ESPN Fires Racist Blogger For Insensitive Remarks About Haiti

Sandra Rose January 27, 2010

“I do not know if what I’m about to write makes me a monster…,” wrote former NBA player Paul Shirley before launching into a racially insensitive, open letter-styled attack on the people of Haiti in a blog post yesterday.

Dear Haitians –

First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.

As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it’s possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

ESPN.com, which employed Shirley as a contributor, quickly released a statement yesterday firing the blogger. “He will no longer contribute to ESPN,” read the statement.

Shirley, 32, who describes himself as a “basketball vagabond,” has played for 11 teams and 5 countries in his brief professional career.

pinky2083

Well…

I must say that I kind of agree with him.
CWhatsHerFace

Pinky, not everything is true, but he hit on some real valid points!
http://chokolatemilk.blogspot.com Choco

I agree he made some good points but he could’ve expressed it in a sentimental manner….
FloridaChick813

Soundin like a real c0ck sucker on that one..
http://createspace.com/3393054 iscream

When does Freedom of speech work? While what he says may not be morally correct he should be allowed to express himself.

Its crazy how you have to be afraid to speak your mind out of fear of losing your lively hood or your life.

(Some) People from other countries are quick to come here and talk shyt about the USA and its citizians yet a citizan can’t say anything ill about another country
http://chitchatta.com Yadda Yadda

Hmmmmm, he definitely sounded like a jerk. If he would have written that in a nicer tone the message would have been more powerful.
http://chitchatta.com Yadda Yadda

@ Iscream
pinky2083

Ok, yall are right.. he could’ve said it a little better BUT I still agree.
Chupilives

@Ice Freedom of Speech is why he won’t be thrown in jail, but that wasn’t his personal blog. He was being employed by someone else and unfortunately freedom of speech doesn’t exist in the workplace. We have our emails monitored and all types of stuff so why should he be able to rant his personal opinions on his employers dime? If he wanted to do that he could create his own blog and spew all the hate he wants all day and no one could do a thing about it.
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

If you don’t deal with the evil French who kept this country in perpetual debt slavery, then shut the f*** up, white boy. Even the Bibles says that the borrower is a slave to the lender.

I am getting tired of whities talking slick about Black folks.
Daisy

SMH so now ppl choose to want to live in shanty towns and what have you. I saw plenty of houses that were destroyed that were not shacks n shantys. Thank you Jesus that I have a heart to serve, give back and HELP others who are less fortunate due to where they are born and their govt. Last night on CNN they showed a factory in Haiti where t shirts for the GAP and JCPenny were made they got pd 4 bucks a day and that was above min. wage.

Had his comment about condoms been directed towards single black mothers lets see how many AMENs he would have gotten

I am all for Freedom of speech as well!
pointhimout

i dont completely disagree with him either. just dont come back apologizing for what you wrote, and obviously how you feel. it is what it is.
OutsidetheBox

Thats some bullsh*t. He is not an independent blogger. He works for ESPN; he is representing them. HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED, unless ESPN is co-signing his comments…

Instead of pointing out the obvious (not re-building Haiti the same way), why not offer up some solutions that deal with the root of the problem…how Haiti got that way. They don’t have sh*t to be raped and robbed for so Paul Shirley’s cousins don’t care about them or their land…but let them find some oil/diamonds/other natural resource peeping up thru them cracks and watch how Haiti flourishes…

And with all his world travels, he’s not very worldly is he, now? Talking ish bout the Haitians…I can see Jean-Pierre Louis sewing up a doll in his likeness rat’ now!
Rod Boogie

lol..talk about throwing stones from a glass house..
Has he not looked at the USA lately or historically??
Go to any major city and you’ll see a microcosm of Haiti with all the poor and disenfranchised. Gimme a break.
Shauny

Chup

There is having an opinion and then there is straight ignorance…his rant is the latter
~LovLi~

Astounding! Those have been my thoughts almost verbatim. I don’t see the racism in this; what did I miss? Also, wondering when it’s okay to stop giving money to Haiti?
I think enough has been raised to actually DO something now. I’ve been hit up on Twitter, facebook, at retail stores and our district schools have made 3 requests via my 7 year old son. The 3rd time I told him we can’t give all our money away. So are we going to GIVE Haiti fish or are we going to TEACH Haiti to fish?
speaknoevil

He should have stuck to Basketball and not world issues. That was his mistake.
starr

@chup

:cosign”

@Daisy

you betta
ReadTheBlog

He probably has an interview over at Fox, today!
nika405

I’m glad he was fired. We have all been taught that you don’t say everything that you are thinking. Had it been his personal blog, I would think it’s rude of him to post that and kept it moving, but he is working for ESPN and representing them thru his blog posts.
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

How are the Katrina victims doing? Have they completed rebuilding New Orlean’s 9th ward?
coaretained

He could have used more decorum and not went all Lovely One on his rant.
*snickers*
EricaDenese

Please tell me he was joking…

He KNEW there would be hell to pay when he wrote it, and he still decided to submit it to ESPN. My problem is, if ESPN didn’t agree with it in the first place, why in the hell did they publish it?

These media outlets will do ANYTHING for attention.
LaTechGrad02

Wow, this must be get out of pocket week, didn’t a senator from SC catch heat for comparing poor people to animals and now this foolishness….what’s going on this week.
VIBABY

Ummmmm….I hope his freedom of speech helps him in the unemployment line. Would it have been all good if he had said this shyt about some parts of Brooklyn? Ppl are so so quick to talk shyt about Haitians. Where the fluck were ya’ll after the tsunami? Did the donations to those people make your azz itch too or you just have a problem with Haitians getting help?
Shanty towns and flimsy houses? Really dog? I guess poor people just WANT to be poor. Why dont you talk about the damn white folks living in trailor parks all across tornado alley in the good old USA that we have to see on CNN every damn year. It should be ILLEGAL to even build mobile homes where tornados hit but it isnt, and when one gets knocked down ten more pop up. And aint a haitian on earth more fertile than a trailor park redneck collecting medicaid for 50/11 kids.
Take your condoms to your nearest trailor park homie…since charity begins at home…..
Daisy

@Lov the ppl of Haiti know how to fish they just aren’t being compensated and some folks n the good ole US of A cld pick up.a fishing rod as well.

@Rod
EricaDenese

LaTechGrad02 Says:

Wow, this must be get out of pocket week, didn’t a senator from SC catch heat for comparing poor people to animals and now this foolishness….what’s going on this week.
________________

YT, rich people being bold enough to say what they TRULY think about the rest.
http://createspace.com/3393054 iscream

@ Chup

True.

I Read the entire blog and he touches on issues from Haiti to Katrina.

As with most things some will agree some won’t….
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

Didn’t this fool know that he was blogging for ESPN (which is funded mainly by Black slaves – I mean Black athletes) and not Fox News? Blank stare.
VIBABY

@ Daisy YOU AINT NEVA LIED…..
missy

I kinda understand were he is coming from………….Maybe he should have reworded it…….
Lexus

@ReadTheBlog Says:

He probably has an interview over at Fox, today
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr. B*tch O’Reily compaired the South Side of Chicago to Haiti in a recent interview with Glenn Beck.

“If you’ve ever been to the South Side of Chicago, I mean, it’s a disaster. Alright? It’s like Haiti. It’s like — I’ve been to Haiti a couple times, and I support some charities there, but Haiti just never gets better no matter…”
nsm2545

@RodBoogie

I agree. However the issue will be completely overshadowed by Paul Shirley’s TONE of the letter. In fact, many people have championed similar arguments NOT to donate to HAITI in the name of the US’ current conditionse e.g. New Orleans, Galvestn,TX and the list goes on. I see very little in the way of radical thinking or solutions to the problem. Throwing money at problem does not a solution make. Besides donating time and resources Im at loss myself.
Reese

Sometimes we reject the message becuase of the messenger. Yes he could have phrased that differently but he had a point imo. France is partially to blame for Haiti’s troubles yes, but there has also been rampant corruption at the top. Anytime a deposed leader can leave with billions of state dollars there is an issue.

And as far as ol boy from SC, no he should not have said what he said, but I agree that there should be drug testing for people who collect welfare and they SHOULD be required to be attend parent/ teacher meetings and such which is what he later said he meant.
missy

I feel that sometimes we don’t fix our own back yard before we fix others

Im not saying not to donate..but we should also remember to help ours as well…
Lexus

@Vibaby
Shanty towns and flimsy houses? Really dog? I guess poor people just WANT to be poor. Why dont you talk about the damn white folks living in trailor parks all across tornado alley in the good old USA that we have to see on CNN every damn year. It should be ILLEGAL to even build mobile homes where tornados hit but it isnt, and when one gets knocked down ten more pop up. And aint a haitian on earth more fertile than a trailor park redneck collecting medicaid for 50/11 kids.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
it’s plenty out in the boonies(sp) of Chicago pastures of
starr

Do i understand what he was trying to say…absolutely. I’d be lying if i say i didn’t. But with all things…there’s a way to present your point. This was just plain ignant.

I don’t know how many people travel to some of these carrib islands, and venture out to places waaaaay beyond their resorts. We are blessed here in America to have countless resources, and have a great structure here. Thats not the same everywhere. He starts off with Dear Haitians, as if the people of haiti made this their situation. As if they asked for it….those people were delt a messed up hand from the very beginning…and they did what they could with it.
chase

He so could of said that better, I guess he made his point though..he has everyone talking about it…
Vyolet20

clearly it does not pay to get certain things off your chest.

he is way too cynical.
Daisy

@Reese should ppl who receive any govt aid be drug tested or just those on welfare?

@nsm I agree money alone won’t fix the problems of Haiti cause it didn’t fix the problems in NO cause our govt didn’t want it fixed just like previous administrations in Haiti.
chase

I have traveled and I have seen how the less fortunate live in other countries and I will agree that we are really blessed in the U.S.
msdanielle

reading a lot of people’s opinions on haiti, and the haiti really kills me. most of which are never up on global issues until that particular place is in the news.

haiti is 75% unemployed so we’re speaking about a severely impoverished company all because (and several other reasons) they fought for their independance. everyone knows majority of poverty stricken areas will have high rate of childbirth…pretty much goes hand & hand. he was extremely insensitive and deserved to be fired.
msdanielle

these typos are going to be the death of me!!! remove “and the haiti” LOL!
msdanielle

well damn…and company means country.
Daisy

@Missy I agree and that is why its good to give back and serve your local community. We have poverty and corrupt govt officals here just like other 3rd world countries but we have access to more and better resources.

As a Public Administration major I love such convos
Vyolet20

and did i miss something… why is he being called racist?
Reese

I say welfare and unemployment. Maybe not for people on disability becasue they are physically unable to work. However, if you are able bodied and unemployed, you should be at least looking for work and if you fail a piss test that means no job.

I am aware that in this economy it can be very difficult to find a job, so I am not saying that people don’t deserve to be helped when they are suffering as a result of circumstances beyond thier control, but being on drugs of any kind is not helpful to the situation.
ReadTheBlog

@LaTech, I saw that foolishness, then he says, “I have no problems with animals”.

@Attymom – you and me both. they think it’s funny, but I really wish so,eone would pop them dead in their mouthes, creating a slightly bloody lip.
http://twitter.com/sherita78 mizzdallas

with @iscream
missy

@Daisy-Yeah that’s true
https://sandrarose.com Ms.kaylamomma

Ignorance is dangerous.
BlackAdam

i dont think dude is racist..he’s just a classist snob..im going to need people to actually read up on why Haiti is so poor..start here:

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100201/barnes
Daisy

@Reese thanks I agree ppl who are able bodied need to work but you have to have job training/school programs in place as well IMO. On the fence about the drug testing because if I ever feel on hard times and needed welfare I would be offended if I had to take a drug test but I see where you are coming from as well. I support welfare when used in the proper manner. I believe you have a time limit under the new reform that Clinton signed back in the day.
PAHairston

Hello All. An old white joke:

When does a black man become a ni@@er? When he leaves the room.

Need I say more? This is why we need to stick together as a race more than EVER before. I mean loving, caring and standing by each other. I’m just saying. Peace.
https://sandrarose.com Ms.kaylamomma

Its not the open racist that scare me. It’s the closet ones that do.
https://sandrarose.com Ms.kaylamomma

@ reese and Daisy, I don’t know about anyplace else, but you used actively be searching for a job in order to receive unemployment and welfare benefits. You HAD to show proof. Now I’ve been unemployed but thankfully never on welfare or unemployment but I wish they would implement that plan again. I know quite a few people that take advantage of the system and are gambling away their unemployment checks and I know quite a few that are getting $800 in foodstamps and are selling them for twice that much in cash.
Quitta

Freedom of speech or not. That was unkind. Now when his azz loses his job and wanting to jump off the cliff and sh*t cuz he ain’t able to “keep his head above water, make a wave when he can” (Good Times), imma have alot of insensitive sh*t to say.

Of tah lunch on that note!
african_dude

personally i think people who already have a hard time feeding themselves shouldnt be adding “innocent“ human beings to their plight…poverty is like a mathematical equation, you go step by step and too many times poor people not just haitians cant even figure out where the meal is coming from but yet they`re adding problems on top of exisiting problems….its not fair!
Shauny

Born and raised on the southside of Chicago and there is NO comparison between there and Haiti IMO. What parts of the Southside is Bill visiting? The southside has PLENTY of neighborhoods and all aren’t brokendown and bad although some are. Leave my city alone.

VI on comment 25.

@starr yes, I have traveled beyond the “scenic” routes when I visited other countries on vacation and they aren’t much better than what I’ve seen in Haiti pre earthquake. The homes are like WOW!! A real eye opener
Reese

@ Daisy – I agree about the job training part of it. And there are some programs but they are so hard to find if you don’t know where to look. Also, I think that if they have children then they should be required to be active in that childs school.

@ MsKaylamomma – exactly. Too many people taking advantage and not trying to do better.
BandanaMac

I’m actually shocked that Shirley came out like this, his columns are usually quirky and entertaining. But I guess with his career winding down he had to find a way to get relevant again. There’s a time and a place for everything and with everything going on over there right now, this was not the venue.
Mahogany03

Ms.kaylamomma Says:

Its not the open racist that scare me. It’s the closet ones that do.

—————–

Some of them smile in ur face 1 minute, the next minute they wanna kill you in the worst ways imaginable.
Daisy

@shauny I think Bill picked the soutside to try and bait the Pres since that’s where his Chi town house is. I cld be wrong though. Lil duval said Detroit looked like Haiti on twitter and the folks from d town got
free

@attorneymom, my husband is from the ninth and we were there at christmas. it’s mixed–some good (rebuilding) and some bad (vacant lots and undemolished properties). it will never be the same but it is getting better as the years go by. the costs of rebuilding, insurance, and isolation (as there are LOTS of vacancies so no main grocery store and not many services) are high.

other parts of the metro area are doing much better in terms of the rebuilding but the ninth is hanging in there much better than i thought it would. thankfully the ninth has chalmette (white people) down the street. that’s where the grocery stores, lumber stores, clothes stores, etc. are but i think the population is higher there also.
OutsidetheBox

I need to know where they are giving welfare with no requirements???? In Florida you MUST register to work, and ACTIVELY search for a job. They check you like a probation officer would a 3x felon.

I also wonder why ppl think that it’s so much money? When I saw the pennies they would give a family of my size it motivated me to keep it going even when I’m oh-so-tireddddd!
Daisy

@outside now its pennies my gfriend has 3 kids they were not going to give her but like 400 a mth she ended up moving back hm to live w/her grandmother. After being unemployed for a year she finally got a new job last week
reality101

>:( Officially PISSED!!! Ignorance travels like the plague. This thoughtless, insensitive, apathetic asshole has just floored me. To even think that is incomprehensible to me….yet he was audacious enough to type and publish it!! This primitive egocentric narcissist has probably never even been to Haiti. Haiti is one of the most beautiful places in this world I have ever been. This bitch needs a history lesson ASAP and maybe then he would be qualified to offer his opinions on how to resuscitate this country based on an educated and accurate assessment. This country has been ravaged of all resources by European Dominance for the last century. The USA has been one of the main proprietors of this country’s downfall and failed infrastructure. This dude’s acrimonious banter is another futile yet deplorable and separatist attempt to profile an entire country, based on race, and fluff statistical data without any regard for what this country and its people have been through for the past 2 centuries!!! Still PISSED!! Educate yourselves people….that shit was not cool!! Im not even from Haiti….and that shit infuriates me!!
free

in terms of this guy, i don’t think americans understand the issues that ISLANDS face. we seem to think that everybody should be like us, which is why the whole world despises us in the first place. they have shanties, we have trailer parks and projects. they have high rates of pregnancies; so do we. they have poor infrastructures; so do we. it’s ignorant to think that we are somehow SUPERIOR when it’s all relative.

as one of the most prosperous and able countries on the planet, we really aren’t all that compared to where we should be. i mean, we don’t even have free healthcare or higher education (and you can make the case for lower education, which is the pits).

on islands like that, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. therefore, if you are unemployed, you damn sure are not wanting to be unemployed just for the hell of it like we are. there is no upside to it. and how the f*** are they gonna get condoms? we have them and still don’t use them. we have access to adoption and abortion.

i mean, this is some bullshit if you really look at it.
allwrightyden

@ VIBABY – I definitely agree with you!
LLani

White, folks are some of the most insensitive people. I had to erase about 10 of my white friends from my facebook page because they were making Hatian jokes.

Here are some of the jokes that i’ve seen posted by a few white friends of mine

a man walks into a bar in haiti. it collapses

whats the difference between katrina and haiti? not much, god got the colors right both times

after the worst earthquake in 200 years the capitol of haiti is leveled. damage estimates are in the tens of dollars

whats haitis national first person shooter? quake

what’s 3 feet high and has 1000 arms and legs? the haiti hilton

you hear about the new haiti boy band? they’re called new blocks on the kids

Haiti was in a horrible state. Most of the buildings in ruins. Everyone fighting over food and water. A huge number of people where homeless. The sanitation, nonexistent, human filth everywhere. Haiti was the embodiment of death, violence, and poverty. And then the earthquake hit.

I FIND THIS TO BE ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING AND A REASON WHY I CAN’T STAND WHITE PEOPLE!!!
Daisy

@free

YOU DID THAT

Shoutout to all my fellow trailer park ppl CB/Tavis and others
KrayZKat

@P.A. – Don’t hold your breath waiting for black people to stick together. It will never happen.
———————————————————-
Ms.kaylamomma Says:

Its not the open racist that scare me. It’s the closet ones that do.
—————————————————
It’s not the racists who scare me. It’s black people who cosign ignorant comments that do more damage. How many of us really know the history of Haiti and how they ended up in these conditions? Do you really think they enjoy these conditions? I don’t really even know why I’m shocked that some black people would cosign. They have a right to do so, but it just baffles my mind as to the level of ignorance we have to deal with. Peace.
african_dude

free Says:
as one of the most prosperous and able countries on the planet, we really aren’t all that compared to where we should be. i mean, we don’t even have free healthcare or higher education (and you can make the case for lower education, which is the pits).
“““““““““““““““““““““`
wow..where do i begin here? on one hand u wanna bash your own country, on the other hand you say we`re prosperous but we`re not all that..to which country are you comparing America exactly? countries with free healthcare do they live longer than us? not always, we dont have free higher education..ok great but even if we did will that more poeple go to school i doubt it..i mean dude do your homework countries with free higher education dont perform better than America so what are u ranting about? i think the whole issue with drama is the fact that those words came out of a white man`s mouth and in America thats almost a crime…my question is should poor people be having kids when they cant even feed themselves? inquiring minds want to know
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

My white Facebook friends (mainly cool Italians) are afraid of me. They read how I cussed out my family on Facebook so they know what I will do to them. LOL. They ain’t tryin to mess with me.
https://sandrarose.com Ms.kaylamomma

OutsidetheBox Says:

I need to know where they are giving welfare with no requirements???? In Florida you MUST register to work, and ACTIVELY search for a job. They check you like a probation officer would a 3x felon.

I also wonder why ppl think that it’s so much money? When I saw the pennies they would give a family of my size it motivated me to keep it going even when I’m oh-so-tireddddd!

————————————————————
In Georgia, you are no longer required to show that you are actively looking for a job for unemployment checks. You just have to call a number every week to sorta “check in” I guess. And $800 is NOT a lot of money, hence the reason they were selling their foodstamps for cash. Taking advantage of the system.
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

Help me on this one: Don’t you need jobs in order to work? Blank stare.
SangriaSugar

He could have written that better but he sounds straight bitter about something. Freedom of speech is all well and good but everything he wrote was two-sided cause we have those same problems right here in the US. Like all those high school girls in Chicago (I think) that are/were pregnant–throw them a condom — charity starts at home!!

@ VIBABY
OutsidetheBox

Yay! Welfare to work! Right @ Daisy… I was preggers w/ 3 in tow, in my last semester of school. Didn’t want another loan and scholarship money had long run out…so I thought maybe I can get some help from them…

Chile, them folks told me I could get $176 for us. All they wanted was my dignity and 30 hours of “searching” a week. Plus they said they would take the kids’ child support….so they wanted me to give them control of my household (cause you can’t come or go w/o their approval), my $400 a month in Ch.Supp, and 30 hours a week. I said, what about school??!?1 They said: What about it???

LOL I politely said thanks but no thanks.
Lovely One

@ PAHairston Says:

Hello All. An old white joke:

When does a black man become a ni@@er? When he leaves the room.

Need I say more? This is why we need to stick together as a race more than EVER before. I mean loving, caring and standing by each other. I’m just saying. Peace.
—————————
I agree. White people love nothing more than when we talk ill about ourselves and/or anyone within the African Diaspora.
msdanielle

the whole individualistic mindset disturbs me. i don’t care what they’re doing! i know for the a fact the country is poverty stricken irregardless if they pop out 8 kids it will not matter. this country has had issues FOREVER and mainly because of their fight against being enslaved. i wish people would stop being ignorant and inform themselves. just take a look at the countries on both sides of haiti…all of which are better off…

…and just because we’re americans doesn’t make me more related to you thant to them. last time i checked we’re all african decensdants so with that being said…they’re MY people just as any of you are. so i constantly inform myself with what’s taking place and donate as much as possible.

i really wish people would realize who the enemies really are and stop with this b.s….”omg they’re by choice” since when? UGH.
msdanielle

poor*** ugh. freakin’ typos.
Chupilives

african_dude Says:

personally i think people who already have a hard time feeding themselves shouldnt be adding “innocent“ human beings to their plight…poverty is like a mathematical equation, you go step by step and too many times poor people not just haitians cant even figure out where the meal is coming from but yet they`re adding problems on top of exisiting problems….its not fair!

—————-

Are people in poverty not entitled to reproduce like the rest of the world? They go through puberty and have hormones just like everyone else so how can they avoid feeling the primal urge to have sex? Keep in mind that many of these people are uneducated and do not have access to birth control. How can you afford to be on the pill or condoms if you can’t even afford a meal? If pennicillin costs less than $5 and they can’t get enough of it imagine what it would be like trying to get birth control.

Also there are plenty of ways to get over on the system and those that live on it know way better than the rest of us. I was on unemployment for in my early twenties and all they required as “proof” for looking was some business cards that I would pick up anywhere while I was out hanging with my friends. Thank God I grew up LOL
OutsidetheBox

Right but welfare (and I speak of TANF when I say that) is handled and treated a lot differently than unemployment…
free

wow..where do i begin here? on one hand u wanna bash your own country, on the other hand you say we`re prosperous but we`re not all that..

WHERE DID I BASH AMERICA? SAYING WE AREN’T WHERE WE SHOULD BE? DO YOU THINK WE’RE WHERE WE SHOULD BE (IN ANY AREA) GIVEN THE RESOURCES WE HAVE?

to which country are you comparing America exactly? countries with free healthcare do they live longer than us? not always, we dont have free higher education..ok great but even if we did will that more poeple go to school i doubt it..

I’D LOVE TO SEE YOUR RESEARCH ON HOW FREE HEALTHCARE WOULD NOT IMPROVE OUR CURRENT HEALTH CONDITION OR HOW THE COLLEGE ROLLS WOULD DECREASE OR REMAIN THE SAME IF EDUCATION WERE FREE.

i mean dude do your homework countries with free higher education dont perform better than America so what are u ranting about?

I’M TALKING ABOUT ACCESS; PERFORMANCE IS BASED ON A LOT OF VARIABLES. I’VE SEEN SCHOOLS (AND PEOPLE) WITH A LOT DO POORLY AND SCHOOLS (AND PEOPLE) WITH LITTLE DO WELL.

i think the whole issue with drama is the fact that those words came out of a white man`s mouth and in America thats almost a crime…my question is should poor people be having kids when they cant even feed themselves? inquiring minds want to know

NOBODY SHOULD HAVE A KID THEY CAN’T PAY FOR BUT NOT ONLY DO WE DO IT HERE IN AMERICA, IT’S PARTIALLY FUNDED BY OUR GOVERNMENT. SO, HOW IS YOUR BELOVED COUNTRY AND PEOPLE ANY BETTER?
Shauny

yes free
starr

@free

u betta
free

chup says “Keep in mind that many of these people are uneducated and do not have access to birth control. How can you afford to be on the pill or condoms if you can’t even afford a meal?”

*************************************************

additionally, in africa, rape is a very serious problem so it’s not always a situation of let’s screw and be happy. it can also be a cultural issue in terms of male dominance, preservation of the family line, trying to have a certain gender child, etc.
african_dude

@ free

-according to you we arent where we should be..but yet you fail to mention where you think we should be
– According to well known researches that you can either obtain from prominent health organizations like WHO( world health organization), americans happen to be some of the people who live the longest on earth, this coming from a country without universal health care, americans life expectanxy is 77 yrs old while countries with so-called free health care like italy and france have life expectancy rate of 79 and 78 respectively, so are they better off than us with their free healthcare? i the numbers speak for themselves
-when do you talk about access, you need to substantiate your claim… schools and by schools i mean public schools are some of the most accessible institutions in this country..so why is access a problem according to you but like i said when you use words make sure you take it to the end of your claim
-i`m happy to you agree than folks shouldnt be having kids they cant pay for.
we`re going to have to agree to disagree, this country is better off than the amjority of countries out there…the numbers speak for in our favor
Daisy

@outside girl if my Prof said TANF one more time I was going to scream last qtr

Team Free #thatisall
Bella

Some people just have no decorum.
VIBABY

lol @ team free, but ummm.. me too
And we may have the highest life expectancy rate, but when I see old people having to choose between medication or groceries it makes me wonder if thats such a good thing…..
florida_girl

@Free…well said and very true
@Daisy…CB/Tavis yes they were living in trailers and was never ashamed to talk about their struggles and how they both thanked God for coming out…
@LLani…those are not jokes that’s how they feel sorry that was too much…I would have to re-think those friendships forreal never know what is said when you leave the room….just saying
Peachizz

Does he said what some people white,black all around the world were thinking.. he hit some points but some many other things such things such as infrastructure, education,proverty play a roll this comes as a results of years of oppression of the Haitian people.. Either way you look at it this is a very sad situation for ay human being any race,color or crud.
chase

I have been around a lot of white people and I never felt uncomfortable after I left the room, my own people now that is a different story.. Shoot I have been on both ends of that spectrum..

I know there are more raciest whites than I like to believe, but I also try to give them the benefit of the doubt..

I’d be the first to admit to not knowing or caring that much about those in Haiti. But I decided to educate myself and now I have a totally different (positive) outlook as well and understanding about Haiti..
Mother Jefferson

@ chase If more people had your kind of attitude about things they dont know world world be better. Just because people really didnt care about or know any Haitian people before this does not make it acceptable to bash that country. You should educate yourself about what other people are going through.

I cosign with free 100%, Americans are so caught up in ourselves and take SO much for granted.
MZN

I don’t see anything remotely racist about what he said. Sure he could’ve probably said it in a nicer way, but it’s true! We all know that!
intensemocha

WOW GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOULS!!!!

AS IF BECAUSE OF THEIR SOCIAL ILLS SOMEHOW THEY DESERVED TO DIE, SUFFER, STARVE AND ENDURE A EARTHQUAKE

BLACK HATE IS ALIVE-AND IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY AMERICA COULD SAY THE SAME ABOUT BLACK FOLKS RIGHT HERE

PEOPLE LIKE MANY OF YOU ARE THE “NICCAS” I CAN’T STAND BECAUSE YOU MAKE GOOD BLACK FOLKS LOOK BAD

NOBODY DESERVES WHAT HAITI HAS AND IS STILL ENDURING-RATHER THEY WERE BLACK,WHITE, ASIAN ETC.

IT’S A NATURAL DISASTER-DUH LIKE TSUNAMI, WAS THERE SOMETHING THAT THEY DID TO DESERVE THAT MASSIVE NATURAL DISASTER?

AFTER WATCHING THOSE PEOPLE PILED UP DEAD IN THE STREETS, BABIES, WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND ELDERLY, BLEEDING FROM THEIR WOUNDS, AND STARVING AND FIGHTING FOR FOOD-YOU CAN TWIST YOUR MOUTH TO SAY SOME FUG SHIAT LIKE THAT

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW-AND BE CAREFUL THAT THE SAME ILL YOU WISH UPON POOR INNOCENT BABIES, WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND THE ELDERLY DOESN’T BECOME YOUR VERY OWN DEMISE

REMEMBER NONE OF US ARE WALKING AROUND IN A PROTECTED BUBBLE-WHAT HAPPENED THERE COULD VERY WELL HAPPEN ANY WHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD

I PITY YOU SORRY EXCUSES FOR HUMAN BEINGS
MOVINONUP

Maybe your parents should of wore a condom when they made you.Looking like Doug from Nickoldean. Those people can not help that the government steals all their money and make them live the way they do.
brucebaner1

intensemocha – you are absolutely right. What we should also remember is the slaves in Haiti fought the french and beat them. Unfortunately, this left them with no guidance and even worse no infrastructure. This is why Haiti is in the condition it is in. Similar to why Black people are poor in the US, because of slavery. We were dragged here and forced to be slaves while other immigrants were coming here and starting business. It is amazing that we have a Black president and 400 years ago we couldn’t walk the streets. We have come a long way but a lot of people seem to forget that most of our shortcomings come from us being slaves.
KrayZKat

msdanielle Says:

the whole individualistic mindset disturbs me. i don’t care what they’re doing! i know for the a fact the country is poverty stricken irregardless if they pop out 8 kids it will not matter. this country has had issues FOREVER and mainly because of their fight against being enslaved. i wish people would stop being ignorant and inform themselves. just take a look at the countries on both sides of haiti…all of which are better off…

…and just because we’re americans doesn’t make me more related to you thant to them. last time i checked we’re all african decensdants so with that being said…they’re MY people just as any of you are. so i constantly inform myself with what’s taking place and donate as much as possible.

i really wish people would realize who the enemies really are and stop with this b.s….”omg they’re by choice” since when? UGH.
—————————————————–
Best comment on the board! Thank you, Lord. There are some thinking people left on the planet.
PAHairston

All of you make sense. If we could come together as a race, we could and would be the greatest race in the world! Take a young, black child of say 8, 9 yrs of age. They’re smarter than yo average white kid the same age. They’re usuallly quick to learn, imaginative and full of spirit. Something seems to happen when they get a little older, I guess they start smelling themselves, as my mother used to say. We need to keep them focused, teach them that the white man can take away your pride, your dignity, your house and even yo fine car but knowledge, it’s yours to keep forever. (That’s what I like about this page, some smart folks up in here!)

As for Haiti, keep giving. A dollar here, a dollar there, this certainly won’t break most of us. Like Farakhan once said to a crowd of thousands: Everyone take one dollar from your pocket, now hold it up high. That’s $10,000, instantly. Let us not turn our head from our Haitian sisters and brothers. They are beautiful people with a spirit most of us can not match. Slowly but surely, black folks around the world will overcome someday and when we do, WATCH OUT! And yes indeed, it can happen. What did God say? That before the end of time, the ones on the bottom shall be on top! Love you SandraRose Family and KEEP HOPE ALIVE! Peace.
DownSouthZeta

The ignorance of some of us is astounding. How in the hell can anyone co-sign with his statements. Many on here need to liberate their minds. What pisses me off more than racist white people is black people without a f*cking clue. The people of Haiti fought for and won their independence and were black balled (for lack of a better term), now people are blaming them for being in the position that they are in? GTFOH? I wish black americans would wake up before it is too late. The worst thing that you can do is look down on someone because your circumstances happen to be slightly better.
http://www.ashland86.com TheRealAshland

He has a valid point, but no obvious tack to intelligently express his opinion. I do think that some sort of birth control should be passed around to the Haitian people because of the reported child slaves, being giving up by parents who cannot afford them. And you all know if there were houses like the majority we’ve seen over there here they would have been condemn. I do not think he’s racist just ignorant and insensitive.
http://www.ReppingBeantown.com ReppingBeantown

My response is this:

I don’t give a damn what your opinion is or if you even have one for that matter, you DO NOT and I repeat you DO NOT come down on a nation especially when they’re suffering like the Haitian people are, right now. Picture waking up, going about your regular day and an earthquake sweeps through and what you’ve known as your home, your country, your family, and friends have all vanished once and for all, without a chance to even say a proper goodbye or hell a proper burial in some people’s case. All of you here on this website saying I Co-sign with that racist inhumane bigot, I would personally like to see you all bury your children, mothers,fathers,sisters,brothers,friends in an instant and see if YOU would be so damn quick to jump on this crackhead’s bandwagon. One should have their freedom of speech, but be very careful what you say because 100% of the time, your very own words might just come back and pay you a nice visit. Everyone who has landed a hand to the Haitian people will get rewarded for their compassion, whether they know it or not, that is how life works. You reap what you sow in this life and that is all….
KaraZ

There’s a time and place for everything. This barely 2 weeks after the devastation with bodies still rotting in the Caribbean heat and families still looking for news of their loved ones, is NOT THE TIME and his ESPN blog is NOT THE PLACE for it.
He has a right to say what he wants and believe what he says just like I have every right to believe he’s fecking foolish and a pitiful victim of his white privilege. If this earthquake happened on the other side of Hispaniola with the whiter/lighter skinned people, I wonder if he would have the same thoughts… because guess what? Both nations are similarly impoverished, yet one nation has curried more favor and is on the receiving end of better economic and foreign policies than the other, I wonder why.
starr2910

damn..sucks that he lost his job..but props to him for sayin what a lot of ppl are definitely thinking, but are scared to say…I’m sure a lot of ESPN workers cosigned him too, but they had to do what they had to do..
starr2910

And I also don’t undestand why the headline says “ESPN Fires Racist Blogger”..huh?? so white ppl should jus hush their mouths when it comes to thinggs pertaining to black ppl?? smh..ppl like to bawl out RACISM too damn fast..you don’t get anywhere in life being overly- sensitive and playing the victim all the damn time..
talldrink

Free speech ain’t free. There are always consequences.

@starr2910- what he said was clearly racist. He or nobody else said jack about the tsunami victims. In this counrty esp. blacks don’t have to be overly sensitive, the racist system is intact and comments like yours aren’t helpful.

I’d like to be able to get out of my car for being stopped by some racially profiling cop and use my free speech to tell him to kiss my ass. Yt folks can do that and wind up on America’s funniest Videos. I would wind up at the morgue or at least in the emergency room. Using my damn free speech.
starr2910

plz..feel sorry for yourself much? stop judging a whole race on what SOME do. the victim role is getting old and tired. Some black ppl need to understand that wasting your time thinking someone is out to get you–will get you nowhere in life. I wonder how some of yall are successful in life, with so much hatred for white ppl. DO you work with blacks alone? Stop the ignorance and realize that there’s racist ppl of ALL RACES! That same racially profiling white cop is doing the same thing as a racially profiling black cop. and yeah..blacks do it too..

and what he said clearly wasn’t racist? so what if he didn’t say anything bad about tsunami victims? that’s a wack argument. He’s a white man “supposedly” being racist towards blk ppl, so y would he be less racist to Asians?
talldrink

Feeeling sorry is something that I don’t do, for YT or anybody else. If I get tagged, your ass gets tagged to! Reveerse racism, that’s some peckerwood excuse for ooh, you blacks are gettting more than me after over 300 years of cosigning racism, you ppl feel sorry for yourselves. So don’t act like somehow you got some real clarity when it comes to this issue, you don’t.

Sh*t that make peckers feel uncomfortable, they always try to make it somebody else’ fault. So, unless you been black stfu up and slither under a rock.
Kimi

attorneymom Says:

If you don’t deal with the evil French who kept this country in perpetual debt slavery, then shut the f*** up, white boy. Even the Bibles says that the borrower is a slave to the lender.

I am getting tired of whities talking slick about Black folks.
___________________________

Are you sure your a real Attorney?
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

@Kimi writes, Are you sure your a real Attorney?
***********************************************************
Let me give you 2 minutes of attention. Perhaps these videos will help answer you question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQbQxm4gyac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF4F1tg62lU
http://charactercorner.blogspot.com attorneymom

Sorry, I meant “your”, not “you”.
anti-PC

He could have been nicer about it but I don’t know which part of this constitutes racism….
starr2910

yea talldrink..I’ve actually been black for 21 yrs :O…u still haven’t made your point though…and “peckerwood”?? come on..how are you gonna try and complain about racism when you’re racist your dang self!..do you think because you’re black you’re entitled to be racist but it can’t be reciprocated? If you have such strong feelings towards “peckerwoods”, then maybe you deserve what you get. Respect has no color…give it and you’ll get it back!

ESPN Fires Racist Blogger For Insensitive Remarks About Haiti

Greg Oden Apologizes For His Shortcomings

Morning Wood: Sean Garrett

related posts