If her mindset was one of a deep seated distain for Africans or for Africans being in her country then the intent of the comment, I would argue, would have been one based on racist foundations. But I, and seemingly no one else has any idea what her mindset or opinion is on this matter so it's not particularly fair to make an assumption on the intent of her comment.
I agree with this.
Typical Greeks though eh?
😆
so this seems to be getting more coverage than the drugs cheats that have been sent home.
what's worse, making daft comments on Twitter that gets the PC brigade wetting their pants, or taking dope-masking diuretics which have the same effect?
Of course it is racist - as above ^, not overt, but in the intent... 🙄
IIRC, North Wales Police got in a bit of bother a few years ago re racism. One phrase that got a lot of attention was (again IIRC)
Being born in a stable does not make you a horse
Read literally there is no racist content - but we all know that that is not the case, don't we???
As grum said, it's the combination of her previously expressed support for the Golden Dawn party, who are Greece's equivalent of the BNP, accompanied by the comments about there being 'so many Africans in Greece, at least the mosquitoes of West Nile will eat homemade food' (the 'at least' part suggesting that the Africans don't offer any other benefit).
But I, and seemingly no one else has any idea what her mindset or opinion is on this matter so it's not particularly fair to make an assumption on the intent of her comment.I agree with this.
Except we know that she is a supporter of a party of nasty, racist thugs, so we do know about her mindset on this matter.
As grum said, it's the combination of her previously expressed support for the Golden Dawn party, who are Greece's equivalent of the BNP
Considerably more extreme than the BNP from some of the stuff I've read.
Except we know that she is a supporter of a party of nasty, racist thugs, so we do know about her mindset on this matter.
I didn't know that. Now I do it puts the comment in a slightly different light.
My original point still stands though.
I was hoping for a heavily image-laden thread followed by confused arguments where us lefty liberals weren't sure whether to be angrier about sexism or racism. With a thread closure by page 5.
You've all let me down. 🙁
Earning loud applause at an election campaign rally in Athens, Golden Dawn MP Ilias Panagiotaros said: "If Chrysi Avgi [Golden Dawn] gets into parliament [as polls predict], [b]it will carry out raids on hospitals and kindergartens and it will throw immigrants and their children out on the street so that Greeks can take their place.[/b]"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/12/golden-dawn-hospital-immigrants-greece
See also:
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-05-12/news/31676636_1_golden-dawn-greek-parliament-mosque
I'm sure she's a lovely girl though.
😆not like years ago when some had faces like blind cobblers thumbs
Well, she supports the Golden Dawn party who are a bunch of nasty racist thugs - so it's perhaps quite likely that she is a racist.
Fair enough, but if we're going to start throwing people out the Games because we disagree with their political views then there won't be very many competitors.
I agree, on that basis it is quite likely she is racist, but unless she actually [i]says[/i] something racist (which this statement isn't, to me) then I don't think we can or should throw her out.
(the 'at least' part suggesting that the Africans don't offer any other benefit).
I read it as "at least" the mosquitoes feel at home.
Likewise if it was about midges biting Scots in London as I suggested earlier.
How about midges biting Englishmen in Edinburgh?
Graham, do you really not see the "at least" as suggesting that that is the only identifiable upside of there being "so many" Africans in Greece?
I didn't know that.
Who's fault is that? The information is easily available if you bother to do even a tiny bit of research. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18987678
My original point still stands though.
That intent is everything? Well given her political views, the intent becomes obvious.
Who's fault is that? The information is easily available if you bother to do even a tiny bit of research.
For what purpose, so I can argue with you?
That intent is everything? Well given her political views, the intent becomes obvious.
So again, my point still stands.
Fair enough, but if we're going to start throwing people out the Games because we disagree with their political views then there won't be very many competitors.
They're not - they're throwing her out because her political views (along with her expression of them in the form of a "joke") disagree with the Olympic charter.
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If her mindset was one of a deep seated distain for Africans or for Africans being in her country then the intent of the comment, I would argue, would have been one based on racist foundations. But I, and seemingly no one else has any idea what her mindset or opinion is on this matter so it's not particularly fair to make an assumption on the intent of her comment. A quiet word in her ear by someone and maybe an apology/explanation would have sufficed IMO.
agree too.
But there could also be a further difference between disdain for Africans, and her expressing a view that there are too many in Greece.
[u]Even if[/u] you assume (from her political affiliations) that the comment could have implied she thought this, then it could just as easily be seen as a criticism of the Greek Government's perceived weak immigration policy. And a political punishment for opposing them.
How about midges biting Englishmen in Edinburgh?
its not on, i refuse to go to skotland because of such shenannygonz.
I thought she had previous on this- supporting the neo-nazi golden dawn party, retweeing some of their stuff etc
I thought she had previous on this- supporting the neo-nazi golden dawn party, retweeing some of their stuff etc
I think that sounds a bit sententious there kimbers.
How about midges biting Englishmen in Edinburgh?
Midges are properly sexist, when t'husband and I went riding Glentress, they barely touched me, but properly nommed his legs. Misogynistic little bar stewards.
they barely touched me
Midges have no interest in foreplay whatsoever, that's why they went for Monsieur Toast.
sententious
That's a word that doesn't get used enough IMO.
That's a word that doesn't get used enough IMO.
I agree 😀
Thought of it all by myself.
Fair enough, but if we're going to start throwing people out the Games because we disagree with their political views then there won't be very many competitors.I agree, on that basis it is quite likely she is racist, but unless she actually says something racist (which this statement isn't, to me) then I don't think we can or should throw her out.
I sort of agree, but given the context of her support for Golden Dawn, it's fairly obvious that there was racist intent - which conflicts with the Olympic values. If you take it out of the context then yes the statement itself doesn't justify being kicked out.
bumpy bumpy
Everything's racist nowadays innit. The ban's ok just for being on Twitter tho.
Graham, do you really not see the "at least" as suggesting that that is the only identifiable upside of there being "so many" Africans in Greece?
I hadn't considered that interpretation till Mrs Toast suggested it.
And as I said, if it was "so many Scots in London, at least the midges feel at home" then I wouldn't as a Scot be remotely offended.
I thought she had previous on this- supporting the neo-nazi golden dawn party, retweeing some of their stuff etc
Then if anything she should be thrown out for that - not this.
(though I do wonder whatever happened to the old [i]"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"[/i] premise sometimes).
I sort of agree, but given the context of her support for Golden Dawn, it's fairly obvious that there was racist intent - which conflicts with the Olympic values. If you take it out of the context then yes the statement itself doesn't justify being kicked out.
That just sounds chillingly like "thought crimes" to me.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
It gets lazily wheeled out every so often by the professionally un-offended.
Even if you assume (from her political affiliations) that the comment could have implied she thought this, then it could just as easily be seen as a criticism of the Greek Government's perceived weak immigration policy. And a political punishment for opposing them
You are right and this what Nick griffin argues and he is not a racist and nor are thos nice skin heade dfellas in the Bomber jackets with the convictions who support him and his views.
Intent is alll but , Graham S aside, I have never heard the phrase to many X race here end with a positive note.
I suppose it could happen in much the same way as one day we could have a STW thread where we dont disuss how attractive she is [ I mean this is an important angle on thie story right?].
It could happen but it is very unlikely
"thought crimes" to me.
So i can say whatever I like on here and any proisecution for my publicly expressed view would eb a thought crime?
You can think what you wish as no one can read your mind when you state it publicly it is not a thought.
Is paedophilia a thought crime if I just promote it?
Even if you assume (from her political affiliations) that the comment could have implied she thought this, then it could just as easily be seen as a criticism of the Greek Government's perceived weak immigration policy. And a political punishment for opposing them.
If you're desperately grasping for ways to deny she's a racist and was making a racist joke, yeah.
That just sounds chillingly like "thought crimes" to me.
Oh do give over - jesus christ! 🙄
Read the Olympic charter/values.
this is an important angle
Hell yeah!
It's like having Helga from Allo Allo wearing lycra and jumping into sand for our entertainment.
Oh and:
Junkyard - Member
Even if you assume...
...it is very unlikely
That sounds a bit sententious JY.
Your TV programmes of choice are just too high brow for me 😉
That should be on my family crest DD
It gets lazily wheeled out every so often by the professionally un-offended
hmmmm, I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it
someone has learnt a new word today
I agree with what he said and I will kill anyone who says differently
Every day's a schoolday on STW. 😀
have never heard the phrase to many X race here end witha positive note.
But she didn't say "[u]too[/u] many" did she?
"Wow, there are so many Polish people living here" is a rather different sentence to "Wow, there are too many Polish people living here"
Oh do give over - jesus christ!
Read the Olympic charter/values.
You admit her statement wasn't in itself racist - so you're saying she should be thrown out because what she [i]thinks[/i] goes against the Olympic charter.
Also, why is everyone is focussing just on the joke:
As well as the comment on Sunday referring to the West Nile virus and Africans living in Greece, Papachristou had also reposted a tweet by Ilias Kasidiaris, a politician with the far-right Golden Dawn party, criticising Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's stance on immigration.[b]She had previously retweeted several links to videos promoting the views of Golden Dawn[/b], which won 7% of the vote in Greece's recent elections
This is a nasty, violent, racist party that she has promoted and expressed support for - this conflicts with the values/ideals that the olympics is supposed to uphold as stated in the Olympic charter. Pretty simple really.
Once again, proves that racism is an asymmetrical concept - the severity depends on the target rather than the words itself.
Silly comment, unpleasant background perhaps, racist abuse that warrants expulsion from the games, hmmmm...?
No worse or better than the choc ice joke IMO, so given that STW deemed that inoffensive then I guess we should come to the same conclusion here?
Grim. Isn't she in trouble for her joke rather than her background.
This is a nasty, violent, racist party that she has promoted and expressed support for - this conflicts with the values/ideals that the olympics is supposed to uphold as stated in the Olympic charter. Pretty simple really.
And THAT is a good reason to throw her out.
maybe they were worried shed do something really nasty at an olympic event...........
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No worse or better than the choc ice joke IMO
Really? Oh dear - I really expected better from you.
And THAT is a good reason to throw her out.
Which is the 'context' I referred to earlier when you started talking about the thought police. I'm sure the joke wasn't really the main reason, but for some reason everyone has decided to focus on it and ignore the other more serious issues, in a rather pathetically tabloid fashion.
