Post by collina on Feb 16, 2011 23:14:08 GMT
Did the next Prime Minister Of Ireland make racist remarks?
This is a story receiving huge attention in Ireland. Yes its eight years old, so why is it back in the public eye? Well Enda Kenny's Party (Fine Gael) are going to form the next Government of Ireland in a few weeks and Kenny will be the Prime Minister. One of his first tasks will be the traditional presentation of a bowl of shamrock to President Obama at the White House on Saint Patrick's Day.
One wonders how Mr Obama and his household would feel about Mr Kenny's use of the offensive "n"-word.
Any way here's the bones of the story. I'm also adding some links to discussion of the topic in Ireland
Enda Kenny Racist?
Back in 2002:
The familiy of Patrice Lumumba, the assassinated first Prime Minister of Congo, have demanded an apology from the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who called the revered African liberation hero a 'black person' in a racist joke.
Disgust at Kenny's recent remarks spread last night to Britain, where he was condemned by race campaigners, including the powerful Commission for Racial Equality watchdog and British political parties.
Kenny initially asked reporters at the function not to report his remarks and, to the astonishment of some commentators, a number of newspapers agreed. The Irish Sunday Independent, however, reported the story, and last week Kenny admitted he was wrong to have used the words and claimed his party was 'committed to diversity'.
www.politics.ie/fine-gael/130594-2002-enda-kenny-calls-assassinated-pm-congo-black personr.html
www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/~peoplesr/forums/showthread.php?t=191094
www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=50481771
www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/enda-kenny-and-that-black person-joke-503579.html
This is a story receiving huge attention in Ireland. Yes its eight years old, so why is it back in the public eye? Well Enda Kenny's Party (Fine Gael) are going to form the next Government of Ireland in a few weeks and Kenny will be the Prime Minister. One of his first tasks will be the traditional presentation of a bowl of shamrock to President Obama at the White House on Saint Patrick's Day.
One wonders how Mr Obama and his household would feel about Mr Kenny's use of the offensive "n"-word.
Any way here's the bones of the story. I'm also adding some links to discussion of the topic in Ireland
Enda Kenny Racist?
Back in 2002:
The familiy of Patrice Lumumba, the assassinated first Prime Minister of Congo, have demanded an apology from the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, who called the revered African liberation hero a 'black person' in a racist joke.
Disgust at Kenny's recent remarks spread last night to Britain, where he was condemned by race campaigners, including the powerful Commission for Racial Equality watchdog and British political parties.
Kenny initially asked reporters at the function not to report his remarks and, to the astonishment of some commentators, a number of newspapers agreed. The Irish Sunday Independent, however, reported the story, and last week Kenny admitted he was wrong to have used the words and claimed his party was 'committed to diversity'.
www.politics.ie/fine-gael/130594-2002-enda-kenny-calls-assassinated-pm-congo-black personr.html
www.peoplesrepublicofcork.com/~peoplesr/forums/showthread.php?t=191094
www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=50481771
www.independent.ie/opinion/letters/enda-kenny-and-that-black person-joke-503579.html