Thanks to the Public Address team in front of and behind the mics.

Be good to me Geoff.

M

Sacha, fine last words, thanks.
EM

Gracias PM
x

BTW: I've just gone back through the thread to catch up. Most of the stuff posted by Robbie S on the Kurariki case is actually a direct lift from a thread I quote in my EM blogpost.
Maybe this is what Sacha was referring to as "anonymous". The source is clearly identified in my blog. Someone using a pseudonym on a Hip Hop music thread - like some people do here.
You can check out the "Lopaki" thread here. http://back2basics.hiphopnz.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=53050
I'm not sure why Robbie would want to be associated with all those comments (some of which I quote on my blog), unless he's also "lopaki" on Back2Basics. I want to make it clear that they are not my opinions.

Sacha, not sure which "anonymous arguments" you're referring to.
I certainly don't ignore what Kurariki did, nor do I excuse it. My argument is that the news media contributes to the nasty situation through the way it reports his actions. The real responsibility for how he's turned out is actually with Government and successive cuts to rehab services etc that could actually have helped this young man turn his life around. In my post I put it like this:

"Bailey Junior Kurariki learned to be a man under totally un-natural and irrational conditions. Is there any real wonder that today he displays behaviours that are considered un-natural and irrational?

No, there is isn’t. There’s just one more sad example added to the evidence pile of argument that prison does not work as any form of real “rehabilitation” and rather than “cure” criminal behaviour it reinforces it. In Kurariki’s case it also reinforces his infantilism and lack of maturity.

And none of that is an excuse for the news media turning Kurariki into some kind of freakshow attraction like the legendary wolfboy. He is not an exhibit to be poked at, prodded and pelted with fruit."

Since I wrote this post, Lianne Dalziel Labour's Justice spokesperson has delivered a speech in which she touches on many of the same issues. It's worth a read.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1003/S00437.htm Dalziel speech