Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jun 25, 2016 7:00:52 GMT 12
Taranaki Daily News 25/6/16
WHAT’S IN A NAME
The advice of Polonius to his son, Laertes, was "This above all, to thine own self be true" – as written by Shakespeare (Hamlet). Fine words, one might think – stick to your principles, be true to your beliefs.
Andrew Judd, without doubt, was driven by his conviction that his recent change in mindset indicated to him that he was a ’racist’, a state that he then wished to expunge – noble sentiments, indeed. And he set about doing that.
However, I was deeply saddened by the Judd saga - as written by his followers.
What saddened me most was the groundswell of name-calling that emanated from Judd’s followers and which was amply supported by the media. The words, ‘redneck’ and ‘racist’ were emblazoned across the front page of the TDN and freely applied to those whose opinions and beliefs differed from those now held so firmly by Judd.
The TDN lost no opportunity to establish avid support by reporting in numerous articles, time after time after time, how an obnoxious person spat at Judd and others shunned him – all because of his actions. Poor Judd ....
I googled these words. Despite its innocent and honourable inception in the Scottish lowlands, the term ‘redneck’ has now become a slur, a vile and derogatory term applied to white people, particularly in the USA – and now the aspect of skin colour is brought into play.
The term ‘racist’ had me stumped for there is only one race – the human one. Again using the USA as a data base, I learned that this term is most commonly taken to mean – ‘a white person who disagrees with the opinions of non-white radicals and activists’. It is, apparently, a term used by disgruntled non-whites and it does seem that non-whites can never be called racists by whites, as that in itself would be an act of racism.
But what term is applied to a white person whose opinion differs to that of another white person, radical or not? Or, in the Judd case, differs from the opinions of 83 per cent of the voting community – the assumption being made by the nonwhite radicals that this 83 per cent is all white? It definitely cannot be ’racist’.
What a twisted world we inhabit where we have the freedom of speech to place upon one section of the community the derogatory labels of rednecks and racists. This is surely the resort of egotistical gloryseekers and the feeble minded. It should not happen.
How large is the bubble of ignorance that tightly envelopes us – and will there be no end to it?
J P
Oakura
JUDGEMENT CALL
In response to the letter from Mr & Mrs Nightingale can I would like to respectfully respond.
The three days that the peace walk was conducted for myself was unachievable to attend.
Firstly it was one of the busiest weeks of the year with Field Days and having my salespeople off the premises meant I was left to man the business on my own. This meant that I could not even attend the Waitara land bill hearing in Waitara on the Friday (first ever council hearing I have missed in three terms) but I watched the video later in the evenings etc.
I appreciate the observations that the Nightingale’s have observed but please do not pass judgement on any Pakeha or other councillors that did not attend this walk as wouldn’t that be contrary to the purpose of the walk ? To then start dividing or assuming a councillors stance by a non-attendance at a non council event ?. As we all make decision on what we can attend outside of council meetings and events. Before the walk the daily news asked all councillors if they would be attending and were given a response and reasons.
And I also must take note that Mayor Judds comment "ashamed" that NPDC "actively blocked bicultural development" and I look forward to him explaining what he meant by that.
SHAUN BIESIEK
Councillor NPDC
GUMP MOMENTS
Plenty of people or more pertinently the electors at large have had their fill of this most shocking of mayors. Instead of being at his desk in his fortified office managing the core services of New Plymouth district he is gallavanting around the district to make a statement consistent with the heavily and selectively rewritten history he so readily believes. Might I ask was he also representing the descendants of progressive European settlers who were savagely butchered?
I have to wonder aloud how many of those that followed him in his Forrest Gump moment pulled a sickie, thereby depriving their employers of productivity?
R T
New Plymouth
WHAT’S IN A NAME
The advice of Polonius to his son, Laertes, was "This above all, to thine own self be true" – as written by Shakespeare (Hamlet). Fine words, one might think – stick to your principles, be true to your beliefs.
Andrew Judd, without doubt, was driven by his conviction that his recent change in mindset indicated to him that he was a ’racist’, a state that he then wished to expunge – noble sentiments, indeed. And he set about doing that.
However, I was deeply saddened by the Judd saga - as written by his followers.
What saddened me most was the groundswell of name-calling that emanated from Judd’s followers and which was amply supported by the media. The words, ‘redneck’ and ‘racist’ were emblazoned across the front page of the TDN and freely applied to those whose opinions and beliefs differed from those now held so firmly by Judd.
The TDN lost no opportunity to establish avid support by reporting in numerous articles, time after time after time, how an obnoxious person spat at Judd and others shunned him – all because of his actions. Poor Judd ....
I googled these words. Despite its innocent and honourable inception in the Scottish lowlands, the term ‘redneck’ has now become a slur, a vile and derogatory term applied to white people, particularly in the USA – and now the aspect of skin colour is brought into play.
The term ‘racist’ had me stumped for there is only one race – the human one. Again using the USA as a data base, I learned that this term is most commonly taken to mean – ‘a white person who disagrees with the opinions of non-white radicals and activists’. It is, apparently, a term used by disgruntled non-whites and it does seem that non-whites can never be called racists by whites, as that in itself would be an act of racism.
But what term is applied to a white person whose opinion differs to that of another white person, radical or not? Or, in the Judd case, differs from the opinions of 83 per cent of the voting community – the assumption being made by the nonwhite radicals that this 83 per cent is all white? It definitely cannot be ’racist’.
What a twisted world we inhabit where we have the freedom of speech to place upon one section of the community the derogatory labels of rednecks and racists. This is surely the resort of egotistical gloryseekers and the feeble minded. It should not happen.
How large is the bubble of ignorance that tightly envelopes us – and will there be no end to it?
J P
Oakura
JUDGEMENT CALL
In response to the letter from Mr & Mrs Nightingale can I would like to respectfully respond.
The three days that the peace walk was conducted for myself was unachievable to attend.
Firstly it was one of the busiest weeks of the year with Field Days and having my salespeople off the premises meant I was left to man the business on my own. This meant that I could not even attend the Waitara land bill hearing in Waitara on the Friday (first ever council hearing I have missed in three terms) but I watched the video later in the evenings etc.
I appreciate the observations that the Nightingale’s have observed but please do not pass judgement on any Pakeha or other councillors that did not attend this walk as wouldn’t that be contrary to the purpose of the walk ? To then start dividing or assuming a councillors stance by a non-attendance at a non council event ?. As we all make decision on what we can attend outside of council meetings and events. Before the walk the daily news asked all councillors if they would be attending and were given a response and reasons.
And I also must take note that Mayor Judds comment "ashamed" that NPDC "actively blocked bicultural development" and I look forward to him explaining what he meant by that.
SHAUN BIESIEK
Councillor NPDC
GUMP MOMENTS
Plenty of people or more pertinently the electors at large have had their fill of this most shocking of mayors. Instead of being at his desk in his fortified office managing the core services of New Plymouth district he is gallavanting around the district to make a statement consistent with the heavily and selectively rewritten history he so readily believes. Might I ask was he also representing the descendants of progressive European settlers who were savagely butchered?
I have to wonder aloud how many of those that followed him in his Forrest Gump moment pulled a sickie, thereby depriving their employers of productivity?
R T
New Plymouth