Ray Nagin

“I'm surprised no one started a thread on this - unless I missed something.

I found the remarks made in Nagin's speech yesterday to be troubling on several levels. Reporters say they never saw him so animated. Is the guy coming unglued? or is this something that's been there before.
last edited: 1/17/06 11:25:46 AM”

“Linkage?”

“You mean the "God wants New Orleans to be a black city" thing?

Ummm...yeah Ray. Ok.”

“He said some good things and bad things. I heard this on the radio. Two things that bugged me are his claims about God bringing the Hurricane (and he says he knows why) and his claim that God wants New Orleans to remain a "Chocolate City" (predominantly black).

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-katnagin_17new.ART.State.Edition3.e382e9a.html

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/13642321.htm
last edited: 1/17/06 11:49:07 AM”

“Some of what he said about the need for the black community to address problems within as well as problems from without needed to be said.”

“So let's flip the script as they say. What if a white guy said that Hartford Conn. should remain a vanilla city?

Where's the outcry?”

“His ideas of black progress seems to oppose Martin Luther King's ideas. MLK suggested that blacks go out and live in the white communities. He believed that segregation is an inevitable result of isolation.”

“Exactly - Nigal. I have heard some outcry, especially on PBS.

He may have been worried that New Orleans was going to be rebuilt in a way that benefitted well to do white people and not the poor black people of New Orleans - but he said things that were divisive, racist and not destructive.”

“"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

-MLK”

“Put those trailors on little barges as the dutch do. Supply each with a compass and spyglass.”

“will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."


And what of Black character? Over-represented in crime and social welfare, economic and academic lethargicness, and a culture attuned to promoting the thug-criminal lifestyle.[/troll]”

“The little racist is worried not enough Black folks will be around to reelect him.

He's preaching to his new base, the Blacks that think the levees were blasted on purpose. He was elected with a lot of white votes too. He will not get most of those votes again due to his performance before and after the hurricane.

It's a shame because most NO folks had high hopes for him. He ran on a platform that was pretty inclusive toward whites. The former NO leadership was a bunch of thugs.”

“Mutt, now that was funny! (thanks for closing the tag!)”

“Ray Nagin seems to be mildly retarded.”

“Where is our current TT race baiter????
Oh, that's right, dummie me, Blacks by definition, can't be racist.”

“Nigal, in recent times, anyone in politics that has made a racial remark finds themselves quitting their job in the following days.

Someone should be calling for Ray Nagin to leave his job. He's setting back race reltions by decades with his remarks, and who does he think wants to visit an all black city where other nationalities and races are not welcome???”

“Lips - I started this thread because I disagreed with Nagin's remarks - but he did not say he wanted an all black city. He said he wants a diverse city with a black majority. There is a difference.”

“Oy Vey.”

“And Trent Lot got ran out for saying what? Isn't this mayor a democrat?”

“More racist comments:

"It's time for all of us good folk to stand up and say we're tired of the violence. We're tired of black folks killing each other," Nagin said.


Obviously he wants black folk to concentrate on killing white folk.”

“Nigal, Nigal, Nigal.....

Blacks by definition, can't be racist.

Have you not learned anything from violin?

LOL”

“LOL @ Bearmagnet.

Like I said, some of what he said was good and made sense - some was just wrong. I'd be interested in reading the whole thing in context.
last edited: 1/17/06 4:15:25 PM”

“I'd be interested in reading the whole thing in context.
pedxing
5:14:59 PM
1/17/06

Context might be nice. But lets say he's a moron for a minute......or more.

NO is a sellers market right now. Thinks might not be looking good for the poor. Ray is listening to the concerns of his constituients. They are concerned. maybe even paranoid.

In DC, gentrification is called "The Plan". people came up with this conspiracy theory all on there own. No need for a disaster or anything!

How migh the poor be feeling in NO?

On another note.....He's a Mayor of a small city. 'Taint the most politically savy person. Doesn't have a team of the best people telling him how to breath, walk, eat, talk, etc. All of a sudden, he's in the National spotlight.

Bound to screw up. a lot.

BTW - y'all here what Mayor-For-Life Marion Berry has been doing lately?”

“Hookers and crack?”

“Not filing & Coke. But he is the 8th or 9th ward Rep. Can't remember which. They are across the river and no concern of mine. ;)”

“"MLK suggested that blacks go out and live in the white communities."

yep they did and those white communities are black communities now because the whites moved out.”

“Whitey's acomin back!”

“

"Where the white women at?"”

“ped, I have to disagree. I think his statement which I heard on the news and I pasted from your news link below does show he wants a black city. Of course he can't throw out the few whites that may remain, but to me, he is saying he wants the city to be black. What would you call a city that is mostly black? A black city and that's what he wants:


Mr. Nagin also promised that New Orleans will be a "chocolate" city again. Katrina damaged many of the city's black neighborhoods.

"It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild New Orleans – the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans," the mayor said. "This city will be a majority African-American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans."”

“Many would think G-d doesn’t even want it to be a city considering how it got flattened by a hurricane.”

“Lips: You just quoted it: "majority African-American city." He's saying to rebuild it the way it was - which was diverse and majority African American. That's not saying what you said "an all black city where other nationalities and races are not welcome."

Therefore, I respectfully and even affectionately stick to my guns and disagree. I hope your year is off to a great start!”

“Is the guy coming unglued? or is this something that's been there before.
last edited: 1/17/06 9:25:46 AM”
pedxing 9:25:33 AM 1/17/06

The very first time I heard him speak right after the Hurricane he came across like a total moron. I actually feel badly for the people of NO,. THIS... is their elected leader? Wow, things are much worse there than we could possibly have imagined!”

“OK. He made our News. I saw him speak. yes, he's a moron. But I don't think he is any different than most mayors. He's just getting quoted.

Q: Where do Mayors go after office?
A: Home.

They are at the bottom of the Political ladder”

“I sorta agree with you there, Bear, but I sorta disagree also. Yes, there are some mayors, like Nagin & your dear ex-Wash DC mayor coke-sniffer (he is out of prison now, isn't he?), who are the bottom of the barrell, but I think, overall, they are the minority. In general, I think most mayors are at least competent enough to hold a news conference... after all, many would say that's all they do for a living! LOL.

Nagin doesn't seem to have a clue.”

“ped, I respect your opinion, and was just restating mine and why I came to that conclusion:)

I have to say that other people have also taken it the same way by interviews on the news where the white people of New Orleans said they felt they were not welcome back by the mayor.

If the mayor did not mean what it seemed like he said, he needs to do damage control, a.s.a.p., but I really do think it's too late with all of his other screw ups.”

“How many mayors hold news conferences? NYC mostly. I can't think of any others.”

“Just saw on Fox News that he has now apologized, so all you concerned lefties can stop being conflicted. ;-)”

“Mayors everywhere hold them to address local issues with local press. Most don't get "National" attention or press coverage because most of the issues aren't of national interest... but.. they are always talking with their local press representatives.”

“Stove, too late, the horse has left the barn, lol:)

You can apologize for certain things, but if they are your true beliefs when you say them, when you apologize, it's to say you either made a mistake or want to be forgiven for a blunder which was really intentional anyway, so which one is it? The mayor is like every person in prison; he's sorry, sorry he got caught or that he's in trouble, but not necessarily sorry for what he said or did.”

“I forgot his other comment about that he was concerned that Mexican's who are working to rebuild the city will take over!!!! This guy is so racist. Why doesn't he ask why the blacks of New Orleans are not signing up to rebuild the city, so he won't be upset by so many Mexicans being in his town?

Even if they called in outside contractors, the New Orleans people can still sign up to be part of the work crew, so that's not any kind of an excuse. There is so much rebuilding to be done and so many hands are needed if a person is willing to work.

Geez, now he's saying about his "chocolate" comment, that it takes milk (white people) to make chocolate. Uh, last time I checked, it only took cocoa beans which produce dark chocolate. If you wanted to make milk chocolate, then you need milk and I don't believe he was seeking out milk products since he did not say "milk chocolate" which would have been an excape route for his stupid comments, lol:)

Is someone going to tell this guy to lay down and die already? It's not just his comments, it's his lack of ability to be a leader, to take care of the citizens of his city. At least if he was brilliant, maybe you could make some concessions inorder for him to stay in his job to get things done, but he's ignorant and stupid.
last edited: 1/17/06 8:45:53 PM”

“I live in the Original Chocolate City, dammit!

When Tom Tom Club played on penn Ave at some fest, they started out with a:

"Hello Chocolate City!"

Does that make them racist??????????

Are y'all missing the point? Is this a cultural misunderstanding? Chocolate/ Chocolate City is NOT derogatory.”

“Okay, who's using bearmagnets persona, lol?

Calling a city "chocolate" because it's mostly black is not wrong. Wanting to make it a chocolate city is a totally different thing.”

“Am I being too nice?

No is a chocolate city and they are worried it will no longer be. That's all.”

“Nagin is not implying that he wants a New Orleans made up of only black people. Before Katrina 68% of New Orleans residents were black. Now many of them have left seeking refuge. He is just telling them that it is time for them to return to their city. He wants the people of New Orleans to rebuild their city. Many black people fear that with the current 4 month halt on rebuilding and new building codes being issued that they may not be able to afford to rebuild their own property. They fear that developers will eventually strip them of their land if they cannot afford to rebuild to the new FEMA codes. I assure most, most, will not be able to afford to rebuild to the new codes being proposed. Right or wrong it is their reality. Developers are waiting like hungry dogs to rebuild New Orleans to suit high dollar buyers. You can't blame the developers they do what they do to make money. I have recently thought about picking up some cheap properties in New Orleans to gut or tear down and rebuild for profit. Katrina has increased the value of any livable property in south Louisiana greatly.

Nagin is no dummy no matter how the press portrays him. His comments about making God mad by attacking Iraq was a stupid thing to do, but I agree with his comments. They were not stupid comments, they were only stupid comments to make publically. No matter how bad he appears to those that disagree with him, Nagin is the best mayor New Orleans has had in a long time. I wish him sucess not only because I think he is a good mayor, but also for the good of New Orleans and Louisiana.

Here is an exerpt from his speech.

"It's time for all of us good folk to stand up and say, 'We're tired of the violence. We're tired of black folks killing each other,' " Nagin said.

"What are we doing? Why is black-on-black crime such an issue?" he continued. "Why do our young men hate each other so much that they look their brother in the face and they will take a gun and kill him in cold blood?"

In response to such senseless horror, King would say, "We as a people need to fix ourselves first," said Nagin, striking a frequent theme of his speeches. "The lack of love is killing us."

Besides respecting one another, Nagin said his listeners need to pay attention to God, who, Nagin said, expressed his anger at America last year by sending hurricane after hurricane over the land.

"Surely he's not approving of us being in Iraq under false pretense," Nagin said. "But surely he's upset at black America also. We're not taking care of ourselves, we're not taking care of our women, and we're not taking care of our children . . ."
last edited: 1/17/06 9:17:08 PM”

“You're doin a helluva' job chocolate Browny.”

“He's the best chocolate mayor New Orleans has seen in some time. If they isolate themselves from the vanillas, they can recoup, and later join us for a twisty New Orleans.

”

“LOL @ Sarge.

Bateaux: Nagin doesn't seem stupid to me either. I agree with you and Bear Magnet also that he has legitimate concerns over gentrification and exclusion of blacks (especialy poor blacks) from the rebuilt New Orleans. Government help offen goes to the haves and the have mores.

Nonetheless, he stated the case in a racially divisive way. It would have been much better if he said that the rebuilding should be for all the people who made up New Orleans, and that space and benefits in the new New Orleans should not go disproportionately to the well to do, powerful or connected. He could even say that he didn't want black people to be disproportionately excluded.

The reading of God's mind and God's will on Iraq, on the racial make up of New Orleans, in Katrina.... were all highly objectionable.”

“I read an interesting essay in the New York Review of Books about this book, which I think has much relevance to the rebuildign of New Orleans:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393052133/104-0132661-4195915?v=glance&n=283155”

“Bateaux,

Nagin's thoughts about black on black violence are meaningless in the sense that criminals don't give a damn about what he is saying. Those words only make sense to people that respect each other which are the people who are not killing each other anyway. So they may be nice words, but wasted on the types of people who would committ crimes. Also, if a city is mostly black, there will be mostly black on black crimes; it only makes sense.

Side note: I saw a video of part of the Katrina reckage on tv that a man was trying to sell, because he had no insurance on his house!!!! That's like having no medicl insurance, very risky! Needing an operation or having a hospital stay can put a family in debt forever, nevermind losing your house! It's stupid and sad at the same time.”