New Orleans mayor regrets God comments about Katrina

-18/01/06

Ray Nagin, New Orleansí


New Orleans mayor regrets God comments about Katrina

-18/01/06

Ray Nagin, New Orleansí hard-pressed mayor, has apologised for extraordinarily claiming that Hurricane Katrina was Godís punishment for the war in Iraq and for predicting the city would be ìchocolateî again.

In a bizarre alternate echo of right-wing evangelist Pat Robertson, who tied the tragedy to divine wrath for homosexuality, the mayor had provoked outrage when he told residents celebrating Martin Luther King Day on Monday 16January 2006 that ìGod is mad at Americaî.

He also seemed to suggest that the disaster was to punish black communities in particular because of violence and infighting.

Today Mr Nagin recanted. ìI said some things that were totally inappropriate,î he explained. ìIt shouldnít have happened. I need to be more sensitive and more aware of what Iím saying.î

The mayor, who was elected in 2002, told shocked spectators in his speech: ìSurely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and itís destroyed and put stress on this country.î

He went on: ìSurely he doesnít approve of us being in Iraq under false pretences. But surely he is upset at black America also. Weíre not taking care of ourselves.î

The mayor also said that New Orleans must be a mostly African-American city again because ìitís the way God wants it to beÖThis city will be chocolate at the end of the day.î

Mr Nagin later qualified the metaphor: ìHow do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk and it becomes a delicious drink. That is the chocolate I am talking about.î

He said his speech was really meant to convey that blacks were a vital part of New Orleansí history and culture and should be encouraged to return, adding: ìI want everyone to be welcome in New Orleans ñ black, white, Asian, everybody.î

The other main point he had wanted to make was that when blacks did return, they should work to stamp out the crime and political infighting that had held them back.

Mayor Nagin, a former cable company executive, was elected with about 90% of the white vote but less than half of the black vote, according to polls by Loyola Universityís Institute of Politics. His heaviest criticism since taking office has come from rival black political factions.

Christian ministers and spokespeople said that the characterisation of God as willing death and disaster was a ìgross caricatureî of biblical faith, which is the story of how people ìlearned God differentlyî in the light of Jesus and the Hebrew prophets.

[Also on Ekklesia: Christians criticise Robertson for assassination call; Government minister calls for terror-law ban on US Evangelist; US evangelical calls on ‘theocrat’ Robertson to resign; Robertson: Iraq war fought with Christian principle; Televangelist condemned by White House and Evangelicals for Sharon comment; Evangelist criticised for fuelling Israel-Palestine conflict; Israel pulls plug on televangelist’s bible theme park]


New Orleans mayor regrets God comments about Katrina

-18/01/06

Ray Nagin, New Orleans’ hard-pressed mayor, has apologised for extraordinarily claiming that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for the war in Iraq and for predicting the city would be ‘chocolate’ again.

In a bizarre alternate echo of right-wing evangelist Pat Robertson, who tied the tragedy to divine wrath for homosexuality, the mayor had provoked outrage when he told residents celebrating Martin Luther King Day on Monday 16January 2006 that ‘God is mad at America’.

He also seemed to suggest that the disaster was to punish black communities in particular because of violence and infighting.

Today Mr Nagin recanted. ‘I said some things that were totally inappropriate,’ he explained. ‘It shouldn’t have happened. I need to be more sensitive and more aware of what I’m saying.’

The mayor, who was elected in 2002, told shocked spectators in his speech: ‘Surely God is mad at America. He sent us hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it’s destroyed and put stress on this country.’

He went on: ‘Surely he doesn’t approve of us being in Iraq under false pretences. But surely he is upset at black America also. We’re not taking care of ourselves.’

The mayor also said that New Orleans must be a mostly African-American city again because ‘it’s the way God wants it to beÖThis city will be chocolate at the end of the day.’

Mr Nagin later qualified the metaphor: ‘How do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk and it becomes a delicious drink. That is the chocolate I am talking about.’

He said his speech was really meant to convey that blacks were a vital part of New Orleans’ history and culture and should be encouraged to return, adding: ‘I want everyone to be welcome in New Orleans – black, white, Asian, everybody.’

The other main point he had wanted to make was that when blacks did return, they should work to stamp out the crime and political infighting that had held them back.

Mayor Nagin, a former cable company executive, was elected with about 90% of the white vote but less than half of the black vote, according to polls by Loyola University’s Institute of Politics. His heaviest criticism since taking office has come from rival black political factions.

Christian ministers and spokespeople said that the characterisation of God as willing death and disaster was a ‘gross caricature’ of biblical faith, which is the story of how people ‘learned God differently’ in the light of Jesus and the Hebrew prophets.

[Also on Ekklesia: Christians criticise Robertson for assassination call; Government minister calls for terror-law ban on US Evangelist; US evangelical calls on ‘theocrat’ Robertson to resign; Robertson: Iraq war fought with Christian principle; Televangelist condemned by White House and Evangelicals for Sharon comment; Evangelist criticised for fuelling Israel-Palestine conflict; Israel pulls plug on televangelist’s bible theme park]