Paul Shirley Haiti Advice: "Maybe Use A Condom Once In A While"

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo)

(AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

(CBS)

(AP)

NEW YORK (CBS) Former professional NBA player Paul Shirley has some choice advice for the victims of the 7.0 earthquake that rocked Haiti: "use a condom once in a while" and stop building "shack-towns."

Photo: Paul Shirley.

The outrageous comments were part of a blog post Shirley wrote which explained why he wouldn't be giving a single "cent" to the victims.

Shirley might be wise to save his pennies. ESPN fired him from his part-time contributor post as soon as word of the comments spread.

"The views he expressed on another site of course do not at all reflect our company's views on the Haiti relief efforts. He will no longer contribute to ESPN," a statement from the network read.

Photo: Port-au-Prince, Haiti Jan. 21, 2010.

As the number of estimated dead from the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake reached 200,000, Shirley took to the Internet and suggested that much of the responsibility for the disaster "lie with the victims of that disaster…"

Shirley wrote his comments on flipcollective.com, a website that bills itself as a "group of writers with topics to discuss, ideas to share, and stories to tell."

And tell he did.

"I haven't donated a cent to the Haitian relief effort. And I probably will not," Shirley wrote on the site.

The baller compared sending relief money to giving money to homeless people on the street.

"I haven't donated to the Haitian relief effort for the same reason that I don't give money to homeless men on the street. Based on past experiences, I don't think the guy with the sign that reads "Need You're Help" is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him. If I use history as my guide, I don't think the people of Haiti will do much with my money either," Shirley typed.

Photo: Pat Robertson.

But that was not enough for the man of many opinions, who decided to write a mock-letter to the victims.

It reads:

Dear Haitians –

First of all, kudos on developing the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Your commitment to human rights, infrastructure, and birth control should be applauded.

As we prepare to assist you in this difficult time, a polite request: If it's possible, could you not re-build your island home in the image of its predecessor? Could you not resort to the creation of flimsy shanty- and shack-towns? And could some of you maybe use a condom once in a while?

Sincerely,

The Rest of the World

Shirley's musings come after a number of other controversial comments were made in the wake of the national disaster.

Pat Robertson, the American Christian televangelist and host of "The 700 Club," said that Haitians need to have a "great turning to god" while he was reporting on the devastating 7.0 earthquake that shook the island nation.

Ever-controversial radio talk Rush Limbaugh advised his listeners not to donate to Haitian relief through the fund set up by the White House because, said Limbaugh, you'll probably just end up on an Obama campaign mailing list.

Shirley still plays professional basketball in Spain.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Were Shirley's comments on Haiti reprehensible or sensible?

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by jlbijou2 August 14, 2010 3:30 PM EDT: It's always difficult to believe how many truly ignorant, cruel people there are. Such a lack of compassion is horrific. Here is someone that has had so much, and yet has no generosity of heart or spirit. What a pitiful example of humanity.; Reply to this comment


by FreemanNg February 1, 2010 8:11 PM EST: Shirley did get one thing right, though:

http://open.salon.com/blog/authorfreeman/2010/01/31/what_paul_shirley_got_right; Reply to this comment


by Christinefromcanada January 30, 2010 12:23 PM EST: A note to Paul Shirley,

?Dear Paul,
Kudos to you for expressing your opinion about the Haitian disaster. I trust that your informed and highly intellectual views were developed after much study regarding the history and political economy of Haiti and what actually caused it to exist as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

If they were not, might I suggest starting with some study on pre-colonial rule, exploitation of the land and people, and debt in the amount of 21 billion dollars the country was forced to pay which was to be an indemnity for profits lost from the slave trade. You may want to then compare their history with the history of your own country, the U.S., and consider what caused differences in development. I don?t recall the U.S. having to pay the equivalent of 21 billion dollars to its former colonizers for independence. And, if you?re feeling really adventurous, take a look at some of the theoretical underpinnings and philosophies that look to understand why some countries are developed while others are not. Karl Polanyi?s, The Great Transformation, is a great place to start. From there, you might want to look at Foucault and his theories on discourse and power and also structuralism/structuration theories that consider the role of structure and agency.

As we prepare to forgive your asinine remarks, a polite request: If it?s possible, could you refrain from making opinions about the nation and all things global without some informed study? Maybe pick up a history book or even try a simple search on google if it?s easier. And, if you choose not to do so, could you refrain from using your celebrity status and the resulting media outlets it allows you to use from making comments about which you know nothing about? And could you sometimes maybe keep your comments only on basketball and sports related matters once in a while?

Sincerely,
The Rest of the Intelligent World?; Reply to this comment


by cudd5209 January 30, 2010 12:44 AM EST: I'm glad Paul Shirley has such great advice. Use a condom once in a while? I'm glad Paul Shirley understands that this is a third world country, and I sure hope he is sterile or uses a condom all of the time. I'm curious what Paul Shirley suggests about what to build other than delapitated buildings, does he suggest that these people build beautiful mansions such as his with the money they don't have. Its funny how a complete moron like Paul Shirley can be a freak of nature and good at nothing other than throwing a ball in a circle, and somehow feels that he is better than everyone on the face of the earth. People like him don't deserve to live.; Reply to this comment


by proudmilvet January 29, 2010 4:26 AM EST: What a Cruel, Coldhearted Bastard!; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 January 29, 2010 4:23 AM EST: Shirley took to the Internet and suggested that much of the responsibility for the disaster "lie with the victims of that disaster..."
====================================

It was an earthquake.

Unless you buy into Patty Robertson's wacko theories, the people of Haiti did nothing to cause it.

That goofy Professor Ward Churchill, who suggested that the victims of 9/11 brought it on themselves, was also fired afterwards.; Reply to this comment

by cidaia January 29, 2010 1:28 AM EST

Yes, the problems are real, but it is not only cruel but inaccurate to blame the people who are currently suffering. They didn't create the poverty or the corruption that makes Haiti a miserable place. They only chose to live out their lives the best they can.

To suggest that somehow they deserve suffering or misery because they had children - that is, to suggest that poor people don't deserve the right to have families or to even have a sex life - is just something people say to reassure themselves in their selfish narcissism. Yes, they are saying, I am well-off while you are starving, but don't look at me like that - I am sure it is your fault, and I really don't want to get involved with you; compassion for you would make me uncomfortable, so it MUST be YOUR fault somehow. (Sad, really.)

Reply to this comment


by Xoinx January 29, 2010 2:34 AM EST: My wife and I chose not to have children because we could not afford to raise them without financial aid. I don't see why others can't take the same attitude. Shirley's comments were insensitive, but he does have a good point.


by jlbijou2 August 14, 2010 3:37 PM EDT: No, he doesn't, and the fact that you could somehow find a "good point" in his hateful comments,says absolutely nothing intelligent nor empathic about you either.


by TellingtheTruth January 29, 2010 12:53 AM EST: Shirley jests. And, yes, I am calling him "Shirley."; Reply to this comment


by SocietysNightmare January 28, 2010 11:07 PM EST: Insensitive given the situation in Haiti, but accurate. Most advocates for the Health Care Bill are people who can't afford healthcare for their children. It's high time we STOP selfishly starting families when we have NO CLUE how to support them (prayers don't pay bills). Population control.; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 January 28, 2010 10:12 PM EST: Based on past experiences, I don?t think the guy with the sign that reads "Need You're Help" is going to do anything constructive with the dollar I might give him.
==============================================

The above sardonic words do reflect the sad reality that the mentally ill, who are overrepresented among the homeless, and whose poor grammar is the least of their problems, might well use the money they get by panhandling, to seek temporary escape from their problems with cheap liquor.

That doesn't mean you can't help them in other, much better ways.

Visit the website of NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) to learn more.; Reply to this comment