New Orleans’ Nagin sees divine punishment

January 17, 2006

I can appreciate that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been under a great deal of pressure the last several months, but by publicly arguing that recent hurricanes are a sign that “God is mad at America” and at African-American communities, I’m afraid Nagin is venturing into Pat Robertson-like territory.

Mayor Ray Nagin suggested Monday that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other storms were a sign that “God is mad at America” and at black communities, too, for tearing themselves apart with violence and political infighting.

“Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it’s destroyed and put stress on this country,” Nagin, who is black, said as he and other city leaders marked Martin Luther King Day.

“Surely he doesn’t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretenses. But surely he is upset at black America also. We’re not taking care of ourselves.”

Nagin went on to say that New Orleans will be a “chocolate” city again, because “it’s the way God wants it to be.” What’s more, he described a recent “conversation” he had Martin Luther King.

“I said, ‘What is it going to take for us to move on and live your dream and make it a reality?’ He said, ‘I don’t think that we need to pay attention any more as much about other folks and racists on the other side.’ He said, ‘The thing we need to focus on as a community black folks I’m talking about is ourselves.'”

Nagin’s been through a lot since August, and the strain of seeing his hometown severely damaged has no doubt taken a toll. Nevertheless, perhaps now would be a good time for Nagin to say less and think more.

I suspect it is more pandering than loonieness. Nagin was in a church, which accepts more allegorical type speech. MLKjr, afterall, hadn’t really “been to the mountain”

Pat Robertson, on the other hand, makes his pronouncements on what is the “news” portion of a talkshow, thus implying a higher degree of fact and truth.

Of course, they both could be flaming crazies

  • How utterly irresponsible. The last thing the fringe crazies spouting this kind of nonsense need is the mayor of New Orleans lending credibility to their ignorant ravings.

    But isn’t it convenient how God always seems to agree with one’s own politics? To Robertson et al., God is upset by America’s tolerance of abortion and riverboat gambling. To Nagin, it’s the war in Iraq and the problems in black communities. It’s almost as though God’s will could be modified to suit one’s own politically expedient preferences!

  • What he is doing is no better than what the Religious Right fascists do. He’s using God, religion, and race to influence politically. Shameful.

    I can only assume that King would be disappointed in his reference to a ‘chocolate’ city and his call to focus on the black community. From what I know of King he was about inclusion and equality, not separatism.

    He, and any other politician in office, who claim to hear the voice and know the will of God should be immediately removed from that office. Again, shameful.

  • Actually, his remarks taken from a black perspective make sense. Black’s can interrupet the term “chocolate” to mean mixed races. While Whites immediatly see “chocolate” as “Black”.

    From a black religious percpective which takes into account not only the words but how they are delivered (See video), he is appealing to his flock to come home and build again.

  • His comments aren’t being taken to well by the entire black population down here. IMHO Nagin just ended his political career here in N.O.

    Nagin needs to say less and DO more.

  • Ray Nagin’s speech is not going to help rebuild the damaged
    relationships between blacks and whites in New Orleans nor is it
    going to help rebuild the physical city.
    To many of the white New Orleanians in places like Lakeview ( which
    had a 96% white pre-Katriana population and was often derided by
    black politicians as ” Vanillaville” ) this can only be a turnoff.
    Nagin has failed to attend any meetings in Lakeview (including one
    that had over 3000 residents last October), although he has traveled
    to Houston, Memphis, and Atlanta to meet with displaced New Orleanians
    ( who were mostly black). There is another meeting scheduled for this
    Saturday (Jan 21st) that Nagin is supposed to attend in Lakeview.
    It should be an interesting event.
    Nagin isn’t a racist, of course, but he is often careless with his choice of
    words and has a less than forceful public speaking style.
    New Orleans needs to unite in every way it can. Division and
    turf-wars are luxuries it can no longer afford. If New Orleans is going to
    be rebuilt it needs the input an dedication of all its citizens no matter what
    their race or social class.
    There could be no greater or lasting tribute to Dr. King’s memory than to
    emphasize that we are all Americans and our common future and
    progress as a people depends on upholding the dignity and inherent
    worth of each individual. That this should still be an issue in 2006
    is an indication that there is still a lot of work to do to promote genuine
    social justice in this nation.

  • “Mayor Chocolate Nagin, America’s flavorite racist.” -Joe Kovacs

    Perhaps “Mayor Chocolate Nagin” never really understood Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, especially the part where a person’s color is supposed to be a non-factor.

  • Nagin, as I remember it, contributed exclusively to Republican candidates before switching parties to run as a “pragmatic Democrat.” Now as he watches BushCo back away from all those pretty words about completely rebuilding N.O., I’ll bet he’s wondering how he’ll ever get re-elected. Personal talks with MLK aren’t going to help him with the former residents who just got the word they will have their mud-filled, molding homes confiscated in 90 days if they don’t move into them. (And who do you think the properties will be sold to–at a huge discount?) That ought to bring us right up to Mardi Gras time.

    Who are gonna be the main speakers at the rally at the Superdome? What’s that? Nagin says no demonstration permits will be issued?

  • I’m a 19 year old college student and New Orleans native. After listening to Mayor Nagin’s idiotic ramblings, i’m thinking about spending my summer vacation running for mayor. I mean i can’t be any more inept, ineffective and all around clueless than Nagin and the rest of city government is. After hearing these Robertsonian ramblings i wish they were the ones who got displaced after Katrina.

  • Nagin has apologized–spinning it horribly (but in a manner Scotty M would love). Don’t worry Jon. Nagin will not be reelected. He doesn’t have, and never had, any real grassroots support. He has effectively ended his political career down here.

  • No doubt New Orleans will be “chocolate” again. I understand that Mexicans drink a LOT of hot chocolate, and I know that’s what Mayor Nagin meant. During my six weeks of consulting in NO I ran into several workers, white and black, complaining about the number of Hispanics in the clean-up work crews. Heh. Get used to it.

    Speaking of the mayor, he’s about as “chocolate” as a PayDay bar.

    • Comments are closed.