From The Daily Mail:
A veteran Tory councillor has been accused of making racist and sexist comments when he was introduced to a black fireman.
Andrew Dransfield, vice-chairman of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes fire authority, made onlookers wince as he shook the firefighter’s hand and declared “You’re the first one I’ve seen.”
The crewman looked embarrassed and stayed silent following the remark from the councillor, who was on an official visit to Great Holm fire station in Milton Keynes. Undeterred, the councillor tried to clarify things by ploughing on with “You know....ethnic minority.”
The black firefighter, who hasn’t been named, did not respond but, according to witnesses, looked furious as Mr Dransfield added: "Now all we need is a woman. Are there any here?”
Just as truth is a defence to a defamation claim, why can't it be a defence to this sort of accusation? If, as a matter of fact that was the first black fireman the councillor had seen, why should he not be allowed to point it out? And, assuming no woman firefighter was present, who was there to take offense at the second comment?
Some people are way too sensitive! When I worked in Germany I was the first English tax advisor that most clients had ever met, and I got bored silly with clients mentioning it, but never did I feel offended, and even if I had done, I would have kept my mouth shut. Did nobody ever ask Thatcher what it was like being the first female English Prime Minister? As boring as it must have been for her, it's the sort of thing which she had to accept.
Plus, as a matter of fact, his comments were mildly amusing in a Prince Philip sort of fashion, you are laughing at him as much as with him. Doesn't that count in his defence as well? At least he didn't keep going and ask if they employed any disabled fire fighters, maybe a visually impaired driver or something...
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