Germany's EU commissioner has tried to play down remarks about Chinese and gay marriage that critics described as clearly racist and discriminatory.
In a speech to businessmen held in Hamburg last week, Guenther Oettinger, the senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party, used the derogatory term Schlitzaugen - slit eyes - to describe people from China and other Asian descent.
"That was a somewhat sloppy remark that was in no way meant to be disrespectful to China," Oettinger told the newspaper Die Welt, without apologizing for it. Instead, the EU commissioner defended himself against accusations of racism.
"You have to see the broader context in which I made my remarks. In my speech, I wanted to warn Germany of too much self-confidence," he said.
In the speech, a video of which also surfaced online, Oettinger criticized Germany's current political agenda, listing issues such as maternity leave, retirement and child-care allowances.
He then added that "perhaps compulsory gay marriage" would be introduced soon, triggering some laughter in the audience.
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Make me get married if old
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In a speech to businessmen held in Hamburg last week, Guenther Oettinger, the senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative party, used the derogatory term Schlitzaugen - slit eyes - to describe people from China and other Asian descent.
"That was a somewhat sloppy remark that was in no way meant to be disrespectful to China," Oettinger told the newspaper Die Welt, without apologizing for it. Instead, the EU commissioner defended himself against accusations of racism.
"You have to see the broader context in which I made my remarks. In my speech, I wanted to warn Germany of too much self-confidence," he said.
In the speech, a video of which also surfaced online, Oettinger criticized Germany's current political agenda, listing issues such as maternity leave, retirement and child-care allowances.
He then added that "perhaps compulsory gay marriage" would be introduced soon, triggering some laughter in the audience.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-e...=topNews&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social
Make me get married if old
Video link:
