AFRO-Americ@: Community Discussions

Topic for 9/2/96: The U.S. government recently denied Minister Louis Farrakhan's request for an exemption which would have permitted the Nation of Islam to receive a multi-million dollar "humanitarian aid" donation from Libyan leader Moammer Khadafi. Given this country's past experience with the Libyan leader, was the government's action correct or just another example of the uneven (and unfair) application of U.S. foreign policy to African (Black) countries?

Name: Adrian
Email: Uipspl@hotmail.com
Response: I believe any off shore organisation should be permitted to further the advancement of black peoples plight to gain equal footing in western society. The Aboriginal peoples of Australia are prisoners in thier own country, and have received absolutely no assistance from anywhere in the world. I believe Indigenous people have the right to live in peace and security, and freedom to develop thier culture and identity. The time for this rebirth is now.

Name: Classified
Email:
Response: I don't think it was okay for the Govt. toprevent you from getting the money... on a principle. However, I also know that Farakhanis an enemy of MY people. You don't want toride in the back of the bus... What makes you think that I will? You don't want to be put ata disadvantage when it comes to jobs and income? What makes you think that I want to?WHITE AMERICAN

Name: mefar
Email: mefar@aol.com
Response: Who is America to stop someone from recieving a donation..what if it were to be donated to USA. would they have accepted it then!

Name: rose
Email:
Response: I think the gov. was correct. I also feel that if Kadafi was serious about the gift Farrakhan would not have announced it to the world. There are so many ways to keep money off shore! Why would it be announced? I think Farrakhan should stick to what he does best and that is motivate young people to believe in themselves. He has proven that if there is a will there is a way! All bad habits can be overcome if you realize that your strength is from within. If khadafi was serious which I personally doubt ($1billion), Farrakhan should have put the money in a Swiss bank account and kept his mouth closed!

Name: rlands
Email: lands@electric.austin.tx.us
Response: Whether or not they would have allowed him to it or not is really irrevelant. Receivng money from outside venues will not solve any bodies problems. I mean why should Afro-America prostitute itself, for pennies. The economic wealth we have here at home is unbelievable. If we would only stop selling out to nike, schlitz, budweiser, merceds benz, dkny, and a host of others. What is really important, how much money you make when we graduate from college or ensuring that when we have completed that rites of passage we are a people of high moral character and quality, committed to excellence, working to build family and community. And the last time I checked it don't take know millions of dollars to tell a young black baby til the time they are adults that they kings and queens, that they are winners, that they are giants. Was it fair what the government did? I don't know but they are consistent.

Name: Gene
Email:
Response: To be totally fair, the u.S. govt should compensate the NOI economic damages caused by the denial, as they do now for our large corporations and European trading partners who go along with sanctions against "the world's enemies". The real question is, why did Khadafi offer the money and why did Farrakahn "go public"? Maybe they want to sew some seeds of discontent in Black America. Hmmm. Don't be misled people!

Name: Kevin
Email: kizard@juno.com
Response: (1) I do not trust Minister Farrakhan's motives. It seems to me that Minister Farrakhan makes the error if believing that "the enemy of my enemy is my firiend." (also demonstrated in his newfound friendship with Fiedel Castro.) (2) I do not trust Khadafi's motives. It strikes me as very suspicious that Lybia, with its own problems of poverty, would be so moved by the plight of African Americans, that it would take bread from its own children. DO NOT BE DECEIVED, friends! (This is not meant to suggest that the US governments motives are pure, either.)

Name: Hamadi
Email: hwalls@pop.sirius.com
Response: It is unfortunate and sad that a considerable number of Africans in America are still so incredibly naive When we talk about who can or cannot be trusted. It is the American governement that cannot be trusted not Khadfi or Farrakhan. It is our government that's responsible for the influx of cocaine, "crack" in our communities not Khadafi or Farrrakhan. We should be free to accep whatever gift from whomever. The government is apparently unwilliing to give us anything to lift up those of us who are languising in hopelessness and dispair. And for you so called sucessful negroes, your time is up too. Look what they did too Michael Jacksons. When are we going to wake up!!

Name: kevin daniels
Email: kdani10428@gnn.com
Response: the answer is quite obvious. there is an unfair double standard being applied in this case. history has and continues to show us that when it comes to the advancement of african american communities, organizations, and leaders the scale of justice and fairness somehow always seems to allow an inbalance. regardless of how much money it is and what the current u.s. foriegn policy is toward iraq, it is doubtful that minister farakhan would use it in any way that is not beneficial for the general good of our community. it's a shameless and farcical move on the establishment's part to impeed the progress of african americans in this country.

Name: Scratch
Email: Scratch3@ix.netcom.com
Response: No! I don't think the decision is correct, I belive in the past some christian organization have recived this type of donation without asking for exemption tax free!!!!!!just because america want's too be on bad terms with khadafi they should'n mess it up for the one's that's on good terms with him.after all at least he's willing to do somthing that america isn't help the dark-ones of the world!!!!!!!! later...............

Name: Robyn Mars
Email: Robyn_M_Mars@bcbsma.com
Response: The offer that Khadafi makes is a very tempting one. However, I feel he is a man that cannot be trusted. Our people could use the money to do some good but my problem is the source of the gift. Also, I'm not too sure about Farrakan himself. I have agreed with some of his statements he has made in the past but I feel he can be unstable at times. He can be a violent and an alliance between Farrakan and Khadafi might not be good for the African American community. The government made the right choice in not letting Farrakan accept the money.

Name: gerald brown
Email: gerald@eee.org
Response: Farrakhan ought to see if he can get the same deal from Assad of Syria. They are not official outlaws in the U.S., and a transaction would therefore have to be rejected for other reasons. Then we can protest. There wasn't one chance that he would have been able to get money from Lybia, so there's no news in that story. I am still wondering about an accounting of the Million Man March money.

Name: Randolph Bettis
Email: Iceman@necs.com
Response: I would like just to say white America has no right to tell black American who are enemies are. Get real,Europeans and those of European decent their have repetedly demonstrated in a in countless ways that they are the black mans enemy.