Belafonte says Bush is ‘greatest terrorist’

I read this from Tribune Plus:

CARACAS, Venezuela - The American singer and activist Harry Belafonte has called President Bush “the greatest terrorist in the world” and has said millions of Americans support the socialist revolution of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.

Belafonte led a delegation of Americans including the actor Danny Glover and the Princeton University scholar Cornel West that met the Venezuelan president for more than six hours late Saturday. Some in the group attended Chavez’s television and radio broadcast Sunday.

“No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we’re here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution,” Belafonte told Chavez during the broadcast.

The 78-year-old Belafonte, famous for his calypso-inspired music, including the “Day-O” song, was a close collaborator of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and is now a Unicef goodwill ambassador. He also has been outspoken in criticising the US embargo of Cuba.

Chavez said he believes deeply in the struggle for justice by blacks, both in the U.S. and Venezuela.

“Although we may not believe it, there continues to be great discrimination here against black people,” Chavez said, urging his government to redouble its efforts to prevent discrimination. Belafonte accused US news media of falsely painting Chavez as a “dictator,” when in fact, he said, there is democracy and citizens are “optimistic about their future.”

Dolores Huerta, a pioneer of the United Farm Workers labour union also in the delegation, called the visit a “very deep experience.”

Chavez accuses Bush of trying to overthrow him, pointing to intelligence documents released by the US indicating that the CIA knew beforehand that dissident officers planned a short-lived 2002 coup. The US denies involvement, but Chavez says Venezuela must be on guard. Belafonte suggested setting up a youth exchange for Venezuelans and Americans. He finished by shouting in Spanish: “Viva la revolucion!”

Emulate honest girl, Ma'am

President Macapagal-Arroyo should emulate the honesty of 12-year-old Cristina Bugayong who returned P300,000 worth of cash and checks she found last January 4.

"President Arroyo could learn a thing or two from Cristina Bugayong about true honesty, integrity, and truthfulness," according to Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran.

The lawmaker said the accolade for Bugayong shows the nation sorely lacks honest men and women. He lamented that far from Bugayong's exemplary attitude was the country's president "who consistently lied without batting an eyelash, consistently backtracked on her promises, spinelessly retracted her statements, and has been accused of massive graft and corruption on many controversial issues."

Tita C. Valderama
People's Journal