Check out how quick the NAACP bailed outta THIS thing... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...9&e=19&u=/ap/20040709/ap_on_re_us/girl_s_name Official's 'Dirty Girl' Quip Draws Fire Fri Jul 9, 3:37 AM ET By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES - State Education Secretary Richard Riordan jokingly told a child her name, Isis, meant "stupid dirty girl," prompting widespread criticism and posing a quandary for the man who appointed him, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Riordan, the wealthy former Los Angeles mayor known for his support of public schools, startled even friends last week with the comments at a promotional event for summer reading at the Santa Barbara library. Schwarzenegger, his longtime friend, called Riordan's statement to the girl "unacceptable in any context" but gave no hint his job was in danger. But Alice Huffman, president of the California chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (news - web sites), said Thursday that Riordan "is not suitable to lead education in our state" and should be removed. The conversation, videotaped by KEYT-TV, took place July 1. The girl, 6-year-old Isis D'Luciano, asked Riordan if he knew her name meant "Egyptian goddess." Riordan replied, "It means stupid dirty girl." After nervous laughter in the room, the girl again told Riordan the meaning of her name. "Hey, that's nifty," he said. A day later, Riordan issued a statement that said he "teased" the girl. "I immediately apologized to her, and I want to do so again for the misunderstanding," Riordan said. The governor's chief spokesman, Rob Stutzman, said Thursday Riordan had not been asked to resign and, "That's the end of the issue, as far as we are concerned." The girl's mother, Trinity Lila of Goleta, said her daughter was fine, and she considered the issue over. "Obviously it hurt her feelings, but she didn't take it personally. She knew he was wrong and she let it go," Lila said. "I'm not going to sue them for therapy bills." "He's already apologized repeatedly," Lila added. Although Riordan's office has tried to contact her, "I don't see what else is to be done." But the issue has persisted. In an editorial Thursday, The Sacramento Bee said California "shouldn't have an education secretary who makes offensive, damaging remarks to young children for no apparent reason." "He's the governor's top person on education, which means we would expect him to have some love and respect for children," Huffman said. "I think he is the wrong man for the job. There is no way for him to explain this away." Riordan, a venture capitalist who started a foundation supporting literacy, has a reputation for awkward — some might say insensitive — remarks and behavior. As mayor, he once greeted hunger strikers outside his office eating a hamburger. In a speech to school administrators earlier this year, he told a story about a nun physically disciplining a student that startled some in the audience. "There wasn't an uproar, but some people felt the comment was inappropriate," said Joseph Jones, assistant executive director of the Association of California School Administrators. Democratic state Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, who had scheduled a protest by civil rights organizations, canceled the demonstration after an apparent mix-up over the girl's racial background. Dymally was quoted in the San Jose Mercury News Thursday saying the child was "a little African-American girl. Would he (Riordan) have done that to a white girl?" The girl is white, with blond hair. Dymally did not return telephone calls. His office issued a statement Wednesday calling Riordan's remarks to the girl "outrageous and irresponsible," then issued another statement Thursday saying, "To err is human; to forgive is divine." "Race is not a factor in this issue," Dymally said in Thursday's statement, adding that Riordan had apologized a second time. "It is time for us to move on." I don't know what's funnier/sadder here: How fast the state assemblyman backed off the whole issue as soon as he found out she was white, without throwing out some mirroring statement to back the NAACP rep, or the little girl's mother saying that "It's over" and that she wouldn't sue the state for therapy. Insensitive statement, sure. Not our color? Oops - wrong argument..call off the march...c-ya... Taxpayer paid therapy? C'mon now!!!!!
NAACP: We're outraged. This is unacceptable. He should be fired. Riordan: She's White. NAACP: Never mind.
I live here in the Bay Area and this has gotten a lot of press out here. This seems to be pretty much the extent of the story... I agree 100% that if the mother has already blown it off, then why continue to roast the guy??? ..another snippet from the SF Chronicle... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/07/09/state0314EDT0008.DTL State Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, a Democrat who served on the Los Angeles City Council when Riordan was mayor, called the remarks to the girl "completely reprehensible" but said they were uncharacteristic for a man with a soft touch for children. "I've seen him say things he wished he could take back many times -- but never around kids," Goldberg said.
hahahaahahahahahahahaha :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: We need to call up the NAAWP, this is an outrage. Quick tell Jesse and Al not to get on the plane just yet. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
As it turns out, the mother DOES have a problem.... ...with the state rep & NAACP poster boy Dymally! http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/9933357p-10855351c.html The NAACP, the California Coalition for Racial Equality and a spokesman for League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights group, continued to call for Riordan to step down, but Dymally changed his mind. "Mayor Richard Riordan has extended another apology ... and expressed his regret to me by way of a Los Angeles bishop," Dymally said in a statement. "To err is human; to forgive is divine. I have requested a meeting with Secretary Riordan to further discuss the issue." That prompted a reaction of disbelief from the girl's mother, who had been avoiding media calls to shield her daughter. She said she felt compelled to speak out after Dymally's comments. "If he feels the man should step down, why does it matter if my daughter is white?" Trinity Lila of Goleta said in an interview. EXACTLY This makes Dymally look like a racist!
I am not even sure what would be funny in saying that her name means "stupid dirty girl". I just think the man is suffering from senility. He is pretty old. He more than likely needs to step down. The NAACP should have stood by their initial remarks. Calling off the march I can see. Doing a 180 reversal on their initial remarks is totally reprehensible. This further sheds light on the fact that the NAACP is a joke in principle.
The only person that comes out of this unscathed is the little girl. Riorden is old with silly comments. He needs to be put out to pasture. Dymally's 'not-my-race' backtrack leaves him with zero credibility. The mother's comment about not charging the state for therapy... ...how generous of her.... The little girl - Isis - was the only one here left with any sense of DOING THE RIGHT THING. She didn't whine, blew him off when he picked on her, let it go when it was over. Isn't it ironic that the only mature reaction from the entire thing didn't come from the adults involved in this thing, but from the six-year-old??? :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis: :dis:
