Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 9, 2017 5:33:31 GMT 12
NZ Herald 9/1/17
BENIGN RACISM HURTS TOO
With reference to your editorial ( Weekend Herald), I and many others would disagree with your assertion that “racism is not an indigenous minority claiming special rights and status”.
Your viewpoint depends upon the definition of “racism”. To grant special rights, status and benefits to one group based on racial origin or ethnicity is certainly an addendum to the divisive spirit of that attitude.
And do you really want to re-open the can of worms that is determination of a person’s eligibility to those special privileges based on their blood percentage or DNA?
Sorry, but you can’t have it both ways — a colourblind society and earmarking certain racial groups for special treatment.
Finally, yes that benign racism does hurt the majority — at the least in the form of public revenue used for that purpose.
Iwi have been, and continue to be, paid handsomely for any past real or perceived wrongdoing, and should be using those resources to uplift “their” people instead of enriching a few tribal elite.
That gravy train has apparently no intention of terminating its journey any time soon.
C M
Kaitaia
OFFENSIVE COMMENTS
I would like to ask Dame Susan Devoy and your reporter Paul Little how Sir Peter Leitch’s comments about white men living on Waiheke Island also is classified as racist, but Lara Bridgers’ comment about being tangata whenua and she can do what she likes is not.
This implies that she and other tangata whenua do not have to obey the laws of this country as the rest of us New Zealanders do.
I find this attitude if not racist then certainly very offensive to other Kiwis of all races.
J L
Drury
Daily Post Rotorua 9/1/17
RACIAL MIX
We have the positive lesson of the "war of words" between Sir Peter Leitch and an Auckland woman to thank and remind us daily that the "pot of coffee-coloured people" needs a lot more stirring in Aotearoa be-fore Kiwis may claim we are one people.
That all it took was a virulent social media reaction having this issue erupt on to the sur-face of our social conscience and that Lara has subsequently de-leted her posting is testimony to this. We certainly have more work to do.
J G
Rotorua
NZ Herald 7/1/17
RICH MAN'S ISLAND
Enough already of the ongoing saga of a silly comment by Sir Peter Leitch on Waiheke after a wine-tasting session which may have left him and the offended one in a loose-lipped state.
If Sir Peter had had his wits about him he should have used the word rich instead of white.
May have offended the poor, but at least we would have been spared Michelle Boag and Dame Susan Devoy getting in on the act and making the issue really cringe-worthy.
C V C
Remuera.
NZ Herald 7/1/17 (A quick word section)
* The reaction to Sir Peter Leitch's 'White man island' and Michelle Boags comment suggests it is time to get over yourself and stop being so precious.
What about when we, the majority, get called honky, colonials or Pakeha and worse?
C H
Katikati.
* I think it is a good thing Dame Susan Devoy is seeking a reconciliation meeting between Lara Bridger and Sir Peter Leitch, I doubt she will succeed in extracting an apology from Ms Bridger.
K V D W
Maungaturoto.
BENIGN RACISM HURTS TOO
With reference to your editorial ( Weekend Herald), I and many others would disagree with your assertion that “racism is not an indigenous minority claiming special rights and status”.
Your viewpoint depends upon the definition of “racism”. To grant special rights, status and benefits to one group based on racial origin or ethnicity is certainly an addendum to the divisive spirit of that attitude.
And do you really want to re-open the can of worms that is determination of a person’s eligibility to those special privileges based on their blood percentage or DNA?
Sorry, but you can’t have it both ways — a colourblind society and earmarking certain racial groups for special treatment.
Finally, yes that benign racism does hurt the majority — at the least in the form of public revenue used for that purpose.
Iwi have been, and continue to be, paid handsomely for any past real or perceived wrongdoing, and should be using those resources to uplift “their” people instead of enriching a few tribal elite.
That gravy train has apparently no intention of terminating its journey any time soon.
C M
Kaitaia
OFFENSIVE COMMENTS
I would like to ask Dame Susan Devoy and your reporter Paul Little how Sir Peter Leitch’s comments about white men living on Waiheke Island also is classified as racist, but Lara Bridgers’ comment about being tangata whenua and she can do what she likes is not.
This implies that she and other tangata whenua do not have to obey the laws of this country as the rest of us New Zealanders do.
I find this attitude if not racist then certainly very offensive to other Kiwis of all races.
J L
Drury
Daily Post Rotorua 9/1/17
RACIAL MIX
We have the positive lesson of the "war of words" between Sir Peter Leitch and an Auckland woman to thank and remind us daily that the "pot of coffee-coloured people" needs a lot more stirring in Aotearoa be-fore Kiwis may claim we are one people.
That all it took was a virulent social media reaction having this issue erupt on to the sur-face of our social conscience and that Lara has subsequently de-leted her posting is testimony to this. We certainly have more work to do.
J G
Rotorua
NZ Herald 7/1/17
RICH MAN'S ISLAND
Enough already of the ongoing saga of a silly comment by Sir Peter Leitch on Waiheke after a wine-tasting session which may have left him and the offended one in a loose-lipped state.
If Sir Peter had had his wits about him he should have used the word rich instead of white.
May have offended the poor, but at least we would have been spared Michelle Boag and Dame Susan Devoy getting in on the act and making the issue really cringe-worthy.
C V C
Remuera.
NZ Herald 7/1/17 (A quick word section)
* The reaction to Sir Peter Leitch's 'White man island' and Michelle Boags comment suggests it is time to get over yourself and stop being so precious.
What about when we, the majority, get called honky, colonials or Pakeha and worse?
C H
Katikati.
* I think it is a good thing Dame Susan Devoy is seeking a reconciliation meeting between Lara Bridger and Sir Peter Leitch, I doubt she will succeed in extracting an apology from Ms Bridger.
K V D W
Maungaturoto.