Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jul 26, 2019 5:10:05 GMT 12
The Press 26/7/19
RELIGION COLOURS US TOO
Donna Miles-Mojab (July 25) informs us of our often unconscious racial bigotry and justly states we should call out the likes of Donald Trump and our own hidden biases.
I am curious however.
How is it that "white flight" from local schools results in the "lowering of educational outcomes for Maori and Pacific people"?
If racism is an unjustified bigotry, how is it that the absence of white faces in and of itself results in brown folk doing less well in school? Do Pakeha stuff educational money or the best teachers in a bag and make off with them?
Please, enlighten me. We have heard a great deal about racism following the Mosque shootings. Indeed, the emphasis on it has been at times quite shrill and, while there is a great deal of work to be done in this regard, looking back from where we have come historically gives me hope for the future.
In emphasising race and our unconscious bigotries, the very conscious biases of dogma and culture barely rate a mention. I doubt the people killed in the mosque massacres were targeted solely because of the colour of their skin (as though they were the only brown people in the country).
To ignore the part history, culture, religion and tradition play is to ignore key elements of our fears.
If race were the sole cause of statistical issues such as Maori and Pasifika over representation in crime and health statistics or underachievement educationally, then painting people white or brown would solve the problem.
DARREN A SAUNDERS, Waltham
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
RELIGION COLOURS US TOO
Donna Miles-Mojab (July 25) informs us of our often unconscious racial bigotry and justly states we should call out the likes of Donald Trump and our own hidden biases.
I am curious however.
How is it that "white flight" from local schools results in the "lowering of educational outcomes for Maori and Pacific people"?
If racism is an unjustified bigotry, how is it that the absence of white faces in and of itself results in brown folk doing less well in school? Do Pakeha stuff educational money or the best teachers in a bag and make off with them?
Please, enlighten me. We have heard a great deal about racism following the Mosque shootings. Indeed, the emphasis on it has been at times quite shrill and, while there is a great deal of work to be done in this regard, looking back from where we have come historically gives me hope for the future.
In emphasising race and our unconscious bigotries, the very conscious biases of dogma and culture barely rate a mention. I doubt the people killed in the mosque massacres were targeted solely because of the colour of their skin (as though they were the only brown people in the country).
To ignore the part history, culture, religion and tradition play is to ignore key elements of our fears.
If race were the sole cause of statistical issues such as Maori and Pasifika over representation in crime and health statistics or underachievement educationally, then painting people white or brown would solve the problem.
DARREN A SAUNDERS, Waltham
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers