Manny Laureano

A very good thing happened this weekend.

Apparently, there's a rapper from Senegal named Akon who has made quite a litle career as a rapper. Chief among his artistic endeavors is a song called "I Wanna **** You". Very charming.

It also seems that he's someone who has had the backing of Verizon Wireless as they've featured ringtones with his "music" and sponsored his tours. Why this is significant is because of recent goings on during a concert in Trinidad:

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/007344.htm

The video is no longer up but the description of a simulated rape with a 14 year-old girl that came to the concert is included. Why she felt compelled to go to a concert like this is beyond me but that's another thread.

Conservative online columnists Michelle Malkin and Debbie Schussel got a hold of the story, put it up on the web where it was read by conservative radio talkshow host, Laura Ingraham. After the airing of the story on Ingraham's show the American public went berserk calling Verizon, cancelling contracts (money being less imortant than principle) that the following was announced recently:

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/007454.htm

Yup, Verizon done seen the light (of really bad publicity), got religion (of lost revenue) and has pulled the plug on their musical genius, Akon.

I count this as a true "Power to the People" moment and why I'm optimistic about the capacity of folks to show they care. It wasn't government that did it, it was the marketplace. It wasn't NOW that was speaking up for the misguided 14 year-old and caretaking idiot that brought her to the concert. It was the people that have had enough.

I hope it happens again and again. I hope the public begin to lose their taste for this kind of garbage. I hope parents take note of who is passing for "artists" these days.

This isn't an inherently political subject, it's a sociological one. The obvious harm of someone like this transcends party lines if you look at it objectively. This thread is about what elevates us all as a society and what degrades us. Akon's actions are indefensible. It remains to be seen, in his fairness, whether he referred to the little girl as a nappy-headed 'ho.

ML

Vulgano Brother

When Shell was planning to sink the Brent Spar oil rig in 1995, Europeans were asked to strike, and on one day not buy gasoline from Shell. Shell decided not to sink the rig. Was it the money, or was it Greenpeace Shell listened to?

Jimi Michiel

I believe the full title of this song is "I Wanna Take You Out For A Burger And Milkshake And Then Have You Home By 9 Because I Have The Utmost Respect For You"