Ricky Martin Vows To Stamp Out Arab Stereotype

[FreedomAngel82]

I think this is a good thing because so many people have an anti-Arab mindset which is disgusting to me. Sorry I don't have a link.

Puerto Rican pop hunk Ricky Martin has vowed to make an effort to change the negative perception of Arabs in the Western world. As part of his trip to Jordan - his first ever visit to the Middle East - Martin met with a group of teenagers who expressed concern about being labelled "terrorists" by other cultures. The singer assured them at the conference yesterday, "I promise I will become a spokesperson, if you allow me to, a spokesperson on your behalf. I will defend you and try to get rid of any stereotypes. I have been a victim of stereotypes. I come from Latin America and to some countries, we are considered 'losers', drug traffickers, and that is not fair because that is generalizing. Those comments are made out of ignorance and we have to sometimes ignore the ignorant, but we also have to educate the ignorant. You have me here as a friend." Martin, who is a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) goodwill ambassador, also announced plans to do a concert tour of the Middle East and North Africa, tentatively scheduled for May.

[Bucky]

1. Maybe next he can go after "dumb blond singer" stereotypes

Sorry. Actually, I think this is a good cause and I applaud Martin for doing this. But it's jarringly nonsequiter.

[jobycom]

2. Good for him. I'll never badmouth him again.

[samsingh]

3. i thought Ricky Martin was a bush supporter?

[FreedomAngel82]

5. I have no idea

I don't think it should matter. :shrug: But there are so many people out there who have this whole anti-Muslim thing going on and it's disgusting.

[MisterP]

7. they danced together at the 1st Coupnaugural, and he didn't

perform Moby's request to swear an affidavit that he smelled the flames and sulfur of Hell when on stage with the Ape.

[MemphisTiger]

4. How effective is that coming from a Puerto Rican?

Just asking. Sounds like someone wants to be in the media again. He should just shake his bon-bon and retire in style.

[InternalDialogue]

6. You can stamp out any kind of bigotry...

with Latin heat!

(Look at what singing a Ricky Martin song did for William Hung on American Idol!)

<insert appropriate steamy Puerto Rican smiley here>

[MemphisTiger]

8. LOL, thanks for the laugh today

nothing can beat the "Latin Heat"

[datasuspect]

9. livin la vida broke-a