Belafonte led a delegation of Americans including the actor Danny Glover and the Princeton University scholar Cornel West that met the Venezuelan president for more than six hours late Saturday. Some in the group attended Chavez's television and radio broadcast Sunday. Why would anyone want to meet with Chavez in the first place? Danny Glover should be ashamed of himself.
"No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution," Belafonte told Chavez during the broadcast. Belafonte and his peers traveling with him are probably the only supporters of Chavez in USA.
The 78-year-old Belafonte, famous for his calypso-inspired music, including the "Day-O" song, was a close collaborator of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and is now a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. He also has been outspoken in criticizing the U.S. embargo of Cuba. The embargo of Cuba could do with some modification, but if I was the head of UNICEF, I'd be telling Belafonte to stand down.
Chavez said he believes deeply in the struggle for justice by blacks, both in the U.S. and Venezuela. Chavez is trying to cause havok.... He is untrustworthy.
"Although we may not believe it, there continues to be great discrimination here against black people," Chavez said, urging his government to redouble its efforts to prevent discrimination. There should be no discrimination anywhere. People need to be educated correctly and taught that everyone is equal.
Belafonte accused U.S. news media of falsely painting Chavez as a "dictator," when in fact, he said, there is democracy and citizens are "optimistic about their future." Right..... as I said in my title......
Dolores Huerta, a pioneer of the United Farm Workers labor union also in the delegation, called the visit a "very deep experience."
Chavez accuses Bush of trying to overthrow him, pointing to intelligence documents released by the U.S. indicating that the CIA knew beforehand that dissident officers planned a short-lived 2002 coup. The U.S. denies involvement, but Chavez says Venezuela must be on guard.
Belafonte suggested setting up a youth exchange for Venezuelans and Americans. He finished by shouting in Spanish: "Viva la revolucion!"
Maybe Belafonte should visit Gitmo and sing to the prisoners when he is not in treatment.
4 comments:
It is of course possible that Belafonte is insane. But he would be no more or less insane than the other progressives/socialists/ultra-liberals that pockmark the Hollywood/Glitterati trendy set.
Mind you, it must be especially galling to to see his Day-O song turned into a parody tune for attacking terrorists:
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blosamajokedayo.htm
I wanted to make sure you saw this:
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_30663.html
Private Statements of Goodwill Ambassadors
9 January 2006 -- Comments over the weekend by Harry Belafonte in Venezuela were made as a private citizen, and not in his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, nor in an official capacity on behalf of the organization. UNICEF does not endorse these comments.
UNICEF has a vital mission of saving and improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. That important work includes providing children with life-saving medicine, better nutrition, clean water and sanitation, quality basic education, and emergency relief in many of the neediest areas around the globe.
The world has agreed to these priorities in the Millennium Development Goals, which must continue to be a central focus of the international agenda for children.
I am glad that UNICEF made this statement, but still, the guys seems to be volitile and should be asked to stand down.
Cindy Sheehan is in Venezuela heaping praise on Chavez. Quote: "I admire him for his resolve against my government and its meddling." I thought her 15 minutes were up already?! Find the story here:
sg.news.yahoo.com/060124/1/3y5ko.html
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