Posted on 07/22/2006 6:57:30 PM PDT by World_Events
Actress/singer Jada Pinkett Smith is horrified by increasing gun crime in the United States, declaring the country must look to third world countries to rediscover its values.
The Wicked Wisdom frontwoman and her actor/rapper husband Will Smith have travelled to Africa on several occasions for charity work and have been humbled by citizens' appreciation of the basic things in life - like education.
The Smiths will fund and appear at Charles 'Charlie Mack' Alston's annual Party 4 Peace in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this weekend, which aims to raise awareness of street crime.
Pinkett Smith says: "It's pretty bad everywhere. I think we're in a worse situation now than I can think of ever. Just the amount of injustice that we're doing to one another. It's such a complicated issue.
"It's an epidemic. If you look at our homes, it's clear why. We need a new reality. The idea that we're supposed to sit back and wait for somebody to do something for us, that's not going to happen.
"I've gone to Africa where kids go to school and share one textbook, (I've met) kids that are walking three miles to school, three miles home because education is valued. What do we value? Nothing.
(Excerpt) Read more at breakingnews.iol.ie ...
Many of the more civilized and wealthy parts of Africa have gun death rates FAR HIGHER than even Europe in WWI. They do this as a matter of course too, and only rarely think of it as war.
Apparently the Smiths didn't do much traveling in the African hotspots. The could have rediscovered machete violence.
Will Smith seems like a pretty decent guy.
She's really speaking about herself there.
Who cares what this *&&^&* thinks.
Honestly, if people think this is such a terrible place they should just leave.
Such comments are especially disgusting from people like Mrs. Smith, who has been blessed with success and the very freedoms that only this country guarantees.
I wonder what her home looks like.
Did I miss the part where she and her husband say they're moving their family to Africa?
I suppose it depends on how you interpret what she's saying. I think she's being introspective in a Bill Cosby sort of way.
Increasing gun crime in the US? Where the hell has she been for the last 10 years?
If she would venture into the black community and shout this long and loud, I would have more respect for her opinions.
It's always a laugh when the Hollywood types are humbled by what truly is humbling in poor countries: the strength of faith, family and community against dire odds.......all the things that the same Hollywood crowd mocks in this country.
It's actually the colorful costumes, the foreign tongues and the quaint customs that turn these people on and blinds them to their own hypocrisy.
Well.....dearie.....just look at Hollywood......what the IDIOTS emulate!
Pinkett, it's even worse. If you listened to Rush the other day, people are using CARROTS to put out the eyes of other people. There should be an international treaty signed at the UN outlawing carrots; that would solve that problem.
Then we also have Motts apple sauce; someone pounded on a robber to subdue that person; we should also have an international ban on apple sauce, another problem solved.
Let's see now, Pinkett, other problems? Like the quality of Pinkett's education?
Selling all their homes and possessions first...
She has a good point there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.