A Politician of Rare Quality Has Fallen: George McGovern - Rest in Peace Until the Resurrection Day

A great man has died. Though largely unrecognized in his day for his immense moral calibre and yea, even spiritual stature - except for a supposed gaffe/faux pas deemed then and now by the superficial media elite as fatal to his political chances (i.e. his declaring himself entirely, completely, absolutely, "1000%" behind his first vice-presidential running mate of 1972, then Missouri Senator Thomas (Tom) Eagleton, later replaced with/by Peace Corps' Director Sargent Shriver, because of Eagleton's 'mental illness' - depression and having undergone electro-shock therapy) - the man towers head and shoulders above and beyond such petty and all-too-predictable evaluations/assessments/historical judgments.

George McGovern, one-time and long-serving Senator for South Dakota - until the Reagan Republican landslide of 1980 - and Democratic Presidential Nominee against Richard Nixon in 1972, was probably the first politician, alongside perhaps Aotearoa-New Zealand's own idealistic and idealism-inspiring short-lived Prime Minister Norman Kirk (of the same era), to inspire Yours Truly. A man of simple convictions, of heartfelt integrity, moreover of decency and civility - admittedly in an era notably and largely lacking the rudeness and incivility and extremely polarized political discourse of today's American (and Western) politics, Mr McGovern served his state - and nation - well. Irrespective of whether he achieved the ultimate political office. Those attaining such positions aren't always the most deserving let alone effectively redeeming of such immense privileges anyhow - so conspicuously the case in this instance.

Not for him the extremely cynical and again, oh-so-typical epithet applied to all politicians by Newstalk ZB's 'Drivetime Show' host Larry Williams the other day, who in commentating upon President Obama's supposedly superior performance in the recent second U.S. presidential debate, remarked that "[of course] President Obama lied...but they all lie, politics is [all] about the art of bending the truth". Whether such is or more specifically was true of Obama in said debate is itself a debatable point no doubt, and one I have no intention much less desire here of traversing...indeed like most folks I'm really probably not in a position to know - and ditto vis-a-vis Obama's opponent Mitt Romney - but I will say this: though such a characterization would certainly seem 'equally' applicable to Mr McGovern's renowned, yea infamous, even notorious 1972 presidential adversary - the ill-fated, impeached 37th President of the United States - it's not remotely applicable to George McGovern. If he had any fault, much like Yours Truly, it was in being far too open and candid about his views on this, that and the other: to use the rather hackneyed phrase, he wore his heart upon his sleeve.

'When all is said and done' Mr McGovern - the last surviving major presidential contender (successful or otherwise) from the pre-Reagan era, barring President Jimmy Carter - was more than anything else a supremely decent human being. And surely there's not a better tribute one can be paid, is there?

Moral Courage In & From the Most Unlikely Place

At last, one nation, and a solidly Muslim and MiddleEastern one to boot, with the guts, the gumption to stand up on behalf of the hundreds, the thousands, of victims of Syria's butcher Assad; even if - initially anyhow - primarily and largely for 'enlightened self-interest'. In this case in defence of its homeland.Yes, our modern-day United Nations stands "Guilty as charged" with lots of blood quite literally on its hands, for failing to confront Assad for his daily butchery "of tens and hundreds" of innocent civilians. And note nothing of the all-too-typical political exaggeration by Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to press home his point here; rather a careful, measured but all too accurate summation of the situation which is Bashir al-Assad's Syria. And likewise he cited the consistent Russian and Chinese vetoing of U.N. resolutions upon the matter, blocking any and every attempt at a resolution of the Syrian civil war.

Yes, just like Nero did those couple millennia ago, the world and its supposed 'leaders' stand or more aptly sit idly by and fiddle while Assad and his cohorts wreak bloody havoc upon their own citizenry, massacring tiny kids - infants and toddlers - without a twinge of guilt or remorse. Will the godly finally stand up - or are they all, permanently, 'missing in action'. As John Tamihere might have put it, we need a little less hui and a whole lot more do-ey.

Hey Folks, Let's Be Reasonable Now...

In view of the (largely Western) propensity to toss around, willy-nilly, such terms as fascist and nazi these days, it comes as no great surprise, admittedly. Nevertheless it must've seemed in extremely bad taste - obviously to her compatriots, whether politically supportive or otherwise, but especially to her personally - for Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel to be mocked and derided by Greek protestors as a Nazi tyrant, during her recent visit to Greece; for her admittedly extremely controversial determination to impose an economic straightjacket upon all peoples of the European Union.But surely shouldn't some things simply remain 'forever' off-limits as unacceptable and offensive in any context? Especially since Germany is hardly ever gonna really, easily 'live down' what transpired so awfully and tragically those six-and-a-half to eight decades ago now; and from all accounts has gone to the nth degree to attempt to 'make right' what can obvoiusly never really be made right, only properly assimilated and learnt from in order to ensure it never happens again. Tragically, in all too many places and instances - if in a wholly different series of contexts - 'it has': Stalin's Reign of Terror, Mao-Tse-Tung's Cultural Revolution, Pol Pot's Killing Fields, Idi Amin's bloody barbarism, Rwanda's internecine bloodbath, Milosevic's genocide in Kosovo and the Balkans, Saddam Hussein's million-some Victims. (And though I carry absolutely no brief for the man, I won't here set George W - the former U.S. President - alongside these others, although the very idea of  'collateral damage' is an utterly repugnant one.)

Heightened tensions tend to give rise to such expressions of vitriol and intemperance, as can clearly be seen all around our world at present in all manner of conflicts and other situations, but that's hardly the point. Much as innocent Jews are once again being targeted throughout Europe and especially in France, and - on another level altogether, but still - as has occurred on our very street over recent days, where five individual and large swastikas have been bedaubed upon lampposts and sidewalks. A symbol ever evoking the worst sentiments in humanity and eliciting the fiercest gut level reaction. But such, as they say, is the price of freedom.    

A Wonderful Illustration Of That Very Point

So how 'chuffed', simply amazed and astonished and astounded I was, when, a couple of Saturdays ago, incidentally during a sojourn of one of those aforementioned relatives, to - quite literally - 'stumble upon' someone doing the right thing by the country she had now chosen, presumably, to call her new home. As 'author' of an unpaid opinion piece 15 or so years earlier, entitled 'Not Just in the Backblocks', in which I - rather painstakingly - chronicled, both visually and prosewise, the then state of doggydoodom in my beloved Dunedin, call me somewhat biased if you will, but nevertheless... . This youngish Asian gal, no doubt quite unused to a smile much less a kind word from her new, largely European - in these often frigid, southern climes - fellow residents, appeared 'out of the ether' as I was rounding a final bend in the bush of one of Dunedin's innumerable walking tracks, patiently bending down beside a river and scooping up the defecated dregs of her dog's digestive system; quite impervious to my presence until I chanced upon her.

So she was doing what she did "with fear (of) and favour toward none" - as well befits a visitor to this blogsite. And indeed thus undoubtedly proving herself a better citizen and/or resident than the - great - majority (at least until recent times) of her fellow Dunedinites. And a few minutes, at most, later, as I passed out of the reserve, followed a short distance back, by herself and her doggy, I noticed, and pointed out in her hearing, a large sign - the first of such I'd ever encountered - informing all such pet owners of the $300 fine they would be liable for if they failed in their pooper-scooper duties. Which she claimed, in an ever-so-genuine fashion, to never have even noticed, just as she'd reacted similarly to my surprise at her act of disinterested benevolence a few minutes earlier. Well done milady!

Yes, When One's In Rome - You Know The Rest

One oughta - at least attempt to - 'do as the [locals] do'...rather than throwing one's weight (be that physical or 'just' psychical) around. Such naturally has innumerable practical, everyday, 'real life' applications - but we won't here get into the oft-contentious matter of 'entertaining' one's in-laws - or more often outlaws. But on more substantial, weighty matters: how come no-one among our Western intelligentsia ever bothers to inform either the Middle Eastern multitudes, much less immigrants to our shores from those parts, that freedom of speech and expression is such a precious 'commodity' that we've been periodically prepared to die for that great, much-revered value - however abhorrent the individual expression of that principle may well happen to be. End of story.   

And as for the renewed death threats towards Salman Rushdie...

As night relentlessly follows day and day invariably succeeds night, so the voices of oppression, repression and tyranny lost no time in calling anew for renowned British-based author Salman Rushdie's murder...for merely having the temerity to be seen and heard, in the immediate aftermath of the recent Mid-Easternwide anti-free speech protests over the American 'anti-Mohammed' YouTube clip creator, voicing his own considered reflections, in spite of his own unenviable situation, in favour of freedom of speech. Having personally witnessed this recent, shortish interview, I actually wondered whether or rather how soon such folk would once more be clamouring for his blood, and indeed, I can hardly claim to have been 'disappointed' in terms of that expectation. But can we say or claim that Western - in this case British - 'justice' is itself blameless, seeing as, for instance, during the last worldwide bout of stridently militant Islamist sentiment following the publication of the Mohammed-mocking Danish cartoons in early 2005, those British Islamist (no, I won't dignify them with the adjective 'Muslim') protesters openly baying for death to all such evil-doers were not subsequently, forthwith prosecuted for so doing. And yet hasn't threatening others with death - not 'jokingly', but in deadly, earnest seriousness - ever been a prisonable offence? (In the West, I mean, and especially in the once Great Britain, where people died in the early-1940s for life and liberty. Rallying to Sir Winston Churchill's cries to "fight 'em on the beaches, upon the bunkers and in the backblocks". (Or something like that.))

And While We're Addressing Such Matters...

...It's Simply Outrageous:

If it was a Christian minister or pastor involved in offering a bounty upon the life of one of his 'foes', we'd - quite literally - hear no end of the matter...and moreover we'd hear calls - left, right and centre - by fellow ministers as well as Christian laity, worldwide - for his censure; condemning him in no uncertain terms; to use the pertinent biblical metaphor, there'd be no giving the trumpet an uncertain sound, no sirree. And in an earlier age, and no doubt still in certain 'Christian' quarters, he'd be defrocked and/or excommunicated (from the church/Christian communion) - at the very least. And that's not even broaching the fact that in many places the making of death threats is still a prisonable offence.

So why the palpable, tangible silence - from self-respecting, supposedly 'moderate' Muslims worldwide - towards this Pakistani Government Minister? No, not only has he - a week or two ago now - made this appalling, outrageous call - for the blood of this (admittedly) offensive, offending American YouTube clip 'author' - with apparently no repercussions, much less sacking-on-the-spot by his Pakistani Government superiors, but lo and behold he received the equivalent of a standing ovation from the surrounding hordes/'ignorant multitudes', and, far worse, apparently was wildly cheered on, even received vehement applause from the many Pakistani journalists present. Something simply doesn't mesh here. And yes, I myself here and now upon the spot confess quite openly to my own utter gutlessness in voicing these sentiments at the time. Guilty as charged for my own moral cowardice - so unlike that admirable Pakistani 'kid' Malala. Why so? Well, you figure out yourself. But let me conclude by stating in as unequivocal a fashion as I can that any religion or ideology which sustains its argument and/or supposed 'credentials' by dint of coercion is utterly and thoroughly bankrupt. It deserves everything it has coming to it: lock, stock and barrel as well. To quote a certain ex-politician: no ifs, buts or maybes.

Once To Every Man and Nation

"Once to every man and nation Comes the Moment to decide
 In the strife of truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side;
 Some great cause, God's new Messiah, Offering each the bloom or blight,
 And the choice goes by forever 'Twixt that darkness and that light.

 Then to side with truth is noble When we share her wretched crust,
 Ere her cause bring fame and profit, And 'tis prosperous to be just;
 Then it is the brave man chooses, While the coward stands aside,
 Till the multitude make virtue Of the faith they had denied.

 By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
 Toiling up new Calvaries ever With the cross that turns not back;
 New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient good uncouth;
 They must upward still and onward, Who would keep abreast of truth.

Though the cause of evil prosper, Yet 'tis truth alone is strong,
Though her portion be the scaffold, And upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, And behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above His own."

So wrote James Russell Lowell in his memorable 1845 hymn, bearing lyrics which are all but inspired.
And a fitting tribute, surely, to the 14-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, whose near-assassination today for having and showing immense, tremendous moral courage in the face of a bunch of brutal, religious thugs speaks for itself. Malala, may the Eternal enfold you in His arms of love and compassion, now and forevermore.  

And Last But By No Means Least, Let's Hear It For The Oft-Impugned Murray McCully

New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully - and his Green Party counterpart Kennedy Graham, of Sir Douglas' persuasion - are right on the ball in regard to what should be the international pariah nation of - no, not Israel, as is usually the case, but - Syria, a brutal regime 'run by a thug', as someone so well expressed it yesterday on one of TV3's various Sunday morning current affairs shows. But as they've both said, when but when is someone gonna do something about it? No, really? It's about time.

And While I'm About It, Let's Put In A Word For Some Other NZ Politicians

Chiefly, let's say a word for Justice Minister Judith ("Crusher") Collins, and, oddly enough - in juxtaposition with her - "The Right Honourable" (as he is still reverentially deferred to around the Beehive's unhallowed halls - yes, admittedly out of a sense of proper parliamentary etiquette) Winston Peters himself...for each turning in extremely creditable performances in recent parliamentary sittings. Winston - for finally, but as they say, 'better late than never', learning the art of biting his tongue (as I've unfortunately done to my gums four times in two weeks, three times over just the last two days) vis-a-vis our Parliament's much-esteemed Speaker Lockwood Smith - and that despite his barely-concealed displeasure and disgruntlement. Ms Collins - for showing the utmost aplomb and quietly dignified, gracious mien and composure in response to especially the questioning of West Coast Green M.P. Kevin Hague, an especially productive and 'in earnest' member of that party, alongside Kennedy Graham in particular. She not only answered the specific questions asked, she did so fully, frankly and fairly, and with the utmost reasonableness and goodwill. And, as ever, an 'in deadly earnest' demeanour totally befitting the seriousness of the matters being raised.   

Third Time Lucky - Yet Another Positive

Hard to believe I was hearing the selfsame "(Sir Peter) Jackson-hater", C.T.U. President Helen Kelly, on Mary Wilson's National Radio Evening Edition this Monday the 1st of October, telling Mary that, yes, there was nothing wrong, indeed it was a good thing in fact that our P.M. was currently 'doing the rounds' in the corridors of Hollywood promoting the New Zealand Film Industry. Certainly in said interview Ms Kelly maintained her stance on what had gone down around the special deal made with Warner Brothers over the Hobbit films saga back in 2010, and naturally, and reasonably, echoed generally aired media concerns over John Key's doing so now against the obvious immediate backdrop of the Kim Dotcom fiasco and links to those selfsame Hollywood studios. And I certainly cannot fault Ms Kelly's citing the Government's 'picking winners' yet simultaneously leaving Kiwi Rail out to dry, though a departing worker in town I chatted to yesterday informed me that local Dunedin South M.P. Clare Curran - Yours Truly stood against as an independent (believe it or not) candidate in 2008 - had grossly inflated the number of layoffs from the two he maintained had occurred...(Still, my money's with Ms Curran on that one, but perhaps I misheard him.)

Hey, Maybe They're Even Doing Something Else Right!

Wonder of wonders, will they never cease? Yes, once more the crime stats are dropping significantly throughout the land. And again, I've no doubt that fact bears no relation whatsoever to the fact that our 'new' government has been making short shrift of lawlessness wherever it may be found... Still, once again, it can't but make you wonder - just a little anyhow. (And notice, I didn't even mention Crusher Collins.) Perhaps Michael Cullen was correct when he cited law and order as one of the basic factors in the 2008 change of government. Personally, I'd always thought so myself. Like many others I'm sure.

At Least They're Doing Something Right

Funny thing, a 'new' government (4 years on, it's stretching the term a little, but nevertheless) and suddenly the issue of bowel (and perhaps also prostrate) cancer is 'on the agenda': as in prospective screening for this worrisome scourge afflicting increasing numbers of New Zealanders. And yet the previous crowd were zealous about cervical cancer, admittedly occurring with the backdrop of the well-publicized Hawkes Bay scandal. No, I'm sure it had little to do with the fact that the latter was clearly a female disease, and the former a male one - it couldn't possibly be, could it... But it sure makes ya wonder, eh... Anyhow, I for one will give the present Government and its Minister, Tony Ryall, due kudos - hey, it could one day be my life - or even yours...who knows?