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TOM DEIGNAN

Irish Americans caught in nasty race debate

By
Tom Deignan

Published Thursday, October 22, 2009, 2:51 PM
Updated Thursday, October 22, 2009, 3:02 PM

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Irish Americans caught in nasty race debate | Irish News | IrishCentral




Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley

Ronan Tynan is not the only person who has gotten himself into trouble when it comes to the Irish and insensitive comments. 

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is being told by a high-profile Baltimore advocate that he should not even think about naming another Irish person mayor of the city O’Malley himself once led. This has some Irish Americans fighting mad.

If anyone thought the election of Barack Obama would end these nasty racial flare-ups that surface with disturbing regularity in America, they have certainly been proven wrong.

First there was the kerfuffle over Rush Limbaugh trying to buy part-ownership of a pro football team. It turns out the right-wing radio blowhard had made insensitive comments about black players in the past. 

That was followed by a chorus of disapproval from not very shocking figures such as Al Sharpton and Spike Lee. Several black players also began muttering that they would not play for Limbaugh. 

Limbaugh’s efforts to buy into the football team failed. Of course, he didn’t leave it at that. He shouted back at his critics, and suddenly we had ourselves a racially-charged debate.

This happened around the same time some loony justice of the peace in Louisiana decided that he did not want to grant a marriage license to a man and woman who happened to be black and white. 

The justice proclaimed he believed the children would have a tough life. That justice is doing his best to make sure that is, indeed, the case.

Until then, we offer Tiger Woods, Obama and half-Irish Yankees superstar Derek Jeter as proof that the children of interracial couples might have a chance in this world.

Which brings us to the nasty little ethnic and racial debate which has erupted in Baltimore.

Earlier this month, the head of the Baltimore branch of the civil rights group the NAACP made some comments regarding Baltimore’s next mayor. Shelia Dixon, the current mayor, is African American.

She, however, is due to stand trial next month on a host of charges including theft and perjury.

If Dixon is not able to serve in office, some state observers say it would be O’Malley’s job to name Dixon’s successor.

At a recent Baltimore NAACP meeting, the group’s chapter leader, Marvin Cheatham, stated that he supports a resolution that would compel O’Malley to appoint another African American as mayor.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Cheatham then said, “Our concern is who would the governor appoint? Here you have a predominantly African American city.

“What if the governor appointed somebody white? Would he appoint someone Irish to be the mayor?”

For the record, Cheatham also apparently believes a Republican would be as bad as an Irish person.

Not shockingly, a flood of Irish anger was aimed at Cheatham.

“I am an Irish American and I am offended by the remarks of Maryland NAACP head Marvin Cheatham dismissing the Irish as unqualified to be the mayor of Baltimore. Baltimore has had several mayors of Irish heritage, and they were elected on their character not their skin color,” one reader wrote to the Baltimore Sun website.

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Irish Americans caught in nasty race debate | Irish News | IrishCentral


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