Akon: "violence is never the answer"

Akon is some kind of special. Probably akin to special ed. It would explain his duplicitous nature. Let me clarify.

Akon has a song called Sexy Chick. In the video, which had no problem ripping off the concept from The Hangover (so much for originality), he is "performing" while a host of bikini-clad women gyrate to his song. At one point the women are dancing in front of a statue of Buddha.

Now here is the controversy and the duplicity.

The women dancing in front of the Buddha in that particular attire (or lack thereof) is an offense to Buddhists. In Sri Lanka it's such a big deal that the government there denied him a visa to the country. This of course impedes his ability to perform a concert in that country. In addition people in that country are protesting and throwing rocks at the offices of his promoter.

All of this has affected the 'entertainer'. He has stated

"I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended," the singer added. "But violence is never the answer and I am disheartened."

Spiritual? What spirituality appreciates objectifying women, and being so oblivious to other religions that a roughly 10-foot symbol of a major world religion is ignored? Seriously the statue of Buddha in question is 10-feet at least, and a centerpiece of the area most of the video takes place in. How did he miss it? Especially if he is so spiritual and understanding? Or did the money he hoped the video would make him block out that spirituality?

And as to his comment about violence, this is Akon right? The same guy that took a 15 year old kid from the middle of a crowd of fans onto his stage, and then threw the kid off the stage. The video of that event was a major component in his trial, that he plead guilty to.

So it seems that violence is the answer, IF it's done by Akon.

I'm not a Buddhist, nor spiritual. But at least I'm not a hypocrit that's trying to say anything in order to make another buck.

2008 Olympic Games: What I hope to see

The 2008 Olympics. The once every 4 year event that circles the globe and features the greatest athletes in the world. The pinnacle of healthy fit human bodies. Supposedly representing the best of every nation, and with little polispeak of those nations.

But that’s not exactly true.

China is a prime example of that, and needs to be addressed before, and during this years games. China is a key supporter of the Sudan, and in this manner supporting the genocide of Darfur. China is the Sword of Damocles over Taiwan. China is the iron fist against Tibet. And while it’s not as commonly discussed as it has been in the past, for all the economic innovations made in the past decade, they are very communist.

On Wednesday many Americans got their first glimpse of the problems that China promotes. The students that crossed the Atlantic Ocean and our country to scale that bridge, at serious risk to themselves, made a statement. The protests, which were far more peaceful than similar events in England and France, got significant attention. But the major news media missed the big boat.

Well let me rephrase that, they missed the big boat of issues that I care about. While much was said of the protesters supporting Tibet, little was said about the other problems of China that have been ongoing for decades. Not to belittle the desire of the Tibetan people to be free. But I have yet to hear more than a polispeak soundbite discussing the continued efforts of China to encourage the Darfur genocide.

But it’s not because some with the major medias eye have not made statements. Stephen Spielberg quit as artistic advisor to the Olympics because of all the issues. French President Nicolas Sarkozy seems ready to boycott the Games. Last night Dennis Miller made perhaps the best statement and idea I have heard on the matter during his time on the Bill O’Reilly show – that every athlete, of every nation, appear at the opening ceremonies dressed like this



Some might say that a bit of clothing is just not enough. That this is not a strong enough statement. That more is required. I agree that more needs to be done. That Darfur needs to be ended, and those supporting the genocide punished in some manner.

“The Chinese have had their way over Tibet. They have openly intimidated those countries who want to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. And from their point of view, the Tibetans are an ungrateful bunch of peasants who have been dragged from the Dark Age of a Buddhist theocracy to the modern era of paved roads, city plumbing and light bulbs.”

Does that sound familiar? Does it remind you of the European desire to help the African people find civilization? Or the comments of some recently trying to justify the slavery of Africans in America and the current condition of Black Americans. Those kinds of thoughts and comments were not always unaccepted or considered the utterances of minds filled with compost. And even recent Olympics have been the stage for criticisms of American acceptance of those similar thoughts. Many of my readers may be too young to recall the international attention that this one scene created, deservedly so.



The Olympic Games are about the nations that host, as much as they are about the athletes that are competing. Nations are connected to the Games and each other. To accept the Olympic Games without calling attention to the murder of children and the subjugation of countries is an insult to what is on-going.

Thus I agree with Dennis Miller’s thought. I support his idea and add one minor point – every visitor to the Olympic Games’ opening ceremonies, including the political representatives of all the nations, should join the athletes in wearing the robes of the Tibetan monks. Such a display, viewed around the world, would shame China and hopefully be the cause of starting to address these horrible actions in a peaceful non-paranoid realistic manner.

Do you agree?