topic Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack in Community Spirit

Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:11:17 GMT

ROME (AFP) - The latest racist attack against Italy's first black minister, in which bananas were hurled at her during a rally, sparked outrage across the political spectrum Saturday.

Immigration Minister Cecile Kyenge was speaking at a Democratic Party (PD) rally on Friday when an unidentified spectator threw bananas at her, missing the stage but sparking reactions of disgust from across the country.

Shocking cases of abuse have multiplied against Kyenge, an Italian citizen born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, climaxing earlier this month with a member of the anti-immigration Northern League party who likened her to an orangutan.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/-/mp/18173933/outrage-in-italy-over-black-minister-banana-attack/

Kyenge, who has refused to rise to the bait or write Italy off as racist, immediately reacted to the banana attack by slamming it as "a waste of food."

Good on her!

Not "oh they're picking on me because I'm a woman" or "if I were white it'd be different"

Instead:

At a rally for the Left Ecology and Freedom (SEL) party on Saturday, where she was received with warm applause, Kyenge said she was "proud to be Italian."

"I do not believe the problem lies with me. There are some people who are not happy, who are showing their discontent, and it is my job to listen to that discontent," she told journalists. "I have to draw out the better side of Italy."

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

i-need-a-martini — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:21:00 GMT

Actually Kyenge and another female minister (Boldrini) have had plenty to say on her colour and race (the former) and on being a women in politics (the latter).

Whilst Kyenge says Italy is not a racist or a sexist country in general, she has often talked about the difficulty of being a woman in parliament specifically in Italy and has commented repetitively about her want to be called 'black' rather than 'coloured'.

If you are bringing this up because you feel that Gillard used her sex as an excuse, perhaps you should review how often Gillard mentioned the fact of her sex in public. Aside from the mysogyny speech and a small reference to her sex in her defeat speech I think you will find it was always OTHERS that brought it up as an issue continuously.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:34:16 GMT

@i-need-a-martini wrote:
Aside from the mysogyny speech and a small reference to her sex in her defeat speech I think you will find it was always OTHERS that brought it up as an issue continuously.

Oh right. Yet it was Ms Gillards mysogyny speech portraying herself as a victim that went global, yet this lady has risen above such games, showing herself to the world to be a politician above gender and colour.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

cherry*135 — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:43:11 GMT

Still a nasty racist attack no matter what spin anyone puts on it. It isn't good, people have to put up with that in this day and age.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:51:18 GMT

True A3.

But I don't think you'll eradicate racism while there are so many races clashing against one another in the world in this age. It will take generations IMO.

After that there will be other "isms".

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

***super_nova*** — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 07:58:52 GMT

Julia Gillard has put up with an awful lot; there is no need to make it into a competition with another woman who is also coping abuse. The only difference is that most Italians are outraged, many Australians thought abusing JG was fine. JG pretty much ignored the hideous behaviour of the opposition for close to 3 years, when she finally had enough she was attacked again. She had no chance, when she ignored the abuse she was weak, when she did not ignore it she was playing the gender card. Anyway, she is retiring from politics, end of story.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

freakiness — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 08:34:11 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
@i-need-a-martini wrote:
Aside from the mysogyny speech and a small reference to her sex in her defeat speech I think you will find it was always OTHERS that brought it up as an issue continuously.

Oh right. Yet it was Ms Gillards mysogyny speech portraying herself as a victim that went global, yet this lady has risen above such games, showing herself to the world to be a politician above gender and colour.

Why don't you actually watch the speech and review her other speeches. She did not portray herself as a victim nor did she harp on about sexist treatment. It was others who raised it, often in her defence but others who talked about sexism, not Gillard. In the misogyny speech she did not portray herself as a victim.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:24:52 GMT

@freakiness wrote:
@icyfroth wrote:
@i-need-a-martini wrote:
Aside from the mysogyny speech and a small reference to her sex in her defeat speech I think you will find it was always OTHERS that brought it up as an issue continuously.

Oh right. Yet it was Ms Gillards mysogyny speech portraying herself as a victim that went global, yet this lady has risen above such games, showing herself to the world to be a politician above gender and colour.

Why don't you actually watch the speech and review her other speeches. She did not portray herself as a victim nor did she harp on about sexist treatment. It was others who raised it, often in her defence but others who talked about sexism, not Gillard. In the misogyny speech she did not portray herself as a victim.

Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

freakiness — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 09:31:43 GMT

And you can't see something wrong with that?

Should the depiction not have been true?

Should the media not portray her with honesty rather than with their own bias?

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

lurker17260 — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:02:52 GMT

Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

And who's fault is that? That sounds a awful lot blaming the victim to me icy.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

i-need-a-martini — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:13:12 GMT

Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

What an odd thing to say.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:08:47 GMT

@i-need-a-martini wrote:
Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

What an odd thing to say.
Yes. I'm sorry. That should be perceived.

@lurker17260 wrote:
Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

And who's fault is that? That sounds a awful lot blaming the victim to me icy.

Again, I'm sorry. I should have clarified that.

It was the way she ALLOWED herself to be depicted and perceived by the media friendly to her, after her mysogyny speech.

She never rose above that and said " ok I'm a woman and because of that some of my detractors may think I'm weak, but I've got heart and I've got guts and I'm going to do the best job I possibly can for Australia".

She traded on being a victim IMO.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

just_me_karen — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:13:42 GMT

I suppose some might perceive it like that. I saw her as strong and extremely resilient, considering the filthy way she was treated. Compare it to how they now treat Rudd.

Anyway I guess it's a bit like Abbott trading off being a bumbling stuttering, no policy fool lol

Even his own ministers acknowledge it. I saw an interview the other day where one of his ministers agreed tony was not a hands on Leader, but surrounded himself with skilled people... OMG... Like Amanda... Haha!

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

izabsmiling — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:30:35 GMT

From the Opening post

Icyfroth wrote:Good on her!

Not "oh they're picking on me because I'm a woman" or "if I were white it'd be different"

...I am the one at fault if I treat others differently due to gender,race etc

I would own it myself and I would expect them to be able to speak up about it .That is their right just as these things are my right.Who the heck do some people think they are ...I mean really ?

Personally I hope that I never have the need.

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

izabsmiling — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:45:46 GMT

less chance of erradicating isms of any kind while there are many people around who think those who are at the receiving end of the isms should be quiet about it ...that in itself is an ism

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:46:17 GMT

there's always **bleep** for tat isn't there, Karen

oops I hope I don't get slapped for that

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:47:28 GMT

oh it got bleeped! Cool!

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

just_me_karen — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:49:39 GMT

Politicians are politicians, icy, just like used car salesmen are used car salesmen... It could be genetic.

I can't think of any new isms that will come along that aren't already valid?

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

icyfroth — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:53:40 GMT

whatever ism is valid for the age

Re: Outrage In Italy Over Black Minister Banana Attack

freakiness — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:55:23 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
@i-need-a-martini wrote:
Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

What an odd thing to say.
Yes. I'm sorry. That should be perceived.

@lurker17260 wrote:
Be that as it may, it's the way she has been depicted and percieved

And who's fault is that? That sounds a awful lot blaming the victim to me icy.

Again, I'm sorry. I should have clarified that.
It was the way she ALLOWED herself to be depicted and perceived by the media friendly to her, after her mysogyny speech.
She never rose above that and said " ok I'm a woman and because of that some of my detractors may think I'm weak, but I've got heart and I've got guts and I'm going to do the best job I possibly can for Australia".
She traded on being a victim IMO.

How do you perceive that she traded on being a victim?

If she ever mentioned gender she was accused of playing the gender card.

You insist she played the victim although she rarely mentioned gender.

How would you react if she talked gender more often?

The one time she did exactly as you suggest she ought you claim it's playing the victim.