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Spike Lee talks Haiti, Sean Penn and Wyclef Jean
Spike Lee has the ultimate respect for Sean Penn, but doesn't have an opinion about Wyclef Jean's bid for the Haitian presidency ... yet."I only know Wyclef as a musician, so I can only speak of his musicianship," Lee says during the HBO press session Saturday (Aug. 7) for his HBO documentary "If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don't Rise." "Whether he's a politician, that's something else."
"If God ..." is the filmmaker's follow-up to the Emmy-winning "When the Levees Broke." In the new documentary, Lee makes a correlation between New Orleans and Haiti, even visiting Sean Penn, who's camping out in Port Au Prince to help relief efforts.
"Sean Penn has put his dues, his time to speak about Haiti," observes Lee. "He's been down there from the get-go, he was there three days after the earthquake. "He's left everything here and has moved to Haiti. And he's not living in the palace, he's living in a tent, and I slept three nights there. It's not like he's living high on the hog. This is like a tent tent tent. So I respect his opinion."
"For me, I don't see any negativity what Brad Pitt doing, rebuilding houses for the African American homeowners in the lower Ninth Ward [in New Orleans]," Lee adds, "He's doing stuff that neither the local, state or federal government are doing. He's building greenhouses, solar panels, everything.
"I want to commend President Clinton because he's been in it too. He went back for the six-month anniversary [of the Haitian earthquake]."
"If God ..." premieres on HBO Aug. 23.
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So Spike Lee values the white man Sean Penn's 6 month "charity" work in Haiti instead of one of Haiti's own black sons who's been doing work there for years coming home and saying, Haiti I am going to show you how to fish instead of people coming around once in a while giving you charity and crumbs from the table. There's something wrong with that and its the reason the black race is in the shape we're in. When not in Haiti, does not Sean Penn live in luxury in Malibu? How hypocritical. Wyclef was born in a hut and lived in it for 9 years in one of the poorest countries in the world. We don't want him coming back to live in a tent/hut. That won't be inspirational to us Haitian people. We want to see him in his jet, it shows us that one of our sons has made it.
Some one needs to use spell check!
If Got... ?
Atleast Penn is doing more then those douhebags the Obama's, all they do is go on vacations or thorw partys at the White House. Keep up the good work Sean and God bless.
Why we are looking to find fault in any one person who does good work or tries to extend kindness to another baffles and saddens me. There are millions of people doing nothing for others who are in times of need. Why is our anger not directed there? Why do we not question the motives and morals of those who do nothing?
How does living in a tent make Sean Penn smart?
@marie- You are wrong about Sean Penn. I think it speaks volumes that a man who lives a life of luxury CHOOSES to live in a tent to help those in need. And to all those that criticize him, shame on your mother for not raising you to respect all those that help. You all love to lambast and appreciate nothing.
@marie says "Haiti I am going to show you how to fish instead of people coming around once in a while giving you charity and crumbs from the table."
The people of Haiti live like every other human beings on the planet. They know how to fend for themselves and earn a living. Just like every place on the planet, your living conditions are what you make of it. If you are poor, THEN BETTER YOURSELF. Live life and train yourself in a trade that can benefit you and your family and quit talking down on the charities handed to you even though you stand there with your hand extended. I am not referring to the Earthquake victims, I am speaking in general.
Sean Penn should mind his own business. Wyclef is a son of Haiti and we love him and appreciate him. Wyclef absolutely doesn't need Haiti financially, he needs Haiti emotionally, and we Haitians feel honored that one of our sons would make such a sacrifice for us. and if France and the Haiti elites don't assassinate him first, he will be the best President Haiti has ever had!
Ms. Dhatii - If Haiti rejected help from EVERYONE who is not a native Haitian, not just Sean Penn, your country would be in even worse shape than it is.
I come from a poor and abusive background. If someone wanted to help me (and my people) I would welcome it, rather than disdain it. And if that someone were wealthy, I would prefer to see him living like me, suffering a lack of luxuries right along with me. I would appreciate the effort and humility that shows. I am more inspired by someone wealthy who would live like me, even if he can afford to live quite differently, than to see him arrive in a private jet.
You should note that Mr. Spike Lee did not speak ill of Wyclef Jean, and he did not say that Mr. Jean has not done many things for Haiti. He simply said that he doesn't know how Mr. Jean would fare as a politician (or statesman), which is an entirely appropriate observation to make.
You posit your arguments as if this were a competition between Wyclef Jean and Sean Penn, when it obviously is not. Shame on the writers for insinuating it, and shame on you for taking the bait.
If the way Wyclef ran Yele is any indication than he's fit for the job of a corrupt money stealing leader. @.5 million in unpaid taxes, someone call 911 and have this man arrested.