rockin'robin
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According to CNN, former Washington mayor and current city councilman Marion Barry, widely known for his controversial past, has again courted controversy by criticizing Asian-American businesses in his Ward as "dirty" and claiming the businesses should be overtaken by blacks. When confronted about his offensive utterances, the aging politician, who has been in legal trouble for drug possession and tax discrepancies, among other allegations, said on Twitter:
"My comments were taken out of context and construed as disparaging 2 entire Asian biz community. We DO deserve our bizs t/b nice places in W8 ... WE can do a better job. I do NOT disparage the Asian community, but the fact is there r some bizs that can do better"
Politicians should not be defending themselves on Twitter, especially not for criticisms as serious as alleged racism. Second, in the ongoing aftermath of the racially divisive Trayvon Martin shooting, any politician should seek to avoid flaming further race-based flames. Third, when this year has seen plenty of anti-Asian-American rhetoric, such as controversial statements aimed toward NBA phenom Jeremy Lin, adding more fuel to an ongoing fire is just dumb.
As the U.S. seeks to come to grips with prejudice against minority groups in a spring that has seen implied and explicit anti-black, anti-Asian-American and anti-gay rhetoric, allowing a longtime lightning rod for controversy like Barry to remain active and unscathed on the political scene is tantamount to tacit approval of such rhetoric. Barry's comments served no positive purpose and only amplify tensions between Asian-Americans and blacks.
Voters of Ward 8 in Washington should not tolerate Barry's offense against the Asian-American community and should send a message that they are unwilling to be represented by him. Doing so will send a powerful message to other intolerant politicians who feel that playing racial politics is acceptable.
Racism in Politics: Marion Barry Needs to Go - Yahoo! News
"My comments were taken out of context and construed as disparaging 2 entire Asian biz community. We DO deserve our bizs t/b nice places in W8 ... WE can do a better job. I do NOT disparage the Asian community, but the fact is there r some bizs that can do better"
Politicians should not be defending themselves on Twitter, especially not for criticisms as serious as alleged racism. Second, in the ongoing aftermath of the racially divisive Trayvon Martin shooting, any politician should seek to avoid flaming further race-based flames. Third, when this year has seen plenty of anti-Asian-American rhetoric, such as controversial statements aimed toward NBA phenom Jeremy Lin, adding more fuel to an ongoing fire is just dumb.
As the U.S. seeks to come to grips with prejudice against minority groups in a spring that has seen implied and explicit anti-black, anti-Asian-American and anti-gay rhetoric, allowing a longtime lightning rod for controversy like Barry to remain active and unscathed on the political scene is tantamount to tacit approval of such rhetoric. Barry's comments served no positive purpose and only amplify tensions between Asian-Americans and blacks.
Voters of Ward 8 in Washington should not tolerate Barry's offense against the Asian-American community and should send a message that they are unwilling to be represented by him. Doing so will send a powerful message to other intolerant politicians who feel that playing racial politics is acceptable.
Racism in Politics: Marion Barry Needs to Go - Yahoo! News
