Cold Day in the No-Spin Zone

I thought that this was note-worthy and that I should post it.


If you know me then you know that I really don't like Bill O'Reilly for a number of reasons. Well, I just wanted to say that on this latest hot issue, I am adamantly defending him.


His "racist comments" were COMPLETELY taken out of context. Basically, he was being sarcastic when he made the comments about Sylvia. If you watch Bill then you know that he's very sarcastic. He was being so when he said that people were sitting down quietly eating in this black restaurant and not "screaming m'effer". He was being sarcastic basically saying "Wow! You mean black and white people eat at restaurants the same? I can't believe it!"

As for the other comments that he made- they were all about a "black crisis" that is going on with parts of black culture. He was addressing the "crisis" because his guest was black and it was a relevant issue. It's just that when a rich white man addresses the problems of lower-class black people- strangely enough they don't take to it too well. So, it's not that Bill wasn't accurate or genuine with the comments that he made about the "black crisis"- it's just that when you are rich white and powerful you aren't "allowed" to talk about such things.

While he and I don't agree on much, we agree on our view of the black crisis in parts of America- 75% of black children are in single-parent homes and therefore lacking guidance from one parent, and to add to that lack of guidance- the role models that are pushed on them by society, the media, and television are rappers who glorify the "thug" life and things like going to prison and being shot rather than getting an education and working your way up the corporate ladder. And that's a crisis, obviously. You can't have children looking to rappers as role models. And children emulating the rap culture are out there. I see them when I walk down my street. It's sad. And I know that O'Reilly addressed this in his latest "fiasco". That's part of what has him in hot water.

It's a tricky situation when you are a rich white man addressing black problems because it paints you as a racist. That's understandable. If a person of another race started addressing problems in white culture we would call them a racist too. But this is even worse- a rich white male is at the "top of the food chain" so to speak, and a poor black female is at the bottom (sadly) and that is who ends up feeling attacked here. Even though Bill really wants to attack corporations and media for turning negative rappers into role models- the people who feel more attacked are the young black mothers of the black children. The LAST person they want telling how to raise their children is a rich white man- a person who can't relate to them AT TALL. So I understand why people are quick to jump on Bill, but it's really without cause. He's saying the same things that Bill Cosby said a few years at the 50th Anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education and got his ass reemed about. And Cosby got DESTROYED by the media. Poor guy. He just wanted to address the issues in his race; he wasn't saying that all black people are bad.

So I understand why people jumped on O'Reilly because talking about race is a touchy thing, especially when it's another race you are addressing. But, it's unwarranted because his intentions as far as race are nothing but good. He was being sarcastic in his comments about Sylvia's restaurant in Harlem, and being sincere in his comments about black children emulating rap culture. Bill has ALWAYS fought back against big corporations using rap artists to sell problems (because it only ups their popularity). But he doesn't fight the corporations because he hates black people- he fights them because he doesn't like certain rap artists (they aren't ALL negative) being idolized by children. Understandable.

Bill and I agree on something. I am a big enough person to admit this. I feel for the guy.

Lins