OK... I read the rather one sided link you provided and my position remains the same.
Bottom line is Ceasar Chavez is the democratically elected president of Venezuella, Bush is the same in the United States. They both represent opposite sides of the political spectrum. This, due to the fact that poverty is and was rampant in Venezuela a Socialist was elected to help get the people out of the mess they were in.
The US has, from day one, tried to topple that regeme by interfering in their internal policies. They did the same in Chile and were successful in getting rid of Salvator Allende.
Times are different today and this will not be allowed to happen again. People like Belafonte, who have always been politically active, have the right to say whatever they want, wherever they want.
In my opinion, the United States meddles too much in the affairs of too many nations. This has been going on for a long time, it's not new.
Also, I maintain my position that if there is an embargo put on Venezuela, it will be the US itself that cuts off the supply of oil to itself.

Gee i miss a day or two and I see the liberal attack dogs aare out in force.

Belafonte much like all the rest of the liberal airhead garbage is just fullo shit doc, if this country and its leaders are so damn evil what keeps them here?

Kep your promise liberal liars, you promised to move to another country if Bush was re-elected. MOVE ALREADY!!

MOVE ALREADY!!

40 years too late to tell me that Elie...

33 by Manopeace Sunday, January 15, 2006

MOVE ALREADY!! 40 years too late to tell me that Elie...

was not aimed at you steven, was aimed at the american that hate this country so much yet refuse to move.

It bothers me because the guy is an idiot who lends encouragement to those who wish to do harm the the US and our way of life. I guess if he is allowed to come back to the US and lives, he will have been proven wrong about his statement. Obviously the biggest tyrant and terrorist in the world wouldn't put up with that.

Absolute crap.

We wake up. We go to work. We watch as leaders come and go. Harry has a problem with this one. If he had a problem with the people or the way of life he wouldn't come back. He still comes back. Why in god's name would you take it personally?

I think a few people need to differentiate between having an issue with some guys in suits and having issue with the way people live. A little too much Faux here.

Don't people see that this short sighted attitude about people having the right to say whatever they want wherever they want is helping create the bad rep that everyone is complaining the US has. They spout about how terrible the government is without giving any fact to back it up. People around the world hear that Bush is a terrorist and eat it up.

There is alot of information but not everyone takes the time to go through it, sift, correlate and then arrive at a conclusion. Throw in a little historical context and you have a full time hobby. Most won't take the time. So to better answer your question I'll suggest the following google searches:

I would suggest a google search with the pdfs, pnac, vision for 2020 space command, doctrine of joint nuclear operations and the good ol' cia website. There is quite a bit to read if one makes the effort to look.

I think I'll pop off a few famous quotes because what you state is that any aberrant behaviour that is not supportive is to be hogtied and feathered. I disagree and I'll show you with famous people throughout history who have commented on the state of war and the ability to question leaders.

"The cry has been that when war is declared, all opposition should be hushed. A sentiment more unworthy of a free country could hardly be propagated." - William Ellery Channing

"The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous." - Frederick Douglass

"We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex."- Dwight D. Eisenhower

"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." - Edward Abbey

"That we are to stand by the president, right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." - Theodore Roosevelt

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein

I'll finish off with one of my favourites because I think it is doubly appropriate.

"Today the real test of power is not capacity to make war but capacity to prevent it." - Anne O'Hare McCormick

Terrorist strikes come and go Jill but it takes a special kind of guy to want to wage a war on an entire nation. That is what Mr. Belefonte is criticising. The ability to question authourity is essential to a healthy democratic process. Jill why would you deny him this right?

was not aimed at you steven

I know that... was just kidding.

CARACAS, Venezuela(Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned the U.S. government Sunday that if it tried to invade Venezuela or impose a trade blockade against his country, he would shut off Venezuelan oil supplies to the United States.

Um, DUH! If country X has a trade blockade against it, exports of resource Y will stop. No trade = no oil. That is the very definition of a trade blockade. And if country Z tries to invade country X, country X isn't going to want to sell them fuel for the tanks used to kill them.

And I don't see the issue of which country Belafonte says things like this in matters. USA has freedom of speech, Venezuela has freedom of speech, why should there be a problem on where he says it?

I find it kinda funny (well, maybe funny isn't quite the right word) that when racists march in Toledo, people here will stand up for their freedom of speech, yet when a man criticized the President and issues a statement of solidarity with Chavez and the Venezuelan people, people here will stand up and demand that he be deported.

OMG Latour... YOU a commie like me???
What's JU coming to???

I find it kinda funny (well, maybe funny isn't quite the right word) that when racists march in Toledo, people here will stand up for their freedom of speech, yet when a man criticized the President and issues a statement of solidarity with Chavez and the Venezuelan people, people here will stand up and demand that he be deported.

Oh latour, I thought you knew about this site. The unfortunate Nazi racists need to be protected for they are the downtrodden.

Now, Belafonte? Well, he's just an upitty black man and needs to learn his place.




They call it The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Belafonte exercised his freedom to critisize his government and he showed bravery in doing so. After all, it doesn't take any courage to support a bully. However, to speak out against one.....

You liberals are taking this very serious thread and making a mockery of it... Shame on you all!

They call it The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Belafonte exercised his freedom to critisize his government and he showed bravery in doing so. After all, it doesn't take any courage to support a bully. However, to speak out against one.....

Hey yo-yo....he wasn't here when he ran his mouth was he? He probably did it there knowing full well "someone" would mess him up if he had the balls to say it inside the US. He showed NO bravery and only cowardice in doing it the way he did.

I find it kinda funny (well, maybe funny isn't quite the right word) that when racists march in Toledo, people here will stand up for their freedom of speech, yet when a man criticized the President and issues a statement of solidarity with Chavez and the Venezuelan people, people here will stand up and demand that he be deported.

That's because they had the "guts" to say and do their thing on home turf (US). "Why" did he feel the need to voice solidarity with Chavez? Why could he not voice his "solidarity" with other Americans or America? He didn't! I've had "close" family and friends fight, bleed and die for this country and it's elected leaders! As far as "I'm" concerned he should not even consider himself an American any more.

Times are different today and this will not be allowed to happen again

"Do not" bet your last dollar on this!

In my opinion, the United States meddles too much in the affairs of too many nations. This has been going on for a long time, it's not new.

This is your opinion and you are welcomed to it. No surprise there considering where you live. And considering where I live, it should also be no surprise that I feel 100% opposite from you!

They both represent opposite sides of the political spectrum. This, due to the fact that poverty is and was rampant in Venezuela a Socialist was elected to help get the people out of the mess they were in.

And exactly "what" has he done to bring his people out of poverty?

OK... I read the rather one sided link you provided and my position remains the same.

One sided link? Did you bother to see where that link came from? How about the US Army War College, by their director of stategic studies.

Jill why would you deny him this right?

You are obviously too myopic to grasp what I have been saying. I said that I agree with the right to free speech when he is exercising it here in his own country. Why the need to go somewhere else if he is so brave and righteous?

There is alot of information but not everyone takes the time to go through it, sift, correlate and then arrive at a conclusion.

You are actually supporting my point without knowing it. The general world population isn't going to check into what guys like Belafonte are saying. They are going to hear that some famous American is saying that Bush is a tyrant and a terrorist. That is just going to fire them up about how evil America is.

It is sooo easy to cry "Brave are those who speak out about their own government" but it is more difficult to discern if it is the right time and/or place to do it.

I am no fan of Bush but I find it laughable that anyone consider him a tyrant or terrorist. I find it discouraging how many Americans applaud entertainers who go off to foreign countries spouting their opinions on politics. Why aren't they in Washington try to make a constructive change if they are so knowledgable and concerned about their country's politics?

It bothers me because the guy is an idiot who lends encouragement to those who wish to do harm the the US and our way of life. I guess if he is allowed to come back to the US and lives, he will have been proven wrong about his statement. Obviously the biggest tyrant and terrorist in the world wouldn't put up with that. Absolute crap.

To this I say you are obviously not worthy of attempting to reason with because you can't see a point when it is under your nose.

Slanderer goes on to ask why I would take it personally. I say to that, perhaps one of the biggest problems we have in our society is we don't take things personally enough. Let people do and say whatever they want as long as it doesn't directly affect you. Don't worry about the big picture or reality. Let's only focus on the word of the law and applauding idealists whether it is damaging or not.

I am not one who believes you should blindly support your government. I do however believe that you should always act with your nation's best interest and not just your own. Protest all you want but do it in your own country! If you don't like what is going on in your own country, do something about it. If you still feel you can't stand your country and think there is somewhere better, move there.

it doesn't take any courage to support a bully. However, to speak out against one.....

It takes courage to speak out about a bully in front of the bully. It doesn't take any courage at all to run away and call him names behind his back.

One sided link? Did you bother to see where that link came from? How about the US Army War College, by their director of stategic studies.

lol... thank you for proving my point.

"why don't you follow the examples of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow and go live where you feel you would be happier?"

I though they both live in London now?