Sarah Kennedy has put her foot in it again!

[persianlady]

I have just read in the evening paper that Sarah Kennedy has been reprimanded for something she said on her morning show. She allegedly said that she had nearly knocked over a black man in the dark. She said she had not seen him until he opened his mouth. (Dont you dare laugh!) Apparently, the BBC messageboard was inundated with protests. but a lot of people came to her defence, saying that what she was saying was relevant, and nothing to do with prejudice. It is fact based on science the science of light reflecting off objects. What do fellow ABs think?
Personally I think her remarks were pertinent to the subject of how dangerous it was for pedestrians wearing dark clothing in the dark. I think people have overreacted, to a perceived racial remark.

[naomi24]

Andy, got anything sensible to say? Read Sukkie's last post and tell me that's not commonsense. Or would you like to be burgled and then arrested for apprehending the intruder because you injured him in the affray?

[sukkie]

You are right niaomi, they probably mean well but they are causing they country to die a slow death. There is a strong underlying resentment bubbling in the population, sooner or later these feelings will want an out. They wrote in the newspaper today about downgrading Christmas. This was a Christian country. Being tolerant does not mean changing your country to suit incoming people. No other countries would do that.

[naomi24]

Sukkie, As churches would have it, I'm not a Christian, since I don't believe in organised religion. However, I do follow the basic Christian creed as I see it - and that is simply to love one another. There is an underlying resentment bubbling (as you put it) in this country, and that isn't surprising since the indiginous population see themselves as continually last on the list. Christmas should not be downgraded - you are right of course - no other country would do that. As I said before, the politically correct, although well-meaning, are terribly misguided and fail miserably when it comes to addressing real concerns. They are damaging immigrants, race relations, and this country, far more than they realise.

Nice to meet you, Sukkie. You sound like a sensible lady to me. Perhaps you'd like to pop over to Religion and Spirituality sometimes - there are some interesting conversations on there. It comes under the heading of Society and Culture.

[persianlady]

Legend ...... Your ignorance about South Africa is staggering. How dare you assume that all white south africans are racist. We live in a New Labour Regime, but we did not all vote them in. Nor do we agree with all their policies. I also lived in South Africa for a number of years. I am not a racist. But I do object to having all this PC shoved down my neck. In principle it is a good idea, but in practice it is damaging race relations in this country. Sukkie is right to say that there is a lot of resentment bubbling and it will have to surface sooner or later . The example of PCs negative effect is in my post. And in my opinion this PC is driven by some snotty little white beaurocrats, sat in some dusty little office in Whitehall , trying to justify their existence. But the people who are going to bear the brunt of it are the very people they are supposedly doing it for.
The sooner Pc is replaced by CS (common sense) the better for us all.

[ELVIS68]

You are not allowed to make comments about other peoples skin colour on TV or radio unless you are Sir Trevor Macdonald who was allowed to and got away with calling Bernard Manning "A fat white bastad"

All done tongue in cheek though so it`s ok

Fair play to the black newsreading award show hosting bastad

[Gromit]

sukkie,
Got to laugh, did you have no idea what Britain was like before you came here or was this the only place that would accept you? You obviously don't like how the place is being run, do you have a plan B to go somewhere less PC or do you plan to whinge here for the rest of your life?

[ELVIS68]

Legend it`s racists not rascists

Rascists have dreadlocks

[Sweep2k]

This thread is all over the place.

[tufty7]

I did have a near miss in a very similar situation , except he was white, he was dressed like the milk tray man though , i reckon a lesson to us all is to have something reflective on and yes I agree , Sarah Kennedy must be shown the door, she rabbles on and on and I am fed up to the back teeth of her , past her sell by date I am afraid,

[persianlady]

legend ...... you just dont get it do you?

They say you cannot reason with an idiot, I guess that must be true.

Is Robert Mugabe a racist? You are so ignorant , you probably dont know who he is, or the fact that he is black.

Your remarks are equal to the ridiculous suggestion that all muslims are terrorists.

Your attitude is proof that that the right to free speech is being eroded in this country.

Why should being concerned about mass immigration be perceived as racism?

Public services are already buckling under the strain, why?

We have some very real problems that PC cannot solve.

To forbid people to speak about these problems will not make them go away.

Tolerance is a virtue. One that you apparently do not seem to posess. On the contrary, your attitude is opressive.

[Oneeyedvic]

wow - starts off talking about the colour of people's skin and ends up talking about the problems of mass immigration.

Does this sound like a leading question???

[Supernick]

It's not a racist remark, but comes down to basic levels of tact and self awareness (and I think SK's awareness has been slipping away of late...). It's a very unwise thing to say on a national radio programme, so why say it?

[persianlady]

But who decides what is or is not a tactful remark?

Is it ok to refer to SK as an old duffer and past her sell by date? That is a tactless , offensive remark in itself. I am sure that was not PC.

We have lost the plot. Sometimes, especially when speaking in public, it is like taking part in a giant ' Yes and No Interlude' with the PC brigade holding the gong.

[anotheoldgit]

Ironing, cleaning? My husband does all that - and he cooks too! And you call yourself persianlady, but do you still have to walk 10 paces behind him when you are both out?

What Sarah Kennedy said was not racist, she was only highlighting a fact, as many have said.

But don't let facts get in the way when it comes to anything that the PC BRIGADE can jump on to make an issue out of.

Can you imagine this scenario of a campaign specially targeting mainly Black areas for people to wear something white during the hours of darkness, because of the difficulty of drivers seeing them. Wow the PC brigade would have a field day.

It all makes perfect sense it is the reason we have white sight screens in cricket, so the batsman can see the red ball easier against the back ground. Of course in one-day matches the board is black so one can see the white ball.

For all those that still believe it was racist, have you not watched a film in which one finds it very hard to see black actors in very dark scenes. All one can see is the whites of their eyes and their white teeth. Or am I also being racist pointing this fact out?

[Oneeyedvic]

"But who decides what is or is not a tactful remark? "

Well if you choose a career in broadcasting, your listeners will choose as well as your bosses.

[persianlady]

oneeyedvic.... your response is proof of the paranoid society we are living in. It is not healthy, and does not promote tolerance or multiculturalism.

anotheoldgit...... do you assume that because of my username that I am Persian or Iranian? And if I am , and am happy to walk 10 paces behind my husband when we are out, what the hell has it got to do with you? It would only become your concern if i was insisting that ALL women should walk behind their husbands.


oneeeyedvic........can I assume that you are a vicar who has lost an eye or are you a cyclops who happens to be a vicar?

[andy-hughes]

naomi24 - what i said was sensible.

Sarah Kennedy has been an embarassment to the BBC for years now - she is casually offensive in a way which suggests she simply does not live in the real world - although quite how this got onto me being pssibly charged with assualting a burglar, I have no idea!

Which ever way you slice it, her remark was a clumsy attempt at being 'humorous' - something Ms. Kennedy does badly because she doesn't understand that what is funny to one section of her audience is offesnive to another.

People being paid by tax-payers money cannot simply launch off into their own sub-Empire 'jokey' remarks like this, it is not funny, nor is it appropriate in this day and age - and that is the thrust of the question.

Yes, wearing dark clothes as a pedestrian on dark mornings is a serious issue, so making light of it with a dubious joke about black people being invisible until they open their mouths is really not the way to bring the message home is it?

Bad judgement, bad taste, bad broadcasting ... again!

[Oneeyedvic]

no persianlady - I am merely called Vic (and a very poor joke as there is only one 'i' in Vic)

Sorry :(

[anotheoldgit]

anotheoldgit...... do you assume that because of my username that I am Persian or Iranian? And if I am , and am happy to walk 10 paces behind my husband when we are out, what the hell has it got to do with you? It would only become your concern if i was insisting that ALL women should walk behind their husbands.

Oh dear persianlady, have you not enough intelligence or sense of humour to realise that I was not seriously assuming, that you were of that nationality. It was only an off the cuff comment on the fact that your husband was doing all the household chores.

But quite frankly if it upsets you so much and you do not wish people to assume who you are by your username do not pick such a name. Or did you also assume that it made you sound rather exotic? I live with my username, I picked it and cannot complain if people assume I am an old git.

Crikey fancy having to do all the cleaning, ironing and cooking as well as living with you.