Post by Kiwi Frontline on Mar 22, 2019 5:30:04 GMT 12
NZ Herald 22/3/19
NOT US
It is extremely disappointing to read that Maori leaders are calling for the nation to reject the call “This is not us”. Bringing up scars of the past do not heal wounds that are currently open . . . This is not us and every opportunity should be taken to emphasise it. Rather than condemn our mistakes treat them as gifts to use for future improvement.
REG DEMPSTER, Albany.
TREAD CAREFULLY
The mayor, Phil Goff, says Auckland’s goal is to “treat as equals . . . all people regardless of race, colour and creed”.
While he omitted “gender” from this list (hopefully accidentally), I applaud this stance as the basic principle of democracy but ask if this is a change in policy for the council? You only have to look at most council documents and processes to see that the self-appointed elite of local tribes currently have significantly greater rights than all other Aucklanders.
Goff then calls for people “to speak out against New Zealanders who peddle bigotry, prejudice and racism”. While I abhor violence and abuse, I fear any leader who wants to shut down free speech or endorse suppression. Women would not have the freedoms they have in Western countries today if they hadn’t been able to protest and speak out.
When there is no abuse or violence involved, who is an extremist, a racist or a sexist? New Zealand needs to tread carefully. The despots of the world use such justifications when eliminating their political foes.
FIONA MACKENZIE, Stanmore Bay.
FREE SPEECH
Did anyone else notice the hypocrisy in the mayor of Auckland’s opinion piece in yesterday’s Herald? On the one hand he talks about being inclusive and treating all people as equals and then in the next paragraph he is advocating zero tolerance for people who think differently from him.
If he doesn’t like people’s opinions which differ from his own, his time would be better spent working out arguments that oppose their “propaganda” rather than trying to suppress their opinions by pouring invective and hatred on them.
BRUCE ROBERTSON, Westmere.
Gisborne Herald 21/3/19
OPPORTUNISM RESENTED
Dear editor, I know you rate Dame Anne Salmond highly, which is fair enough since she is a very accomplished person. But that doesn’t mean she is free from prejudice. I find I am resentful of the way she seizes on the tragedy in Christchurch, perpetrated by a stupid Australian, to reiterate her view that New Zealand is a bad and racist place.
I have been around, plus I’ve been around for quite a while. I can tell you there is no more reasonable and decent and generous place than New Zealand. And there are no more reasonable and peaceful and decent and generous people than New Zealanders. Maori, Pakeha, who cares. Actually, I can even tell you that the people of Gisborne epitomise most of what is tolerant and good in this world, which is why I live here.
I don’t appreciate being labelled a racist or a bad person just because I am a proud Kiwi. I don’t appreciate people who grab every opportunity to knock our fine country.
CRAIG BAULD
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
NOT US
It is extremely disappointing to read that Maori leaders are calling for the nation to reject the call “This is not us”. Bringing up scars of the past do not heal wounds that are currently open . . . This is not us and every opportunity should be taken to emphasise it. Rather than condemn our mistakes treat them as gifts to use for future improvement.
REG DEMPSTER, Albany.
TREAD CAREFULLY
The mayor, Phil Goff, says Auckland’s goal is to “treat as equals . . . all people regardless of race, colour and creed”.
While he omitted “gender” from this list (hopefully accidentally), I applaud this stance as the basic principle of democracy but ask if this is a change in policy for the council? You only have to look at most council documents and processes to see that the self-appointed elite of local tribes currently have significantly greater rights than all other Aucklanders.
Goff then calls for people “to speak out against New Zealanders who peddle bigotry, prejudice and racism”. While I abhor violence and abuse, I fear any leader who wants to shut down free speech or endorse suppression. Women would not have the freedoms they have in Western countries today if they hadn’t been able to protest and speak out.
When there is no abuse or violence involved, who is an extremist, a racist or a sexist? New Zealand needs to tread carefully. The despots of the world use such justifications when eliminating their political foes.
FIONA MACKENZIE, Stanmore Bay.
FREE SPEECH
Did anyone else notice the hypocrisy in the mayor of Auckland’s opinion piece in yesterday’s Herald? On the one hand he talks about being inclusive and treating all people as equals and then in the next paragraph he is advocating zero tolerance for people who think differently from him.
If he doesn’t like people’s opinions which differ from his own, his time would be better spent working out arguments that oppose their “propaganda” rather than trying to suppress their opinions by pouring invective and hatred on them.
BRUCE ROBERTSON, Westmere.
Gisborne Herald 21/3/19
OPPORTUNISM RESENTED
Dear editor, I know you rate Dame Anne Salmond highly, which is fair enough since she is a very accomplished person. But that doesn’t mean she is free from prejudice. I find I am resentful of the way she seizes on the tragedy in Christchurch, perpetrated by a stupid Australian, to reiterate her view that New Zealand is a bad and racist place.
I have been around, plus I’ve been around for quite a while. I can tell you there is no more reasonable and decent and generous place than New Zealand. And there are no more reasonable and peaceful and decent and generous people than New Zealanders. Maori, Pakeha, who cares. Actually, I can even tell you that the people of Gisborne epitomise most of what is tolerant and good in this world, which is why I live here.
I don’t appreciate being labelled a racist or a bad person just because I am a proud Kiwi. I don’t appreciate people who grab every opportunity to knock our fine country.
CRAIG BAULD
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
