Tying Together A Few, But Quite Important 'Ends'

As the world, especially its Western 'division', takes a much-needed breather at the conclusion of a year of political upsets and upheavals, I pen the following thoughts - better suited, admittedly, to a number of separate, in-depth opinion pieces - upon the state of affairs humanity finds itself in, inextricably linked and connected - however superficially disparate - as will become apparent... .

Though no defender of the horrified elites and establishment intelligensia in their consensus reaction to the election of Donald J Trump, yet far from a supporter, either overt or covert, of either his peculiar persona or his political agenda, let me place on record the following thoughts - generally scribbled initially months before his 'impossible' elevation to America's and essentially the world's highest political office - to suggest 'how we got here'... .

The mainstream Western media can really blame no-one but themselves for giving the business tycoon come political novice/upstart known as 'the Donald' publicity well beyond his just desserts - from the earliest Republican primaries (in which he not only wielded the weapon of personal insult but effectively honed it to a force to be reckoned with) through his notorious rallies (attended, in all actuality, by fewer people than Bernie Sanders' own, generally completely ignored and overlooked, sizeable campaign meetings), through his ultimate upset - to upset all upsets - on November 9th.

And so what does our world have to look out on as we soon end 2016 and move on into 2017? The prospect, as outlined recently, of Wall Street financiers re-establishing and ensconcing themselves anew in the U.S. Treasury, appointees 'one and all' apparently uniquely unqualified to serve in a federal administration, and now - 'above and beyond' all those tidbits of political novelty and wet-behind-the-ear-ness, and, much more concerningly, apparent duplicity and utterly shattered promises and pledges (to the working-class poor) - we have the unbelievably scary prospect of a renewal of the hitherto dormant arms war between the U.S.A and Russia...despite every apparent indication that Trump and Putin (and hence their respective administrations and hence nations) get on swimmingly, like a house on fire... .

What to make of all this? Hey, the possibilities are endless and not altogether all that edifying or hopeful, eh...but nevertheless, let me propound several ideas, brief as they will necessarily be for the moment:

*The infatuation, nay obsession, of mainstream American - and by extension Western - media generally with the ups and downs, the insides and entrails, of a celebrity culture has paved the way, has provided the necessary groundwork for the Trump phenomenon to bud, blossom and flourish... .

*Which infatuation, nay obsession has been constantly, shamelessly and shamefully pandered to by none other than media darling and 'everyone's favourite President', Barack Obama himself - and wife Michelle herself...who have almost literally bent over backwards - from party night immediate post-election (2008) itself...to indulge and humour and otherwise pander to in every conceivable way...the 'Hollywood set', the 'movers and shakers' of 'Who's Who in Americana', especially its esteemed and ever-feted celebrities...from attempting to tell jokes that were only funny to those select few (and their politically partisan supporters) and/or to belittle, demean and otherwise 'poke the borax' in the face of ye average Jane and Joe - too unsophisticated to necessarily 'get' all that was being said or implied but too busy getting on with earning their daily crust to have the time let alone the inclination to seriously consider much less respond to such subtle as (yet ever so devastating) criticism, mockery and insulting innuendo... . And yet the selfsame President no doubt implicitly expected such 'ignorant masses' to get in an uproar on behalf of his lonesome whenever Mr Trump et al called his very citizenship into question... .

*Where is the concern, yea outrage, over the effective ethnic cleansing of the Christian population of the various Middle Eastern nation-states that has now been 'progressing' for well-nigh the 'best' part of the last few years? No, Mr President, your silence has been deafening...and the 'verdict' could well be placed - justly, fairly and squarely - over your presidency thus: 'found' missing in utter inaction... . But I exaggerate, of course...for months and years after one population group after another had been effectively wiped out somewhere-or-other (and the next place) in or around Iraq and Syria especially, your ever-in-earnest Secretary of State, John Kerry, helped draft some resolution or the like (even had it taken to the United Nations or the International Criminal Court) condemning what was happening as crimes of war, of crimes against humanity. And indeed they were - and continue to be - but where was the moral outrage, the sense of the sheer evil of what was occurring - with the noteworthy (and admitted) exception of the U.S. airstrike protection of the persecuted Yasidis of Iraq...?

So for all those Westerners especially so very vocal these days about the lack of democracy in the likes of Egypt - post the admittedly undemocratic military ousting of President Morsi - when were your voices last heard bemoaning and decrying the random bombing of Egyptian Coptic churches and massacring of the Christian innocents harbouring therein... ? Yes, sad to say, once again the silence has been deafening...but is nevertheless inexcusable and unconscionable, as has been that of 'that great humanitarian', Barack Hussein Obama himself...who has, as I say, virtually lifted heaven and hell on behalf of Muslims worldwide but has said - and much more importantly, and shamefully, done - little to console or uphold much less defend and protect the world's, especially its Middle Eastern, severely persecuted Christian minorities. I cannot help being reminded of the memorable refrain of a once would-be Republican presidential contender,  a Barry Goldwater, a man cited as a warmonger and a threat to world peace and liable to trigger World War 111 itself. Back in 1964, at the Republican Party's presidential convention, he stated (if my recollection is accurate): 'Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue, extremism in defence of good is no vice.' Perhaps words that the prematurely-Nobel Peace Prize-anointed current United States President would have been well to have taken to heart and acted upon as he began his own unprecedented presidential tenure, though for thousands and tens of thousands and perhaps millions of Middle Easterners - whether Christians or otherwise - such hypotheticals would give some very cold comfort indeed.

Or as many another historical worthy has put matters: talk is cheap - it's actions that matter.

And while we're handing out bouquets (and brickbats)...

Admittedly I'm no fan of her breathless, take-no-prisoners, abrasive as, give no interviewee a breather and constantly interrupt 'em and on a never-ending, ongoing basis...-yes, they do say it takes one to know one! -...having said that (!) let me simply say that TV3's The Nation compere Lisa Owen used that quality to her superlative advantage the other day...(as I was reminded by that laugh-a-minute Mickey Mouse/Goofy lookalike - no wonder he was sent to report back on *'the Donald' in the US of A - Paddy Gower, on today's The Nation end-of-year get-together).

Yes, with America's United Nations ambassador Samanatha Powers the previous Sunday (on the November 27th The Nation), Lisa Owens, like the proverbial dog with a bone, cornered her, rounded on her ceaselessly, doubled down and came back - again, again and again; almost ad nauseum - for more, more, and more...and Ms Powers showed it - and in every which way (to the nth degree and beyond).

Yes, thank you Lisa for doing what every half-pie decent journalist ought to do - and these days so seldom do do - i.e. hold your guest to account. And believe me when I say there was a heckuva lot here to (attempt at least to) hold the 'honourable' woman and international representative of the most powerful nation of earth to account for. In particular it's inveterate, pot-like habit of claiming the kettle's so much darker than itself. Well, as Ms Owens demonstrated time and time again, those living in glass houses really oughtn't chuck stones and rocks at others. Because for every single innocent, (including) hospital patient and worker bombed to hell (and beyond) by the likes of Putin's Russia, and its client vassal state Syria...well, let's just say there's 'the odd' hospital and school with their many innocent and extremely vulnerable 'clientele' and clinicians targeted inadvertently, oh yes, as mere 'collateral damage' according to Ms Clinton, not to mention the occasional wedding party out celebrating (till they're bombed to smithereens) throughout the Middle East (from Pakistan through Afghanistan over to Syria and Iraq etcetera)...that hey, perhaps deserve just a mention also?

*I.e. Mr Gower's distant relative, the late, great Donald Duck himself.

Let's Hear It For Laila, Though the Lady's hardly 'Hard of Hearing'

Though I'll immediately concede I can't resist some blimin' good alliteration when I stumble across it (if I do say so myself), let's hear it for the much (and often unfairly) maligned Laila Harre (alongside her equally incisive former political colleague Pam Corkery). To wit: for evidencing on last week's TV1 Sunday show that she's someone prepared to back the down-and-out and vulnerable, the neglected, forsaken and forgotten, to the hilt. Including and especially when they're friends, itself showing she 'mixes' - i.e. on a close, personal basis - not only with 'the rich and famous', but with Mr and Ms Average citizen. Unlike so many 'well-connected' politicoes I have little doubt - whatever their rhetoric and PR spin (to the contrary).

Yes, Ms Harre has enough humanity and decency to associate herself with a fellow who is presently being given the runaround by bureaucratic officialize who consider it a mark of their competence to require workers on the lowest echelon paywise (and conditionwise) of New Zealand society to be required to give a running account (and timewise!) of the number of times they wipe their clients' bums... . So who's the real barbarian at the gate of NZ Inc, eh?

A Future National Party leader-in-waiting no longer, may Dr Parmjeet(sp?) Palmer not take Roskill tomorrow, rather may the best man (in this case the Wood; or Ethnic Party candidate) win, and hands down...

Sometimes during a by-election the truth comes spilling out, and one's initial view is proven ill-founded. And thus I've realized this time - though my 'hearing' of this political battle is few and far enough between...but sometimes what appeared all glitz and glammer proves a baser quality, and the authentic if rather boring and uncharismatic rises to the surface...and so it has well and truly proven on this occasion. Yes, this is an occasion where all I can add is: may the better person and not the slicker politician win...and win handily.

Aftermath (two days, and 'an eternity in politics', later): What a thumping victory to write home about, and I mean really! And yet, Mr Little's days (as head of NZ Labour Inc) may well be numbered after all. But how can that be, you ask, in light of the result Saturday? For surely that was the obvious prognosis that I myself - alongside Pundits Anonymous NZ Inc - were suggesting if the very opposite had happened on Saturday, and Mr Wood had gone down to defeat (especially at Dr Palmer's hands)? Hang on a mo, yes I'm indeed intimating that, apart from National no longer (feasibly) grooming an Indian as another potential future female National Prime Minister, as far as Labour is concerned, well it may itself be looking for a new leader.

Though I've long since taken a liking to Napier's Stuart Nash - grandson of another (one-term, Labour) Prime Minister - I respectfully suggest that at this stage the party needn't be looking too much further than a certain Michael Wood (only a distant relation, I understand, of Dunedin's own present-day National List member and cabinet minister Michael Woodhouse!) Yes, Mount Roskill's new Member of Parliament turned in an exemplary performance yesterday, for what had - even under the long-serving popular Labour M.P., former leader and one-time high-profile cabinet minister now turned Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff - distinctly become a marginal Labour (even party vote National) electorate over recent elections. And a socially conservative seat at that, alongside the electorates/traditional areas of Mount Eden and Mount Albert evidently 'possessing' Auckland's 'Bible Belt'.

Original (pre-election day thoughts), not posted till now due to (unforseen) time considerations Friday:
the 'authentic' person came to the fore and won handily, simply because people saw he was who he claimed to be, not a mere clone or yes-man for his leader or party, whereas his opponent sadly evinced the very opposite. Though I'm not quite sure about some last-minute rumours/rumblings about 'stigmata' etcetera (much less who they're specifically associated with, let alone what they'd even signify if accurate) - and am even aware (intuitively) that Dr Palmjeet(?sp) Palmer's ethnicity may well have actually counted against her (sadly enough) despite what political pundits were early on claiming - in the brief clips after unruly meetings and various incidents and media 'conferences' etc, what struck Yours Truly were the following things.

Here we had someone with a clear sense of entitlement, scornful of any accountability whatsoever, even deeming/deigning ever so reasonable questions put to her as clearly beneath her, as being only worthy of typical political obfuscation and fudging...and oh, that oh so typical province and peccadillo of aspiring politicoes, not giving a straight answer to a simple question. And being no more than a soundboard to her leader (and/or parliamentary party), that when confronted with an issue upon which loyalty to her electorate would be demanded over against her own party colleagues, she dissembled once again. Correction: she failed to confirm that she would indeed support her locals over her political superiors, thus leaving one to naturally enough draw the conclusion I myself inferred. Overall, the sort of stuff that in decades not all that long ago would have seen a candidate booed off the stage if not actually pelted with some rather unpleasant materials.

And to think she had the gall to try to rough up Michael Wood's good wife, then instantly call foul when challenged for the personal affront and dragging family into the fray; all showing she obviously had neither the temperament nor the character to win the seat Saturday. And apparently Mount Roskill's good citizens saw likewise. And Mr Wood's Q & A interview this morning saw him deftly parlay the el typical questions on his party leader without equivocating or hesitating a second and without being (essentially) dishonest. A nice and notable contrast to the P.M. (on the latter score, anyhow), someone who immediately evidenced he was having a bad face day! 

Let's Hear It For Some of the Much-Maligned Left

Admittedly - like so many Westerners (especially my fellow kiwis) my words are few and far between 'these days' in defence of left-wingers, especially political parties of such a description...but - 'au contaire' - on this occasion 'let's hear it' for the likes of Gary McCormack/McCormick, John Minto and Laila Harre...

Yes, they're not all 'Marxists in disguise', as some zealous partisans and ideologues would have it, awaiting their grand Jackpot chance, conspiracy-style-wise, to foist their particular worldview upon their helpless, hapless fellow citizenry throughout the West...although I well realize that some indeed have followed Antonio Gramsci's plan of infiltration of that particular ideology - failing of attaining political power per se - through the corridors of bureaucracy and the 'department' of education (and other cultural 'ministries') especially...

*Gary McC - who, as I've oftentimes informed Jim Mora of the famous RNZ National's afternoon weekday 'The Panel', alongside Gordon MacLaughlin(sp?) and Joe Bennett, 'oughta be runnin' our fair land'...

This comedian extraordinaire, left-wing talkback host, (one-time) friend (and confidante) of such famed political 'practitioners' as former Prime Minister David Lange (of that much-celebrated "I detect uranium on your breath" tete-a-tete with one-time United States Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell), and that long-time, semi-permanent fixture of New Zealand local government - from the shores of the Waitemata to the icebergs of Invercargill - i.e. Tim Shadbolt...

...is presently being 'persecuted', treated shamefully and shamelessly, shabbily and despicably - by that oh so beloved carrier/purveyor of kiwis through the air, Air New Zealand - as detailed upon TV3's 'Story' on Monday/Tuesday the 28th/29th November (and on RNZ National's 'the Panel' of the same dates...).

Hey, just a question (of certain overly well known) radio personalities: So where are the long queues of Newstalk ZB talkback hosts, for instance, lining up to rally behind Gary, to back to the hilt his brave quest and support him in his present extremity...for surely a personality of McCormick's/McCormack's mana, a comedian of his quality and a talkback host of his undoubted pedigree -if equally well-known (supposedly) for his outspoken if highly idiosyncratic left-wing sensibilities - deserves the unqualified support of one and all for daring to - despite it possibly being seen as cutting off his nasal regions to spite his face - place his proverbial fairly and squarely, and ever so firmly, where his little (verbal) member is...

No, 'their' silence is audible. And the only verdict possible is: missing - collectively - in inaction.
Good on ya, Gary - and all power to your tribe; may it go from strength to strength...
To come: hurrahs for two other well-known kiwi leftists, both recent Mana Party co-founders/leaders: the oft-decried former Alliance co-leader (upon Jim Anderton's desertion), then Green Party member, Laila Harre, and that inveterate protestor from Springbok Tour days, the would-be mayor (of Auckland to Christchurch), John Minto...for their guts, for their loyalty to the dispossessed and downtrodden etcetera.

Another good-hearted Syrian bites the dust...

Just a brief tribute to the recently-married Syrian who braved life (but was ultimately served up death) in his war-wracked nation to minister to trauma-riven kids and others there, serving as a clown...who's apparently joined the queues to the morgue there. Like Mr al-Hussein (if my memory serves me aright), the archivist who stayed till he - quite literally - dropped (and died) in ancient Palmyra awhile ago, rather than see his lifelong treasure desecrated and destroyed by the philistine cult of el-Sissi...

Didn't someone say somewhere, sometime that the most basic and pre-eminent virtue is that of courage - one which embraces every other, especially that foremost one, love, seeing as it necessarily presupposes it?