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Trowbridge business duo hurt by racist comment (From Wiltshire Times)
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Trowbridge business duo hurt by racist comment
8:30am Friday 27th November 2009
A councillor who made a racially offensive comment about Polish people at a business awards ceremony has apologised for the gaffe.
Cllr John Brady, who is Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for economic development, planning and housing, was presenting awards at the Wiltshire New Business Competition at Bowood Golf and Country Club on Friday, when he made the remark about Polish people.
He was talking about one of the shortlisted finalists, Trowbridge company JK Translation Solutions, which is run by Polish women Kate Zielinska and Jide Ihenacho.
Cllr Brady is understood to have expressed surprise at their reaching the finals, as he thought Polish people who came to the UK were ‘usually only car washers’.
His comments left at least one of the women in tears and he was later told to apologise, which he did.
Many others at the event, attended by 200 people, were angry at his comments and several made their views known to him.
President of Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce David Baker branded the comments as ‘totally inappropriate’.
He said: “I was very concerned at the comments made by Cllr Brady. It left the two women extremely distressed.”
Arlene Caddow, of Bradford on Avon Chamber of Commerce, said: “It was really unfortunate and inappropriate, it wasn’t right.
“I spoke to him afterwards and suggested he apologise, which I think he did. There were a couple of gasps in the room when he said it, everybody was slightly shell-shocked.”
Stephen Carey, chairman of the Wiltshire Racial Equality Council, said he was “saddened” at the comments.
The two women said Cllr Brady’s comments were inappropriate, but they did not want to comment further.
Mrs Zielinska said: “We have met so many nice English people here and we’ve never had any unfriendly situations before.”
Miss Ihenacho added: “This comment won’t break our thinking about people here.”
Cllr Brady told the Wiltshire Times he had no idea of his error until someone pointed it out to him.
He said he had not intended to cause offence and was not used to public speaking.
He said: “I realised I had made a real gaffe and I went over immediately to apologise.
“We had a drink together and they seemed to forgive me. I told them what I said had come out completely wrong. I had meant to compliment them on doing so well.
“I realise I was in the wrong and I want to apologise. I really am not racist in any way. I have a number of Polish friends.”
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Your Say YourTimes
blamethebiscuits, trowbridge says...
10:12am Fri 27 Nov 09
heckler, Tinpot Town says...
10:15am Fri 27 Nov 09
There is a time and a place to debate immigration - making comments like this at an award ceremony is not one of them.
mr_flibble, Trowbridge says...
10:36am Fri 27 Nov 09
I again ask the question:
What made that comment racist?
rondzik, says...
4:15pm Fri 27 Nov 09
Something similar happened to me few years back, when I was attending an English wedding. I was filling up a champagne glasses during reception for me and my girlfriend, when older woman approached. Because I am generally well mannered, I offered to fill her glass too. She, hearing my accent, asked where I am from and after hearing that I am Polish she said "oh, you must do it everyday then". And no, I wasn't wearing white waiter shirt.
The point is, that some English people are out of touch with reality, thinking about us, Poles, as only as low paid labour. I, for example, work as a web designer for publishing company. meeting pole who work in hospital, office or in public services is not uncommon. Of course, I also have friends who work in factories, restaurants, as a drivers, but even them in most cases holds university degree.
We are not going to kick too much fuss about someone underestimating us, at the and we to some extend are still guests in this country and we should not point out ignorance of our host, at least not too often. Still, if you holding a public position, as the hero of this story does, I would expect a bit more tact and understanding.
regards
Not Kate Price, Warminster says...
7:43pm Fri 27 Nov 09
rondzik wrote:Youre gramer is teribl.Fajnie traf.
Well, mr_fibble, I must say that I would be offended. Even if its not racist (his comment was based on nationality, not a race), it is definitely a prejudice, and not a nice one.
Something similar happened to me few years back, when I was attending an English wedding. I was filling up a champagne glasses during reception for me and my girlfriend, when older woman approached. Because I am generally well mannered, I offered to fill her glass too. She, hearing my accent, asked where I am from and after hearing that I am Polish she said "oh, you must do it everyday then". And no, I wasn't wearing white waiter shirt.
The point is, that some English people are out of touch with reality, thinking about us, Poles, as only as low paid labour. I, for example, work as a web designer for publishing company. meeting pole who work in hospital, office or in public services is not uncommon. Of course, I also have friends who work in factories, restaurants, as a drivers, but even them in most cases holds university degree.
We are not going to kick too much fuss about someone underestimating us, at the and we to some extend are still guests in this country and we should not point out ignorance of our host, at least not too often. Still, if you holding a public position, as the hero of this story does, I would expect a bit more tact and understanding.
regards
blamethebiscuits, trowbridge says...
9:39pm Fri 27 Nov 09
2. I bet that person's English is better than your Polish.
3. Brady must go. Jane Scott: sack that half-wit.
Not Kate Price, Warminster says...
11:56pm Fri 27 Nov 09
blamethebiscuits wrote:1.Why not?
1 You can't spell 'grammar'.
2. I bet that person's English is better than your Polish.
3. Brady must go. Jane Scott: sack that half-wit.
2. Nie dziękuję
3. If we sacked everyone that displayed a lack of social skills from time to time would anyone be working in this country? I'm sure that Cllr Brady recognises that he has been a bit of an ar5hole, however, he has apologised - and that should be good enough - though I appreciate anyone who thinks of him as an idiot and half-wit may feel Cllr Brady should run around the centre of trowbridge naked on Sunday thrashing himself with burning willow to make amends for the offence caused.
old bert, beanacre says...
6:44am Sat 28 Nov 09
Nick Taken, Trowbridge says...
8:10pm Sat 28 Nov 09
No more welsh, irish, scottish, black, white, muslim, indian, handicapped, ginger haired, midget, short, tall, fat, thin, greek, blind, short sighted, glasses wearing, curly haired, stupid people, mongel, chinese, viking, big boobed, bald headed, homophobic, straight, politically incorrect, evironmental,.. blah blah jokes.
What a boring life some of you weeping do-goody welsh, irish, scottish, black, white, muslim, indian, handicapped, ginger haired, midget, short, tall, fat, thin, greek, blind, short sighted, glasses wearing, curly haired, stupid people, mongel, chinese, viking, big boobed, bald headed, homophobic, straight, politically incorrect wimps live.
Everyone CANNOT live their lives purely to keep every other 'chip on the shoulder' ' feeling hard done by' happy.
Get real.. wash some cars.
lavendershrub, Salisbury says...
10:55pm Fri 11 Dec 09
Kate Zielinska and Jide Ihenacho before the awards ceremony
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mr_flibble, Trowbridge says...
9:29am Fri 27 Nov 09
Its just another example of 'freedom of speach' being restricted by the liberal do-goders of the left.
What about the silent MAJORITY who have had enough of being the minority in their own country.