The real Africa also has seen cellphone and Internet use double every year for the last seven years.
Over the past few years, it’s been my unscientific observation that even in rural Appalachia, a region devoid of radio signals many places, the poorest among us have cell phones. No job, no prospects? Hey, no problem . . . if your monthly income from welfare is enough to pay the monthly service fees, you get a free cell phone. Apparently, like the foreign aid going to Appalachia, most of our foreign aid going to Africa is used for handheld communication devices.
Don’t get me wrong here. Personally, I support everyone’s right to have a cell phone. It’s what our Founders intended.
Comedian CHRIS TUCKER was left amazed during a visit to Ethiopia with rocker BONO - because he was recognised more than the U2 superstar. Tucker and Bono visited Africa together in 2002 as part of a fact-finding mission to witness the effects of charity donations. The Rush Hour star tells Playboy magazine, “I was with Bono in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, they were more familiar with me. He’s way more visible than I am around the world, but, in Africa, they were like, `Chris! Chris Tucker!’ “It was something to know that in some places more people recognised me than the biggest rock star in the world.”
I bet Chris got all bug-eyed, and his voice rose another octave. Too bad they couldn’t understand the words coming out of his mouf.
Comedian CHRIS TUCKER was left amazed during a visit to Ethiopia with rocker BONO - because he was recognised more than the U2 superstar. Tucker and Bono visited Africa together in 2002 as part of a fact-finding mission to witness the effects of charity donations. The Rush Hour star tells Playboy magazine, “I was with Bono in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, they were more familiar with me. He’s way more visible than I am around the world, but, in Africa, they were like, `Chris! Chris Tucker!’ “It was something to know that in some places more people recognised me than the biggest rock star in the world.”
I bet Chris got all bug-eyed, and hs voice rose another octave. Too bad they couldn’t understand the words coming out of his mouf.
Last fall, shortly after I returned from Nigeria, I was accosted by a perky blond college student whose blue eyes seemed to match the “African” beads around her wrists.
“Save Darfur!” she shouted from behind a table covered with pamphlets urging students to TAKE ACTION NOW! STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!
Different continent, different decade, different African town, same old broad.
My aversion to college kids jumping onto fashionable social causes nearly caused me to walk on, but her next shout stopped me.
“Don’t you want to help us save Africa?” she yelled.
This is the West’s new image of itself: a sexy, politically active generation whose preferred means of spreading the word are magazine spreads with celebrities pictured in the foreground, forlorn Africans in the back. Never mind that the stars sent to bring succor to the natives often are, willingly, as emaciated as those they want to help.
Amen to that.
Perhaps most interesting is the language used to describe the Africa being saved. For example, the Keep a Child Alive/” I am African” ad campaign features portraits of primarily white, Western celebrities with painted “tribal markings” on their faces above “I AM AFRICAN” in bold letters. Below, smaller print says, “help us stop the dying.”
The relationship between the West and Africa is no longer based on openly racist beliefs, but such articles are reminiscent of reports from the heyday of European colonialism, when missionaries were sent to Africa to introduce us to education, Jesus Christ and “civilization.”
And now the songs of The Bono.
Every time a well-meaning college student speaks of villagers dancing because they were so grateful for her help, I cringe. Every time a Hollywood director shoots a film about Africa that features a Western protagonist, I shake my head—because Africans, real people though we may be, are used as props in the West’s fantasy of itself.
No way.
Why do Angelina Jolie and Bono receive overwhelming attention for their work in Africa while Nwankwo Kanu or Dikembe Mutombo, Africans both, are hardly ever mentioned?
Comedian CHRIS TUCKER was left amazed during a visit to Ethiopia with rocker BONO - because he was recognised more than the U2 superstar. Tucker and Bono visited Africa together in 2002 as part of a fact-finding mission to witness the effects of charity donations. The Rush Hour star tells Playboy magazine, “I was with Bono in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, they were more familiar with me. He’s way more visible than I am around the world, but, in Africa, they were like, `Chris! Chris Tucker!’ “It was something to know that in some places more people recognised me than the biggest rock star in the world.”
I bet Chris got all bug-eyed, and hs voice rose another octave. Too bad they couldn’t understand the words coming out of his mouf.
Black people sure are stupid.
The bolded part is a snippet of dialogue in “Rush Hour” and “Shanghai Noon.”
African-American star CHRIS TUCKER regrets uttering the word ‘n**ger’ so many times in QUENTIN TARANTINO’s 1997 movie JACKIE BROWN, and insists he would turn the part down now. The 34-year-old actor shares a profanity-filled scene with Samuel L. Jackson in the film, which on its release attracted strong criticism from black filmmaker Spike Lee for its racist language. Tucker tells Playboy magazine, “Back then I wasn’t even thinking that much about how words like that affect people. But I do now. “I wouldn’t do it (make Jackie Brown now). I don’t know how old I was then, but I’m a different person now. Hopefully, we evolve as we get older. Hopefully, we better ourselves. “No, I wouldn’t do that dialogue now.”
Comedian CHRIS TUCKER was left amazed during a visit to Ethiopia with rocker BONO - because he was recognised more than the U2 superstar. Tucker and Bono visited Africa together in 2002 as part of a fact-finding mission to witness the effects of charity donations. The Rush Hour star tells Playboy magazine, “I was with Bono in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, they were more familiar with me. He’s way more visible than I am around the world, but, in Africa, they were like, `Chris! Chris Tucker!’ “It was something to know that in some places more people recognised me than the biggest rock star in the world.”
I bet Chris got all bug-eyed, and hs voice rose another octave. Too bad they couldn’t understand the words coming out of his mouf.
Black people sure are stupid.
The bolded part is a snippet of dialogue in “Rush Hour” and “Shanghai Noon.”
You talk about others making shit up. I say black comedians have relied on bug-eyed, high-voiced schtick since Buckwheat and you rotely calll me a racist because thats your duty as a Thinker - to expose all Americans as such to the suffering masses.
Hey, whats that new Eddie Murphy film that just came out?
Some Oscar observers are questioning the timing of the movie’s Friday arrival, and whether it may unintentionally put off potential academy voters, while some black activists are taking Murphy to task for engaging in what they say are demeaning racial stereotypes.
Nevermind the black activists!! WHITE JEW HOLLYWOOD DSICRIMINATED AGAINST EDDIE!!! LETS ALL WEAR A KAFFIYEH IN PROTEST!!!
“Every time I pass that billboard, it makes me sick,” said one veteran Oscar consultant, who declined to be identified and is not involved in a rival campaign. “I think his performance in ‘Dreamgirls’ is so fabulous” and deserves to win the Academy Award. But, he added, Murphy’s latest comedy offering “doesn’t help.”
Award season aside, Murphy and “Norbit” are under fire from some black activists who say the film is just the latest to build a movie around a black man dressing up as an unsophisticated, overweight black woman. Adding fuel to their anger is the movie’s release during Black History Month.
Nevermind the black activists!! WHITE JEW HOLLYWOOD DSICRIMINATED AGAINST EDDIE!!! LETS ALL WEAR A KAFFIYEH IN PROTEST!!!
Anyone seen Norbit? Anyone going to see Norbit? Sure, the commercials look fairly offensive. But, offensive enough to sway voters away from commending a deserving performance? Offensive enough to turn what should be a vote based on his role in Dreamgirls into a racially charged political decision?
Nevermind the black activists!! WHITE JEW HOLLYWOOD DSICRIMINATED AGAINST EDDIE!!! LETS ALL WEAR A KAFFIYEH IN PROTEST!!!
So are you saying that black people play up a stereotype by getting ‘all bug-eyed’ and raising their voice ‘another octave’?
Sounds like John Ritter in Three’s Company, and Jackie Chan in any recent movie too.
Where exactly are the suffering masses on Moorewatch?
You suffer collectively for all the masses. Whenever this crude American dares to disparage Euros, Nigerians, illegal immigrants, et al, you’re right there to defend them with tooth and nail. They deserve no less.
You yourself are currently all bug-eyed and high-pitched about my quite obviously dissing blacks who, sadly, have no voice at Moorewatch other than your own.
Aye.
This allows you to conveniently and wholly ignore all and any topic at hand, specifically in this thread that not all Africans/blacks appear to appreciate your and The Bonos and Sir Geldof’s self-proclaimed, color-blind benelovence, deep insight and unwavering support. Its often rather patronizing, and they’re calling you posers and I happen to agree with them, for the most part. You’re the one actually ignoring the words coming out their moufs, not me.
Theres no dialogue when you resort to rote recital. Bug-eyed, high-pitched comedy isn’t funny anymore to me, so argue for it without resorting to rote recital about I’m keeping your brothers down. I won’t watch “Norbit” and I’ve told you why - its rife with bug-eyed, loud stereoypes.
And Eddie Murphy was nominated for an Oscar for mostly playing himself in “Dreamgirls”, not stupendous talent.
Comedian CHRIS TUCKER was left amazed during a visit to Ethiopia with rocker BONO - because he was recognised more than the U2 superstar. Tucker and Bono visited Africa together in 2002 as part of a fact-finding mission to witness the effects of charity donations. The Rush Hour star tells Playboy magazine, “I was with Bono in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, they were more familiar with me. He’s way more visible than I am around the world, but, in Africa, they were like, `Chris! Chris Tucker!’ ”It was something to know that in some places more people recognised me than the biggest rock star in the world.”
You suffer collectively for all the masses. Whenever this crude American dares to disparage Euros, Nigerians, illegal immigrants, et al, you’re right there to defend them with tooth and nail. They deserve no less.
You yourself are currently all bug-eyed and high-pitched about my quite obviously dissing blacks who, sadly, have no voice at Moorewatch other than your own.
Aye.
This allows you to conveniently and wholly ignore all and any topic at hand, specifically in this thread that not all Africans/blacks appear to appreciate your and The Bonos and Sir Geldof’s self-proclaimed, color-blind benelovence, deep insight and unwavering support. Its often rather patronizing, and they’re calling you posers and I happen to agree with them, for the most part. You’re the one actually ignoring the words coming out their moufs, not me.
Theres no dialogue when you resort to rote recital. Bug-eyed, high-pitched comedy isn’t funny anymore to me, so argue for it without resorting to rote recital about I’m keeping your brothers down. I won’t watch “Norbit” and I’ve told you why - its rife with bug-eyed, loud stereoypes.
And Eddie Murphy was nominated for an Oscar for mostly playing himself in “Dreamgirls”, not stupendous talent.
I get your point and I largely agree with it. Although you perhaps go too far when you don’t allow a discussion to involve at least some of what their position might be. I’ve previously acknowledged huge problems with corruption in Africa, and finding leaders that the West can trust. I’ve said that ‘drop the debt’ etc should be related to how open and clean the government is. So stop pretending I hold an extreme viewpoint, and I’ll stop pretending that you do.
So stop pretending I hold an extreme viewpoint, and I’ll stop pretending that you do.
I’d say you hold a (com)passionate viewpoint. Passion is fine in the arts and matters of the heart, but its not “love” by a long shot. And its very often the very cause of most of the miseries we all face today. AIDS comes to mind. What to do? Why, get passionate about it! First thing, of course, is to buy the inevitable T-shirt with “We All Have AIDS” on it, like Rosie O’Donnell wore. Then passionately demand money from everyone to make it go away, so you can get back to making love, keeping the abortion clinics open, too, cuz in the heat of amore you forgot yer condom. What? Pull out? Only if they swallow instead.
Actor RUPERT EVERETT has poured scorn on charity work carried out by stars like BONO and GEORGE CLOONEY, branding their efforts “self-congratulatory”.
The Shrek star in particular hated the Make Poverty History advertisements featuring Bono, Clooney, Brad Pitt and Kate Moss. He says, “Trips to see projects are really just about people feeling better about themselves but we should be careful not to criticise too much. When we see a Spice Girl in Sierra Leone and feel uncomfortable we are really feeling uncomfortable about ourselves.
”All charity is a photo opportunity in the end. I know that sounds jaded but it’s about making ourselves feel better. It’s shocking how slick and slutty we are.”
How could he? First off he’s a non-American, then he’s also gay, or at least bi. He’s even an Eskimo sister to Sir Bob Geldof via Paula Yates, for crissake. He dropped out of religion.
She says: “He is so powerful yet so human. Seeing him investing all his time and effort is something to admire. He’s changing the world.”
I’d like to see him invest some of his own money instead of ours.
And here he is puttering around St. Tropez in a boat big enough to stash 120+ Cubans. What kind off offsets does one buy to justify this extravagance? Kelp?
Your concern on the carbon footprint of boats is actually based in reality. Boats are very expensive and wasteful to operate. About 7 years ago when gasoline was about $1.75 more or less a gallon, a friend of mine took is cabin cruiser on a hundred mile round trip. He had to fuel up in South Haven, Michigan (the halfway point) and it cost him more than $300 to top off the tanks. I figure that he used about 343 gallons of fuel for that trip. In the name of love…
As for The Bono and The Penelope, whatever happened to the Ali? Isn’t The Bono still married? Maybe they have an “arrangement”, what with all that rock and roll cash that he’s laundering away from Irish taxes in the balance…
Bono is married to Alison Hewson. Their relationship began in 1975 and the couple were married on 21 August 1982 in an Anglican ceremony at a chapel on the Guinness family estate
I almost hesitate to rag on The Bono, he is a victim, afterall:
Bono is almost never seen in public without wearing sunglasses. During a Rolling Stone interview he stated:
“ [I have] very sensitive eyes to light. If somebody takes my photograph, I will see the flash for the rest of the day. My right eye swells up. I’ve a blockage there, so that my eyes go red a lot. So it’s part vanity, it’s part privacy, and part sensitivity.”
