http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/diane-abbott-says-sorry-for-race-tweet-6285225.html
Now, I don't think she's evil or something, obviously; from a historical perspective, you could, if you were so inclined, draw her conclusion that "white people" like to "divide and rule".
However, in order to do so, you have to be *so inclined*(; i.e. inclined to racial stereotyping).
At least at the moment she made this tweet she had decided that it was correct to accept that this is fundamentally the case, even if she later reconsidered her thoughts and decided otherwise.
She has apologied saying: "I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalisations about white people. I do not believe in doing that. I apologise for any offence caused."
"I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalisations about white people."
"Interpreted"? There is no other way to take that comment.
Now, like I say - I don't have any bigger problem with her now than I did before (I don't think she's particularly good), but I don't think her apology is acceptable. It's fair enough for her to say "I'm sorry. On reflection I retract those comments, they were misguided and I don't really feel that way; it was a moment of stupidity." But she hasn't.
Even if she said she was joking, I would accept that.
But to pretend there's another way of interpreting what she said is just adding insult to (well not quite) injury.
And - just as laughable:
Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi called for her resignation and insisted Labour leader Ed Miliband must sack her if she would not stand down.
"A healthy society should not tolerate any form of racism," he said, adding that Ms Abbott, the first black woman to enter the Commons, "of all people should lead by example".
As if because she's a black politician she ought to be less guilty of xenophobic stereotyping than any others?! This itself is a racial generalisation; it's RACISM.
It seems to be that every single "authority" on racism is actually a secret racist.
Jesus.Wept.
Now, I don't think she's evil or something, obviously; from a historical perspective, you could, if you were so inclined, draw her conclusion that "white people" like to "divide and rule".
However, in order to do so, you have to be *so inclined*(; i.e. inclined to racial stereotyping).
At least at the moment she made this tweet she had decided that it was correct to accept that this is fundamentally the case, even if she later reconsidered her thoughts and decided otherwise.
She has apologied saying: "I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalisations about white people. I do not believe in doing that. I apologise for any offence caused."
"I understand people have interpreted my comments as making generalisations about white people."
"Interpreted"? There is no other way to take that comment.
Now, like I say - I don't have any bigger problem with her now than I did before (I don't think she's particularly good), but I don't think her apology is acceptable. It's fair enough for her to say "I'm sorry. On reflection I retract those comments, they were misguided and I don't really feel that way; it was a moment of stupidity." But she hasn't.
Even if she said she was joking, I would accept that.
But to pretend there's another way of interpreting what she said is just adding insult to (well not quite) injury.
And - just as laughable:
Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi called for her resignation and insisted Labour leader Ed Miliband must sack her if she would not stand down.
"A healthy society should not tolerate any form of racism," he said, adding that Ms Abbott, the first black woman to enter the Commons, "of all people should lead by example".
As if because she's a black politician she ought to be less guilty of xenophobic stereotyping than any others?! This itself is a racial generalisation; it's RACISM.
It seems to be that every single "authority" on racism is actually a secret racist.
Jesus.Wept.
