New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin blamed Hurricane Katrina on God's wrath and constructed an imaginary conversation with Martin Luther King, who has been dead for almost 38 years. And that was the milquetoast, under-the-rader, staid part of the speech. "It's time for us to come together," the mayor said in his Martin Luther King Day speech. Coming together, according to Mr. Nagin, means rebuilding a "chocolate New Orleans." But should Special Dark or traditional Hershey's rule "chocolate New Orleans"? Where do mixed bars such as Snickers and Milky Way stand? Mocha chocolate? And Mr. Mayor, what about white chocolate? Is white chocolate welcome in "chocolate New Orleans"? Or are some chocolates more equal than others? The mayor quickly answered such questions, settling the mass confusion that ensued over his use of such a terribly subtle "code word" as "chocolate." By "chocolate," the mayor meant--psssst--black people. "This city will be a majority African American city," Nagin declared. "It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way. It wouldn't be New Orleans." There are people who believe God wants their city, or trailerpark, to be majority white. Sometimes they wear hoods.
"When I bite into a York Peppermint Pattie ... I get the sensation of a monster category 5 hurricane whirling and twirling at a below-sea-level city ... with bone-crushing, whiplashing, skin-slashing force ... uprooting everything in sight ... ripping roofs, toppling trees and smashing levees ... faster than you can say 'Kill Whitey'..."
Ah, yes, New Orleans, the city for racists - but not just any racists - got to be black racists to get into this town. Well, I always knew there was a reason why I've never gone to New Orleans, despite being a jazz lover.
Well, I guess there's no point in any white people trying to do their part to rebuild New Orleans, either, is there? I mean, what's in it for them, if they're not even welcome there, right? I guess that means New Orleans will just have to rebuild itself using only black labor, black architects and engineers, and so on. Hmmm...that could take a while. I wonder if they'd still be eligible for federal funding for the rebuilding effort, considering that most of the people whose money is being used are white? Yep, I see lots of problems with this. Maybe it would be better idea to impeach New Orleans' racist mayor, instead?
I guess it really need not be said, but are we going to hear the same outcry against Mayor Nagin interpreting God’s mind that we hear every time Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell shoot from the hip? And is anyone going to inquire of the Prophet Nagin why, if he’s right, didn’t God send more hurricanes during the Viet-Nam conflict, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia or the first Gulf War? Based on Mayor Nagin’s visions, God must deem all those conflicts justified. And as there were fewer hurricanes during the 40’s and 50’s, Jim Crow must therefore have met with God’s approval.
And with regard to his Honor's “chocolate” comment, can I assume that if Simi Valley or some other white-bread community had suffered significant earthquake or other natural disaster damage, and the mayor had said the city would be “vanilla” once more, more sh_t would have already hit the fan than one could possibly imagine?
I agree with Gary. Let the jive-talkers figure this one out. I'm sure da brothaz are gonna be emptying their pockets to fix the joint up...
"Chump don wan no help, chump don git no help.
Jive ass dude don got no brains anyhow."
For years I have, out of white guilt, eaten special dark chocolate. Let's face it it is not as good as Hersheys regular. But I did eat it out of solidarity. After these comments I am confused about the whole candy industry in general. Why can't we all be Sky Bars?
This should surprise no one. He is the mayor of New Orleans, and he sounds like a below-average joe on the street. No bleeping wonder the emergency planning by the city was so inadequate. Chocolate? Quelle bouffon! And this is not even addressing his racism. I don't believe that this was what King had in mind. "I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the content of their character but by the [percentage of cacao bean] of their skin."
Yes, when I lived in New Orleans, I couldn't walk 3 blocks without worrying about being mugged. There was an epidemic of coeds getting raped at knifepoint on the way home from bars and fraternity parties. Pretty much the only white families who lived in the cities were millionaires in gated communities. I'm sure that is what god wants.
That mayor Nagin is a buffoon shouldn't need to be stated, what is amazing, however, is that National Review and other conservatives were singing praises for him a few years ago.
Yes, that is amazing Marcus. They must have missed a whole lot. And, are we sure this guy isn't related to Marian Barry? Which reminds me...
Why is Marian Barry like a social disease?
He's embarassing
He goes away and comes back
He responds well to drugs!
Could apply to both.
Well, guys, I just heard Nagin do a little damage control on Fox News Dayside. On thing he said was there is a big debate over which areas of the city to rebuild and which areas not to rebuild and, that this is what he was referring to by his chocolate an@logy. Where that is concerned, I can certainly understand how many in the 9th Ward must feel because, as one who makes his living in the architectural field, I can tell you that whatever is built will be way too expensive for most of those folks to afford, even after they've been compensated for their lost property (if they are). The thing to bear in mind, though, is that this isn't a matter of racism, but a simple matter of economics. Those old houses that were built in the early 20th century were, before Katrina, probably not worth more than $30,000 or $40,000 on today's market, and that's their resale value. When you're talking about new construction, even if the objective is to replace those houses with exact duplicates (which is probably not going to happen), the cost of construction in 2006 is many times what it was in 1920. Any new house in that market is probably going to cost at least four times what the original house was worth. This is just a fact of economic life - not racism.
If you're ignorant enough to build a city below sea level, in an area notorious for hurricanes...
I've got some prime real estate you might be interested in...It's located at the foot of beautiful Mount St. Helens!
New Orleans was built nearly 300 years ago, and it made sense for its purposes then. It has more culture and history than all but a few cities in the country, and it managed to do fine until this last hurricane which it will easily recover from.
The problem isn't the sea level, its the politicians who rule it and the underclass they empower.
Marcus, I agree with your last comment, but must point out the majority of the lowest areas of the city were drained and developed in the last eighty years, as pumps and drainage technology permitted. Plus, this was only one in a long series of floods the city has experienced, but somehow, like Johnstown, Galveston and Grand Forks, managed to overcome without a huge federal subsidy.
No arguments, I think the issue of rebuilding the city economically is a separate one from the idea that we need some sort of social engineering plan to repopulate the city with the looters.
White chocolate is an abomination for chocolate lovers everywhere.
I'm kind of partial to the white stuff myself.
Mars experimented with a white Snickers bar and it was great. Apparently though, most consumers share Websters thoughts on this and it was pulled from the market.
Better than Nagin's original statements was his backtracking explanation of how mixing chocolate with white milk makes a delicious drink and later his outright apology for what he said. So, I suppose he does believe in diversity....as long as you're some shade of brown.
This guy is a numbnuts and it should not be a mystery why N.O. was in total chaos before, during and after Katrina.
People get the government they deserve? Yes!
Check out what this guy said about the New Orleans chocolate comment, pretty funny:
White chocolate is okay, but it bears no resemblance to chocolate. I like the very dark, near bitter stuff scharffen-berger makes.
What do you mean "the government they deserve."
When Nagin ran against Richard Pennington for mayor he was viewed as the less anti-white, less crazy, and pro business candidate. He recieved heaps of praise from conservatives which went up after he endorsed Bobby Jindal for governor.
Compared to most cities that are 67% black, Nagin seemed relatively non-crazy, anti white etc. Many of the nicest southern cities like Savannah and Memphis are in similar situations. What do you expect the other 33% of the population to do? My dad lives in DC. If Marion Barry gets reelected, does he deserve it?
Your dad lives in DC...so if former Mayor-for-life Mayor Marion S. Barry, Jr. is re-elected, does he deserve it? Short answer: yes. Long answer: no, with a "but". If you need me to elaborate, well...I can't.
fong,
once again you are one of the funniest people who post on this site in my eyes! anyone who gives a quote from Airplane on a site like this is a hero in my eyes! your a funny dude. now if i could only get you to a crowes show...ya i said it, it would be the balls! lol
FONG FOR PRESIDENT
Unfortunate for those of the electorate who don't vote for charlatans and morons. But, as has been said here many times, majority rules. And if a majority of the voters are duped or too stupid to not select an obvious fraud like Nagin, they get what they deserve. Don't you think?
For those who recognized that this mistake should not have happened, they have to either grin and bear the results or move on.
