Louis Farrakhan Criticizes Bush, Kerry

[Khephra]

CHICAGO -- In a speech peppered with criticisms of President Bush, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan on Sunday pressed for America and England to grant slave reparations.

Farrakhan, speaking at the final session of the Nation of Islam's annual meeting, also voiced support for Michael Jackson and warned blacks against supporting the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

"Black people are so angry with President Bush that they're willing to give Senator Kerry a free ride," he said. "Getting rid of Bush and getting John Kerry ... will mean you'll get more of the same."

Farrakhan said blacks should consider supporting candidate Al Sharpton to give that candidate more power to promote black issues.

more............................

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-farrakhan-speech,0,1591764.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Tinoire]

1. Farrakhan shoud learn from Aristide. Do not mention reparations!

Haitian's $21.7B Restitution Demand
In poverty-wracked nation, the idea is proving popular

By Letta Tayler
LATIN AMERICA CORRESPONDENT

December 2, 2003

<snip>

In an homage to the battle of Vertières, the slave revolt near this sultry coastal city two centuries ago that toppled French rule over Haiti, Aristide was pressing his latest pet cause: that France return the money Haiti was forced to pay its former colonizer after independence - a sum, he claims, that inflation brings to a whopping $21.7 billion. That sum is 44 times Haiti's current annual budget.

<snip>

Haiti claims $21.7 billion is the equivalent, after adjustments for inflation, of the 90 million francs it paid France in the early 1800s for the loss of the latter's most profitable colony. Though it physically relinquished Haiti, France boycotted and threatened to invade its former colony until it agreed to pay for formal recognition of its independence. So cash-starved was the fledgling Haitian republic that it had to borrow a third of the money from a French bank - at 6 percent interest - to make the payments.

"The main reason we're so poor today is that we had to pay France that money," said Leslie Voltaire, a cabinet minister and key member of the government's restitution panel. By emptying the coffers, he said, the French intentionally made it impossible for Haiti to build schools and roads and make other improvements for its population of former slaves.

<snip>

The demand is unprecedented on the part of a former colony and, not surprisingly, has met a cool reception in France. Haiti's economic woes, French President Jacques Chirac initially suggested, are the result of corruption and mismanagement, not French greed. As Haiti made loud noises about taking the case to international court, however, Chirac created a special commission to review Haitian-French relations. Though he didn't mention the "R" word, Haiti immediately crowed that the panel's mission was to explore restitution

<snip>

http://www.islandmix.com/backchat/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40523

[Jim Sagle]

2. Louie Walcott reeks.

[SiobhanClancy]

3. England should have to grant reparations to the Irish too then....

a strong case for it could certainly be made.

[rockymountaindem]

8. Ok, then where's my check from Russia?

They killed some of my ancestors in a pogrom in 1903 and drove the rest out. Don't I get something?


Give me a break.

[SiobhanClancy]

9. Give ME a break....

that WAS the point of my comment(that we could all make a case for reparations from someone)

Perhaps I was too subtle...a very great fault of mine at times.

[rockymountaindem]

10. I know,

I was agreeing with you. Sorry if I came across too strong.

On edit:
GO SOX!!!

[SiobhanClancy]

12. OK...

lol...I'm an old grouch tonight,don't mind me:) Since Louis F. brought England into his demand for reparations,I just thought I'd point out that the Irish would be first in line for anything paid by that particular joy spreader.

Anybody who says "GO SOX" is a friend of mine:)

[mobuto]

13. But, but

Most of my ancestors were persecuted by the Tsar, but some of them exterminated Native Americans. So maybe Native Americans could receive checks (czechs?) directly from the Russian government?

Actually, this is all a spurious misinterpretation of what is being discussed.

Reparations for African Americans or any other persecuted group (Native Americans, Filipinos, etc.) wouldn't come from whites, but from the United State Government. The Government lives forever and it was responsible for slavery, not anyone alive today. So all Americans would contribute in their capacity as taxpayers, not because their ancestors owned or didn't own slaves.

Likewise, the German government should fully compensate victims of Nazi terror, despite the fact that there aren't any Nazis in the German government anymore, and are scant few in the public at large.

Now I actually don't think slavery reperations would be smart public policy - I think they'd serve to accentuate differences rather than help to bridge the divide - but there are still compelling arguments in their favor.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mobuto]

6. Louis Farrakhan is not in a position

to question anybody. He's a thoroughly contemptible human being.

[leesa]

7. Unfortunate, but true. I neither trust nor like Kerry. but to have the

idiot Bush and his evil thugs in charge is simply too dangerous. I will hold my nose and vote for him and hope he's a lesser thug.

[LiviaOlivia]

5. Fuck Michael Jackson

and guess the rest. Money buys anything.

[0007]

11. Even the presidency, 'eh?

[LiviaOlivia]

14. What world do you think you are living in?

Like in any thing money talks, bullshit walks.