Darren Scully resigns as Mayor of Naas following apparently racist remarks.

AudreyHepburn

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1122/scullyd.html

Just curious as to everyone's opinions on this?

Essentially Scully said that based on his unpleasent experiences with African members of his community and because of the aggressiveness he felt was shown to him, particularly relating to housing, he feels he cannot represent this section the community.

He has now been forced to resign and the comments have caused an outcry.

Me personally I wouldn't see his comments as racist. Rather he was talking about his own personal experience and the affects they've had on him. No-where does he says that all Africans are agressive and rude, only those that he personally has dealt with.

Probably not the smartest thing to say, but surely he has the right to speak his mind?

John Doe1

Thank god, hes a bloody racist eejit

Snakeblood

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1122/scullyd.html

No-where does he says that all Africans are agressive and rude, only those that he personally has dealt with.

He does say that he is going to treat all black Africans as if they were aggressive and rude (implicitly), and not deal with them. That's the really juicy racist bit you missed.

Benny_Cake

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1122/scullyd.html

Just curious as to everyone's opinions on this?

Essentially Scully said that based on his unpleasent experiences with African members of his community and because of the aggressiveness he felt was shown to him, particularly relating to housing, he feels he cannot represent this section the community.

He has now been forced to resign and the comments have caused an outcry.

Me personally I wouldn't see his comments as racist. Rather he was talking about his own personal experience and the affects they've had on him. No-where does he says that all Africans are agressive and rude, only those that he personally has dealt with.

Probably not the smartest thing to say, but surely he has the right to speak his mind?

Not again - IBTL!

Dudess

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1122/scullyd.html

Just curious as to everyone's opinions on this?

Essentially Scully said that based on his unpleasent experiences with African members of his community and because of the aggressiveness he felt was shown to him, particularly relating to housing, he feels he cannot represent this section the community.

He has now been forced to resign and the comments have caused an outcry.

Me personally I wouldn't see his comments as racist. Rather he was talking about his own personal experience and the affects they've had on him. No-where does he says that all Africans are agressive and rude, only those that he personally has dealt with.

Probably not the smartest thing to say, but surely he has the right to speak his mind?

As a public official? Nope. And he certainly should not say he won't represent black Africans.

cosmicfart

The guy is a legend. Heard he is gonna start up a new Naas KKK sect now.

Ash.J.Williams

I experience probably even more than Mr. Scully on a daily basis, but i'm not so stupid to think it's an entire race/colour are at fault...

El Weirdo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_DPrSEOEo

foxyboxer

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway.

StephenHendry

walked right into it with what he said, all he had to say is that i will not tolerate rude, agressive people and may refer to on my colleagues if necessary. end of.

hondasam

was the last thread locked?

wildlifeboy

tell him what you think directly

Darren Scully Naas Fine Gael Councillor

3 Kerdiff Park Naas Co Kildare Ireland
086 3860955

GavRedKing

He can speak his mind all he wants until he starts becoming racist and branding all black people as aggressive is as such. He has to represent all people of Naas no matter how rude or aggressive they are. I'm sure hes dealt with aggressive, rude Irish, European, Eastern European, Asian people.

If he decides to stop represnting one group he has to go.

seamus

It was perfectly racist. "I am no longer going to deal with Black people from Africa because I don't like their manner". That's prejudice, and basically excludes the many perfectly nice black africans who need his services.

His experience can't be discounted. I have no doubt that he noticed a pattern of aggressiveness from constituents who were black and possible african. But that doesn't mean that he can then justifiably say that he refuses to deal with black africans.

If he had half a braincell he would simply have said that he has noticed a lot of constituents making representations to him in an aggressive manner and from that point forward he was no longer going to entertain anyone who didn't come to him calmly and reasonably. That would have given him scope to just throw people out, regardless of their origin, if they appeared aggressive.

Why we elect complete and utter morons like this guy when there are plenty of people far more talented out there, I'll never know.

AudreyHepburn

Dudess wrote: »

As a public official? Nope. And he certainly should not say he won't represent black Africans.

As I said, a stupid thing to say.

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

He's had bad experiences which ok have coloured his view but I don't see him as an out-out racist.

Leftist

Not again, another platform for the racist boggers.

GavRedKing

cosmicfart wrote: »

The guy is a legend. Heard he is gonna start up a new Naas KKK sect now.

John Terry and Luiz Suarez signing up for the news letter? :pac:

doncarlos

This is like groundhog day

AudreyHepburn

Also I'm clearly pissing people off by setting up this as there was obviously an earlier one I missed.

Apologies folks!

Dotrel

gavredking wrote: »

John Terry and Luiz Suarez signing up for the news letter? :pac:

They'd have to be able to read first.

trooney

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1122/scullyd.html

Just curious as to everyone's opinions on this?

Essentially Scully said that based on his unpleasent experiences with African members of his community and because of the aggressiveness he felt was shown to him, particularly relating to housing, he feels he cannot represent this section the community.

He has now been forced to resign and the comments have caused an outcry.

Me personally I wouldn't see his comments as racist. Rather he was talking about his own personal experience and the affects they've had on him. No-where does he says that all Africans are agressive and rude, only those that he personally has dealt with.

Probably not the smartest thing to say, but surely he has the right to speak his mind?

And yet he stated that he would not deal with ANY black Africans, not just the ones he had come across being rude/angry towards him. He is penalising All people of a particular type based on his small experience with them. Racist... QED

He was right to resign. Its as plain and simple as that. Had he made the same comments about women in the same public manner what woulod the reaction be?

Nodin

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

As I said, a stupid thing to say.

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

He's had bad experiences which ok have coloured his view but I don't see him as an out-out racist.

He won't deal with people based on the colour of their skin. Thats text book 100% racism.

Sonics2k

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

As I said, a stupid thing to say.

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

He's had bad experiences which ok have coloured his view but I don't see him as an out-out racist.

It would of been acceptable to say "I will no longer deal with anyone who is rude and ignorant". That would of been fair enough, and many people have the same policy.

But saying "I won't deal with anymore Black Africans because they're all rude and ignorant" is quite racist yes, and should not be the official stance of any Public Rep.

Logical Fallacy

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

As I said, a stupid thing to say.

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

He's had bad experiences which ok have coloured his view but I don't see him as an out-out racist.

It doesn't matter if he is racist, it's a stupid decision to make in light of his experience. Remove the race factor and he basically said "some people are rude so i don't want to deal with people and will shunt the work to someone else".

His job is to deal with people, end of.

Eric Cartman

So the first time Ireland has a politician who albeit bad with his wording , is honest and stands up for his beliefs and what happens

hes forced to resign....

well done ireland , i guess politicians are alright to continue on lying and breaking promises , aslong as they stick their head in the sand and ignore our huge problems with immigration and social welfare abuse and pretend multiculturalism doesnt create problems then theyre a-ok with the PC brigade

Benny_Cake

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Dudess wrote: »

As a public official? Nope. And he certainly should not say he won't represent black Africans.

As I said, a stupid thing to say.

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

He's had bad experiences which ok have coloured his view but I don't see him as an out-out racist.

No one questions his right to free speech - but free speech has consequences,he basically said that he wasn't going to do his job.See how long the rest of us would last if we said that!

Gingko

He is not a racist like the hyper PC brigade are saying. But his initial statement was ridiculous. He should of never of said "Black Africans". This was his downfall! Sweeping generalisation when in fact all African cultures are very different to each other.

I stated on another thread that I personally have had bad experiences with the Nigerian community and find that a larger then normal group of these are aggressive and downright rude. Same can not be said of other African cultures.

Scully made his second mistake by doing the Irish thing, being stubborn! He handled it badly to say the least and was right to step down. Maybe if he had narrowed it down instead of tarring one and all of "Black African" background, he may still be mayor of Naas.

Sonics2k

Gingko wrote: »

He is not a racist like the hyper PC brigade are saying. But his initial statement was ridiculous. He should of never of said "Black Africans". This was his downfall! Sweeping generalisation when in fact all African cultures are very different to each other.

I stated on another thread that I personally have had bad experiences with the Nigerian community and find that a larger then normal group of these are aggressive and downright rude. Same can not be said of other African cultures.

Scully made his second mistake by doing the Irish thing, being stubborn! He handled it badly to say the least and was right to step down. Maybe if he had narrowed it down instead of tarring one and all of "Black African" background, he may still be mayor of Naas.

He's not racist, I don't think any sane person is saying he is.

He did however say something racist and hugely offensive about an entire continent of people. There's what, over 1 billion people living in Africa?

Nodin

Gingko wrote: »

He is not a racist ................

His statement was racist.

Logical Fallacy

Eric Cartman wrote: »

well done ireland , i guess politicians are alright to continue on lying and breaking promises , aslong as they stick their head in the sand and ignore our huge problems with immigration and social welfare abuse and pretend multiculturalism doesnt create problems then theyre a-ok with the PC brigade

Once again, your inability to separate the issues that he had with council housing and his decision to not deal with a certain section of his constituency is fascinating.

El Weirdo

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

Of course he's entitled to free speech.

What he is not entitled to do, however, is discriminate against a whole group of people based on their skin colour and expect to continue on as a public representative when he uses that free speech to say something so clearly racist.

Dudess

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

As I said, a stupid thing to say.

I'm just wondering is he not entitled to free speech?

Good Christ... NO!!! How is this eluding people?!
As a public representative there are things you do and do not say. Free speech doesn't figure in his job description.
And some seriously naive views on freedom of speech in general - it's not so free that it can be abused. So you think anyone has the right to say anything about anyone, but you're not concerned about the rights of people on the receiving end of it.

He's had bad experiences which ok have coloured his view but I don't see him as an out-out racist.

I don't either - although I think he is monumentally dumb. But if those are his experiences, those are experiences - however, all of this is irrelevant.
You don't say divisive things as a public official - well nobody is going to stop you, but don't expect to keep your position.
And saying he could no longer represent any black African is an offensive thing to say.

K-9

Eric Cartman wrote: »

So the first time Ireland has a politician who albeit bad with his wording , is honest and stands up for his beliefs and what happens

hes forced to resign....

well done ireland , i guess politicians are alright to continue on lying and breaking promises , aslong as they stick their head in the sand and ignore our huge problems with immigration and social welfare abuse and pretend multiculturalism doesnt create problems then theyre a-ok with the PC brigade

Enoch Powell had the right idea all them years ago. Throw in the Irish and dogs and you've the full set.

Eric Cartman

Gingko wrote: »

He is not a racist like the hyper PC brigade are saying. But his initial statement was ridiculous. He should of never of said "Black Africans". This was his downfall! Sweeping generalisation when in fact all African cultures are very different to each other.

I stated on another thread that I personally have had bad experiences with the Nigerian community and find that a larger then normal group of these are aggressive and downright rude. Same can not be said of other African cultures.

Scully made his second mistake by doing the Irish thing, being stubborn! He handled it badly to say the least and was right to step down. Maybe if he had narrowed it down instead of tarring one and all of "Black African" background, he may still be mayor of Naas.

no, he wouldnt , the big problem here is your dealing with a bunch of people who barely go out into the real world, people who live in nice suburbs of south dublin or down the country and dont see the impact that any minorities have on society . They sit there and think the problems in london dont exist , the problems in dublin dont exist and think everyone gets along .

Id almost bet everything I have that anyone on this forum saying the 'nigerians arent bad' or defending all of the 'black africans' has never worked in a dole office, as a gard or in any high level of interaction with these people.

Dudess

Eric Cartman wrote: »

So the first time Ireland has a politician who albeit bad with his wording , is honest and stands up for his beliefs and what happens

hes forced to resign....

well done ireland , i guess politicians are alright to continue on lying and breaking promises , aslong as they stick their head in the sand and ignore our huge problems with immigration and social welfare abuse and pretend multiculturalism doesnt create problems then theyre a-ok with the PC brigade

That's not what happened - someone in his position is breaching the terms of their job by making inflammatory comments like he did, but I guess you did get to say "the PC brigade".
I'm sure you wouldn't like it if a politician said "I hate those greedy selfish capitalist ***** who come into my office and insist that poor people be disenfranchised" - and you'd be right. A public official shouldn't make such inflammatory comments, even if it is their understandable opinion.

Logical Fallacy

Look, it's fairly simple, a guy getting good money to do his job has shown himself to make very emotional, rather than logical decisions.

It's only right that he stepped down as he basically stated that he will only work for a select bunch of people. If he had issues with council housing allotment then i imagine as Mayor he had access to people to set in motion a process of review and change.

Wattle

Eric Cartman wrote: »

So the first time Ireland has a politician who albeit bad with his wording , is honest and stands up for his beliefs and what happens

hes forced to resign....

well done ireland , i guess politicians are alright to continue on lying and breaking promises , aslong as they stick their head in the sand and ignore our huge problems with immigration and social welfare abuse and pretend multiculturalism doesnt create problems then theyre a-ok with the PC brigade

Maybe muliticulturalism does cause problems but refusing to deal with a whole section of the community because of the actions of a few is not helping immigration and multiculturalism.

KeithM89_old

Yesterdays thread on the same topic was a complete disaster, with over a dozen people very lucky they didnt get banned. No reason to allow another one.