Watermelons are in the Bible???

[Flashermac]

'Ghetto Talent Show,' Watermelon Eating Contest Outrages Community

 

Jul 26, 2005

 

Miami city leaders are apologizing for a news release that invited summer campers to a "Ghetto Style Talent Show" and "Watermelon Eating Contest."

 

The release said that children participating in the summer camp who "know the meaning of ghetto style" would have a chance to "prove just how ghetto they are."

 

Members of the black community expressed outrage at the wording of the invitation to the talent show. The show will be part of the grand finale picnic for the city's summer camp program to be held Friday at Hadley Park.

 

After being criticized by residents of the nearby Model City neighborhood and community leaders, Miami Parks Director Ernest Burkeen, who is himself black, released a formal apology and announced the renaming of the talent show.

 

The show will now be called the "Funky Talent Show," according to Burkeen's written statement. The watermelon contest will still be part of the event.

 

Even though the name has been changed, Burkeen did still continue to defend the choice of the name for the show.

 

"The word 'ghetto' was used to imply a down home show, not something offensive, but embracing the culture of today's youth and their language," he said.

 

Church and community leaders said that changing the name isn't enough -- the damage has already been done.

 

"It's almost equivalent to saying, 'We're having bananas at Jose Marti Park' and referring to Miami as a 'Banana Republic,'" the Rev. Richard Dunn said.

 

Other critics said that the watermelon eating contest is a painful reminder of racially insensitive stereotypes.

 

"Watermelon, back in the days, was a good food for African-Americans, according to the Bible, but at the same time, it had an attachment with slavery and bondage ties," the Rev. Carl Johnson said.

 

Some members of the community had a different perspective and said that critics were missing the point.

 

Michael Hardaway said, "They have to understand that the young generation has a whole different style than they do. At a ghetto-style talent show the kids are getting together to show their talent."

 

Other community activists said changing the name of the contest is just the start of what needs to happen.

 

Dunn suggested that instead of buying hundreds of watermelons for the contest, the money could be spent on school supplies and backpacks for kids who need them.

 

Andre Williams said, "No more watermelons -- and as Reverend Dunn says, we need to give books and school supplies to our children."

 

City officials said Tuesday that the contest is popular and it will not be canceled. The picnic will go on Friday as planned and will include up to 3,000 children from across the city.

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

 

What a bunch of fucking PC wankers!!!

 

Sanuk!

[Khun_Kong]

Flashermac said:

 

 

Andre Williams said, "No more watermelons -- and as Reverend Dunn says, we need to give books and school supplies to our children."

 

 

Clue- IT"S A GOD DAMN PICNIC!!!

 

"Mmmm... books and schools supplies. Let's hurry on over to da park"

 

Wankers squared.

 

And where exactly is that Bible reference??

[carlton68]

The quote from Rev. Carl Johnson 'Watermelon, back in the days, was a good food for African-Americans, according to the Bible, but at the same time, it had an attachment with slavery and bondage ties' isn't absolutely clear to me. I wonder what the bible has to say about African-Americans? Did they invent time-travel some 2000 years ago?

 

I searched the internet and it came up with this:

'The word "watermelon" appears once in the entire Bible. In Numbers 11:5, the Jewish people, suffering in the desert, are complaining to Moses for taking them out of Egypt, where they had fish and "cucumbers and watermelons and leeks and garlic! But now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."'

No idea if true, I will not read that book. I can't find the reference to African-Americans in the quote and no reference to africans at all.

 

What I am sure of is that all people enjoy a watermelon irrespecitve of the color ot their skin (peoples skin that is).

 

To me it looks like they aren't trying to protect anyone with this PC shit but are trying to control everyone.

 

Just my opinion of course.

[sayjann]

come on KS,don't sit on the fence,just say what you mean......

[sayjann]

'The quote from Rev. Carl Johnson 'Watermelon, back in the days, was a good food for African-Americans, according to the Bible, but at the same time, it had an attachment with slavery and bondage ties' isn't absolutely clear to me. I wonder what the bible has to say about African-Americans? Did they invent time-travel some 2000 years ago?'

 

have to agree,this quote puzzled me at the time of reading.

African-Americans in Israel at the time of Moses?.........

 

well perhaps the Rev.Johnson knows something that we don't.

[Old Hippie]

As an Ordained minister, I have skimmed through the bible, well sort of anyway, and I seem to recall a passage about watermellon... "...for the lord sadeth unto somebody, somewhere at some time...go fourth and soweth your seed..." pretty sure he ment mellons...well sure "mellons" were involved..."

[Flashermac]

The serpent gave Eve the fruit of knowledge. Doesn't actually say an apple. Maybe Eve ate a watermelon -- and got us all into this mess the world is nowadays?

[Old Hippie]

Just a side note, the word Evil came from Eve, the first women...so if you think about it, it was the first evel woman who led man astray with her ...er ah..."fruits..." Not much has changed over the last 2000+ years!