I am your public representative unless you are Black African

Davidth88 · 22-11-2011 01:37PM #1

Interesting stance from Darren Scully in Naas

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fine-gaelrsquos-man-in-naas-i-wonrsquot-deal-with-black-africans-2941395.html

THE FINE Gael mayor of Naas, Co Kildare has walked into a storm of controversy after refusing to represent constituents of African origin.

Councillor Darren Scully said he made the decision based on what he described as the "aggressive" attitude he experienced when representations were made to him by black Africans.

Speaking to Kfm radio this morning, Cllr. Scully said he would refer any black African seeking assistance from him to another of his council colleagues.

"I have been met with aggressiveness and bad manners," he said. "I have also been met with the race card, (with people saying) 'Oh yeah, you will help white people, but you don't help black people.

"So after a while I made a decision that I was just not going to take on representations from black Africans, that I would be very courteous to them and I would pass on their query to other public representatives.

"Everything I do as a councillor is for the general good?It saddens me that people would call me a racist, because I'm not."

Cllr. Scully has stressed that this is his own view, and not that of Naas Town Council.

"I will listen to people's points of view. I take responsibility for what I say. I have been in trouble before for making comments. But I am only expressing my view and my opinion and maybe in politics we should have a bit more of that rather than playing it safe all the time."

Cllr. Scully, who has been a member of Fine Gael since the age of 18, is one of three Fine Gael representatives on Naas Town Council.

An engineer by profession, he lives in the town and is married with two children.

I am torn by this , one side of me says you are a public representative , you should represent all people from your area . The other side says, well if a certain section of soc acts badly towards you ,you can withdraw that service.

I wonder what would have happened if the same person had said that he wouldn't take representations from Travellers ?

hatrickpatrick · 22-11-2011 01:49PM

"I have also been met with the race card, (with people saying) 'Oh yeah, you will help white people, but you don't help black people.

Well, this new policy will certainly put an end to such scurrilous accusations, I'm sure :rolleyes:

RichardAnd · 22-11-2011 01:55PM

Very interesting. The article doesn't really make it clear why he's come to such a decision but it seems to be frustration with obstreperous blacks, at least that's what I can make out.

The thing about it is that no matter the reason, the guy will be shot down as a racist. Personally, I have no issues with blacks but I've heard plenty of stories to understand that many people do and for good reasons. Thus, it's impossible to know who's right here without more information.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 22-11-2011 01:57PM

whatever his issues, he's a public servant. the mayors office isn't his private property, he has no right to just refuse service or shunt people off on his subordinates on the basis of their skin colour.

Di0genes · 22-11-2011 02:00PM

Davidth88 wrote: »

Interesting stance from Darren Scully in Naas

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fine-gaelrsquos-man-in-naas-i-wonrsquot-deal-with-black-africans-2941395.html

I am torn by this , one side of me says you are a public representative , you should represent all people from your area . The other side says, well if a certain section of soc acts badly towards you ,you can withdraw that service.

I wonder what would have happened if the same person had said that he wouldn't take representations from Travellers ?

Rubbish you cant' decide not to represent a huge swath of nationalities because of his experience with some of the community.

Oh_Noes · 22-11-2011 02:00PM

I just heard on the radio that Labour's Aodhan O'Riordan is reporting this to the Gardai under incitement to hatred laws.

Atomic Pineapple · 22-11-2011 02:02PM

While the percentage of aggressive or ill mannered people may be higher among the black community (through my own experience both in college and in work) than among the general white community I have also met some of the nicest people I know from the black community and letting those people down just because he doesn't want to deal with the aggressive ones is disgraceful for a public servant.

Davidth88 · 22-11-2011 02:05PM

Di0genes wrote: »

Rubbish you cant' decide not to represent a huge swath of nationalities because of his experience with some of the community.

errrrr I didn't say you can. I said I was torn by it .

TBH , the more I think about it, the stance by Cllr Scully is totally wrong .

If he has certain people who are aggressive , then this should be dealt with on an individual basis .

You can't tar a whole section of the community because some people were aggressive towards you .

walshb · 22-11-2011 02:08PM

Well, mayeb ALL those he went to were aggressive, hence he can tar those as being aggressive and rude and unapproachable? It's human nature if you experience issues with a section of society that you won't be keen to repeat those experiences.

telecaster · 22-11-2011 02:09PM

Davidth88 wrote: »

You can't tar a whole section of the community because some people were aggressive towards you .

what a visionary you are

Beruthiel · 22-11-2011 02:10PM

He's a racist.
Maybe he did get some abuse from some black people, but you cannot tar a whole community with the one brush.
You deal with each case individually.
I'm pretty sure he's had some abuse from whites as well. Are they next to go?
Shocking behaviour from a public representative.

Davidth88 · 22-11-2011 02:14PM

telecaster wrote: »

what a visionary you are

Im sorry ?

zyxwvu · 22-11-2011 02:28PM

draffodx wrote: »

While the percentage of aggressive or ill mannered people may be higher among the black community (through my own experience both in college and in work) than among the general white community I have also met some of the nicest people I know from the black community and letting those people down just because he doesn't want to deal with the aggressive ones is disgraceful for a public servant.

I'd agree with this. In my experience, Nigerians in particular are an aggressive, rude bunch..certainly more of them fit this description than I find with white Irish people.

alejandro1977 · 22-11-2011 02:33PM

Oh_Noes wrote: »

I just heard on the radio that Labour's Aodhan O'Riordan is reporting this to the Gardai under incitement to hatred laws.

while I disagree with the comments I don't see incitement to anything, let alone incitement to hatred.

Kinski · 22-11-2011 02:36PM

Disgraceful. This is racism, pure and simple.

Itsdacraic · 22-11-2011 02:37PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

whatever his issues, he's a public servant. the mayors office isn't his private property, he has no right to just refuse service or shunt people off on his subordinates on the basis of their skin colour.

Bit rich coming from a guy with a burning black man as his signature.

AlekSmart · 22-11-2011 02:37PM

Oh_Noes wrote: »

I just heard on the radio that Labour's Aodhan O'Riordan is reporting this to the Gardai under incitement to hatred laws.

Knee-Jerk reaction to a knee-twitch methinks.....Mr Scully's statement certainly did'nt incite any hatred towards persons of a darker hue,what he did say was he would refer these people on to a different representative who would be more amenable to their needs.....pretty ok customer service from Scully there I'd venture ??

Aodhan O R really needs to ask if his Local Gardai need to allocate their scarce resources to investigating such inappropriate accusations ?

SamHarris · 22-11-2011 02:38PM

Rascism is a far bigger problem in Ireland than most Irish are comfortable acknowledging. The only reason it is not perceived as a major social problem is a result of the monoethincity of the nation, nothing more.

I have no doubt that if Ireland had anywhere near approaching the ethnic diversity of some European countries (or Christ forbid, the US) the social problems would eclipse those seen elsewhere for decades.

There has been numerous reports on the daily abuse black people undergo here, much less the travelers or Roma or even those of the same ethnicity but differnt background - British people, Americans, French all pop to mind. I really dread to think what people of middle Eastern descent have to put up with, given the last 12 years.

Even when that shocking report was released, however, there was little discussion on it. Irish people tend not to bring to much attention to their own shortcomings as a society (unless it can be laughed off, like aclohol) because it draws to much attention to them.

I love living here but I have noticed it for years now, Im sure this guys attitude is very reflective of alot of people throughout the country. Just think of the amount of taxi men that feel comfortable saying it to you. They are not inherently rascist, so try extrapolating that out to the rest of society.

SamHarris · 22-11-2011 02:39PM

AlekSmart wrote: »

Knee-Jerk reaction to a knee-twitch methinks.....Mr Scully's statement certainly did'nt incite any hatred towards persons of a darker hue,what he did say was he would refer these people on to a different representative who would be more amenable to their needs.....pretty ok customer service from Scully there I'd venture ??

Aodhan O R really needs to ask if his Local Gardai need to allocate their scarce resources to investigating such inappropriate accusations ?

Agree, its not illegal to be a rascist jerk. In Ireland anyway, I believe he may be prosecuted in several european countries however.

Fr Tod Umptious · 22-11-2011 02:40PM

Hope fully this will be Ireland's first big real race controversy

For too long we have lived thinking we are not a racist people.

BTW I disagree with the guys stance, cases should be dealt with on an a individual basis.
BTW some members of society are very quick to play the race card too.

pacquiao · 22-11-2011 02:41PM

Kinski wrote: »

Disgraceful. This is racism, pure and simple.

I don't think he think he's superior to them. He's just pissed off with black Africans in general. Call it what you will..

Kinski · 22-11-2011 02:43PM

AlekSmart wrote: »

Mr Scully's statement certainly did'nt incite any hatred towards persons of a darker hue,what he did say was he would refer these people on to a different representative who would be more amenable to their needs.....pretty ok customer service from Scully there I'd venture ??

So if you went to your local elected representative, and he refused to deal with you because of your ethnicity and passed you on to someone else, you'd consider that "ok"?

walshb · 22-11-2011 02:44PM

zyxwvu wrote: »

I'd agree with this. In my experience, Nigerians in particular are an aggressive, rude bunch..certainly more of them fit this description than I find with white Irish people.

And then you hear the lame excuse that we make for them. "Oh, no, that's just the way they are. They don't mean to be rude."

Anyway, I know black people who are lovely people, same as I know many white people who are lovely. Cannot tar them all. But, this guy has obviously had enough dealings with black African people to make him think that it is not worth it.

Gurgle · 22-11-2011 02:46PM

AlekSmart wrote: »

he did say was he would refer these people on to a different representative who would be more amenable to their needs.....pretty ok customer service from Scully there I'd venture ??

Seriously?
"I don't serve blacks but there might be somebody available who doesn't mind"

Thats your idea of customer service?

bijapos · 22-11-2011 02:50PM

He should simply have said that he will not deal with aggressive people of any kind, its nonsense to pin it down to one race of people. He is a public representative, he is there to represent all, if he doesn't like it he shoule leave public life.

As a comment coming from a Mayor it is hugely damaging to Naas, the wider area and the country in general, the story will travel and will possibly damage inward investment to the area. Google Naas, this story already comes up on the first page of answers for Naas.

FG ought to grip this one by the horns, he needs to be expelled from the party, the councillors of Naas need to act too, and if its legally possible remove him from the post of Mayor.

eigrod · 22-11-2011 02:56PM

"I hear you're a racist now, Cllr Scully !"

MungBean · 22-11-2011 03:04PM

walshb wrote: »

And then you hear the lame excuse that we make for them. "Oh, no, that's just the way they are. They don't mean to be rude."

Anyway, I know black people who are lovely people, same as I know many white people who are lovely. Cannot tar them all. But, this guy has obviously had enough dealings with black African people to make him think that it is not worth it.

The issue is that he will refuse to deal with a polite and lovely member of the community because of the fact that they are Black African.

You cannot discriminate against people in a community when you are in a position such as his, you have to deal with each individual member of the community on their own merits.

He is well within his rights to refuse to deal with rude aggressive people but not to prejudge who they will be based on their skin colour and their nationality in an attempt to avoid it.

walshb · 22-11-2011 03:08PM

MungBean wrote: »

The issue is that he will refuse to deal with a polite and lovely member of the community because of the fact that they are Black African.

You cannot discriminate against people in a community when you are in a position such as his, you have to deal with each individual member of the community on their own merits.

He is well within his rights to refuse to deal with rude aggressive people but not to prejudge who they will be based on their skin colour and their nationality in an attempt to avoid it.

Yes, I agree. He made his bed and he should lay in it. I can still see his point, but, as mentioned, he is a Public Rep and as such he has to take the rough with the smooth. And, that's the black and white of it!

Suryavarman · 22-11-2011 03:19PM

Fine Gael have issued a statement on the matter. It leaves something to be desired but it will be interesting what direction this takes.

raymon · 22-11-2011 03:25PM

Someone expressing these public views should be expelled from any political party.

FG should act swiftly

AlekSmart · 22-11-2011 03:27PM

Kinski wrote: »

So if you went to your local elected representative, and he refused to deal with you because of your ethnicity and passed you on to someone else, you'd consider that "ok"?

If the representative he "passed me on to" proved to be capable and able to deliver the goods,then I'd be cool with it.....It's results I'd be interested in rather than who eventually delivered them.

I am your public representative unless you are Black African

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