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Luebke, Heinrich - As Stupid As a Politician Could Be

Heinrich Luebke was the 2nd President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and though he had no political power, he was the state's HIGHEST representative. On a journey through the new founded African states in the mid-sixties, he gave a speech in front of some of the most important African politicians at that time in (I think it was) Ghana, starting up like this:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Niggers!"

Whoops.

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Contributed By: butti on 01-29-2001 and Reviewed By: Webmaster

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Comments:

Berr writes:: Perhaps he was visiting Niger as opposed to Ghana? I'm not sure what the people of Niger are called (Nigerians are from Nigeria, and so shouldn't Nigers be from Niger?) - yet this would account for the mispronunciation (niggers/Nigers); 15 of 6576 found this helpful. Did you?

MWProds writes:: I doubt the veracity of this comment, since writer is not even sure what country it took place in. What's the source of the mistake? At same time, I am aware of similar faux pas made by quite provincial former president of Philadelphia's City Council some 30 years ago when he greeted visiting dignitary from Nigeria with pronunciation that sounded remarkably like "Nigger-ia."; 15 of 6576 found this helpful. Did you?

MWProds writes:: Paul D'Artona was the name of the Phila. City Council President who misintroduced delegate from Nigeria with similarly inept mispronunciation.; 15 of 6576 found this helpful. Did you?

OliverRautenberg writes:: Hi Friends, the line about Luebke is only half true. It`s very famous in germany :-) In german, he said "Meine Damen und Herren, liebe Neger!" wich means "My Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Negroes" and not "Nigger". Of course, this is a enormous Fauxpas calling black people Negroes, but he did not intend to call them niggers. He was maybe just one of the most stupid german politicians ever. Best regards, Oliver (Germany); 15 of 6576 found this helpful. Did you?

mpeter writes:: Although this quotation is well-known in Germany, there is no evidence that it is true. It is claimed that Luebke said it during a speech he gave on his visit in Liberia in 1962. But this speech and all other speeches during his journey have been recorded and do not contain the word "negro". It is most likely that the whole phrase is purely fictitious. What made it so authentic was that Luebke, indeed, was a master of slip-ups which embarrassed himself and Germany. For example, during his visit to Madagascar in 1966, he and Madagascar's president visited a school. When he saw the shower rooms, he said "Fine, people here will eventually learn to get clean". Another remark concerning the possibility that the whole thing was a mispronunciation: The German word "Neger", which must have been used, if the story were true, is similar to "Nigerians" or something like that.; 15 of 6576 found this helpful. Did you?

MorPH writes:: How come English people (like myself) don't have an abbreviated name? Like, 'Engies', or 'Euros'. Pointless comment, I know.; 15 of 6576 found this helpful. Did you?

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