Posts by Michael Holt
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
I really enjoy your posts Emma. But the language of polemic has never, in my small reading of history, resulted in an outcome that moved forward without further damaging both sides (and often a lot of folk in the middle).
I'm sympathetic, and agree with letting everyone live life their own way. I just don't see how saying "fuck you" to anyone does anything but add to the conflict... whether accompanied by silky a pop tune or a banjo.
-
Well, as an exercise in making the gay community feel better, I'm sure its useful. I guess.
But telling the anti-gay community "fuck you" is not really going to add any quality to a debate, discussion or effort to create any kind of understanding, is it?
It would seem that the positions are totally entrenched now, and the only exchange from either side is abuse. Does that make either side better than the other?
-
I wish this kind of discussion wasn't so politicised, but I realise that's utopian. But if Russell Norman is going to be here, then why shouldn't other views on the same spectrum also be heard here? Its not that I disagree with 'some' of what he's saying, I just don't like where it goes. What, that because we need to change Auckland's management, that its all about greed by a few? (Or Mr Ian Mackay... by anyone who's a 'money maker'?)
Auckland's management is a mess and has been for some time. Even Robbie couldn't get things moving. Its time to make it easier to manage. Finally someone has come up with a plan.
Its okay to make money, and its okay for those with the skills and capital to make a fair amount of it. They pay salaries and taxes and are bound by the laws of the land, or should be. I get tired of hearing the language of envy, mistrust and class hatred. Its so small minded.
-
I agree that it would be great if we didn't lump people together by broad regional characteristics. 'Asian' doesn't fairly distinguish a Korean from Chinese or Indonesian, and certainly not in the ways that they think of when they think of their own identity. Perhaps, as another poster points out, this apply equally to Maori or Pacific Island peoples also. However, whenever this discourse arises, there seems to be a subliminal suggestion that its yet again, the responsibility of the white/Pakeha/Caucasion/European led media/establishment to pay more attention to this.
Umm... I'm long used to being a European NZer, or Pakeha (still not sure if that's an originally well intended word or not, and it sure isn't very specific, but I'm not strung out about it), or often a Caucasian, and I'm not even from there! Sometimes, rarely, the term Irish NZer arises, and I guess that could mean me in more specific terms.
Anyway, my point is simple... get over it. Being referred to in the general sense happens, and this is often a pretty broad category. Never mind, its not personal and aren't we all just Kiwis now anyway?
(P.S. I'm in Asia a lot, and I'm variously a farang, guilo, guyjin or yangnom. Oh, the injustice.) -
Gods... the election is sooo last year. Labour had 9 years and had more than their share of morons and moronic decisions (KiwiRail anyone?). Time to get over it Stephen. The Nats won, and are doing pretty well for the most part. Stop carping on about the politicians and offer something that actually looks forward.
P.S. Gidday David. -
When has Keith Locke ever gotten the right end of the stick? Honestly... And he sure has got it in for the Chinese. Has the man even been there?
He's another reason the Greens just cannot be taken seriously.