Post by Kiwi Frontline on Oct 8, 2019 9:37:50 GMT 12
Northland Age 8/10/19
QUID PRO QUO?
I see the British High Commissioner has expressed regret for the loss of Maori life when Cook's ship arrived at Gisborne. Meng Foon former Gisborne Mayor and newly minted Race Relations Commissioner considers that a full apology is required (probably groveling) is required. As Cook's crew were attacked and defending themselves then “regret” is more than adequate.
Can I expect, in the interests of reconciliation, Maori will now be apologizing for the killing and eating 10 members of the Adventure, sister ship of Cook's Ship Resolution, at Wharehunga Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound 17 December 1773, or is this too much to hope for.
I am not expecting this to be published as media these days seems to consider that anything, true or not, that could be construed as offensive to Maori is not suitable for publication.
RICHARD PRINCE, Tauranga
HOW BIZARRE
What a shocking indictment of International relations it is when a foreign government feels obligated, for political appeasement, to express national guilt for a minor incident that occurred two hundred and fifty years ago to the part-descendants of a tribal culture that was known for ritual killings, infanticide, slavery, the slaughter of whole tribes defeated in battle and cannibalism. Nine killed or wounded. Internecine battles between tribes often saw hundreds killed and eaten or enslaved.
This state of affairs becomes more bizarre when those claiming offence are in all cases part-descendants of the colonists, those people that they vilify.
If Cook’s reportage had not encouraged the advent of European settlers the warring tribes would have eventually exterminated each other.
When is sanity going to return to our community and avaricious racial separatists going to cease their illogical demands?
BRYAN JOHNSON, Omokoroa .
The Press 8/10/19
EMBRACE THE FUTURE
‘‘Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them’’ (George Santayana).
The Press editorial of October 7 is entirely accurate when it says that there is no point in demonising Captain Cook or in dismissing the people who inhabited these islands at the time as ignorant savages.
Neither of these attitudes is helpful or accurate.
Nor is attempting to fit present day ideas and values on to the then prevailing cultures.
We need to make ourselves familiar with the past but we must also look forward and stop bleating about who did what to whom, and what can be done to remedy it.
We are now one nation and we should be trying to improve the lot of any who are struggling, regardless of ethnic history.
Some of my ancestors left Ireland for a better life in England, while others were driven from Scotland by economic necessity.
These are matters of historical interest to me but I have no burning desire to right these wrongs; rather a determination to ensure that my children do even better than they might otherwise.
The future awaits us, and we would do well to embrace it.
VIC SMITH, Halswell
Dominion Post 8/10/19
IMPOSITION BY STEALTH
The introduction to your article on Manutimori (Oct 5) refers to Captain Cook's arrival "in the land we now call Aotearoa New Zealand".
Oh really! Who decided that was the name of our country and when was that decision taken? I don't recall having a say or a vote on that.
I am not necessarily opposed to a change of name, but I am very opposed to any imposition of the new name by stealth.
If we can have lengthy public debates, complex parliamentary processes and public referendums on matters such as the legalisation of euthanasia and cannabis, surely the name of our country deserves equal treatment. So why isn't it getting it?
JOHN BISHOP, Karorl
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers
QUID PRO QUO?
I see the British High Commissioner has expressed regret for the loss of Maori life when Cook's ship arrived at Gisborne. Meng Foon former Gisborne Mayor and newly minted Race Relations Commissioner considers that a full apology is required (probably groveling) is required. As Cook's crew were attacked and defending themselves then “regret” is more than adequate.
Can I expect, in the interests of reconciliation, Maori will now be apologizing for the killing and eating 10 members of the Adventure, sister ship of Cook's Ship Resolution, at Wharehunga Bay, Queen Charlotte Sound 17 December 1773, or is this too much to hope for.
I am not expecting this to be published as media these days seems to consider that anything, true or not, that could be construed as offensive to Maori is not suitable for publication.
RICHARD PRINCE, Tauranga
HOW BIZARRE
What a shocking indictment of International relations it is when a foreign government feels obligated, for political appeasement, to express national guilt for a minor incident that occurred two hundred and fifty years ago to the part-descendants of a tribal culture that was known for ritual killings, infanticide, slavery, the slaughter of whole tribes defeated in battle and cannibalism. Nine killed or wounded. Internecine battles between tribes often saw hundreds killed and eaten or enslaved.
This state of affairs becomes more bizarre when those claiming offence are in all cases part-descendants of the colonists, those people that they vilify.
If Cook’s reportage had not encouraged the advent of European settlers the warring tribes would have eventually exterminated each other.
When is sanity going to return to our community and avaricious racial separatists going to cease their illogical demands?
BRYAN JOHNSON, Omokoroa .
The Press 8/10/19
EMBRACE THE FUTURE
‘‘Those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them’’ (George Santayana).
The Press editorial of October 7 is entirely accurate when it says that there is no point in demonising Captain Cook or in dismissing the people who inhabited these islands at the time as ignorant savages.
Neither of these attitudes is helpful or accurate.
Nor is attempting to fit present day ideas and values on to the then prevailing cultures.
We need to make ourselves familiar with the past but we must also look forward and stop bleating about who did what to whom, and what can be done to remedy it.
We are now one nation and we should be trying to improve the lot of any who are struggling, regardless of ethnic history.
Some of my ancestors left Ireland for a better life in England, while others were driven from Scotland by economic necessity.
These are matters of historical interest to me but I have no burning desire to right these wrongs; rather a determination to ensure that my children do even better than they might otherwise.
The future awaits us, and we would do well to embrace it.
VIC SMITH, Halswell
Dominion Post 8/10/19
IMPOSITION BY STEALTH
The introduction to your article on Manutimori (Oct 5) refers to Captain Cook's arrival "in the land we now call Aotearoa New Zealand".
Oh really! Who decided that was the name of our country and when was that decision taken? I don't recall having a say or a vote on that.
I am not necessarily opposed to a change of name, but I am very opposed to any imposition of the new name by stealth.
If we can have lengthy public debates, complex parliamentary processes and public referendums on matters such as the legalisation of euthanasia and cannabis, surely the name of our country deserves equal treatment. So why isn't it getting it?
JOHN BISHOP, Karorl
sites.google.com/site/kiwifrontline/letters-submitted-to-newspapers