Well said Brian. That day should come quickly. At least people are talking. I long for the day that people are judged by their actions not by their colour. Racism should not be tolerated ever.

It’s a tough road we’re on and it’s important that we don’t turn on each other, whatever our colour or bank balance.

Don’t mean to be flipped but it’s far to common to accuse someone these days. Of racism. And the you look at john terry who said a racist comment on live tv and if he whether he meant it or not is still captain of England. And if he didn’t say it why did they blurr his mounth. Some people should not play for there country Rooney only appealing ban because they said they would not extend ban. Give me a break. Give him longer and please done one fine these guys properly. Instead of €30,000. Maybe €250.000. That would mean they would behave.
Aopoligises For thr rant S ex gootball fan that has converted to tugny Give me RUGBY and day over soccer gaelige and hurling. This guys no matter how wrong they get it. Al least they try and resect upmost importance.

Excellent Brian very well said, there’s good and bad, black, White, Irish etc…but everyone is afraid to say anything about anyone who is not White Irish as they are accused of being racist and that’s usually not the case, though I don’t deny that racism does exist.

lol, so most people aren’t racist, they’re just angry that they haven’t got the balls to stand up for themselves, or indeed where management are concerned – to do their jobs – if there’s a foreigner involved because they ‘might’ accuse them of being racist!
Classic!
No wonder people are playing the race card. Might try that myself, the next time there’s a queue for the bank machine or something! :-D
Seems like there’s some sort of fcuked up reverse racism going on here.
You’re angry foreigners, which is manifesting on this site as racism because a foreigner you’re working with might call you racist if you try to reprimand them for something they’re doing wrong, even if you managing them.
It’s probably the same thing with people in positions of power too is it? bankers and politicians and what not, no wonder the country is in the state it’s in!

Correct. It never ceases to amaze me how intolerant some of those people who claim to be tolerant can be. Threatening his family is vile & it needs to be condemned outright. He is man enough to apologise for his ill thought out comments.

He’s resigned and his apology seems sincere so that should be the end of it. He and his family should be left alone.

The problem now is that lots of racists are holding him up as martyr.

He’s set any chance of a common sense debate on the issue back years, that’s probably the worst fallout from all this.

Ill thought, ill timed, and ill expressed-but the valid undercurrent to his silly remarks will now be brushed aside as usual.

Even more shameful is the strong likelihood that the threats aimed in his direction originate from fellow Irish people (though they seem to be ashamed of their nationality) rather than anyone else.

he’ s playing the victimisation card now, like the catholic church. how many threats did he get, if any, bit like Dana’s puncture. He also thanked the people that called up supporting him. He’s not a rascist but he is thankful for the rascists that support him

Yup. While his remarks were unacceptable for anyone, never mind an elected representative, the man has resigned, admitted he was wrong, that his statements were racist, that he mispoke, and that he retracts and apologises for the whole thing. I think that’s enough, it’s been amply demonstrated that this attitude isn’t going to cut it, and that’s a positive thing – let the man get on with his life, and better behaviour in the future.

It isn’t manly at all to apologise for something you should not have apologised for. He did nothing wrong, he described what he has exprienced, how can you apologise for something that has really happened to you. No, he has displayed complete cowardly behaviour in backing down and caving in to the extremist leftist multicult church.

He has been hounded by our new witch-hunters for his blasphemy and heretical remarks against the new church and the new high-priests who are the multicult ngos and immigration industry like migrant rights centre. These are the new “burn the witch ” shouters.

Tell that to the self employed !!!

Stephen yes you can, if you arrive under terms of UNHCR 1951 as Australia, USA and Ireland are all signatories.

I’m always amazed at the red thumb reaction to any mentioning UNHCR 1951. It is to the racist what a crucifix is to a vampire. Nevertheless I can never understand if it’s because they know and disagree, have no idea, (most likely), or just dismiss it along with the 60 million people who died in WWII to give it to the world.

you handle things on a case by case basis, and if someone calls you a racist you handle that then. If someone is too drunk don’t serve them. where’s the problem?

Meltipp, that was in reply to a racist comment which seems to have been removed

Too right . I actually thought it was silly for him to comment the way he did as a public representative , but to threaten his family , well I just hope the Gardai are informed and catch these cowards

In my town, everyone doesn’t even park their car, but just abandon it. They are all white Irish, FACT. Or am I now a racist?

Easygoing. If you treat them differently because of their race, that’s what the term racist means.

I’m sure they’re not anti racists threatening his family. Some people just like to jump on a bandwagon. Of course Scully’s family don’t deserve to be threatened. But equally worrying is the actual acts of racist violence on the African community.

Do statistic exist regarding attacks of violence towards all communities in society?
What is the break down of attacks towards Irish people and other communities?

I just posted links to what I can find Robbie further down the page. they make for interesting reading!

Which now mysteriously seem to have been censored!

Here you go Robbie http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/fd-080924-panorama-web.pdf

You beat me to it….

Brian, You said what I was trying to say but you said it better! : )

What exactly are the facts here, a friend of mine says you’re telling porkies

Well let me put it this way.

The frontline staff experience it 4-5 times a day, the managers knows it. Nobody can however bring it any further due to the racist issue. You can just picture the headlines already.

But I love how your counter argument is “Its a lie, prove it”.. When you know damn well there is not a hope in hell since it would incriminate the person in question (since they are not allowed to talk about it)

I’ll tell you what though.. You go down to any social service/fas office and sit there for a day.. There is your proof.

@Easygoing. I appreciate what you say. I’m really sick of listening all the awful things I’ve read on these threads over past week. You didn’t stick out as one of them.

There are lots of white Irish families that are aggressive too. I just don’t think colour should be mentioned.

But if either side needs to be cut a bit of slack it’s the black side. They are the ones were abused and their continent exploited and there’s bound to be some hurt there and as a result I would be more willing to understand their anger.

Judging an entire race on the behavior of a few is the definition of racism, which is my understanding of what he did. Granted he may not have understood he was being racist as that is emerging as a significant factor in racism is Ireland. If I was subjected to those attitudes on a daily basis I would probably have very little respect for the perpetrators and no doubt come across as dismissive and rude too.

Can you clarify: are you suggesting that the Labour councillor should have pre-emptively complained about the comments before the comments were made?

Nivag if the Labour Councillor felt so strongly about Mr Scully then he should have made his views known before now.

I do however see your point and unless the Labour Councillor is psychic then obviously he couldn’t have complained before the comments were made. My bad!

Lock your doors and board up your windows people of Naas. The BNP are being invited to your town.

Ah Reada now you are just letting yourself down.

Brian. I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. He has had a lot of fairly shocking comments removed. I try to be good but sometimes it’s just too hard…

I was referring to the BNP, they hate the Irish as much as they hate everyone else.

theres nothing wrong with marching to support the man, im not talking about white sheets and pointy hats.

@ Brian. That’s why I warned all the residents of Naas regardless of colour. I wouldn’t like to be seen as a racist.

He pulled the race card – which bit of that do you find difficult to understand?

But he didn’t say just ‘anything’, his comments were reckless and dangerous. That still cannot justify the actions of these cowards who have threatened Mr Scully and his family.

Well said Jim!

Open discussion is needed and education on cultural differences for all of society.
At the moment people are afraid to discuss as they could be labelled racist.
Many people have an unclear perception, which results in narrow minded opinions regarding welfare entitlements and differences in culture.

Wholeheartedly agree, Jim. Discussion is the key. Skirting around the lunatic fringe at either end of the debate seems to be one of the biggest hurdles.

“attitudes to foreigners”

how about attitudes to having to compete and struggle even harder for everything and the limited resources this land has. Resources Irish ancestors sacrificed for, so that their descendants could have better access to such resources. They did not sacrifice for the descendants of foreign peoples who have their own native lands, AND who came here illegally, as they would have stopped off in a myriad of African AND european countries before arriving here to claim safe haven asylum.

How about peoples common sense in knowing that immigration is wrong and what we are dealing with here is plantation and invasion. Where Irish people feel like strangers in their own country. No right to oppose immigration do we?

Tell me Stha, When my Uncle and my Father worked in Nigeria people used to call them “Pinky” what exactly does that mean?

That’s simple Brian. That was racist too. Look up the term in a dictionary.

And tell me Brian. Did your family earn a similar wage to the Africans they worked alongside?

But, Brian – black people are not “racist”. Only “pinkys” are !! I’m being sardonic, of course. As a person, I detest all forms of prejudice. I’m sure no Nigerian stood up for your father & uncle.

While you have the dictionary out you probably should reach for the map as well Brian. It would tell you that Zimbabwe is a 7970km drive away from Nigeria…. I hope one day a Namibian doesn’t see that your Irish and accuse you of something a Russian once called his great aunt!!

Brian, Declan – if I was Nigerian I would tell you all about it. I would even explain to you how this term came about. As an educated person it doesn’t mean I don’t know what it means. If you read my comment perhaps you wouldn’t have asked me that question. I shouldn’t have to be blamed for the wrong that another black person does just because of the colour of my skin or mere origin. I am sure not every white european will understand where the term ‘pennies for black babies’ came from although they may understand what it means now. Silly talk really.

Hey I asked a simple question and straight away Reada and Dave you feel the need to get all aggressive. Reada my vocabulary is fine thank you and Dave I am well aware of the difference between Zim and Nigeria seeing as my Uncle worked in Nigeria for many years and my 2nd cousin lived in Zim. Both of these men mentioned the term so I was simply asking someone from the area what the term meant before I went any further,

No need to be so intolerant lads!!! :-)

I wasn’t being aggressive Brian. I actually said I thought it was a racist thing to say to your family. I just like to keep posts concise. But you can’t deny that Africa has been exploited!

Brian are we to hold ourselves to the standards of how the zimbabwen establishment treated its white population or how racial disrimination is handled in parts of africa at all?

Or should we try and hold ourselves to much higher standards. Your comment was a crude attempt at justification whatever way you originally intended it.

On the other hand i do think darren scully has acted exemplary since this came out and shouldnt be te subject of a witch hunt, it was an error in judgement that he made

There’s no denying the Reada and it still is. I’m just confused as to why that is relevant to Scully or even the Irish for that matter. It was the Empires of Europe that tore up Africa and the most that most Irish saw of it was when they sailed past it on the prison ships to Australia.

Sean are we reading the same page. I said noting about the Zim establishment, nothing what so ever. I asked a simple question about a simple term of phrase from someone from that part of the world. Stha then responded that she didn’t know what it meant. Question asked, question answered.

If you must know, and to calm whatever moral crusade you are on, the term came up when I mentioned this article to my Dad today. He said that they used call us pinkys when we were there and I was wondering if the term was pejorative or not. I wanted to know because if I used the word without knowing it’s “street” meaning in a comment I didn’t want to offend anyone. Now are you happy with that.

I have wondered this too Brian. Why some Irish are so hostilely racist to this issue. I can only assume it’s part of the fact that both Irish and Africans were exploited and some are of the mindset that we have to stomp on those we’re classed with to make ourselves feel better and help us climb the social ladder. ???

I really hate the way that the powers that be make some people feel like that. They did it in Ireland too. The only plantation that worked was when they planted equally poor people from Scotland and pitted them against the native Irish.

Brian thats fair enough, and i understand that you might have meant your comment in an innocuous way, however im sure you will also concede that given the circumstances and nature of the preceding post it could be construed in a prejudicial way.

Also when you accuse me of being on a ” moral crusader ” when i criticize something which I view to be prejudicial then its a good day for extremists everywhere

Sean I think that both of us saw each others comments in a different light than they were intended. Now that we have each explained them better I hope that clears up any misunderstanding.

Reada, I don’t think that it is a case of everyone stomping on the other trying to get one up on each other. For me personally I treat people the way that they treat me. I have worked and trained people of all backgrounds in various jobs and as long as they treat me with respect then I will return that respect. What does set me off however is when someone accuses me of prejudice because I didn’t give them or did what they want. Prejudice works both ways but there is a sense of frustration that is echoed by Brian Walsh’s comments further down the page. The perception is that the majority are being held hostage by the minority for fear that they will be accused of something. And that goes for all sides of this debate, too many extremists shouting for my liking and drowning out reasoned argument and debate.

Brian totally agreed that when aggressiveness is doled out then race/culture is no excuse.

However there does seem to be a lack of awareness that active (not extreme) racism is an issue in Ireland. Im not talking about unPC stuff either as I give a wide berth to humour and misunderstandings such as this one, what im talking about is prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes that generalize people based their skin colour and is too often excused as harmless or infrequent

Stha Ngwenya : Pennies for black babies was a term used in Catholic schools to raise money for starving children on the African Continent . How is this racist ?

Eileen Gabbett: Obviously. It’s been a long day. Take your time to read every comment above, in context.

Stha Ngwenya @ I have . I was just concerned that maybe you didn’t know where the term ‘pennies for black babies’ really did come from.

Eileen Gabbett: Yeah
Sure

Stha Ngwenya @ Excuse me have you something else to say ? Because when I was a child growing up in a large family, the catholic nuns insisted and marked it down in a journal every friday morning at school who brought their ‘penny for black babies ‘ with them into school. If we missed a week , we had to bring it in the following week. Bear in mind Stha that a penny in those days was maybe like a euro now…. The same nuns showed us pictures of starving black babies whose bellies were distended due to starvation. Charity / racist ?

Eileen, I think there is miscommunication between you & I. I understand about the sacrifices that the Irish made for the poor and continue to make today. However, don’t lose sight of my response to Brian and Declan. As I said, I know what ‘pennies for black babies’ means & that is why I referenced it.
The reference to the term ‘pennies for black babies’ was in response to Brian’s question, asking me about an old term ‘pinkies’ used in Nigeria. Even though I clearly stated that I am from Zimbabwe, the assumption was that I will have an answer. It would be like expecting someone from Romania to know what ‘pennies for black babies’ meant.
So in short the conversation was not about the meaning of each term but about the constant assumptions and sweeping statements that are often used to embody Africans, without any thought as to what differences may be there amongst us. Back to my very first point that Africa is a continent, made up of many countries with the commonality which is our skin colour but in any other deeper meaningful way different languages, customs, mannerisms & history – much in the same way as Europe.

Stha @ I understand all of that thanks ,OK Stha :).And for the record, I am just like everyone else and I suspect even yourself , who does not like slackers or bad manners be they black Africans,or white Irish.

Eileen, of course. Thanks too.

@Eileen Gabbett.. you were forced into giving money to a religious institute in lieu of education, what they did with money is another question, i am aware that some of this so called black baby money was used to buy property in france

Martin Mc Cormack @ If you know so much then why don’t YOU follow it up and query what you know…. or again are you just shit stirring as usual .

At last a voice of reason…hear hear !

he made a rascist comment and discovered that it went down like a lead baloon, especially with his cemployer, so he retracted what he said, highly unlikely he changed his views though

Mr.Scully expressed HIS experience. That is not racist.
In his experience the only group to be consistantly bad behaved were the black Africans. No other group as a rule, and in general numbers, behaved to him like that. That was his EXPERIENCE. It is a true event about a true group of people. It was not any other grouping whi in general behaved that way, it wa only the grouping of black Africans who in general DID behave that way. That is what he encountered, that is his EXPERIENCE, that is not racist.

I think a suitable job for him would be to send him on a humanitarian trip to Africa to help clean up the mess the whites left behind. Or is saying that it was whites exploited africa a racist thing for me to say? Mmm…

Who hepled whitey round up black villagers during that awful slave trade era ? Their very own black brethern in many cases. Yes – whites did alot of damage as well as alot of good while in Africa. Let’s us not blame whitey for all of Africa’s ills. Blacks have their share of the blame, too. No, Reada. Your comment is not racist.

Thanks Declan. Glad I’m not. But who paid the black villagers to round up the other black villagers? It would have been a case of “them or us”. Something that I hate!

@ Reada, thankfully the majority of people can look forward and become more tolerant of each others differences, respect and move on. Seen as you have decided to tar all whites with the same brush, will you be also loosing your job on Monday?

Billy I’d answer you if your question made sense…

Betrayal has its price, Réada. Many people throughout history in all societies betrayed their own for the “few pieces of silver”. Anyway – he apologised & was man enough to do it. I’m saddened his family were targeted. That’s it -

@Eileen Gabbett. dont particularly know a lot, but i do know that particular fact as i knew the woman involved, and i dont believe it was an isolated case, take a look around dublin alone, a lot of prime property. I dont really see anything to follow up this was back in 60s, Surely at this stage it’s obvious to most people the vast property portfolios built up by so called charitable institutions, fair enough you and I and lots of others gave our pennies in good faith and a lot of ordinary nuns did great work, but they and us were hoodwinked by the head honchos . Much the same thing goes on nowadays in the “charity/NGO Industry”. CEOs , etc on huge salaries.
Not sure about your shit stirring reference , unless you know what i do for a living.

Sean please don’t be ashamed. It’s good it’s out in the open. It’s mostly fear. Feel sorry for the racists – they’re only wimps. I’m proud you’re Irish!

Thanks Reada, Ireland is coming of such a low base on this issue that it’s going to be a long road. In the meantime I just hope that tea party politics doesn’t arrive in Ireland and harness it for it’s own agenda. Tea party politics is like cancer, it arrives unannounced and unnoticed, but it eventually destroys it’s host.

why ashamed to hold Irish an Passport? are you suggesting everyone that has an Irish Passport are racist? Anyway I believe some of the views expressed here are due to frustration and ignorance, but don’t be so quick to judge a nation by comments of the few.

No David not everyone, I’m ashamed because my Irish passport puts me in the same category as them, guilty by association if you will. Judging a nation by the actions of a few is the definition of racism which is the point I’m trying to get across. I hope you’re right and they are the “few” because the red thumbs of the lurkers indicate otherwise.

No David, everyone who is white is automatically racist. We need to end the white race now. Of course blacks and brown people are never racist to each other, you never find blacks and brown people expressing a preference for people of their own race with lighter skin or looking down on those with darker skin.

ha ha obviously speaking your own language is racist now Eogan O Murcada….. Just sayin!

Ìs it possible to reply this comment?

Mr.Scully expressed HIS experience. That is not racist.
In his experience the only group to be consistantly bad behaved were the black Africans in Naas. No other group as a rule, and in general numbers, behaved to him like that. That was his EXPERIENCE. It is a true event about a true group of people. It was not any other grouping whi in general behaved that way, it wa only the grouping of black Africans who in general DID behave that way. That is what he encountered, that is his EXPERIENCE, that is not racist.

Could someone translate that into English please?

R shud i say transl8?

@Thinkshpake I translated it to “I’m scared all the teachers will have to spend too long teaching the African children and my children will spell like me.” Or something like that…

You have a child but you can’t even write correctly.

What a joke.