The "Chocolate" City?

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Author Message   marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 1391 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 8:22 am:        New Orleans Mayor Apologizes for Remarks He Touched Off Criticism for Statements About God and Blacks By BRETT MARTEL, AP APRay Nagin says his comments about God were inappropriate Jump Below: · The Offending Quotes Talk About It: Post Thoughts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW ORLEANS (Jan. 18) - Mayor Ray Nagin apologized Tuesday for a Martin Luther King Day speech in which he predicted that New Orleans would be a "chocolate" city once more and asserted that "God was mad at America." "I said some things that were totally inappropriate. ... It shouldn't have happened," Nagin said, explaining he was caught up in the moment as he spoke to mostly black spectators, many of them fearful of being shut out of the city's rebuilding. During the speech Monday, Nagin , who is black, said that the hurricanes that hit the nation in quick succession were a sign of God's anger toward the United States and toward black communities, too, for their violence and infighting. He also said New Orleans has to be a mostly black city again because "it's the way God wants it to be." On Tuesday, Nagin said his comments about God were inappropriate and stemmed from a private conversation he had with a minister earlier. "I need to be more sensitive and more aware of what I'm saying," he said. The mayor said his speech was really meant to convey that blacks were a vital part of New Orleans' history and culture and should be encouraged to return. "I want everyone to be welcome in New Orleans - black, white, Asian, everybody," he said. Nagin said the other main point he had hoped to make Monday was that when blacks do return, they must work to stamp out the crime and political infighting that have held them back. New Orleans was more than 65 percent black before Hurricane Katrina. The storm displaced about three-quarters of the city's population. Most of the estimated 125,000 residents who have been able to return are white. Nagin , a former cable company executive and political novice, was elected in 2002 with about 90 percent of the white vote, according to polls conducted by Ed Renwick, the director of Loyola University's Institute of Politics. Controversial Remarks (Reuters) ''Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it's destroyed and put stress on this country.'' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/5 Sources: AP, CNN Nagin received less than half the black vote, Renwick said Tuesday, and the mayor's heaviest criticism since taking office has come from rival political factions in the black community, many of whom have portrayed him as an "Uncle Tom" who caters to the interests of white businessmen. Nagin has been trying harder to gain the trust of black residents, Renwick said. "But some of the remarks he made Monday will possibly dampen enthusiasm among some whites," Renwick said. "It seemed to be another Nagin -being- Nagin . He has a penchant for just speaking off the cuff and not thinking it through." The political analyst added: "He also tends to speak to the literal audience he's with at the time instead of the whole world he reaches through the TV, radio and print media." 01-18-06 04:59 EST   LibraryLady(ncjanow) Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 2937 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 8:35 am:        Marie, Try not to start duplicate threads. See thread below "And this is different from Pat Robertson HOW?   Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 2867 Registered: 9-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 8:53 am:        Nagin's campaign is doing a tie in with a comic book and Daryl Dawkins, old Chocolate Thunder himself, is signing on as well. (Really, how hard would it have been for Nagin to say what he really meant--that African American culture has always been a large part of New Orleans, and that was not going to change with the redevelopment of the City. That is the worry of many poor and black folks there--that the redev plans will gentrify the city and squeeze out poor (mostly black) people. He could have eloquently spoke to this in the context of MLK Day, but, nope).   themp Supporter Username: Themp Post Number: 2466 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 11:26 am:        http://www.duke.edu/~tmc/motherpage/lyrics_parliament/lyr-cc.html#lyr-s-cc   Arnomation Citizen Username: Arnomation Post Number: 456 Registered: 7-2003 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 12:51 pm:        There's a lot of chocolate cities, around We've got Newark, we've got Gary Somebody told me we got L.A. And we're working on Atlanta But you're the capital, CC   Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 3068 Registered: 11-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 2:32 pm:        Do you know Hot Chocolate? She'll stand her turf anywhere.   Parkbench87 Citizen Username: Parkbench87 Post Number: 3331 Registered: 7-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 2:43 pm:        Hot Chocolate   marie Citizen Username: Marie Post Number: 1392 Registered: 6-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 2:47 pm:        Looks like someone forgot her sunscreen... I'm wondering if anyone is offended by his comments that "God was mad at America." and that "the hurricanes that hit the nation in quick succession were a sign of God's anger toward the United States and toward black communities, too, for their violence and infighting." He also said New Orleans has to be a mostly black city again because "it's the way God wants it to be."   Dr. Winston O'Boogie Citizen Username: Casey Post Number: 1882 Registered: 8-2003 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 2:57 pm:        I'm offended by all politicians who purport to be speaking for god. not to mention self-important athletes, actors, and musicians who expect me to believe that god had a hand in them winning some dumbass trophy.   Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 1123 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 3:11 pm:        Without a doubt God’s mad at us. And I can’t say I blame Him much for the reasons cited by the prophet of New Orleans (among other things). That being said I expect more from God in how He chooses to deal with His anger. He needs to be more constructive. Positive reinforcement always yields better results than negative reinforcement. You would expect God to know that. Rather than stir up a mighty wind to punish the wicked(and the good too as it turns out), he could exert a lot less energy by blowing a winning lottery ticket into the hands of a truly righteous and needy person (sort of like on "My Name is Earl"). Plus, I seem to recall that God swore off these wrathful outbursts after the Great Flood. Now it seems He’s going back on that pledge. The good news is that He acknowledged that He has a problem, and He’s working on it. We're all works in progress. And you have to cut the guy some slack (and He is a guy by the way). He doesn’t really have a higher power that can guide Him. But maybe He can humble Himself a bit to accept guidance from a lesser power like Tony Robbins or Dr. Phil (if Dr. Phil can fit it in, he's very busy these days).   SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 2907 Registered: 9-2003 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 3:27 pm:        Joe - I know it's early, but you will definately be in the top 10 funniest posts for 2006!   Joe Citizen Username: Gonets Post Number: 1128 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 10:58 pm:        Thanks SoOrLady. I just hope I don't get struck down for writing it, and that you don't get struck down for complimenting me on it. I also hope my mom doesn't suddenly decide to see what all the fuss is about over the Internet and somehow wind up viewing this page. I'm more mom-fearing than I am God-fearing.   Nohero Supporter Username: Nohero Post Number: 4974 Registered: 10-1999 Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 6:47 pm:        Just passing this on -   themp Supporter Username: Themp Post Number: 2480 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 10:04 am:        http://www.local6.com/news/6425567/detail.html   Kiba Citizen Username: Radical_kiba Post Number: 24 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 2:30 pm:        These pics are highly amusing.