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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
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To: Hawkmoon who wrote (54952)10/27/2002 1:52:55 PM
From: JohnM  Read Replies (4) of 281500
 
It's racism John... And if you can, in good conscience, defend Belafonte's using such language, then I have to question just where you personally define the line with regard to your prejudice.

And, hello to you Hawk. How is your life going?

As for your question, my own view is that Belafonte did a rather dumb thing politically by criticizing Powell that way, but the view is not all that unusual in some black circles. Not at all unusual for folk to be critical of those in power and if you are black to use that kind of language. I thought Powell handled it well.

As for "my prejudice," I gather you think that folk who don't agree with your view on this are prejudiced.

As for what Belafonte meant and how Powell understood it, I have no serious idea. My guess was that Belafonte did not mean that Powell had not "earned" his place (whoops, my apologies for the double negatives) but rather that Powell had been acting counter to his (Powell's) foreign policy views in order to keep his position in the Bush administration. But that's only a guess.

Both Powell and Belafonte EARNED what they have achieved. And I'm sure Belafonte would concur. But by denying that same right to Powell, he has essentially denigrated his accomplishments to being a mere "uncle-tom" and "token black"..

I fail to see how Belafonte's comment denied any right to Powell. I assume Powell has a fairly thick skin by now and these things don't deny him anything. He may even find them funny.
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