mon. He efta get a beatin' mon!

[fight_truth_decay]

Please support Africare's work Africa-wide by supporting the 2002 Africare Bishop Walker Dinner!
(Without him NO dinner!)

You are invited to attend!


A Tribute to:
Harry Belafonte
Singer/Actor/Producer/Activist

Thursday evening,
October 24, 2002

Keynote Speaker:
The Honorable Andrew Young

The Hilton Washington Hotel
1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

Receptions: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Dinner and program: 7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

International Honorary Patron:
His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

National Honorary Patrons:
The Honorable Thomas Daschle
Majority Leader, United States Senate
and
The Honorable Trent Lott
Minority Leader, United States Senate

National Chair:
G. Allen Andreas
Chairman and CEO, Archer Daniels Midland Company:


Click here to purchase tickets or a table online.

______

Each year, the Africare Bishop Walker Dinner brings together more than 2,500 people -- African heads of state, ministers of commerce and foreign affairs, leaders from the African Union and the United Nations, U.S. government leaders, foreign diplomats, corporate executives and private individuals -- who share one focus: They care about the future of Africa.

This is the largest annual event for Africa in the United States, with proceeds supporting the work of Africare. The Dinner is a top multicultural affair as well, embracing all races and a wide array of cultures and nationalities from around the world.


The Dinner also honors outstanding humanitarians through the presentation of Africare's Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award. You are invited to join us as we salute this year's award recipient: Harry Belafonte.

PAST BISHOP WALKER HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENTS:

The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, M.D. - 2001
James D. Wolfensohn - 2000
Graca Machel - 1999
The Honorable Andrew Young - 1998
Dorothy I. Height - 1997
Former President Jimmy Carter - 1996
The late Reverend Leon H. Sullivan - 1995
Then President Nelson R. Mandela - 1994
The Honorable Sargent Shriver - 1993
Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu - 1992

[Tacis]

I don't hink Harry is as much of a flaming Paul Robeson commie as most of you think. It is probably just the drugs talking. But, maybe you are right.

[OldFriend]

What a shameful despicable display by Africare. Pathetic that they would allow Belafonte to dictate to them when it is Ms. Rice who is a credit to her country while Belafonte is an embarrassment.

[OK]

Yep, Harry got wealthy by singing the Banana Boat Song for white people. Hey mister tally man, tally me banana.

[mhking]

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[lindor]

Has been looking for a spotlight.

[NEWwoman]

I can't help myself, but this oldie but goodie tune comes to mind:

"I not wild about Harry and Harry's not wild about me..."

[Solamente]

I almost fell for it, regarding Powell. Because he has stated his disinterest in the Presidency, I think he is playing some sideways version of "good cop - bad cop."
I almost thought of him as a bad apple.

He gives the goons the impression of dissent with the Administration, perhaps to bolster disfunctional diplomacy, or is it military disinformation? I don't know.

I think and hope he is doing a thankless job, his reward to be cited by historians.

[Taft in '52]

And, incidentally, Bellefonte was never that good a Calypso singer. He was skilled--as I stated--but he always seemed a bit too much of a would be "Whitey." When I was a boy, my dad got an albumn of the real thing, and it had a lot more dynamism to it than any of Harry's pablum.

I agree. Thge Tarriers, the Fontane Sisters, and even Buchanan & Goodman had better versions of "Banana Boat."

[caisson71]

Why are we now listening to Harry BELLOWfonte just because he makes stupid racist statements. He obviously wants the attention his talent no longer deserves. He's a NOTHING!!