Final Word from Monday, April 16, 2007
Those screaming for the removal of Jiří Čunek from the cabinet point with outrage at his racist remark and add almost as an afterthought that he's also a crook. It was his alleged bribe-taking that got his immunity lifted in the Senate, but all the attention has now been turned to his ugly choice of words. Premier Mirek Topolánek told Právo that Czech journalists have imported a system of political correctness that the CR isn't ready for. Like it or not, most Czechs actually agreed with Čunek's comment about Gypsies. In such an environment, preaching by the media and a few politicians isn't going to lead to greater racial tolerance, but rather to a backlash that helps Čunek's cause. In an informal poll on TV Prima yesterday, 92% of respondents said that Čunek's remark isn't reason for him to leave the cabinet. True racial tolerance isn't something that can be pounded into people overnight; it must be instilled gently over a lifetime. [Czech Republic discrimation racism Nedělní partie]