# Harry Belafonte sticks his head up his ass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237 "2006-01-10T00:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/161 "2006-01-11T16:38:59Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > My biggest problem with Belafonte is that, as an Italian American, I’m offended by his frequent use of the epithet “dago” in that Banana Boat song. Jesus, doesn’t he know that’s a racial slur? How’d he like it if I sang a song that went “Nigger! Ni-i-i-gger! Daylight come and me wanna go home!” Suddenly it’s not so cute and innocent anymore, is it? _ponders if Revtim is joking or not_ ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/162 "2006-01-11T16:41:10Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > My biggest problem with Belafonte is that, as an Italian American, I’m offended by his frequent use of the epithet “dago” in that Banana Boat song. Jesus, doesn’t he know that’s a racial slur? How’d he like it if I sang a song that went “Nigger! Ni-i-i-gger! Daylight come and me wanna go home!” Suddenly it’s not so cute and innocent anymore, is it? In case you are not joking. Dayo, da da dayio. Daylight come etc. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/163 "2006-01-11T16:54:09Z")
I knew he was joking. FWIW ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/164 "2006-01-11T16:56:31Z")
> [@tagos](#): > > In case you are not joking. > > Dayo, da da dayio. Daylight come etc. Sure, that’s what the liberal-biased media wants you to _think_ their traitor-hero Belafonte is singing. Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, Italian-America being shit on? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/165 "2006-01-11T17:01:32Z")
> [@AFAIKnow](#): > > Hell, Saddam got 99(90?)% of the vote. With the endorsement of the United States too. So it becomes like the parent says, “I brought you into the world and I can take you out again” with respect to removing Sadaam. ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/166 "2006-01-11T17:03:58Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Sure, that’s what the liberal-biased media wants you to _think_ their traitor-hero Belafonte is singing. > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, Italian-America being shit on? According to O’Reilly if you play the Banana Boat Song backwards he’s singing: “I’m an America-hating Commie-fag. Kill George Bush, kill George Bush.” ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/167 "2006-01-11T17:08:37Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, Italian-America being shit on? Now _that_, was good. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/168 "2006-01-11T18:33:03Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, Italian-America being shit on? I don’t have to, I just don’t like wops. -Joe, I was joking, Vito, jokiiiiing! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/169 "2006-01-11T19:36:03Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Main Entry: sat·ire > Pronunciation: 'sa-"tIr > Function: noun > Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin satura, satira, perhaps from (lanx) satura dish of mixed ingredients, from feminine of satur well-fed; akin to Latin satis enough – more at SAD > 1 : a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn > 2 : trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly > > Nope, you missed both times. That is what I call stupidity. Given your extensive, well-documented, first-hand experience with stupidity, I have no choice but to bow to your expert opinion. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/170 "2006-01-11T20:19:03Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I don’t have to, I just don’t like wops. > > -Joe, I was joking, Vito, jokiiiiing! You forgot to apologize to Guido and Luca. There will be a package sent to you home. Some nice fish wrapped in newspapers. What size shoe do you were? 😉 Giacomo ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/171 "2006-01-11T21:47:45Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > You forgot to apologize to Guido and Luca. There will be a package sent to you home. Some nice fish wrapped in newspapers. What size shoe do you were? 😉 > > Giacomo Damn, that’s weird. Just yesterday I was outlining an RPG scenario and I had to come up with the name of a mid-level mobster. I named him Luca. I had no idea it was an eye-talian name. -Joe, shivering ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/172 "2006-01-11T21:56:45Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Damn, that’s weird. > > Just yesterday I was outlining an RPG scenario and I had to come up with the name of a mid-level mobster. > > I named him Luca. I had no idea it was an eye-talian name. > > -Joe, shivering Luca Brasi was the scariest of Don Corleone’s enforcers. When he was killed a package was sent to the Don, a Fish wrapped in newspaper and his bulletproof vest. Michael Corleone didn’t understand it. They explained it was an old Sicilian message. It meant, “Luca Brasi sleeps with the Fishes”. Jim ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/173 "2006-01-11T23:53:18Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The two are linked. Not equivalent, but linked—strongly. And more so abroad I’d say, than here. > > Is it your opinion that this does not hurt the image of the U.S.? Do you not think that speaking well of JFK or Reagn or Roosevelt had a positive effect on America’s image? > > Do you think that the masses in other countries are as clear on the distinction you make as you or most of the people on SDMB are? As a foreign chap, here is my image of the two: America reminds me of: - its Constitution (e.g. ‘all men are created equal’) - Miranda warnings (e.g. ‘you have the right to a lawyer’) - being the sole World superpower - Hollywood (Casablanca, Usual Suspects) - NFL (‘go Bears!’) - TV (CSI, West Wing) - fast food - tornadoes and a bunch of other stuff. President Bush reminds me of: - invading Iraq to seize the WMD’s - standing on a ship claiming ‘the Mission is accomplished’ - Guantanamo Bay (apparently you don’t have the right to a lawyer. Or a trial.) - Abu Graib (hey, let’s take pictures!) - Haliburton / Cheney / Bechtel - believing that God talks to him - thinking ID should be given equal time with evolution - bumbling in speeches and a bunch of other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/174 "2006-01-12T03:15:41Z")
**RevTim** I’m glad you brought these facts to my attention. With half of my ethnicity being Italian I am outraged. I never knew Mr Belafonte was uttering that ethnic slur. As I was reading your posting I thought, well considering his ethnicity, Harry could get away with that … until I read that he’s not even Italian !!! :eek: He had the nerve to choose an Italian surname and at the same time turned around and slapped that very same ethnicity. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/175 "2006-01-12T03:21:42Z")
Well. **I** say it’s high time all those silly-ass Italo-Caribbean banana-pickers got the musical reaming they deserve! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/176 "2006-01-12T03:45:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well. **I** say it’s high time all those silly-ass Italo-Caribbean banana-pickers got the musical reaming they deserve! 🙂 That’s right, Harry’s telling it like it is. If those punks don’t like how we do things here in the western hemisphere, they can just go home when daylight come! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/177 "2006-01-12T03:58:50Z")
If this thread sinks any lower I’m going to be tempted to limbo under it. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/178 "2006-01-12T04:16:15Z")
If this thread sinks any lower you couldn’t fit a piece of newspaper under it to catch the droppings. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/179 "2006-01-12T06:00:49Z")
If this thread sinks any lower it’ll take the plunge cited in the first line of my sig: ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/180 "2006-01-12T12:23:09Z")
For what it’s worth, as a non-American I’m encouraged by the fact that American citizens can publically, fairly or unfairly, disagree with their President. It gives me hope for America as a nation. If criticism were not to be tolerated, the world would become confused between America as a nation, and the American government. These are two very separate entities, and we need to understand that whatever misdeeds are being perpetrated by the Bush administration are not necessarily being perpetrated by America as a nation. Nowadays in after-dinner talk I’m hearing more of “the American government has done this,” and “the American government has done that,” and less of “the Americans have done this or that.” The former is closer to the truth, and perceptive commentators are recognising this. In my view nationalism is dangerous. It is dangerous to neighbouring countries, and dangerous to citizens who would disagree with national policy. The concept of _vaderland uber alles_ is passe. With more and more communication between countries and more and more access to information it is becoming more and more difficult to dupe entire nations into blindly following the whims of their governments. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237.md?page=10)