Despite the obvious alarm bells such a proposal might well tend to evoke - I hardly need refer to the likes of Nazi Germany's 'Star(s) of David' upon the persons of any and every Jewish citizen - in the modern-day (admittedly thus far excepting God's own) terrorist-ridden Western world, I personally reckon such an idea - within the right parameters, for sure - does warrant careful consideration and investigation...
...provided such was only ever employed: prior to folk emigrating (on an intended long-term basis) here (and that's certainly the case with many immigrants coming for purely work-related reasons); and for those being granted citizenship after residing here for some considerable time (at the various well-known citizenship ceremonies here, such as Dunedin itself has periodically)
...but never, ever in any other context whatsoever...which would indeed cause understandable concern and alarm...
To Be Continued: (Outlining my untidily scribbled thoughts upon the announcement of this NZ First Conference proposal in detail; when I've somewhat more time.)
Nevertheless New Zealand First's (duly, formally assented) policy proposal (at its weekend 25th-anniversary conference) vis-a-vis immigrants (and no doubt also refugees) 'signing onto' some sort of pledge of allegiance to 'NZ Inc. Values' actually has considerable merit per se...if we pause for a mo and consider the matter matter-of-factly, in a reasonable and rational manner, without an undue knee-jerk type response, and in the calm light of day...
Far from being/representing far-right, extreme xenophobic, Muslim-bashing Trumpism - as our pig-ignorant mainstream media is dead certain to automatically characterize it, without due reflectiveness or further ado - eager in their sensationalist response to set the chattering classes a-chattering like never before...I'd contend said proposal has an inherent logic and rationale about it.
Though it would doubtless be utterly abhorrent to wolves in sheep's clothing, i.e. those folk entering Aotearoa-New Zealand with some ulterior motivation/secret agenda...*cf my own opinion piece awhile ago on the aforementioned (which has once again vamoosed my memory cells)... . Yes, there's nothing at all/remotely wrong, let alone distasteful, about such a policy approach - implemented with due care and consideration and a non-gung-ho, overkill approach, that is...
In fact it's just what other, especially non-Western, nations worldwide have effectively done for aeons/millennia even...whether we're considering such diverse localities as Japan (and China) - indeed Asian nations generally - **Mexico in particular, countries throughout the Middle East, or even those in our own backyard (of Oceania/the South Pacific)... -this morning Winston Peters specifically cited ***Australia, Canada and France (thereabouts)-
No, in many of these other places it's hardly ever even mentioned, simply 'coz it need not be (explicitly spelt out): it just goes without saying/it's essentially taken for granted - it's basic, Primary School 101, bone fide human nature - that simply declares to one and all - potential - 'comers': You're welcome here - to come and even to stay (including longer-term) but only on our terms...pledging yourselves to be good, law-abiding citizens. Citizens (or long-term residents) who not only observe the outward/external 'laws of the[i.e.our] land', but - much more importantly even - have/possess an abiding commitment to(wards)/inner attitude of respect toward (and appreciation of and for) the (long-standing, long-established) cultural norms underlying these...that characterize our fair land.
To Be Continued (Part Three)
*Actually, my blogpost, about (if not specifically entitled) 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' was occasioned by a young Asian lass who had the foresight and respectfulness to clean up her doggie's 'doggy-dos' (I passed three-five years back near some city 'dog-park')...whom I considered a pleasant contrast to some then siblings' own 'approach' when visiting our home! And had nothing whatsoever to do with having a gratuitous go at people newly arrived here and seeking, even struggling, to acclimatize and establish themselves here - which, in the immediate backwash/aftermath of fleeing one of Earth's many trouble-points, is necessarily problematic at the very best of times...and ****as folk often point out, we're not presently in such...
**Only mentioned here as, with all the incessant hullabaloo - admittedly understandable on many levels - vis-a-vis President Trump's infamous proposed 'Wall of China' upon the U.S.-Mexican border, apparently one thing that is never once mentioned is that Mexico itself has ever-so-stringent rules and regulations forbidding (basically, fellow Central American) asylum/citizenship to others.
***Not that we'd have anything to learn from, much less care to be taught by, a nation like Oz thereabouts - what with its own shameful record on refugees/kiwis in particular...
****Or as me 'ole mate Gollum's known to have commented: "Theese aren't decent places!"
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