Sean Penn be quiet! - O

Dateline 5 September 2005 – Today is my birthday and I am going to indulge myself. Not in cake and ice cream or even with a strong martini. Nope, I crave something far more delicious than the momentary passing of libation over my lips. I crave a response to the irrational statements made by the simple minded, pee-brained entertainers who have stepped up to the microphone and TV cameras, again, with reactions to Katrina and with disconnected recommendations to the government.

I wish to begin with Mr. Sean Penn. Is it appropriate to start with his arrest record, or his history of substance abuse and violent outbursts? Would it be fair to assess his expertise in search and rescue methods based on his level of education or experience as an elected public servant or government appointee? I suspect that paddling a sinking motorized boat along the flooded streets of New Orleans, with a personal photographer and large entourage onboard would, in certain circles, be considered brilliant and effective aid to the victims. The picture of the water being bailed from the boat with a small red cup by Mr. Penn deserves Time Magazine “Man Of the Year” consideration. My goodness, as a result of his ineptness, the motor did not work, because the boat had a not been properly secured. How could one not admire his courage and determination? May I never forget the picture of Mr. Penn floating from flooded house to flooded house, claiming that if America was not invested militarily in Iraq, we would be able to deal with the evacuations and rescues. As the National Guard, US Coast Guard, NOPD rescues were wrapping up, Penn claimed to be one of the only boats involved in rescues .... Hummmmm, I forgot, how many stars on his uniform?

And what about that Celine Dion? Up there on CNN Larry King Live, quacking like a duck about her near inability to sing as a result of what she witnessed seeing on the TV. The poor little dope was not able to process the fact that people are so poor that they don’t have cars or money for basic transportation. No doubt they spent their last chump change on her latest CDs.

But, leave nothing to the imagination, Oprah did show up to see the Houston rescue center. Yes, Ms. Opratunity herself showed up to let the people know that they are being remembered. Maybe she will arrange for more poverty stricken people to receive cars on which they can not afford the tax, and therefore will of necessity, decline the gift. The gift from her, at a cost to her of zero dollars. I feel a Harpo Production in the making.

Sean, Celine and Oprah are only a few of the GED candidates screaming that George Bush did not do enough nor did react quickly enough for the lame, blamers in Hollywood. There are apparently over 134,000 extremely poor people who have been integrated into other communities as a result of the devastation in New Orleans. NBC supported the President's being accused by some low life rapper named, Kanye, claiming that George Bush does not care about black people. The inference implicates everyone involved in the rescue, humanitarian efforts and relocations. Please put on the race breaks.

I cannot find an appropriate response. Where have Sean, Celine and Oprah been over the last 20 years? Where have the black entertainers, the black athletes, the black lawyers and doctors been? Why have successful blacks not aggressively helped the poorest black communities for the last 100 years? Why have so many people in one city been allowed to live, for decades, without the means to escape in the event of a disaster? Where was the Mayor? Where were the city officials and what was the Governor’s plan before Katrina hit? Did they not know that thousands of people would need help with evacuations prior to the hurricane hitting land? Of course they did.

Prior to Katrina staff writer Bruce Nolan, with the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE ran a story warning residents: If you stay behind during a big storm, you'll be on your own! He reported some 7 weeks before Katrina: "In scripted appearances being recorded now, officials such as Mayor Ray Nagin, local Red Cross Executive Director Kay Wilkins and City Council President Oliver Thomas drive home the word that the city does not have the resources to move out of harm's way an estimated 134,000 people without transportation."

Blaming George Bush, FEMA, Homeland Security you or me for that matter is pedantic, useless and crazy. Without our government aid hundreds of thousands of souls who were at greatest risk would not have their government subsidized housing, welfare or Medicare. Hollywood did not relocate hundreds of thousands of poor people to communities willing and able to continue supporting them, caring for them and offering them additional aid.

What motivates the brainless, undeserving, millionaire entertainers to attack the hand feeding the very people they have done nothing to help in 100 years? What are the lucky entertainers doing to help unlucky people living in absolute poverty? Can Sean and Celine and Oprah buy some homes, move a few families in and commit to supporting them for the next 20-30 years?

The natural disaster along the gulf coast requires the minds of reasonable people doing extraordinary things to stabilize the situation as our nation rebuilds and repairs lives and communities. There is no time for the insane antics and theatrics of publicity hungry entertainers exploiting the misfortunes of hundreds of thousands of people for the sake of 15 minutes in the dimming light from a fading candle.