Rapper Chuck D Cautions U.S. on War

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - The founder of rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D, cautioned against rushing to war without first considering what it will cost Americans.
"All this rah, rah, rah, let's go get 'em,'' he said, reminds him of when his father was summoned to fight in Vietnam. His father returned from war deeply disturbed, he told a group of University of Georgia students on Monday.

Chuck D now tours the country speaking at colleges, high schools and prisons and has written an autobiography, "Fight the Power,'' which is also the title of a Public Enemy song.

The 41-year-old former rapper called the recent hijackings a reality check for a country in which nothing seemed to matter but entertainment and sports.
"The biggest news in this whole country before Sept. 11 was whether Michael Jordan would come back,'' he said. But now, he said, "We need smart people. We need to listen to smart people.''