We've reached a sad day in Westerndom in so many ways...but surely 'our' media has just attained a new, *invidious low: in now effectively abandoning one of its longstanding, most loyal and devoted Commonwealth friends and relatives - to wit, the longsuffering and neglected nation of Zimbabwe.
In surrendering the people of Zimbabwe to the alligators presently moving in for the kill in the turbulent political waters swirling beneath their feet, even the much-vaunted BBC itself has forsaken Zimbabweans like so many over-heated cakes, abandoning them into the proverbial too-hard-basket. Yes, the **one-time justly-celebrated British Broadcasting Corporation has - its many praiseworthy internationally-broadcast radio programmes notwithstanding, and these are well worthy of the highest commendation (on a regular basis) - now not only 'dropped the ball' upon our erstwhile central southern African allies and compatriots, they've done so when they need our aid and help more than ever before.
Which I will make reference to in my imminent Part Three (to be published shortly). But sadly, they are far from alone in so doing, seemingly being joined - at least in these Antipodean 'nether regions' - by our broadcast media as well. What a despicable thing to do, abandon one's close friend when they're at an all-time low, putting the collective boot in when they're already well and truly down.
*Among its various meanings, according to my trusty Chambers Concise Dictionary, is this - entirely unexpected, but wholly accurate - one: offensively discriminating (italics all mine). And doesn't that just so aptly sum 'em up! Yes, I mean the mainstream media...and no, for all their faults - which may (in certain instances) be many - and varied - the likes of Sir Robert Muldoon, the Right Honourable Winston Peters, and even 'the Donald' (i.e. U.S. President Donald J Trump) himself are right on the ball in one major respect at least: their unanimous suspicion of and even at times downright contempt for the so-called 'journalists' and media outlets which style themselves so successfully as the brave bastions of truth and the upholders of the highest Western values and democratic principles. For once again they have failed abysmally - abjectly - in their self-appointed task (of bringing truth to power - and all the rest). Hey, on this one they're not even on the scoreboard.
**However over recent weeks and months and years the blatant inconsistencies and even hypocrisies of this one-time bastion of Westerndom's core Judaeo-Christian values has gone completely awol: missing in action - and without any forwarding address. More's the pity. Whether we're talking about their aiding and abetting the U.K. police in their unjust hit jobs upon the likes of Cliff Richards, Ken Roache and the like - while scurrying for well-needed cover as their own miserable 'non-treatment' of the serial paedophile Jimmy Saville was gradually, progressively exposed into public view, the BBC 'dealing with this' by their own brand of serial rationalization, duck-shoving and pleading of extenuating circumstances.
Or referring to their citing Aotearoa-New Zealand's new 'bright young thing', the Green Party's articulate female (Iranian) refugee M.P. Gohriz Ghahraman, as some sort of expert upon our neighbour Australia's admittedly appalling treatment of refugees, especially one-time New Zealanders, at, for example, their now infamous Manus Island (and Christmas Island) Detention Centre; when all the while this selfsame 'spokesperson on human rights' had been extensively exposed post- our last General Election (almost a year ago now) as a one-time apologist, nay, public spokesperson and defense attorney for, instigators of genocide in both 1990s' Serbia/Kosovo/ Croatia/Bosnia-Herzogovina etc as well as 1993-1994 Rwanda!
And time eludes us here to more than briefly cite their abject inconsistency, even hypocrisy, in giving almost a ***running commentary upon the intention of various 'Englishmen' (and no doubt women) to effect a rarely-invoked citizens' arrest of Pope Benedict the 16th upon his arrival in the U.K. for a papal tour back in 2009 or so, when, almost the very moment he set foot upon British soil they were pretty well feting him from veritable pillar to post, and couldn't get enough of him; virtually slobbering their newfound affection all over him as he rode in the papal motorcade (was it in the Popemobile? - I'm not sure) and then sat in state as it were alongside then British Prime Minister David Cameron in a makeshift sort of canopy (virtually transplanted holus-bolus from a Victorian-era garden show), while they - alongside their adoring fellow citizenry - oohed and aahed and fawned and scraped, bowed and curtsied before Benedict as he gloried in the unexpected adoration and adulation. ***Here including both branches (radio and television) of the BBC's broadcasting arm.
The very same one-time German Cardinal Josef Ratzinger who'd not only served in the Hitler Youth, and later in the Vatican's modern-day (theologically-oriented) 'Inquisition' (for trying and excommunicating heretics from the Roman Catholic Church), but who'd effectively done nothing about dealing with and to the then-rampant sexual abuse occurring c/o the RCC's priests and prelates and cardinals worldwide, and was thus going to be treated to - or rather, served with - an old-fashioned citizens' arrest upon setting foot in England.
Necessary Disclaimer (with the benefit of overnight reflection):
Perhaps I'm being a little too severe (and broad-brushed in my 'strokes' here), and should've been a bit less critical of the BBC - not so much vis-a-vis #1, however, nor with my overall point re Zimbabwe.
Nevertheless, in case #3 (re Pope Benedict's papal visit to Great Britain), they're guilty as charged, for rapidly, and quite inexplicably - unless it can be argued that they, like 'everyone else' at the time, were simply swept up into the overall feel-good emotionalism of the special occasion - moving from an heretofore impartial commentary (even arguably somewhat anti-papal line - reflecting societal-wide feeling then almost palpable) the one moment, to a rather over-the-top, utterly uncritical commentary the very next...as per the (subsequent) rest of their reportage...not even mentioning the former 'threat' (of a citizens' arrest), as if it was now altogether nonexistent,; or, still worse, as if it were now an irrelevance - beneath one's legitimate notice...as, like with the Royal Family, we were now all (expected to be) collectively besotted with them all - their each and every move - even 'rightfully so'...that any previous quibbles or concerns - however well-justified at the time - simply no longer mattered or made any real difference anyhow...
In case #2, for, apparently, simply not bothering to investigate Ghahraman's background (story) better - especially the well-canvassed controversy (within Aotearoa-New Zealand) that played out in our media late last year (especially in November). Again, as with #3, we all now simply couldn't get enough of GG. So, any past 'indiscretions' - however damning and utterly devastating to anyone else's career in the circumstances - simply no longer mattered...all was again forgiven, and any, however once quite legitimate concerns were to be simply relegated to the realms, the backblocks of sheer, utter irrelevancy.
As per Zimbabwe, I've still essentially the same concerns, with all the naivete and gullibility this of course suggests/highlights...though, to give them their proper and rightful due, the BBC's overall radio coverage of Zimbabwe - at least up until their fateful election 'result' announced last Friday New Zealand time - was quite exemplary, as far as it went...even putting other (NZ-wide media, anyway) way into the background. (At least they then covered extensively the more than legitimate concerns raised by opposition spokespeople and protesters in the country.)
Monday, August 6, 2018
Friday, August 3, 2018
The Crocodile Rocks Along: The More Things Change (in Zimbabwe - & South Africa), The More Things Stay the Same
Over recent months 'great changes' have come to the two once-segregationist, former British colonies of southern Africa, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and South Africa. Or, as New Zealand's infamous tui billboard would put it, 'Yeah, right!' And just so any half-awake punter might have predicted/known...
Yes, the Republic of South Africa changed its leadership a little while ago now. No matter - as per its northern 'cousin', Zimbabwe, such 'changes', as cosmetic in appearance as in actual nature, just went to show - yet again - the truth of ye 'ole adage: the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Moreover in both nations the land appropriations/expropriations evidently carry on apace, or at least are not only being maintained, but their terms are being widened...as white South African farmers now likewise feel the full brunt of long pent-up resentment and bitterness over the land subjugation of the two countries' landless plebs. This particular brand of utu has certainly been a long time in gestation/building, and no doubt to those concerned feels only all too justified and excusable.
But onto South Africa's highly fraught situation another time, suffice to say that many, both there and overseas, are not at all in some partisan bunker with their blinkers on, or deceived thereabouts; for example the much-respected African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and New Zealand's own (one-time *C.A.R.E. head) Springboks' Tour protest organizer, the much-pilloried but thoughtful and insightful John Minto: both understandably long disillusioned with the actual on-the-ground results of the justly much-celebrated end of Apartheid - as they, like the rest of us, see that wonderful socio-political 'transformation' turned into barefaced betrayal.
No, the realities of political **nepotism/corruption, abject failure to share the largesse and spoils of victory with the poverty-stricken multitudes, and unprecedented, out-of-control crime and violence pretty well ever since the [much-trumpeted] changes there really say it all, don't they?; 'changes' which have proven as shallow and superficial as a lanced boil.
And of course its cultural cousin and neighbour, Zimbabwe, has shared a similar fate - minus the awful violence (among the people-at-large, anyhow) it must be conceded. But is even that advantage/'superiority' soon to be submerged in a perfectly understandable reaction and *****kickback to Zimbabwe's just-concluded elections (just as we've indeed seen in its immediate aftermath)?
Yes, longtime, valiant Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai met his earthly demise only months ago - doubtless 'assisted', even if not directly precipitated and contributed to, by his previous 'incident' at the hands of Government-sanctioned security thugs. Nobly surviving throughout a period of years and decades when such 'ad hoc' state brutality was regularly meted out if on a sporadic basis and in an uncoordinated fashion, yet now appears highly likely to return 'with a vengeance'.
A situation all the more tragic when one considers how Rhodesia/Zimbabwe - post-independence, that is - has, unlike so many of, indeed arguably the great majority of, its African fellow states, managed to admirably maintain a popular resistance - to Mugabe's rule in particular - without recourse to armed uprising or rebellion. Till now, anyhow. But with the re-accession to power of ******'the Crocodile' that admirable restraint looks set to become - hopelessly - unstuck.
Yes, the long-running era of el tinpot dictators and petty despots (in the central south of Africa) seems destined to continue, indeed to carry on pretty well where it left off...under the various predecessors. Yet (as just alluded to) up to now the people of Zimbabwe have surely been a shining example of patient endurance and perseverance in the face of ongoing, unrelenting, top-down political, military and economic oppression and servitude - whatever the outward semblance and even realities of democracy in the land might well have been at times.
This is a 'matter' of some interest to me, as - see my own blogpost half a year to a year ago or so '(So) Who's to Say Who Should Stay?' - unlike so many talkback hosts who apparently seem to, rather glibly and simplistically, assume that ye average citizen in such scenarios should 'simply rise up and overthrow the bastards' (who cares if they themselves lose their lives in the process?) - I for one fully accept that discretion is indeed invariably 'the better part of valour' (in such situations especially, quite obviously).
For, as I say in that opinion piece, which of us (kiwis, for example) would choose to stay and fight to the death (as it were) if, say, and admittedly however hypothetically, there were a civil war brought on by Maori separatists rising up to overthrow the established order (of things). Yes, who indeed?
*Citizens Association for Racial Equality; cf NZ's other, compatriot-in-protest, once well-known H.A.R.T. [Halt All Racist Tours] outfit, also famously led at one time by Trevor Richards.
**Though, let's be quite unhypocritical here - in pointing the finger at these two nations; for assuredly the world's three largest, globally dominant and militarily and geo-politically preeminent super-powers are hardly exempt from ***such charges and accusations these days.
***Though, as with Zimbabwe, neither China nor Russia seem plagued with the violence seemingly endemic to the ****continent of North America in our era; and at least China has - whatever its many other, serious failures and shortcomings (and far worse) - made sterling efforts over recent years and decades to raise the living standards of vast swathes of its ever-burgeoning masses. And who really knows about the comparable situation in Russia?
****Excepting the civilized nation of Canada, that is.
*****Of the decidedly non-pecuniary variety, that is!
******So nicknamed, evidently, for his notorious role in the dreadful, post-independence massacres in Matabeleland, where large numbers of the - clearly un-obsequious - supporters of Joshua Nkomo's own political movement were evidently rounded up and summarily, conclusively dealt with and to.
Yes, the Republic of South Africa changed its leadership a little while ago now. No matter - as per its northern 'cousin', Zimbabwe, such 'changes', as cosmetic in appearance as in actual nature, just went to show - yet again - the truth of ye 'ole adage: the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Moreover in both nations the land appropriations/expropriations evidently carry on apace, or at least are not only being maintained, but their terms are being widened...as white South African farmers now likewise feel the full brunt of long pent-up resentment and bitterness over the land subjugation of the two countries' landless plebs. This particular brand of utu has certainly been a long time in gestation/building, and no doubt to those concerned feels only all too justified and excusable.
But onto South Africa's highly fraught situation another time, suffice to say that many, both there and overseas, are not at all in some partisan bunker with their blinkers on, or deceived thereabouts; for example the much-respected African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and New Zealand's own (one-time *C.A.R.E. head) Springboks' Tour protest organizer, the much-pilloried but thoughtful and insightful John Minto: both understandably long disillusioned with the actual on-the-ground results of the justly much-celebrated end of Apartheid - as they, like the rest of us, see that wonderful socio-political 'transformation' turned into barefaced betrayal.
No, the realities of political **nepotism/corruption, abject failure to share the largesse and spoils of victory with the poverty-stricken multitudes, and unprecedented, out-of-control crime and violence pretty well ever since the [much-trumpeted] changes there really say it all, don't they?; 'changes' which have proven as shallow and superficial as a lanced boil.
And of course its cultural cousin and neighbour, Zimbabwe, has shared a similar fate - minus the awful violence (among the people-at-large, anyhow) it must be conceded. But is even that advantage/'superiority' soon to be submerged in a perfectly understandable reaction and *****kickback to Zimbabwe's just-concluded elections (just as we've indeed seen in its immediate aftermath)?
Yes, longtime, valiant Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai met his earthly demise only months ago - doubtless 'assisted', even if not directly precipitated and contributed to, by his previous 'incident' at the hands of Government-sanctioned security thugs. Nobly surviving throughout a period of years and decades when such 'ad hoc' state brutality was regularly meted out if on a sporadic basis and in an uncoordinated fashion, yet now appears highly likely to return 'with a vengeance'.
A situation all the more tragic when one considers how Rhodesia/Zimbabwe - post-independence, that is - has, unlike so many of, indeed arguably the great majority of, its African fellow states, managed to admirably maintain a popular resistance - to Mugabe's rule in particular - without recourse to armed uprising or rebellion. Till now, anyhow. But with the re-accession to power of ******'the Crocodile' that admirable restraint looks set to become - hopelessly - unstuck.
Yes, the long-running era of el tinpot dictators and petty despots (in the central south of Africa) seems destined to continue, indeed to carry on pretty well where it left off...under the various predecessors. Yet (as just alluded to) up to now the people of Zimbabwe have surely been a shining example of patient endurance and perseverance in the face of ongoing, unrelenting, top-down political, military and economic oppression and servitude - whatever the outward semblance and even realities of democracy in the land might well have been at times.
This is a 'matter' of some interest to me, as - see my own blogpost half a year to a year ago or so '(So) Who's to Say Who Should Stay?' - unlike so many talkback hosts who apparently seem to, rather glibly and simplistically, assume that ye average citizen in such scenarios should 'simply rise up and overthrow the bastards' (who cares if they themselves lose their lives in the process?) - I for one fully accept that discretion is indeed invariably 'the better part of valour' (in such situations especially, quite obviously).
For, as I say in that opinion piece, which of us (kiwis, for example) would choose to stay and fight to the death (as it were) if, say, and admittedly however hypothetically, there were a civil war brought on by Maori separatists rising up to overthrow the established order (of things). Yes, who indeed?
*Citizens Association for Racial Equality; cf NZ's other, compatriot-in-protest, once well-known H.A.R.T. [Halt All Racist Tours] outfit, also famously led at one time by Trevor Richards.
**Though, let's be quite unhypocritical here - in pointing the finger at these two nations; for assuredly the world's three largest, globally dominant and militarily and geo-politically preeminent super-powers are hardly exempt from ***such charges and accusations these days.
***Though, as with Zimbabwe, neither China nor Russia seem plagued with the violence seemingly endemic to the ****continent of North America in our era; and at least China has - whatever its many other, serious failures and shortcomings (and far worse) - made sterling efforts over recent years and decades to raise the living standards of vast swathes of its ever-burgeoning masses. And who really knows about the comparable situation in Russia?
****Excepting the civilized nation of Canada, that is.
*****Of the decidedly non-pecuniary variety, that is!
******So nicknamed, evidently, for his notorious role in the dreadful, post-independence massacres in Matabeleland, where large numbers of the - clearly un-obsequious - supporters of Joshua Nkomo's own political movement were evidently rounded up and summarily, conclusively dealt with and to.
Your Collective Silence Is Quite Deafening: So Why the Abject lack of coverage of/concern over/condemnation of the Electoral (Integrity!) Amendment Bill?
...Which has just passed its second reading in the New Zealand Parliament - despite the valiant efforts of such long-term, underrated MPs as Dr Nick Smith and the Honourable Gerry Brownlee ...and the completely cringeworthy, wishy-washy, mealy-mouthed, hypocrisy-plus support of the once proud and principled Green Party of Aotearoa.
Professions Underrated All...
Just a word in defence/praise of some of the (Western World's, in particular) most highly underrated... but supposedly not undervalued, occupations - especially in light of/with reference to two wholly unrelated events: to wit, Aotearoa-New Zealand's present epidemic of strike action/stopwork meetings by all and sundry...and America's own 'epidemic' - of fires/'firenadoes'. As I say, there ain't a lot in common between the two, that's for sure... . Nevertheless -
Let's hear it - loud and clear, and in neon lights - for *all our self-sacrificing firefighters, nurses and, yes, even our ever-overlooked cleaners and street-sweepers...who together succeed in managing to keep the plague, the pestilence, death and destruction from our collective door...
...yet, at least here in 'God's Own', get scarcely a look-in - a mutter, a murmur nor a [whatever] (in Winston's esteemed words)...and are generally begrudged the little (materially-speaking) they do happen to accrue...
though handsomely earn and deserve...
*In 9 cases out of ten, anyhow, or 99% of instances (for, yes, there're always, inevitably, individual exceptions to each and every single last rule one could care to make/create/establish, I'll freely admit).
Let's hear it - loud and clear, and in neon lights - for *all our self-sacrificing firefighters, nurses and, yes, even our ever-overlooked cleaners and street-sweepers...who together succeed in managing to keep the plague, the pestilence, death and destruction from our collective door...
...yet, at least here in 'God's Own', get scarcely a look-in - a mutter, a murmur nor a [whatever] (in Winston's esteemed words)...and are generally begrudged the little (materially-speaking) they do happen to accrue...
though handsomely earn and deserve...
*In 9 cases out of ten, anyhow, or 99% of instances (for, yes, there're always, inevitably, individual exceptions to each and every single last rule one could care to make/create/establish, I'll freely admit).
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Postscript (Defining Issues of our Times): So What's Up, Folk? No, I mean, really?
That's about all I can 'say', peoples, having just now (over half an hour ago) - a week on - re-connected with my main (i.e. this) blogsite. After clicking onto 'Comments', and then the subsection, 'Comments - Awaiting Moderation', guess what appeared - to my 'nonplussed expectation' (if you get my contradiction-in-terms)?
Yep, ya guessed it (if, doubtless, not the precise words therein): There are no pending comments.
That about says it all, doesn't it? Indeed!
Nuff said!
Yep, ya guessed it (if, doubtless, not the precise words therein): There are no pending comments.
That about says it all, doesn't it? Indeed!
Nuff said!
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Be[ing] [Quite] Sure, Your [my] Sins Will Find You [me] Out: Vis-a-vis well-known Christian singer-songwriter Cliff Richards...At long last the chickens are all well and truly coming home to roost: for his foes and enemies, that is...
Having written profusely about this many months (or moons) ago now, I intend only to make a few - to me - pertinent comments thereupon.
First, through simply inexplicable and extraordinary personal circumstances of recent months, there's a big part of (little) me that can actually completely relate to Mr (or is it these days, Sir?) Richards' predicament - conceding however that my own respective 'matter' is as a gnat to his camel, a molehill to his mountain. And hence there's various 'stuff' that I've since 'accumulated' (chiefly through media and reading) that strongly 'relates' and which, given the time, I'll someday - hopefully sooner than later - share (with y'all).
Two, and three, I believe both the BBC and the British Police (Scotland Yard) have used CR - and various, high-profile 'others' - to indulge in a great big face-saving exercise, something that says a heckuva lot more about them than it does or ever could about Cliff Richards. More later upon this too.
Fourth, that these days - especially if you're a 'fundamentalist', Bible-believing Christian, you're '*easy pickings - and are pretty well 'guilty till proven innocent'. But since 'where there's (even just a teeny-weeny bit of) smoke (in the air), there's (inevitably a great big) fire' ragin' underneath...well, you go figure...and no, it ain't a pretty picture, folks, but yes, it's entirely predictable, that's for sure...
*My original title for this piece, incidentally.
First, through simply inexplicable and extraordinary personal circumstances of recent months, there's a big part of (little) me that can actually completely relate to Mr (or is it these days, Sir?) Richards' predicament - conceding however that my own respective 'matter' is as a gnat to his camel, a molehill to his mountain. And hence there's various 'stuff' that I've since 'accumulated' (chiefly through media and reading) that strongly 'relates' and which, given the time, I'll someday - hopefully sooner than later - share (with y'all).
Two, and three, I believe both the BBC and the British Police (Scotland Yard) have used CR - and various, high-profile 'others' - to indulge in a great big face-saving exercise, something that says a heckuva lot more about them than it does or ever could about Cliff Richards. More later upon this too.
Fourth, that these days - especially if you're a 'fundamentalist', Bible-believing Christian, you're '*easy pickings - and are pretty well 'guilty till proven innocent'. But since 'where there's (even just a teeny-weeny bit of) smoke (in the air), there's (inevitably a great big) fire' ragin' underneath...well, you go figure...and no, it ain't a pretty picture, folks, but yes, it's entirely predictable, that's for sure...
*My original title for this piece, incidentally.
...Though that's not denying - for even one instant - the very large 'grain of truth' in JFK's famous declaration: "Better Dead than Red"; I'd simply qualify that in this way: it's ultimately far, far better to die - if such is required - than to compromise upon eternal values (of right and wrong)...Yes, every single time!
Addendum (to my Independence Day, 2018, blogpost): to (attempt to) cover for my extreme tardiness and negligence in following this up as and when promised
Due to serious time considerations tonight, may I briefly say here: it is possible, indeed extremely so, to simultaneously consider a certain major world figure presently lumbering across the international landscape (like the animal/'beast of burden' his political party has ever been closely associated with) as among the most, nay, the most (technically and emotionally) unintelligent and incompetent to lead his particular nation - let alone any even minor nation elsewhere across the globe - in its or world history...
whilst declaring/asserting/supporting the obvious superiority of diplomacy over nuclear confrontation...the right of sovereign nations worldwide to protect and defend their legal borders...and the sanctity of the (world-renowned) American Constitution, to wit, its careful delineation of the 'separate powers' of executive, legislature and judiciary, and thus the right of any and every President to appoint people of his (or her) own, considered choosing to the U S Supreme Court.
Hey, folks, I dunno about you, but far as I'm concerned, it's far preferable to deal with certain global thugs and criminals in a half-decent, respectful fashion and maintain the life of the human species than, on the other hand, to have a person, however eminently qualified by lifetime experience and generally admirable personal attributes who's effectively a hawk on all matters of foreign policy and collectively be - as homo sapiens - six feet (and all the rest) way under...el permanente!
whilst declaring/asserting/supporting the obvious superiority of diplomacy over nuclear confrontation...the right of sovereign nations worldwide to protect and defend their legal borders...and the sanctity of the (world-renowned) American Constitution, to wit, its careful delineation of the 'separate powers' of executive, legislature and judiciary, and thus the right of any and every President to appoint people of his (or her) own, considered choosing to the U S Supreme Court.
Hey, folks, I dunno about you, but far as I'm concerned, it's far preferable to deal with certain global thugs and criminals in a half-decent, respectful fashion and maintain the life of the human species than, on the other hand, to have a person, however eminently qualified by lifetime experience and generally admirable personal attributes who's effectively a hawk on all matters of foreign policy and collectively be - as homo sapiens - six feet (and all the rest) way under...el permanente!
The Defining Issue/s of Our Day: Part Three: Reviewing All the Options/Possibilities, Adding Thereto, then Beginning an up-close Investigation/Consideration
As per usual I've since realized I've well and truly bitten off way more than I can possibly chew, regurgitate, let alone spit out this time...but having begun said process, let me now continue on - however tentatively, or rather, initially...
And yes, I am still awaiting your feedback - especially those of you who regularly read my posts: again, all you need to do is go to the bottom of each blogpost and click upon that little tab 'Post a Comment'.
So how about it, folks, if you do indeed really care about this blogsite? It's not like I'm asking some kind of financial contribution, after all, though that'd be perfectly legitimate if I did do so.
In fact, from my need for an early shuteye tonight following a far too late one last night...I'm gonna temporarily suspend proceedings...in mid-stream (as I occasionally do), awaiting with eager, patient anticipation what I consider my rightful due - having provided this free service for such a long time (I believe a good six years all up, pretty well (last or next month)) - that 'rightful due' being the very least I should surely be able to expect...i.e. your own carefully-considered, thoughtful response/s and interaction - if for no other reason than simply to re-assure me that I'm not simply 'whistlin' dixie', so to speak, into thin air, or rather the cybersphere...
So please - pretty please - respond...and sooner rather than later, y'hear...
To Be Continued...pending sufficient (on-line) viewer response
Important Postscript: Having earlier reviewed those 24 'defining issues of our day', I'm aware of a number of things. Firstly, they're way from comprehensive, though at the same time I'd wager they're a pretty good start. Secondly, I'd possibly re-define and/or clarify a number of them - given heaps more time - as well as add such additional two categories as *Extinction of Species (Flora & Fauna) Worldwide, especially the bees; and *Tampering with our DNA: Cloning - Genetic Modification/ Engineering - Mind Control.
Modifying and adjusting some of the original 24, I might naturally merge/morph a few of them (where sensible to do so), and/or split a couple into multiple sub-categories where necessary. It's no doubt also salutary here to point out that over the past six years I've already dealt - in depth - with a number of said categories, in particular (#3:) terrorism, (#6:) 'when in Rome', (#7:) Pushback against the Establishment/s...aka Brexit & Trump; alongside a little vis-a-vis (#11:) GLBT 'rights', as with (#13:) Political Correctness, and (#16:) The Intolerance of the Super-tolerant. Plus perhaps I've touched just once in a while upon some of the other 18, but not substantially far as I'm aware, anyhow...
And yes, I am still awaiting your feedback - especially those of you who regularly read my posts: again, all you need to do is go to the bottom of each blogpost and click upon that little tab 'Post a Comment'.
So how about it, folks, if you do indeed really care about this blogsite? It's not like I'm asking some kind of financial contribution, after all, though that'd be perfectly legitimate if I did do so.
In fact, from my need for an early shuteye tonight following a far too late one last night...I'm gonna temporarily suspend proceedings...in mid-stream (as I occasionally do), awaiting with eager, patient anticipation what I consider my rightful due - having provided this free service for such a long time (I believe a good six years all up, pretty well (last or next month)) - that 'rightful due' being the very least I should surely be able to expect...i.e. your own carefully-considered, thoughtful response/s and interaction - if for no other reason than simply to re-assure me that I'm not simply 'whistlin' dixie', so to speak, into thin air, or rather the cybersphere...
So please - pretty please - respond...and sooner rather than later, y'hear...
To Be Continued...pending sufficient (on-line) viewer response
Important Postscript: Having earlier reviewed those 24 'defining issues of our day', I'm aware of a number of things. Firstly, they're way from comprehensive, though at the same time I'd wager they're a pretty good start. Secondly, I'd possibly re-define and/or clarify a number of them - given heaps more time - as well as add such additional two categories as *Extinction of Species (Flora & Fauna) Worldwide, especially the bees; and *Tampering with our DNA: Cloning - Genetic Modification/ Engineering - Mind Control.
Modifying and adjusting some of the original 24, I might naturally merge/morph a few of them (where sensible to do so), and/or split a couple into multiple sub-categories where necessary. It's no doubt also salutary here to point out that over the past six years I've already dealt - in depth - with a number of said categories, in particular (#3:) terrorism, (#6:) 'when in Rome', (#7:) Pushback against the Establishment/s...aka Brexit & Trump; alongside a little vis-a-vis (#11:) GLBT 'rights', as with (#13:) Political Correctness, and (#16:) The Intolerance of the Super-tolerant. Plus perhaps I've touched just once in a while upon some of the other 18, but not substantially far as I'm aware, anyhow...
Monday, July 23, 2018
One Punter's View of What Constitute the Defining Issues Of Our Times: Up to two dozen 'Major Deals' - upon which Western Civilization, and with it our Present-day World overall, will arguably stand or fall
Somewhat sooner than usual, I'm returning to yesterday's topic/query: i.e. what actually constitute the real 'defining issue/s' of our time - when all the palava and political posturing and grandstanding are over? Of course, as I suggested, that's entirely something 'in the eyes' of the particular beholder. So, since my view/s are as valid, presumably, as the next fellow's or gal's...here's what a little/lot of brainstorming overnight/today has turned up...
Comprising 'stuff'/matters from some well-known and regularly canvassed issues of a highly concrete nature and 'definability' through rhetorical questions of a fairly contentious character and over onto some philosophically-oriented dichotomies pertaining to fundamental, diametrically-polar opposite world views, I believe I've cottoned onto at least a few of the more momentous and critical issues of our day.
But hey, perhaps I'm way off base - in your own esteemed view - and even 'off my rocker', and so, I look forward to some feedback - for a change! - by your taking the time and effort to 'push' (and thus activate) that little 'Comments' 'button'/feature (at the bottom of each and every blogpost, last I recall).
In quite-extremely general terms - for today's purposes (and so's I maintain my daily shuteye regime as best I can) - these are (apart from the first two/three items) not in hierarchical order, though I've nevertheless tended to juxtapose 'like with like' and similar-ish categories in succession:
*The nuclear question
*Climate Change/Global Warming
*Modern-day Terrorism
*Migration/Refugees/National Borders
*Multiculturalism in the West
*The Entitlement Syndrome: When in Rome, Do Whatever takes Your Fancy
*Pushback Against Elites aka British Brexit and The USA's Donald J Trump
*Black Lives Matter: Pushback (in America) Against Systemic Injustice
*The Me Too Movement: Backlash Against High-Profile Abuse(rs)
*Modern-day Western Feminism
*GLBT 'Rights'
*Identity Politics
*Political Correctness
*Virtue Signalling
*Watch(ing) Your Ps & Qs: Making a man an offender for a word
*Ideological Double-Standards: The Intolerance of the Super-Tolerant
*1984 Revisited: All Views/Religions are Equal, But Some are more Equal/Acceptable than Others
*It's Only 'democracy' if I get my way, or it's my way or the highway
*Your News is Fake News, Mine is the Real Quid
*Redefining Reality ('Evil is Good, and Good is Evil' - if I say so, understood?): Whoever has Control of the Mainstream Media, Rules - Okay?
*Euthanasia, Abortion, Capital Punishment & War: How Sacred is Life Really?
*Technology Run Riot: How Humanity Is Being Taken Over By Machines
*The Triumph of Science and Technology Over Faith & Spirituality
*'Health and Safety' Gone Berserk: Legislating for Every Conceivable Contingency
Tomorrow (in Part Three) I'll be much more 'elucidatory' and explain in much greater detail precisely what these 'defining issues' are...i.e. how I broadly see them (and their various essential component parts). At least I'll start along said process, and also - separately - survey 'Primary Exhibit #1' (a high-profile celebrity for whom I have immense sympathy/empathy...and whom the U.K. Media's 'shining jewel' and its Law Enforcement Agencies Have Treated Shamefully over recent years).
Comprising 'stuff'/matters from some well-known and regularly canvassed issues of a highly concrete nature and 'definability' through rhetorical questions of a fairly contentious character and over onto some philosophically-oriented dichotomies pertaining to fundamental, diametrically-polar opposite world views, I believe I've cottoned onto at least a few of the more momentous and critical issues of our day.
But hey, perhaps I'm way off base - in your own esteemed view - and even 'off my rocker', and so, I look forward to some feedback - for a change! - by your taking the time and effort to 'push' (and thus activate) that little 'Comments' 'button'/feature (at the bottom of each and every blogpost, last I recall).
In quite-extremely general terms - for today's purposes (and so's I maintain my daily shuteye regime as best I can) - these are (apart from the first two/three items) not in hierarchical order, though I've nevertheless tended to juxtapose 'like with like' and similar-ish categories in succession:
*The nuclear question
*Climate Change/Global Warming
*Modern-day Terrorism
*Migration/Refugees/National Borders
*Multiculturalism in the West
*The Entitlement Syndrome: When in Rome, Do Whatever takes Your Fancy
*Pushback Against Elites aka British Brexit and The USA's Donald J Trump
*Black Lives Matter: Pushback (in America) Against Systemic Injustice
*The Me Too Movement: Backlash Against High-Profile Abuse(rs)
*Modern-day Western Feminism
*GLBT 'Rights'
*Identity Politics
*Political Correctness
*Virtue Signalling
*Watch(ing) Your Ps & Qs: Making a man an offender for a word
*Ideological Double-Standards: The Intolerance of the Super-Tolerant
*1984 Revisited: All Views/Religions are Equal, But Some are more Equal/Acceptable than Others
*It's Only 'democracy' if I get my way, or it's my way or the highway
*Your News is Fake News, Mine is the Real Quid
*Redefining Reality ('Evil is Good, and Good is Evil' - if I say so, understood?): Whoever has Control of the Mainstream Media, Rules - Okay?
*Euthanasia, Abortion, Capital Punishment & War: How Sacred is Life Really?
*Technology Run Riot: How Humanity Is Being Taken Over By Machines
*The Triumph of Science and Technology Over Faith & Spirituality
*'Health and Safety' Gone Berserk: Legislating for Every Conceivable Contingency
Tomorrow (in Part Three) I'll be much more 'elucidatory' and explain in much greater detail precisely what these 'defining issues' are...i.e. how I broadly see them (and their various essential component parts). At least I'll start along said process, and also - separately - survey 'Primary Exhibit #1' (a high-profile celebrity for whom I have immense sympathy/empathy...and whom the U.K. Media's 'shining jewel' and its Law Enforcement Agencies Have Treated Shamefully over recent years).
Sunday, July 22, 2018
So What Would You Say Really Constitutes the oft-cited 'Defining Issue of Our Times'?
Naturally enough there are innumerable answers and responses possible to such a question...pretty much as many as the number of individuals queried, I'd imagine...however many people that might include. My own 'excuse' for now raising such a query is manyfold: firstly, and primarily, I've just finished listening in to a BBC-hosted 'Heart and Soul' discussion introduced in such terms, on RNZ National's regular Sunday afternoon 'Spiritual outlook' radio show; secondly, my own bad conscience at having metaphorically 'taken forever' in getting back to a long-promised (and hopefully much-anticipated) rundown of a number of just such matters (in an uncharacteristically short blogpost timed to coincide with America's annual Independence Day commemorations).
So what are my own conclusions thereupon, and moreover how do these compare (and contrast) with others' own thoughts? Who the heck would know, or even care?- no, really. Still, that's never stopped folk like myself expostulating to one and all, like el usual all-knowing talkback radio hosts (and other self-opinionated pundits, commentators and prognosticators, whether so-called 'experts' or just ye average Joe or Jane Bloggs in the street or on the web). Has it... .
Yet once again, I'm gonna leave y'all - temporarily - in suspense...while you yourselves reflect upon the same, mentally chewing and mulling the matter over along your own well-worn mental pathways...
See ya soon!
So what are my own conclusions thereupon, and moreover how do these compare (and contrast) with others' own thoughts? Who the heck would know, or even care?- no, really. Still, that's never stopped folk like myself expostulating to one and all, like el usual all-knowing talkback radio hosts (and other self-opinionated pundits, commentators and prognosticators, whether so-called 'experts' or just ye average Joe or Jane Bloggs in the street or on the web). Has it... .
Yet once again, I'm gonna leave y'all - temporarily - in suspense...while you yourselves reflect upon the same, mentally chewing and mulling the matter over along your own well-worn mental pathways...
See ya soon!
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Despite Constant (Morning Report) Media Attempts to Bait/Trip him up, the Acting Prime Minister Continues to Acquit himself Admirably
Yes, four weeks into and two-thirds of the way through his six-week stand-in for Jacinda Ardern, the Deputy P.M., the Right Honourable Winston Peters, seems to be managing his spell at the top with notable aplomb. Avoiding 'scaring the horses' as some would put it, while maintaining the requisite degree of gravitas, conscious dignity and self-possession such a position necessarily demands. "Good one, Winnie!" as my Stepmum might've put it in days gone by - when she and my Dad were fast followers of the one-time 'Member for Hunua'.
Refusing to opportunistically 'dis' and discredit, much less criticize and condemn and publicly bully, New Zealand's longsuffering nursing work force either before or after their recent, extremely rare - though reasonably publicly-supported - strike action, Peters nevertheless made the reasonable enough point that there's ultimately only so much money in the governmental kitty - for all the various 'comers'; other employee 'collectives' meanwhile desiring and seeking their own share of the perceived governmental largesse and so themselves also already publicly chafing at the bit.
Though myself a lifelong pacifist, and bearing in mind RNZ National Panelist, the comedian and talkback host Gary McCormack's remarking the other day upon the sheer lunacy of anyone in God's Own seriously believing that our Government's planned purchasing of a few major ships for our navy, however many millions involved, could possibly deter any major potential aggressor such as China, much less send shivers down their spine or scare them ....-less, if they ever did decide to attack/invade our little South Pacific idyll, I'll say this much for Winston and Co: though shunting a few billion dollars in that sort of direction is undoubtedly a terrific waste of Governmental monies at any time, it's nevertheless quite understandable in one major respect.
That is, until and unless Aotearoa-New Zealand adopts either a purely pacifist approach to its defence - or, preferably (or rather, at least much more realistically 'in the real world' wherein we all presently live) a Swiss-style of 'positive' self-defence (predicated entirely upon self-defence, that is, than ever engaging in any other types of wars), we ought to surely either (thus) quit the semblance of mere pretence or 'adequately' fund and resource our nation's defence capabilities.
And anyhow - as already alluded to - there are other forthcoming desires and demands from seemingly every last man and woman and their dog, cat and guinea-pig for their own respective shares in taxpayer monies and desire to 'share the booty' and reap the dividend of their own long wait for adequate recompense thereabout. Noting, as P.M. Peters himself well put matters, people only line up at a bus-stop when they know a bus is due; but on the other hand, a bus can't possibly - at its first 'pickup', anyhow - take more than it's fitted out to carry at that time.
Otherwise, whether it's going in to bat upon an individual kiwi's behalf before the intransigent Aussie authorities (presently giving the el usual runaround to New Zealanders' rights to fair and reasonable treatment by said authorities), cautiously refraining from putting his foot in his mouth and needlessly slagging off foreign leaders whom we might need at a later date, or standing up to the Chinese Dragon - whom veteran activist and digital privacy campaigner (upon the extreme left-wing weekday American broadcaster Democracy Now) Glenn Greenwald even believes may be behind some of the intelligence espionage currently being universally sheeted home to the Russian authorities alone - I'd say Mr Peters has things pretty well spot on (in his assessments thereabouts and determinations thereupon). Far as any individual politician does these days.
I reckon on a scorecard a 7.5-8 out of 10 is thus due Prime Minister Peters et al, the only real docking of points being his and fellow NZ First Minister Tracey Martin's refusal to reconsider the ill-advised and problematic decision to - effectively - close down (by withholding needing funding) the Stand Children's Service Roxburgh Children's Village. At least pending any suitable replacement and the proper roll-out of the proposed new model of caring for kids in their own homes instead - however legitimate that new 'trajectory' for PTSD children may well ultimately prove to be.
Refusing to opportunistically 'dis' and discredit, much less criticize and condemn and publicly bully, New Zealand's longsuffering nursing work force either before or after their recent, extremely rare - though reasonably publicly-supported - strike action, Peters nevertheless made the reasonable enough point that there's ultimately only so much money in the governmental kitty - for all the various 'comers'; other employee 'collectives' meanwhile desiring and seeking their own share of the perceived governmental largesse and so themselves also already publicly chafing at the bit.
Though myself a lifelong pacifist, and bearing in mind RNZ National Panelist, the comedian and talkback host Gary McCormack's remarking the other day upon the sheer lunacy of anyone in God's Own seriously believing that our Government's planned purchasing of a few major ships for our navy, however many millions involved, could possibly deter any major potential aggressor such as China, much less send shivers down their spine or scare them ....-less, if they ever did decide to attack/invade our little South Pacific idyll, I'll say this much for Winston and Co: though shunting a few billion dollars in that sort of direction is undoubtedly a terrific waste of Governmental monies at any time, it's nevertheless quite understandable in one major respect.
That is, until and unless Aotearoa-New Zealand adopts either a purely pacifist approach to its defence - or, preferably (or rather, at least much more realistically 'in the real world' wherein we all presently live) a Swiss-style of 'positive' self-defence (predicated entirely upon self-defence, that is, than ever engaging in any other types of wars), we ought to surely either (thus) quit the semblance of mere pretence or 'adequately' fund and resource our nation's defence capabilities.
And anyhow - as already alluded to - there are other forthcoming desires and demands from seemingly every last man and woman and their dog, cat and guinea-pig for their own respective shares in taxpayer monies and desire to 'share the booty' and reap the dividend of their own long wait for adequate recompense thereabout. Noting, as P.M. Peters himself well put matters, people only line up at a bus-stop when they know a bus is due; but on the other hand, a bus can't possibly - at its first 'pickup', anyhow - take more than it's fitted out to carry at that time.
Otherwise, whether it's going in to bat upon an individual kiwi's behalf before the intransigent Aussie authorities (presently giving the el usual runaround to New Zealanders' rights to fair and reasonable treatment by said authorities), cautiously refraining from putting his foot in his mouth and needlessly slagging off foreign leaders whom we might need at a later date, or standing up to the Chinese Dragon - whom veteran activist and digital privacy campaigner (upon the extreme left-wing weekday American broadcaster Democracy Now) Glenn Greenwald even believes may be behind some of the intelligence espionage currently being universally sheeted home to the Russian authorities alone - I'd say Mr Peters has things pretty well spot on (in his assessments thereabouts and determinations thereupon). Far as any individual politician does these days.
I reckon on a scorecard a 7.5-8 out of 10 is thus due Prime Minister Peters et al, the only real docking of points being his and fellow NZ First Minister Tracey Martin's refusal to reconsider the ill-advised and problematic decision to - effectively - close down (by withholding needing funding) the Stand Children's Service Roxburgh Children's Village. At least pending any suitable replacement and the proper roll-out of the proposed new model of caring for kids in their own homes instead - however legitimate that new 'trajectory' for PTSD children may well ultimately prove to be.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Whatever his innumerable faults, failings, foibles... exasperating idiosyncrasies, iconoclasms and outright idiocies...and unmentionable sins and outrages and even criminalities...
...yet one has to give it to 'the Donald' (that is, the 45th, I believe, leader of the 'Free World', i.e. President Donald J Trump): he certainly has a way with words. And never pulls his punches.
So I simply couldn't resist cracking up, couldn't contain myself earlier today - and especially around an hour ago - as I listened in to RNZ National (Radio's) weekday 'World Watch' programme.
Capping a week which (at least one member of) the UK newsprint media has headlined 'Mayhem'...it was a sheer 'beauty to behold' DJT unable to resist putting his not inconsiderable boot (figuratively-speaking, you understand) into his host, British Prime Minister T(h)eresa May, effectively damning her with faint praise, thereby revealing his poorly-kept secret of preferring Boris Brexit Johnson. A piece of inimitable political theatre worthy of a genius playwright, I'm sure...
Addendum: Overnight Afterthoughts & Necessary Explication
Having said all of that, I happen to like T(h)eresa May as a political personage, however 'ineffective' her (and her Government's) Brexit policies are presently progressing - or aren't (depending on one's perspective: whether that of a '*hard brexiter or an implacable 'remainer'.) And though I happen to agree with the current American President as to his initial arrival comments vis-a-vis the United Kingdom's Brexit negotiations et al - and moreover, regarding the 'usefulness' of Boris Johnson's stepping up to the plate of the prime ministership, and his undoubted qualifications thereabouts - his incredibly **ill-judged, ill-timed, unwanted and uncalled-for intervention in Johnson's behalf will doubtless thereby prove to be the very deathknell, the nail in the coffin, of Boris' chances therein.
No, 'the Donald', ***blundering his buffoon-laden way about the scene - as unprecedented protests utilize a blimp-sized balloon to 'get through' to him, el typical blunderbuss schoolyard bully as he is, in the only way such folk ever understand, i.e. unbridled, humiliating as ridicule and mockery - has single-handedly put paid to - blown out of the water (into the political stratosphere and well beyond) for good and for time and memorial - any (admittedly fast-disappearing) lingering hopes Mr Johnson might have happened to still be clinging to (vis-a-vis one day acceding to the United Kingdom's most senior formal leadership position).
For once - or at least in a very long time (possibly a decade-and-a-half) - much-disgraced and regularly-maligned and ridiculed former P. M. Tony Blair must be licking his chops vis-a-vis Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party's unenviable dilemma (concerning Brexit in particular). For 'with friends like these' - i.e. a certain 'leader of the free world' currently visiting the country - quite frankly 'who needs enemies?' Who indeed!
No, Mr Blair, as a strident and highly vocal and unreconstructed supporter of the 'bremain' campaign (both before and after the June 23rd referendum - back in 2016, I believe), hardly surprising in that he was often touted as a future leader of the European Parliament (and consequently also possible one day head of the rapidly-approaching, ****long forecast United States of Europe - though I'd pick the (understandably popular and deeply-respected - but N.B.: first Jesuit pope ever) Pope Frances instead), comes to mind at this time for an odd-sounding reason, I'm sure you'll agree. But let me explain...
I simply believe, if his unspoken thoughts were revealed (for one and all to see/read our loud) - in the fashion that rapidly-progressing AI would make us think is soon to be possible - they would for once be reflective and representative of his fellow countrymen and women-at-large, and would read pretty much...
"Come back, (President) George (W): all is forgiven. Yes, we all greatly mis-underestimated you!"
Meanwhile This Comedy of Errors and Unprogrammable Entertainment Enters Another Day
Having already 'stuffed up' big-time, and arguably way beyond the reasonable limits of repair or amends, much less rationalization, justification or the pleading of extenuating circumstances... President *****Donald J Trump began today ******attempting the impossible - and concluded by effectively giving the metaphorical fingers to Great Britain's longstanding Monarch (in a three-way dis-salute (as it were)).
Though the British Prime Minister has herself come out of proceedings not looking altogether untarnished either, the general sentiment (concerning Trump's initial *******'slamdunk' slapdown of May after disembarking at Heathrow Airport) across the UK apparently being, whilst many, perhaps even most, simply felt extremely sorry for her (shameful mistreatment by him), others understandably felt that she ought to have shown some backbone and stood up to him, as arguably any leader worth their salt surely would have.
Moreover, though Johnson's at times ascendant political star has doubtless now been hobbled for good, it's equally hard to see how May's fellow Conservatives won't - on the other hand - see her seemingly grovelling before President Trump as unforgivable and cringeworthy weakness...and consequently seek to be rid of them both (i.e. May and Johnson) lickety-split...
*And yes, I'd doubtless fall into this category if a British citizen.
**That is, assuming Trump ever has a reflective moment to begin with...- obviously a highly contentious idea in itself...
***Even tonight (NZ-time) engaging in three notable 'faux pas' towards her Royal Highness herself!
****See especially 'the Apocalypse' (of John the Revelator), also known as 'the Book of Revelation', the final book in the 66- (or ********70-) book Holy Bible. In particular Rev. 17: 1-18.
*****Long since having given his equally famous namesake, the inimitable Donald Duck himself, an entirely new lease on life...making DD look an epitome of class and taste in comparison and contrast!
******And for once the understandably extremely tired-looking P.M. May looked, while listening to and responding in countenance to Trump's latest verbal theatrics, not only as if she could see right through him, but even as if she no longer regards him as remotely credible...as hard as she sought - for purely inter-geo-political reasons, surely - to continue to just 'look the other way'; rather than treat him as the imbecile that she (alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and pretty well every other last international head-of-state - barring North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin - and countless multitudes around the world, whether 'lefties', conservatives, 'right-wingers', liberals, 'religious' or irreligious, and/or the politically uninitiated and uninterested) doubtless regards him as...
*******Entirely my own carefully-chosen terminology.
********Depending on whether one includes the 150-odd 'Psalms' as one book or five.
So I simply couldn't resist cracking up, couldn't contain myself earlier today - and especially around an hour ago - as I listened in to RNZ National (Radio's) weekday 'World Watch' programme.
Capping a week which (at least one member of) the UK newsprint media has headlined 'Mayhem'...it was a sheer 'beauty to behold' DJT unable to resist putting his not inconsiderable boot (figuratively-speaking, you understand) into his host, British Prime Minister T(h)eresa May, effectively damning her with faint praise, thereby revealing his poorly-kept secret of preferring Boris Brexit Johnson. A piece of inimitable political theatre worthy of a genius playwright, I'm sure...
Addendum: Overnight Afterthoughts & Necessary Explication
Having said all of that, I happen to like T(h)eresa May as a political personage, however 'ineffective' her (and her Government's) Brexit policies are presently progressing - or aren't (depending on one's perspective: whether that of a '*hard brexiter or an implacable 'remainer'.) And though I happen to agree with the current American President as to his initial arrival comments vis-a-vis the United Kingdom's Brexit negotiations et al - and moreover, regarding the 'usefulness' of Boris Johnson's stepping up to the plate of the prime ministership, and his undoubted qualifications thereabouts - his incredibly **ill-judged, ill-timed, unwanted and uncalled-for intervention in Johnson's behalf will doubtless thereby prove to be the very deathknell, the nail in the coffin, of Boris' chances therein.
No, 'the Donald', ***blundering his buffoon-laden way about the scene - as unprecedented protests utilize a blimp-sized balloon to 'get through' to him, el typical blunderbuss schoolyard bully as he is, in the only way such folk ever understand, i.e. unbridled, humiliating as ridicule and mockery - has single-handedly put paid to - blown out of the water (into the political stratosphere and well beyond) for good and for time and memorial - any (admittedly fast-disappearing) lingering hopes Mr Johnson might have happened to still be clinging to (vis-a-vis one day acceding to the United Kingdom's most senior formal leadership position).
For once - or at least in a very long time (possibly a decade-and-a-half) - much-disgraced and regularly-maligned and ridiculed former P. M. Tony Blair must be licking his chops vis-a-vis Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party's unenviable dilemma (concerning Brexit in particular). For 'with friends like these' - i.e. a certain 'leader of the free world' currently visiting the country - quite frankly 'who needs enemies?' Who indeed!
No, Mr Blair, as a strident and highly vocal and unreconstructed supporter of the 'bremain' campaign (both before and after the June 23rd referendum - back in 2016, I believe), hardly surprising in that he was often touted as a future leader of the European Parliament (and consequently also possible one day head of the rapidly-approaching, ****long forecast United States of Europe - though I'd pick the (understandably popular and deeply-respected - but N.B.: first Jesuit pope ever) Pope Frances instead), comes to mind at this time for an odd-sounding reason, I'm sure you'll agree. But let me explain...
I simply believe, if his unspoken thoughts were revealed (for one and all to see/read our loud) - in the fashion that rapidly-progressing AI would make us think is soon to be possible - they would for once be reflective and representative of his fellow countrymen and women-at-large, and would read pretty much...
"Come back, (President) George (W): all is forgiven. Yes, we all greatly mis-underestimated you!"
Meanwhile This Comedy of Errors and Unprogrammable Entertainment Enters Another Day
Having already 'stuffed up' big-time, and arguably way beyond the reasonable limits of repair or amends, much less rationalization, justification or the pleading of extenuating circumstances... President *****Donald J Trump began today ******attempting the impossible - and concluded by effectively giving the metaphorical fingers to Great Britain's longstanding Monarch (in a three-way dis-salute (as it were)).
Though the British Prime Minister has herself come out of proceedings not looking altogether untarnished either, the general sentiment (concerning Trump's initial *******'slamdunk' slapdown of May after disembarking at Heathrow Airport) across the UK apparently being, whilst many, perhaps even most, simply felt extremely sorry for her (shameful mistreatment by him), others understandably felt that she ought to have shown some backbone and stood up to him, as arguably any leader worth their salt surely would have.
Moreover, though Johnson's at times ascendant political star has doubtless now been hobbled for good, it's equally hard to see how May's fellow Conservatives won't - on the other hand - see her seemingly grovelling before President Trump as unforgivable and cringeworthy weakness...and consequently seek to be rid of them both (i.e. May and Johnson) lickety-split...
*And yes, I'd doubtless fall into this category if a British citizen.
**That is, assuming Trump ever has a reflective moment to begin with...- obviously a highly contentious idea in itself...
***Even tonight (NZ-time) engaging in three notable 'faux pas' towards her Royal Highness herself!
****See especially 'the Apocalypse' (of John the Revelator), also known as 'the Book of Revelation', the final book in the 66- (or ********70-) book Holy Bible. In particular Rev. 17: 1-18.
*****Long since having given his equally famous namesake, the inimitable Donald Duck himself, an entirely new lease on life...making DD look an epitome of class and taste in comparison and contrast!
******And for once the understandably extremely tired-looking P.M. May looked, while listening to and responding in countenance to Trump's latest verbal theatrics, not only as if she could see right through him, but even as if she no longer regards him as remotely credible...as hard as she sought - for purely inter-geo-political reasons, surely - to continue to just 'look the other way'; rather than treat him as the imbecile that she (alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and pretty well every other last international head-of-state - barring North Korea's Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin - and countless multitudes around the world, whether 'lefties', conservatives, 'right-wingers', liberals, 'religious' or irreligious, and/or the politically uninitiated and uninterested) doubtless regards him as...
*******Entirely my own carefully-chosen terminology.
********Depending on whether one includes the 150-odd 'Psalms' as one book or five.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Butt Out, Aunty Helen: In Case you hadn't noticed, your Empress-ship of God's Own has long since Elapsed...
In response to the recently-running feud between long-serving former Prime Minister Helen Clark and the self-educated innovator extraordinaire Ray, or rather Sir, Ray Avery, in the memorable, inimitable *words of actor Clark Gable to the character Scarlett O'Hara in the interminable Gone with the Wind: "(quite) frankly, dear(ies), I don't give a damn." But that's hardly the point.
This morning (and Saturday, since Newshub Nation regularly is shown both days) New Zealanders were greeted to and with a rare spectacle indeed: for one thing, if of passing note only, the normally inquisitorial Lisa Owen becoming unusually relaxed (and even positively **beaming) as the interview went on; for another, and much more importantly, we saw a new version of the old truism of how 'power' and then 'absolute power' can ****'corrupt' one; in this case, despite the loss thereof, in other words the feeling that one has such status pretty well for a lifetime...and thus feels able to 'throw one's weight around' for the rest of one's days.
Suffice to say that Sir Ray Avery - while meticulously careful not to slag Helen Clark off in any way or fashion, and neither abusing her personally much less criticizing her considerable legacy in any way - nevertheless revealed just that (aforementioned point): i.e. that Ms Clark felt she had the perfect (as in God-given) right (as it were) to up the ante by going public (and semi-ballistic) - in Avery's own words, 'go[ing] to the top of the parapet'. Choosing that manner of response as opposed to simply making a regular written submission like everyone else - that is, privately like any other citizen, without any public fanfare or palava, much less evident sense of personal entitlement (sort of as the 'elder stateswoman of NZ Inc', or Ex-Senior Public Citizen #1).
No, that isn't - arguably wasn't ever - Helen Clark's personal style. No way, Jose. Indeed I am involuntarily reminded of an old pal...with whom a parting of the ways has long since occurred...who, like me a political junkie (and worse), once told me how he - long a big fan of Ms Clark, that much was patently obvious, loath as he was to admit as much ever since her deposing from power - reacted with near incredulity to an item that once appeared on the front page of the ODT (he always called the Odious Daily Slime). Although sadly my memory's a little challenged on this front now, Clark'd essentially given herself such tremendous airs and graces that her self-conceit and arrogance and pride evidently knew neither normal bound nor reasonable limit.
While everything about Sir Ray simply oozed endless integrity and sincerity and decency, and, yes, humility...when any of the aforementioned (traits ascribed to Ms Clark) would've been 'fair enough' for him to entertain - except that the truly great have no need, much less care for such shameless self-promotion. No indeed.
Before signing off, and after essentially affirming - in response to host Lisa Owen - that if a particular project doesn't have a social conscience, yes, it *****doesn't tick his boxes (and therefore doesn't excite him to get involved and throw his considerable support behind it) - whereas ones 'that support the sick, and the halt, and the lame' do - Avery declared:
The only way I can [now, ******post-his, was it twelve years all up, of childhood 'brutalization'?] justify my [spared] life/existence is to make an animal that is fearless...and to do something extraordinary.
Sir Ray, take a well-earned bow, you've proven your own quality...especially on this public occasion. You've not only shown true resilience, you've proven the possibility of redeeming a past that had every likelihood of going the way so many others in such a situation invariably have...and moreover, could only have been expected to end up. But moreover for doing so with due panache and grace.
*In my paraphrased version, thereof, anyway!
**Avery even had Owen - oftentimes, as the riveting interview progressed, and while achieving the rare distinction of beating her at her own 'art' of rapid-fire, arguably spitfire-style 'hold no prisoners' speech - breaking out in unconscious, unrestrainable joy and ***smiles.
***Something Yours Truly should admittedly be cautious about emphasizing, seeing as I was mercilessly ribbed as a kid by family for not smiling (sufficiently, or at all) for our never-ending family photo pics; and even once - in my final (or penultimate) year at high school - similarly by a popular English teacher... or rather he embarrassed me in front of the entire class because I did so for the very first time apparently!
****No, not technically, but certainly in spirit.
*****Again, entirely my own words.
******As he discussed with Lisa Owen earlier in the interview, of his life growing up as an orphan/in an orphanage in (the then) Great Britain.
This morning (and Saturday, since Newshub Nation regularly is shown both days) New Zealanders were greeted to and with a rare spectacle indeed: for one thing, if of passing note only, the normally inquisitorial Lisa Owen becoming unusually relaxed (and even positively **beaming) as the interview went on; for another, and much more importantly, we saw a new version of the old truism of how 'power' and then 'absolute power' can ****'corrupt' one; in this case, despite the loss thereof, in other words the feeling that one has such status pretty well for a lifetime...and thus feels able to 'throw one's weight around' for the rest of one's days.
Suffice to say that Sir Ray Avery - while meticulously careful not to slag Helen Clark off in any way or fashion, and neither abusing her personally much less criticizing her considerable legacy in any way - nevertheless revealed just that (aforementioned point): i.e. that Ms Clark felt she had the perfect (as in God-given) right (as it were) to up the ante by going public (and semi-ballistic) - in Avery's own words, 'go[ing] to the top of the parapet'. Choosing that manner of response as opposed to simply making a regular written submission like everyone else - that is, privately like any other citizen, without any public fanfare or palava, much less evident sense of personal entitlement (sort of as the 'elder stateswoman of NZ Inc', or Ex-Senior Public Citizen #1).
No, that isn't - arguably wasn't ever - Helen Clark's personal style. No way, Jose. Indeed I am involuntarily reminded of an old pal...with whom a parting of the ways has long since occurred...who, like me a political junkie (and worse), once told me how he - long a big fan of Ms Clark, that much was patently obvious, loath as he was to admit as much ever since her deposing from power - reacted with near incredulity to an item that once appeared on the front page of the ODT (he always called the Odious Daily Slime). Although sadly my memory's a little challenged on this front now, Clark'd essentially given herself such tremendous airs and graces that her self-conceit and arrogance and pride evidently knew neither normal bound nor reasonable limit.
While everything about Sir Ray simply oozed endless integrity and sincerity and decency, and, yes, humility...when any of the aforementioned (traits ascribed to Ms Clark) would've been 'fair enough' for him to entertain - except that the truly great have no need, much less care for such shameless self-promotion. No indeed.
Before signing off, and after essentially affirming - in response to host Lisa Owen - that if a particular project doesn't have a social conscience, yes, it *****doesn't tick his boxes (and therefore doesn't excite him to get involved and throw his considerable support behind it) - whereas ones 'that support the sick, and the halt, and the lame' do - Avery declared:
The only way I can [now, ******post-his, was it twelve years all up, of childhood 'brutalization'?] justify my [spared] life/existence is to make an animal that is fearless...and to do something extraordinary.
Sir Ray, take a well-earned bow, you've proven your own quality...especially on this public occasion. You've not only shown true resilience, you've proven the possibility of redeeming a past that had every likelihood of going the way so many others in such a situation invariably have...and moreover, could only have been expected to end up. But moreover for doing so with due panache and grace.
*In my paraphrased version, thereof, anyway!
**Avery even had Owen - oftentimes, as the riveting interview progressed, and while achieving the rare distinction of beating her at her own 'art' of rapid-fire, arguably spitfire-style 'hold no prisoners' speech - breaking out in unconscious, unrestrainable joy and ***smiles.
***Something Yours Truly should admittedly be cautious about emphasizing, seeing as I was mercilessly ribbed as a kid by family for not smiling (sufficiently, or at all) for our never-ending family photo pics; and even once - in my final (or penultimate) year at high school - similarly by a popular English teacher... or rather he embarrassed me in front of the entire class because I did so for the very first time apparently!
****No, not technically, but certainly in spirit.
*****Again, entirely my own words.
******As he discussed with Lisa Owen earlier in the interview, of his life growing up as an orphan/in an orphanage in (the then) Great Britain.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Once to Every Man and Nation...Comes the Moment to Decide: As Independence Day Rolls Around Once Again, America - just like the post-Brexit United Kingdom - Stands at a Decisive Crossroads in its temporal and eternal Destiny: Everything Depends Upon the Outcome.
Part One: General introductory comments
Yes, *after sufficient shut-eye...I'll reveal all...pertaining to: President D J Trump (vis-a-vis North Korea, border refugees/illegal immigrants, the U S Supreme Court et al); the response of many Americans (to him and his presidency, aka mass protests and related activities of recent weeks); and one/two rather significant Supreme Court (would-be) decisions/judgments of late/the near future.
And as I intimated in no uncertain terms just a few short weeks ago, 'the Left' does not have all the best music, or in more understandable parlance, they are not necessarily the paragons of unassailable virtue the media (acolytes and influencers of) oftentimes paint them. No, not by a country mile... .
But that the United States of America is thus approaching a very real crisis, and arguably the greatest of its relatively brief existence, is without doubt, and rapidly hastening like a meteorite towards them. No kidding whatsoever - and make no mistake about it... .
Yes, our contemporary world is rapidly hurtling headlong toward, and into, the long-foretold 'crisis of the ages', about which 'the good book' has more to say than about almost anything else... .
And, sadly for the great, the vast majority, both there and globally, it'll take 'em totally by surprise... and moreover, completely unprepared...
*In days to come; sorry, folks, this'll be a few days later than first intended, but trust me, worth the wait.
Yes, *after sufficient shut-eye...I'll reveal all...pertaining to: President D J Trump (vis-a-vis North Korea, border refugees/illegal immigrants, the U S Supreme Court et al); the response of many Americans (to him and his presidency, aka mass protests and related activities of recent weeks); and one/two rather significant Supreme Court (would-be) decisions/judgments of late/the near future.
And as I intimated in no uncertain terms just a few short weeks ago, 'the Left' does not have all the best music, or in more understandable parlance, they are not necessarily the paragons of unassailable virtue the media (acolytes and influencers of) oftentimes paint them. No, not by a country mile... .
But that the United States of America is thus approaching a very real crisis, and arguably the greatest of its relatively brief existence, is without doubt, and rapidly hastening like a meteorite towards them. No kidding whatsoever - and make no mistake about it... .
Yes, our contemporary world is rapidly hurtling headlong toward, and into, the long-foretold 'crisis of the ages', about which 'the good book' has more to say than about almost anything else... .
And, sadly for the great, the vast majority, both there and globally, it'll take 'em totally by surprise... and moreover, completely unprepared...
*In days to come; sorry, folks, this'll be a few days later than first intended, but trust me, worth the wait.
Yes, Mr Peters is showing his quality as (Acting) Prime Minister...
Whether it's in his general statesmanlike approach to the media scrum - however much derided or held in contempt by some members of this exclusive fraternity (especially its broadcasting arm, and -surprise, surprise - TV3 in particular, apparently).
Whether it's in his simple unwillingness to 'pull finger' and resort to typical Muldoonesque-style bullying tactics of spitting the dummy by railing against imminent strikes by nurses (especially) and inciting popular antipathy towards them, on the contrary insisting that they do indeed have some legitimate grievances, which moreover were completely ignored by the last crowd (of politicians).
Or whether it's in his refreshing preparedness to stand up to the Aussies, or more accurately their current Government, which, following in the train of previous ones admittedly, caved in to populist dogma and prejudices against migrants and refugees one and all; at least defending a kiwi youth thereabouts.
Keep it up, Winston...we're right behind ya!
Whether it's in his simple unwillingness to 'pull finger' and resort to typical Muldoonesque-style bullying tactics of spitting the dummy by railing against imminent strikes by nurses (especially) and inciting popular antipathy towards them, on the contrary insisting that they do indeed have some legitimate grievances, which moreover were completely ignored by the last crowd (of politicians).
Or whether it's in his refreshing preparedness to stand up to the Aussies, or more accurately their current Government, which, following in the train of previous ones admittedly, caved in to populist dogma and prejudices against migrants and refugees one and all; at least defending a kiwi youth thereabouts.
Keep it up, Winston...we're right behind ya!
Yes, Let the Self-Obsessed, Self-Opinionated Media Elites...Just Occasionally give a little credit - Where(ver) Credit is Surely Due
Remaining - for just a millisecond, or several, longer - upon matters NZ Inc and political, how refreshing to see NZ First keeping a manifesto commitment (and/or implicit past election promise/undertaking), to wit the '3 Strikes and You're Out' legislation (passed early on during the last National Government's three-term tenure in office). Yes, good on ya's, folk, for standing up - if, like Custer, at the proverbial last minute - and being counted on the need and (deep, heartfelt) desire of ordinary, everyday (read: non-elitist) kiwis to retain said (Act NZ-sponsored) serious offenders' and offences' law indefinitely, at least for the forseeable... . Yes, you've shown your quality, sirs and ladies.
Admittedly, I've learnt over recent weeks how it was initially, originally, Winston's own pet project/proposal way back in the 1990s - though I've intuitively known such law has ever been part and parcel of NZ First's 'get tough' approach on crime (conforming so closely to their basic, long-term philosophy and principles). Granted, they were outside Parliament at the decisive time said law was put on the order paper and progressed through all its parliamentary stages at the outset of the Key Government, but let's just say it was passed into law with the moral (if not actual parliamentary) support of NZ First, being so much part and parcel of their basic approach to law and order as to be indistinguishable from much of their basic policy.
And of course, NZ First writhes in its sleep, no doubt, at any legislation progressed by its political arch-rivals, Act NZ, Winston Peters holding an inveterate antipathy to the party's essentially pro-neo liberal, Rogernomics' and Ruthanasian ideology - but at least he's been consistent therein for the past thirty some years, unlike some of his past Labour Party contemporaries. So all credit to him and his colleagues for - belatedly, if eventually - coming out publicly and declaring they were unable to support such a rollback of popular, Key Government legislation; thus putting on the record that NZ First's support cannot simply be taken for granted by the new Government, and especially its justice-reforming/crusading former leader, Justice Minister Andrew Little.
But credit too to Mr Little for seeing fit to launch a deep, wide-ranging review of how to deal with NZers' penchant for 'locking up and throwing away the key', as PM Peters put it during Parliament's Question Time the other week. Just continuing with things as the last Government had left them was not an option, was no acceptable solution to NZ Justice in the long-term. That is, simply building more and more prisons and locking up more and more lower-level offenders in *some mad scheme to follow in the steps of incarceration-mad America is no answer, as New Zealand's ever-burgeoning prison population makes increasingly only too apparent.
And it will not do, either, for the newfangled National Party and its justice spokespeople - Judith Collins and Mark Mitchell in particular - and even its deputy, Paula Bennett, in this particular instance - to seek to turn even Mr Little's well-intentioned goal of dealing to NZ's exploding imprisonment rate into an essential falsehood by appealing to entrenched and understandable popular fears; somehow - and quite erroneously - suggesting he (or more correctly his Government) intends releasing dangerous crims willy-nilly back into the community with neither proper plan nor procedure to reintegrate them successfully.
But I don't deny National perhaps does have some credibility in suggesting this new Government - or rather its Labour party rump (and especially its Green party component) - is indeed **congenitally soft on crime, such congenital wishy-washiness no doubt arising from the fact that so few politicians seem to ever have had any even indirect association with serious crimes and'/or criminals let alone the victims thereof; much less any direct personal experience thereof. Which was undoubtedly how the 'ole line about liberals being conservatives who haven't yet been mugged originally came about.
As one who experienced ***just such while on a three-year sojourn in the U S of A 25-some years ago, I can assure readers that it wakes one up to reality and can indeed have a quite a sobering effect upon any previously highly academic political theorizing. Indeed, can it what.
*/**My characterization (or paraphrases) of their respective thoughts as expressed in speeches, I grant; with some elaboration into my own characteristic thoughts and expressions.
***Admittedly, if such is possible, without the physical component of such (i.e. mugging). Though that undoubtedly sounds like an utter contradiction-in-terms, let's just say that I was ****accosted in a very physical (if un-'violent') fashion, which - all things being equal - could've well seen me forthwith assigned six feet under, I kid you not. Yes, entirely sufficient to quickly *****'............ the mind'.
****'To approach and address', according to my trusty Chambers Concise Dictionary, and 'to greet and approach, often offensively', in the words of my Heinemann New Zealand Dictionary. So you indeed 'learn something new every day', as they say, as this fellow did far worse, he grabbed me and held me firm by throwing his arms across my waist and gripping me firmly in his powerful 'embrace'. Before proceeding to lead me into an open alleyway and demanding I spill all my worldly monies out of my pockets or I'd be in some pretty deep doggy doo-doo, not to put too fine a point upon it.
*****Sorry, the appropriate term temporarily escapes my recollection.
Admittedly, I've learnt over recent weeks how it was initially, originally, Winston's own pet project/proposal way back in the 1990s - though I've intuitively known such law has ever been part and parcel of NZ First's 'get tough' approach on crime (conforming so closely to their basic, long-term philosophy and principles). Granted, they were outside Parliament at the decisive time said law was put on the order paper and progressed through all its parliamentary stages at the outset of the Key Government, but let's just say it was passed into law with the moral (if not actual parliamentary) support of NZ First, being so much part and parcel of their basic approach to law and order as to be indistinguishable from much of their basic policy.
And of course, NZ First writhes in its sleep, no doubt, at any legislation progressed by its political arch-rivals, Act NZ, Winston Peters holding an inveterate antipathy to the party's essentially pro-neo liberal, Rogernomics' and Ruthanasian ideology - but at least he's been consistent therein for the past thirty some years, unlike some of his past Labour Party contemporaries. So all credit to him and his colleagues for - belatedly, if eventually - coming out publicly and declaring they were unable to support such a rollback of popular, Key Government legislation; thus putting on the record that NZ First's support cannot simply be taken for granted by the new Government, and especially its justice-reforming/crusading former leader, Justice Minister Andrew Little.
But credit too to Mr Little for seeing fit to launch a deep, wide-ranging review of how to deal with NZers' penchant for 'locking up and throwing away the key', as PM Peters put it during Parliament's Question Time the other week. Just continuing with things as the last Government had left them was not an option, was no acceptable solution to NZ Justice in the long-term. That is, simply building more and more prisons and locking up more and more lower-level offenders in *some mad scheme to follow in the steps of incarceration-mad America is no answer, as New Zealand's ever-burgeoning prison population makes increasingly only too apparent.
And it will not do, either, for the newfangled National Party and its justice spokespeople - Judith Collins and Mark Mitchell in particular - and even its deputy, Paula Bennett, in this particular instance - to seek to turn even Mr Little's well-intentioned goal of dealing to NZ's exploding imprisonment rate into an essential falsehood by appealing to entrenched and understandable popular fears; somehow - and quite erroneously - suggesting he (or more correctly his Government) intends releasing dangerous crims willy-nilly back into the community with neither proper plan nor procedure to reintegrate them successfully.
But I don't deny National perhaps does have some credibility in suggesting this new Government - or rather its Labour party rump (and especially its Green party component) - is indeed **congenitally soft on crime, such congenital wishy-washiness no doubt arising from the fact that so few politicians seem to ever have had any even indirect association with serious crimes and'/or criminals let alone the victims thereof; much less any direct personal experience thereof. Which was undoubtedly how the 'ole line about liberals being conservatives who haven't yet been mugged originally came about.
As one who experienced ***just such while on a three-year sojourn in the U S of A 25-some years ago, I can assure readers that it wakes one up to reality and can indeed have a quite a sobering effect upon any previously highly academic political theorizing. Indeed, can it what.
*/**My characterization (or paraphrases) of their respective thoughts as expressed in speeches, I grant; with some elaboration into my own characteristic thoughts and expressions.
***Admittedly, if such is possible, without the physical component of such (i.e. mugging). Though that undoubtedly sounds like an utter contradiction-in-terms, let's just say that I was ****accosted in a very physical (if un-'violent') fashion, which - all things being equal - could've well seen me forthwith assigned six feet under, I kid you not. Yes, entirely sufficient to quickly *****'............ the mind'.
****'To approach and address', according to my trusty Chambers Concise Dictionary, and 'to greet and approach, often offensively', in the words of my Heinemann New Zealand Dictionary. So you indeed 'learn something new every day', as they say, as this fellow did far worse, he grabbed me and held me firm by throwing his arms across my waist and gripping me firmly in his powerful 'embrace'. Before proceeding to lead me into an open alleyway and demanding I spill all my worldly monies out of my pockets or I'd be in some pretty deep doggy doo-doo, not to put too fine a point upon it.
*****Sorry, the appropriate term temporarily escapes my recollection.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Cometh the hour, Cometh the man: the Right Honourable Winston Peters - New Zealand's Acting Prime Minister for the Forseeable (6 Weeks), A Real Statesman for our Time/s
Left in charge of New Zealand's ship of state whilst Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern takes maternity leave for her and partner Clark(e) Gayford's newborn - the entire six weeks, evidently, from *Midwinter's Day itself (i.e. the winter solstice, otherwise known as **'Matariki') - Winston Peters has undergone another twenty-year metamorphosis, stepping up to the political plate once more as the nation's 'man for the hour'. And did he start off on a high note or what!
Despite el usual media attempts to trip him up and serve him **** his own medicine, Peters acquitted himself well (superbly) at his first official news/press conference as NZ's Acting Prime Minister: with exquisite calm and composure ("Let's get things right from the outset, sonny/dearie, I've never suffered fools gladly") - with due gravitas and statesmanlike aplomb; as perfectly befit the occasion.
My gut/instinctive reaction to WP during the TV1/TV3[Newshub Nation] *****6 p.m. News Programme - on the evening of June 25th (following the public presentation and announcement of the naming of the nation's 'first baby' live on Sunday morning television the day before) - was more positive than ever; but substantially less so (to put it mildly) as far as his media would-be 'interrogators' were concerned.
Full of undue self-importance after her premature (and arguably, unwelcome) return from 'Brexiting' Britain - ******where her innate political biases against the same were only all too evident for all to see upon the United Kingdom's *******clear-cut decision to exit the European Union, the uppity and full-of-herself, newly-appointed Newshub Nation Political Editor Tove O'Brien(sp?) readily gave sheer, undisguised vent to her own highly partisan political prejudices as she sought to waylay PM Peters as he addressed the media and then proceeded to exit the scene.
O'Brien was quite literally beside herself (with an odd combination of barely-veiled umbrage and contempt alongside schadenfreude-like glee, at Mr Peters' utter gall for ignoring the popular zeitgeist of naming Ms Ardern's special occasion 'an historic(al) moment' worthy of thus being enshrined in New Zealand's collective psyche for now and for ever as such: no ifs, buts or maybes allowed (to borrow PM Peters' own characteristic turn-of-phrase).
Yes, Winston Peters' evident refusal to simply fall in line with media-sanctioned niceties of public decorum and thereby acclaim Ardern's situation a unique snapshot in time/the history - or rather, her-story - of NZ Inc, instantly rendered him offensive to public sensibilities - a public pariah as it were; a cultural barbarian, philistine if you will...totally oblivious evidently to what was the accepted thing in present-day Aotearoa.
In response to O'Brien's desperate search at all costs to somehow uncover some peg or angle to hang her rather 'out there' obvious as personal agenda, even vendetta to, to effectively label Peters a public outcast for simply refusing to deem and publicly declare 'on the record' the first on-the-job prime ministerial birth the best thing since sliced bread, Peters simply and calmly, ever so deftly, deflected all such pious pretence (admittedly worthy of a special guest appearance in 'the Importance of Being Earnest', let's give O'Brien all due 'credit') with his winning, characteristic, 'grinning from ear to ear', all-so-knowing smirk (for which he is so justly renowned).
A superb, no, a class act...though methinks any forthcoming media acknowledgement to that effect will be about as forthcoming as the imminent freezing over of hell...or the deathbed conversion of Adolf Hitler. Not very likely...ever.
*I.e. June the 21st, the day many kiwis indulge in the highly unseasonable annual 'polar plunge' (into a local ocean, lake or river). Interestingly, though I was hoping said 'Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford' might've been born just a tad earlier (upon my Mum's 84th or a sister's 57th), the P.M. not only christened her girl with a family name (of my own kith and kin), but paid tribute to said winter solstice ***as a basis for aspects of her naming.
Just as intriguingly to me, a half dozen years back (around the very same time of year, perhaps a few weeks on) when I began this and my other blogsite, I'd concluded - whether stated in my various, Dunedin weather-related posts at the time, or not - that one basically needs to count six weeks off from midwinter's day till we start to finally de-thaw from our annual winter's hibernation. As they say, things always get darker before the dawn, and there's invariably quite a time lag till the weather 'hollows out' or suchlike (though one might naturally assume that the shortest day is likewise the coldest; but not so...) .
And so PM Ardern looks set to resume official duties pretty much right on that stipulated schedule (legislated period of maternity leave), as her fellow kiwis lift up their heads and hearts and hopes in anticipation of brighter days to come; a fitting metaphor if ever there was one (i.e. for a leader resuming her duties on a positive note).
**Though I believe 'Matariki' - actually named after a constellation known as the 'Seven Sisters' in the Southern Hemisphere's night sky (according to Newstalk ZB evening host Marcus Lush the other night) - depicts the entire midwinter 'season' (rather than one specific day only).
***I'd volunteered (c/o a previous blogpost and Ardern's PA in the Beehive) that name 'Matariki' (though I'm sure it or something similar was frequently suggested, and obviously the actual day of birth would've made such a possible choice rather obvious anyhow).
****An allusion to the fact that Mr Peters has never been what one would call a 'media darling' (in terms of enjoying an acrimony-free relationship with the same, that is; not in terms of his at times
great popularity (as potential Prime Minister) - at least way back in the mid-later nineteen-eighties).
*****Including via Freeview Television's TV1/TV3 Plus (one hour on) channels.
******See for example numerous blogposts of my own at the time (upon both this and my other blogsite: http://nuffsaid:consideryourself-frombothsidesnow.blogspot.co.nz/ (or .com/), especially the one titled (I believe) 'the Morning After').
*******Whether mathematically or numerically, a 52:48 margin/ratio/percentage differential of the popular vote is not only determinative ('a miss being as good as a mile', and hence vica-versa) but moreover both significant (signifying 13 people supported the Brexit and 12 opposed it, in every 25 voters) and meaningful (in sheer numbers alone, I believe a million-and-a-half more people voted 'Yes' than 'No' in the referendum - surely not an inconsiderable figure in terms of numbers of voters).
And, though the generally anti-Brexit (non-tabloid and print media, admittedly) mainstream (broadcast) media tended to vehemently oppose leaving the European Union, if it hadn't been for the awful and completely unexpected cold-blooded murder of staunchly pro-Remain M.P. Jo Cox by a crazed neo-Nazi in the closing days of the referendum, the result might well have been - indeed every (opinion polling) indication was that it would have been - far more decisive in terms of leaving the EU; (some polls just prior to this absolutely unforeseen turn of events, which some (like myself) might well have conjectured was a last-ditch conspiracy attempt by Remainers to turn the tide the other way - which it actually largely succeeded in doing (if that was indeed the case) - were indeed then indicating a margin as wide, as huge as 55:45 for leaving the European Union - which lead suddenly vanished 'overnight' as it were.) However unless said hate-filled lunatic had been bribed or set up to do his dastardly deed, then any conspiracy theory appears to hold no water, admittedly.
Despite el usual media attempts to trip him up and serve him **** his own medicine, Peters acquitted himself well (superbly) at his first official news/press conference as NZ's Acting Prime Minister: with exquisite calm and composure ("Let's get things right from the outset, sonny/dearie, I've never suffered fools gladly") - with due gravitas and statesmanlike aplomb; as perfectly befit the occasion.
My gut/instinctive reaction to WP during the TV1/TV3[Newshub Nation] *****6 p.m. News Programme - on the evening of June 25th (following the public presentation and announcement of the naming of the nation's 'first baby' live on Sunday morning television the day before) - was more positive than ever; but substantially less so (to put it mildly) as far as his media would-be 'interrogators' were concerned.
Full of undue self-importance after her premature (and arguably, unwelcome) return from 'Brexiting' Britain - ******where her innate political biases against the same were only all too evident for all to see upon the United Kingdom's *******clear-cut decision to exit the European Union, the uppity and full-of-herself, newly-appointed Newshub Nation Political Editor Tove O'Brien(sp?) readily gave sheer, undisguised vent to her own highly partisan political prejudices as she sought to waylay PM Peters as he addressed the media and then proceeded to exit the scene.
O'Brien was quite literally beside herself (with an odd combination of barely-veiled umbrage and contempt alongside schadenfreude-like glee, at Mr Peters' utter gall for ignoring the popular zeitgeist of naming Ms Ardern's special occasion 'an historic(al) moment' worthy of thus being enshrined in New Zealand's collective psyche for now and for ever as such: no ifs, buts or maybes allowed (to borrow PM Peters' own characteristic turn-of-phrase).
Yes, Winston Peters' evident refusal to simply fall in line with media-sanctioned niceties of public decorum and thereby acclaim Ardern's situation a unique snapshot in time/the history - or rather, her-story - of NZ Inc, instantly rendered him offensive to public sensibilities - a public pariah as it were; a cultural barbarian, philistine if you will...totally oblivious evidently to what was the accepted thing in present-day Aotearoa.
In response to O'Brien's desperate search at all costs to somehow uncover some peg or angle to hang her rather 'out there' obvious as personal agenda, even vendetta to, to effectively label Peters a public outcast for simply refusing to deem and publicly declare 'on the record' the first on-the-job prime ministerial birth the best thing since sliced bread, Peters simply and calmly, ever so deftly, deflected all such pious pretence (admittedly worthy of a special guest appearance in 'the Importance of Being Earnest', let's give O'Brien all due 'credit') with his winning, characteristic, 'grinning from ear to ear', all-so-knowing smirk (for which he is so justly renowned).
A superb, no, a class act...though methinks any forthcoming media acknowledgement to that effect will be about as forthcoming as the imminent freezing over of hell...or the deathbed conversion of Adolf Hitler. Not very likely...ever.
*I.e. June the 21st, the day many kiwis indulge in the highly unseasonable annual 'polar plunge' (into a local ocean, lake or river). Interestingly, though I was hoping said 'Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford' might've been born just a tad earlier (upon my Mum's 84th or a sister's 57th), the P.M. not only christened her girl with a family name (of my own kith and kin), but paid tribute to said winter solstice ***as a basis for aspects of her naming.
Just as intriguingly to me, a half dozen years back (around the very same time of year, perhaps a few weeks on) when I began this and my other blogsite, I'd concluded - whether stated in my various, Dunedin weather-related posts at the time, or not - that one basically needs to count six weeks off from midwinter's day till we start to finally de-thaw from our annual winter's hibernation. As they say, things always get darker before the dawn, and there's invariably quite a time lag till the weather 'hollows out' or suchlike (though one might naturally assume that the shortest day is likewise the coldest; but not so...) .
And so PM Ardern looks set to resume official duties pretty much right on that stipulated schedule (legislated period of maternity leave), as her fellow kiwis lift up their heads and hearts and hopes in anticipation of brighter days to come; a fitting metaphor if ever there was one (i.e. for a leader resuming her duties on a positive note).
**Though I believe 'Matariki' - actually named after a constellation known as the 'Seven Sisters' in the Southern Hemisphere's night sky (according to Newstalk ZB evening host Marcus Lush the other night) - depicts the entire midwinter 'season' (rather than one specific day only).
***I'd volunteered (c/o a previous blogpost and Ardern's PA in the Beehive) that name 'Matariki' (though I'm sure it or something similar was frequently suggested, and obviously the actual day of birth would've made such a possible choice rather obvious anyhow).
****An allusion to the fact that Mr Peters has never been what one would call a 'media darling' (in terms of enjoying an acrimony-free relationship with the same, that is; not in terms of his at times
great popularity (as potential Prime Minister) - at least way back in the mid-later nineteen-eighties).
*****Including via Freeview Television's TV1/TV3 Plus (one hour on) channels.
******See for example numerous blogposts of my own at the time (upon both this and my other blogsite: http://nuffsaid:consideryourself-frombothsidesnow.blogspot.co.nz/ (or .com/), especially the one titled (I believe) 'the Morning After').
*******Whether mathematically or numerically, a 52:48 margin/ratio/percentage differential of the popular vote is not only determinative ('a miss being as good as a mile', and hence vica-versa) but moreover both significant (signifying 13 people supported the Brexit and 12 opposed it, in every 25 voters) and meaningful (in sheer numbers alone, I believe a million-and-a-half more people voted 'Yes' than 'No' in the referendum - surely not an inconsiderable figure in terms of numbers of voters).
And, though the generally anti-Brexit (non-tabloid and print media, admittedly) mainstream (broadcast) media tended to vehemently oppose leaving the European Union, if it hadn't been for the awful and completely unexpected cold-blooded murder of staunchly pro-Remain M.P. Jo Cox by a crazed neo-Nazi in the closing days of the referendum, the result might well have been - indeed every (opinion polling) indication was that it would have been - far more decisive in terms of leaving the EU; (some polls just prior to this absolutely unforeseen turn of events, which some (like myself) might well have conjectured was a last-ditch conspiracy attempt by Remainers to turn the tide the other way - which it actually largely succeeded in doing (if that was indeed the case) - were indeed then indicating a margin as wide, as huge as 55:45 for leaving the European Union - which lead suddenly vanished 'overnight' as it were.) However unless said hate-filled lunatic had been bribed or set up to do his dastardly deed, then any conspiracy theory appears to hold no water, admittedly.
Friday, June 22, 2018
Let's get these (long-promised) comments up upon the board...
Time now having well passed me by, before my various aforementioned editorial-ets become hopelessly outdated, let me - as succinctly as I know how - in this my 202th blogpost upon http://davidedwinisms.blogsite.co.nz/ (or .com/), provide a *'rundown' of what I've been promising:
*Sticking with New Zealand (for starters):
With all due greetings to the nation's 'first baby/girl/child', may I suggest a date-appropriate name: Matariki...and it's advantages were - till the kid's gender was known - that it's non-gender-specific.
Anyhow, may the nation's 'first couple' enjoy their first six weeks 'on the job' as full-time parents!
Re: the default decision to give the heave-ho to the Stand Children's Services Roxburgh children's village (or whatever it's hifalutin' name actually is): a great disappointment to all involved/concerned - primarily the kids themselves...but clearly not at all unexpected at this stage. And at least the relevant (Children's) Minister, Tracey Martin, has used the occasion (in her speech the other day) to set out a whole new philosophical approach by the Government to the placement of kids in other homes, let alone such state-run institutions per se...choosing, in a complete about-face from the approach adopted for literal decades by governments of all sorts and stripes, to work with existing families and whanau to help such children in their own, original homes.
Good luck, is all I can say, and certainly on talkback there's been a lot of support of - and some strident opposition to, let's be honest - such a new approach. But that doesn't deal with those kids already in such state-run care, surely? They can hardly be drop-kicked back into the homes from which they were rescued in weeks, months, years and decades past, can they...in all realism?
So I'd like to make a personal appeal, as I indeed suggested to Clutha Mayor Brian Cadogan via his PA the other day, that local/national benefactors/philanthropists be approached...and asked to help. As used to happen in the pre-welfare state days of the likes of America's underrated, unlucky (pre-Depression-era) President Herbert Hoover, someone who deeply and passionately and even philosophically believed in local communities 'helping their own', thus obviating the need for central, federal 'big government' involvement in its default-setting stead... And whose name was as a result 'immortalized' throughout Europe post-WW1 and post-WW11 for giving disinterested, benevolent aid to orphans and war refugees in their teeming millions...
Yes, the old-fashioned idea of 'helping (in Jesus' words, loving) your neighbour' would not go amiss!
*Or at least the first (ongoing) instalment thereof, as my hands are 'killing me' (utterly freezing in this most unprecedented of cold, awful, relentless as winters)...and needing some precious Vitamin D, as I seek to recover from a mild, if inexorably persisting cold, I'd better get warmed up (and meanwhile, out into some much welcome and almost forgotten sunshine). But following instalments will most assuredly come, in due course, I guarantee...
*Sticking with New Zealand (for starters):
With all due greetings to the nation's 'first baby/girl/child', may I suggest a date-appropriate name: Matariki...and it's advantages were - till the kid's gender was known - that it's non-gender-specific.
Anyhow, may the nation's 'first couple' enjoy their first six weeks 'on the job' as full-time parents!
Re: the default decision to give the heave-ho to the Stand Children's Services Roxburgh children's village (or whatever it's hifalutin' name actually is): a great disappointment to all involved/concerned - primarily the kids themselves...but clearly not at all unexpected at this stage. And at least the relevant (Children's) Minister, Tracey Martin, has used the occasion (in her speech the other day) to set out a whole new philosophical approach by the Government to the placement of kids in other homes, let alone such state-run institutions per se...choosing, in a complete about-face from the approach adopted for literal decades by governments of all sorts and stripes, to work with existing families and whanau to help such children in their own, original homes.
Good luck, is all I can say, and certainly on talkback there's been a lot of support of - and some strident opposition to, let's be honest - such a new approach. But that doesn't deal with those kids already in such state-run care, surely? They can hardly be drop-kicked back into the homes from which they were rescued in weeks, months, years and decades past, can they...in all realism?
So I'd like to make a personal appeal, as I indeed suggested to Clutha Mayor Brian Cadogan via his PA the other day, that local/national benefactors/philanthropists be approached...and asked to help. As used to happen in the pre-welfare state days of the likes of America's underrated, unlucky (pre-Depression-era) President Herbert Hoover, someone who deeply and passionately and even philosophically believed in local communities 'helping their own', thus obviating the need for central, federal 'big government' involvement in its default-setting stead... And whose name was as a result 'immortalized' throughout Europe post-WW1 and post-WW11 for giving disinterested, benevolent aid to orphans and war refugees in their teeming millions...
Yes, the old-fashioned idea of 'helping (in Jesus' words, loving) your neighbour' would not go amiss!
*Or at least the first (ongoing) instalment thereof, as my hands are 'killing me' (utterly freezing in this most unprecedented of cold, awful, relentless as winters)...and needing some precious Vitamin D, as I seek to recover from a mild, if inexorably persisting cold, I'd better get warmed up (and meanwhile, out into some much welcome and almost forgotten sunshine). But following instalments will most assuredly come, in due course, I guarantee...
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Wary of Justifiably Now Being Labelled a False Prophet...The Following is a (Necessarily-Succinct) Representation of What I Promised last Sunday
Also well aware that this blogpost contains a veritable mishmash of geo-political 'bits 'n bobs', and that not all of these show the ideological right-of-centre in (what I claimed a week ago as) a favourable light, I'd contend anyhow that they do nevertheless show and depict that side of Western societal affairs, and moreover some of their various spokespeople and representatives (whether obviously so or chosen as simply symbolic thereof) in a far more nuanced and complex manner than the mainstream media would ever care to. And consequently I'd suggest is worthy of portrayal.
The first three of these relate to 'local' (as in kiwi/New Zealand) issues and matters, the latter three to world (especially American-related) affairs. The subjects traversed will include 'law and order' (in regards to police profiling and politically-motivated convictions, as well as 'getting tough on crime'); a fourth to being tried and convicted/found guilty in the court of public opinion; a fifth to the il/legality of upholding one's religious convictions as opposed to ensuring the constitutional rights of one and all; with one - totally unrelated - 'postlet'(as in mini-blogpost, how's that for a 'david-edwinism?) pertaining to the big global news event of the past week; (any guesses, folks?)
Part One: Re God's Own Boys (and Gals) in Blue
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush: No, the Cops Ain't Altogether A Bad Bunch
So let's begin. First up, all power and plaudits to (I believe his correct title is) Police Commissioner (of Aotearoa-New Zealand), Mike Bush, a position normally, traditionally held/dominated by someone of not only 'right-wing' (at least moral) sensibilities, but arguably status quo-upholding instincts - as in culturally reactionary and loathe to grant even honest-hearted radicals and dissenters a dignified place at the table of public discourse.
So what a refreshing contrast - with some of his well-known predecessors, whether of the/his own Police Association or the Police Union - shown by Mr Bush of recent days upon one minorly-reported, and another much more majorly-covered matter of national interest. But breaking news (just now: Newshub Nation 6 p.m. News Show) also reports a secret meeting of late in which Commissioner Bush has guaranteed still-grieving Pike River families of the NZ Police's intention/ determination to do all in their power/s to facilitate re-entry into that trouble-fraught mine. So is the 'new look' Bush-led New Zealand Police on somewhat of a roll? Hey, you be the judge.
'First' (or rather second) up, then, is Mike Bush, as NZPA Head, the other day (Friday the 8th of June or thereabouts, on one (i.e. TV1 or TV3) of the 6 p.m. TV News Programmes), not only generously (if simply) acknowledging the concerns that had been recently expressed by new Greens co-leader Marama Davidson - vis-a-vis the police profiling of certain suspected offenders - but moreover openly conceding she'd raised some very pertinent, highly valid points thereabouts. Which in itself is quite a concession for any police chief to make, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere.
Secondly (or thirdly) we heard this past week of all police charges against *inveterate conspiracy theorist Nicky Hager being summarily dispatched. Though I've admittedly yet to appraise myself of all the ins and outs of this, out-of-left-field decision, I have heard criticisms from both 'left' and 'right' thereabouts: from (latterly) those who simply hate Hager's guts because they consider him an unregenerate and incorrigible radical and conspiracy theorist (and certainly he is both), and (formerly) from those who (at the other end of the political spectrum) hate the police and law enforcement agencies with a ferocity which would not be appeased if all they were all forthwith closed, disbanded and dealt to by certain aggrieved citizenry.
Reassuring many if not most of us that the police have thus gotten matters 'about right', so often the case when decisions are subjected to el typical and predictable relentless criticism from the usual suspects; that is, whatever the actual decision might happen to be in any particular instance.
Whatever, the basic gist of what the cops have done here is something to behold, so rare (if hardly unreasonable) is such a public apology and/or concession by the boys and girls in blue.
So I'll concede here that my own impeccable credentials as a ****self-styled false prophet may well seem to have been confirmed in this multi-layered blogpost, as it's hardly a tribute to 'the Right' in any capacity (in God's Own), much more clearly to the Left's newfound success with our law and order folk. But personally I see it all in rather different terms altogether, and more as - poignant - examples of where 'the Establishment' has moved into the modern era; not that they're trying to curry public favour and sympathies by getting in step with current, politically-correct public sensibilities and the like, but rather that they've been prepared to see and acknowledge the error of their ways...and that in itself is a great step forward. Oh yes, it most assuredly is, make no mistake!
*But please don't get me wrong, I heartily endorse not only **/***all the work I've thus far seen of Hager, but moreover his very right to pursue such sadly all too rare investigative journalism in this our day of sentimental tabloid-style sensationalism. And in terms of the man himself, whether 'in person' (while once attending one of his talks in the Dunedin City's Education College Auditorium) or c/o an in-depth interview on the radio, he shines out in an unmistakable manner as a beacon of light and truth, a pillar of integrity and honesty, amidst a field strewn with hacks, political partisans and operatives and other assorted media darling cronies who both in New Zealand and worldwide/ Westernwide have given modern media such an awful rap and general, well-earned infamy.
**I.e. balanced reportage of Hager's various - mainly pre-election - books, for I've regrettably failed to read any of them yet myself. I know off-hand the names of two, Corngate and The Hollow Men.
***In saying all of that, insofar as Hager et al really see no value in/need for nations such as 'lil 'ole New Zealand even possessing their own security intelligence operation - properly conducted and lawfully undertaken, that is - let us be perfectly clear: on this critical point he and his fellow, 'eternal' radicals may be ever so well-intentioned, but frankly they are idealistic to a fault and moreover hopelessly out of touch with present-day international realities. In case you also have been living under a rock in recent times, we're faced these days not only with cyber-terrorism/war on every hand (in addition to the 'real' variety) but we live in the backwash of 2001 and 2012; and thus the 'likes' of not only Sissii International but their African fellow-travellers such as Les Kebabs and Marah Ocob. Quite apart from seemingly innumerable, never-ending threats of all kinds from all sorts of places.
****But of course I don't really believe myself to be false in any way, let alone in such contexts as these, I simply say this to concede that I don't and have never claimed to be a model of perfection myself. No, only One is Such, and last I heard (and understood) He shares that Unique Status with no-one, although I've also 'heard' that He's more than willing to do so on a free gift basis...
The first three of these relate to 'local' (as in kiwi/New Zealand) issues and matters, the latter three to world (especially American-related) affairs. The subjects traversed will include 'law and order' (in regards to police profiling and politically-motivated convictions, as well as 'getting tough on crime'); a fourth to being tried and convicted/found guilty in the court of public opinion; a fifth to the il/legality of upholding one's religious convictions as opposed to ensuring the constitutional rights of one and all; with one - totally unrelated - 'postlet'(as in mini-blogpost, how's that for a 'david-edwinism?) pertaining to the big global news event of the past week; (any guesses, folks?)
Part One: Re God's Own Boys (and Gals) in Blue
New Zealand Police Commissioner Mike Bush: No, the Cops Ain't Altogether A Bad Bunch
So let's begin. First up, all power and plaudits to (I believe his correct title is) Police Commissioner (of Aotearoa-New Zealand), Mike Bush, a position normally, traditionally held/dominated by someone of not only 'right-wing' (at least moral) sensibilities, but arguably status quo-upholding instincts - as in culturally reactionary and loathe to grant even honest-hearted radicals and dissenters a dignified place at the table of public discourse.
So what a refreshing contrast - with some of his well-known predecessors, whether of the/his own Police Association or the Police Union - shown by Mr Bush of recent days upon one minorly-reported, and another much more majorly-covered matter of national interest. But breaking news (just now: Newshub Nation 6 p.m. News Show) also reports a secret meeting of late in which Commissioner Bush has guaranteed still-grieving Pike River families of the NZ Police's intention/ determination to do all in their power/s to facilitate re-entry into that trouble-fraught mine. So is the 'new look' Bush-led New Zealand Police on somewhat of a roll? Hey, you be the judge.
'First' (or rather second) up, then, is Mike Bush, as NZPA Head, the other day (Friday the 8th of June or thereabouts, on one (i.e. TV1 or TV3) of the 6 p.m. TV News Programmes), not only generously (if simply) acknowledging the concerns that had been recently expressed by new Greens co-leader Marama Davidson - vis-a-vis the police profiling of certain suspected offenders - but moreover openly conceding she'd raised some very pertinent, highly valid points thereabouts. Which in itself is quite a concession for any police chief to make, whether in New Zealand or elsewhere.
Secondly (or thirdly) we heard this past week of all police charges against *inveterate conspiracy theorist Nicky Hager being summarily dispatched. Though I've admittedly yet to appraise myself of all the ins and outs of this, out-of-left-field decision, I have heard criticisms from both 'left' and 'right' thereabouts: from (latterly) those who simply hate Hager's guts because they consider him an unregenerate and incorrigible radical and conspiracy theorist (and certainly he is both), and (formerly) from those who (at the other end of the political spectrum) hate the police and law enforcement agencies with a ferocity which would not be appeased if all they were all forthwith closed, disbanded and dealt to by certain aggrieved citizenry.
Reassuring many if not most of us that the police have thus gotten matters 'about right', so often the case when decisions are subjected to el typical and predictable relentless criticism from the usual suspects; that is, whatever the actual decision might happen to be in any particular instance.
Whatever, the basic gist of what the cops have done here is something to behold, so rare (if hardly unreasonable) is such a public apology and/or concession by the boys and girls in blue.
So I'll concede here that my own impeccable credentials as a ****self-styled false prophet may well seem to have been confirmed in this multi-layered blogpost, as it's hardly a tribute to 'the Right' in any capacity (in God's Own), much more clearly to the Left's newfound success with our law and order folk. But personally I see it all in rather different terms altogether, and more as - poignant - examples of where 'the Establishment' has moved into the modern era; not that they're trying to curry public favour and sympathies by getting in step with current, politically-correct public sensibilities and the like, but rather that they've been prepared to see and acknowledge the error of their ways...and that in itself is a great step forward. Oh yes, it most assuredly is, make no mistake!
*But please don't get me wrong, I heartily endorse not only **/***all the work I've thus far seen of Hager, but moreover his very right to pursue such sadly all too rare investigative journalism in this our day of sentimental tabloid-style sensationalism. And in terms of the man himself, whether 'in person' (while once attending one of his talks in the Dunedin City's Education College Auditorium) or c/o an in-depth interview on the radio, he shines out in an unmistakable manner as a beacon of light and truth, a pillar of integrity and honesty, amidst a field strewn with hacks, political partisans and operatives and other assorted media darling cronies who both in New Zealand and worldwide/ Westernwide have given modern media such an awful rap and general, well-earned infamy.
**I.e. balanced reportage of Hager's various - mainly pre-election - books, for I've regrettably failed to read any of them yet myself. I know off-hand the names of two, Corngate and The Hollow Men.
***In saying all of that, insofar as Hager et al really see no value in/need for nations such as 'lil 'ole New Zealand even possessing their own security intelligence operation - properly conducted and lawfully undertaken, that is - let us be perfectly clear: on this critical point he and his fellow, 'eternal' radicals may be ever so well-intentioned, but frankly they are idealistic to a fault and moreover hopelessly out of touch with present-day international realities. In case you also have been living under a rock in recent times, we're faced these days not only with cyber-terrorism/war on every hand (in addition to the 'real' variety) but we live in the backwash of 2001 and 2012; and thus the 'likes' of not only Sissii International but their African fellow-travellers such as Les Kebabs and Marah Ocob. Quite apart from seemingly innumerable, never-ending threats of all kinds from all sorts of places.
****But of course I don't really believe myself to be false in any way, let alone in such contexts as these, I simply say this to concede that I don't and have never claimed to be a model of perfection myself. No, only One is Such, and last I heard (and understood) He shares that Unique Status with no-one, although I've also 'heard' that He's more than willing to do so on a free gift basis...
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Certainly Crowned Champion by his Superlative Attitude alone: Nick Willis, Apparently Ultimately Denied the 1,500 metre Beijing Olympics' Gold despite his two 'superiors' both now being implicated as drug/doping cheats, proves by his superior spirit he really won that top spot in not just the technical sense
It seems that New Zealand's contemporary running star, the frequently-selected 1500-metre Commonwealth Games' and Olympics' competitor Nick Willis, is to be ultimately denied the much-coveted prize he has now been shown to evidently and eminently deserve. Apparently through officialdom's inertia and/or the bane of technical re-evaluation deadlines and the like. Too bad.
Nevertheless, though his two Beijing 'superiors', *both the original winner, Rashid Ramzi, and after Ramzi's disqualification in 2009 for failing a drug test, the then-'winner' Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, (who over a month ago **now failed his own 'off-competition' doping test), have now been shown to have - ***in all likelihood - been invalidated as gold and silver winners of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it would appear that technical niceties and such like now render any re-assignment of those original placements to be, as Willis himself reflected over a month ago himself, a mere 'moot point'.
More's the pity. For if Willis had indeed been given a paper 'bump-up' with hindsight's wonderful benefit, he'd have joined some illustrious company, and become only the ****fourth kiwi 1500-metre gold medal winner/champion; quite some achievement indeed.
But that's if the assigning of external glories really means all that much in the long run, and apparently, from Willis's extremely gracious standpoint, that seems much less of an issue to him. Such is made abundantly clear in a piece by the online NZ Herald Sports Editor (or Reporter) Andrew Alderson on May 3rd. It's a report in which Nick Willis shines forth in all his attitudinal glory unlike so many other contemporary would-be/'wannabe' sportstars, showing that there still remain a few such athletes in our modern era who are actuated neither by 'filthy lucre' or fame; but who compete for the sheer joy and challenge of the competition, and who race more against themselves and their own previous personal bests than so much against their various rivals as such.
Yes, Alderson's article is well worth a read, and shows how Nick Willis' exemplary attitude is such a refreshing and unexpected contrast to that of so many of his erstwhile competitors overseas and athletes in general from across the globe of recent years and decades. And Willis' top quality outlook is shown no less in his extreme unwillingness to jump to conclusions and gratuitously bag his last remaining Beijing rival, Kiprop, choosing to believe the best of him, but simultaneously likewise expressing a deep desire to see such antics - which he believes have sadly though justifiably dragged the once-great name of athletics through the mud - exposed, censored, dealt with and ultimately eliminated from the sport.
Yes, Nick, in my book anyhow you've been crowned king of Beijing's 1500 metre final in absentia...and however unrecognized (like Yours Truly in my mid-twenties, in a sense) by Officialdom Incorporated.
*Though I cannot seem to get the precise info thereabouts (online today), it would appear, in Kiprop's case also, to at best be an extremely problematic award. (Both Kiprop and Willis were respectively re-assigned from silver to gold, and bronze to silver winners, after Ramzi's 2009 disqualification.)
**Though how this (apparent) recent test (failure) relates to or should result in a re-examination of Kiprop's success a good ten years ago now is anyone's guess.
***At best, in Kiprop's case anyway (as mentioned above), an extremely problematic (unchallenged Olympics') placement.
****Perhaps I'm missing something somewhere, but I'd have assigned him as the fifth such winner, seeing as (see for example my most recent blogpost) the just-deceased Dick Quax *****himself scooped up a number of 1500 metre wins (or maybe these weren't wins, only well-placed seconds and third etcetera) as five (half-plus) of his (overall) nine successful race placements in his (essentially) seventies-era prime. 'After' and alongside such kiwi running greats/legends evidently as Sir John Walker, Sir Peter Snell and Jack Lovelock.
*****Yes, my memory must be a little tackier than I'd supposed - or at least in regard to the fact (after just re-checking my Dick Quax 'in memoriam' blogpost of the other day) that Quax's own highlights were not in the 1500 metres at all (as I'd recalled - or was that Rod Dixon, rather?), but in the 5000 metres, though Quax did get a silver at the 1,500 metre once.
Nevertheless, though his two Beijing 'superiors', *both the original winner, Rashid Ramzi, and after Ramzi's disqualification in 2009 for failing a drug test, the then-'winner' Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, (who over a month ago **now failed his own 'off-competition' doping test), have now been shown to have - ***in all likelihood - been invalidated as gold and silver winners of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it would appear that technical niceties and such like now render any re-assignment of those original placements to be, as Willis himself reflected over a month ago himself, a mere 'moot point'.
More's the pity. For if Willis had indeed been given a paper 'bump-up' with hindsight's wonderful benefit, he'd have joined some illustrious company, and become only the ****fourth kiwi 1500-metre gold medal winner/champion; quite some achievement indeed.
But that's if the assigning of external glories really means all that much in the long run, and apparently, from Willis's extremely gracious standpoint, that seems much less of an issue to him. Such is made abundantly clear in a piece by the online NZ Herald Sports Editor (or Reporter) Andrew Alderson on May 3rd. It's a report in which Nick Willis shines forth in all his attitudinal glory unlike so many other contemporary would-be/'wannabe' sportstars, showing that there still remain a few such athletes in our modern era who are actuated neither by 'filthy lucre' or fame; but who compete for the sheer joy and challenge of the competition, and who race more against themselves and their own previous personal bests than so much against their various rivals as such.
Yes, Alderson's article is well worth a read, and shows how Nick Willis' exemplary attitude is such a refreshing and unexpected contrast to that of so many of his erstwhile competitors overseas and athletes in general from across the globe of recent years and decades. And Willis' top quality outlook is shown no less in his extreme unwillingness to jump to conclusions and gratuitously bag his last remaining Beijing rival, Kiprop, choosing to believe the best of him, but simultaneously likewise expressing a deep desire to see such antics - which he believes have sadly though justifiably dragged the once-great name of athletics through the mud - exposed, censored, dealt with and ultimately eliminated from the sport.
Yes, Nick, in my book anyhow you've been crowned king of Beijing's 1500 metre final in absentia...and however unrecognized (like Yours Truly in my mid-twenties, in a sense) by Officialdom Incorporated.
*Though I cannot seem to get the precise info thereabouts (online today), it would appear, in Kiprop's case also, to at best be an extremely problematic award. (Both Kiprop and Willis were respectively re-assigned from silver to gold, and bronze to silver winners, after Ramzi's 2009 disqualification.)
**Though how this (apparent) recent test (failure) relates to or should result in a re-examination of Kiprop's success a good ten years ago now is anyone's guess.
***At best, in Kiprop's case anyway (as mentioned above), an extremely problematic (unchallenged Olympics') placement.
****Perhaps I'm missing something somewhere, but I'd have assigned him as the fifth such winner, seeing as (see for example my most recent blogpost) the just-deceased Dick Quax *****himself scooped up a number of 1500 metre wins (or maybe these weren't wins, only well-placed seconds and third etcetera) as five (half-plus) of his (overall) nine successful race placements in his (essentially) seventies-era prime. 'After' and alongside such kiwi running greats/legends evidently as Sir John Walker, Sir Peter Snell and Jack Lovelock.
*****Yes, my memory must be a little tackier than I'd supposed - or at least in regard to the fact (after just re-checking my Dick Quax 'in memoriam' blogpost of the other day) that Quax's own highlights were not in the 1500 metres at all (as I'd recalled - or was that Rod Dixon, rather?), but in the 5000 metres, though Quax did get a silver at the 1,500 metre once.
Monday, June 11, 2018
A Week With A Difference: One Where the 'Right'/more accurately Political-Moral Conservatism - Globally - has well and truly, unlike el usual situation, possessed the moral high ground/supremacy
Coming (relatively succinct) blogposts will thus encompass American/global and New Zealand/Aussie political (and societal) developments, especially as these relate to both so-called 'moral issues' and those pertaining to law and order. Yes, and insofar as anyone has achieved victory or possessed the moral 'high ground' therein, I'd have to give it to those 'on the [so-called] right'...for in these particular contexts they've won hands down in my view...in unqualified fashion - this past week, anyhow.
Hold onto your seats, folks, I'll fill in all the details tomorrow: hasta manana!
Necessary caveat: No, my essential political views haven't really changed, though I still - as ever - remain a moral conservative (as opposed to what media and the ignoramus commentariat these days gratuitously slag off as 'right-wingers' - knowing neither the real meaning of said term, much less its abhorrent offensiveness (to anyone with any real sense of personal dignity let alone historical political perspective)). Although in this context it's not so much that I now embrace views on the centre-right or even (supposed) 'far right' of politics, it's rather that those (relevant individuals, whether political actors or otherwise) cited in my various blogposts-to-be maintain a commonsensical (despite at times unorthodox), useful and effective approach to said issues.
And moreover 'cut to the chase' of what really matters (in their particular contexts). As opposed to the highly overrated ability to have all their Ps and Qs lined up proper with all their i's appropriately dotted and t's crossed. So, no, all the current, oh so fashionable social media-endorsed political correctnesses are entirely bypassed - thank God!
Hold onto your seats, folks, I'll fill in all the details tomorrow: hasta manana!
Necessary caveat: No, my essential political views haven't really changed, though I still - as ever - remain a moral conservative (as opposed to what media and the ignoramus commentariat these days gratuitously slag off as 'right-wingers' - knowing neither the real meaning of said term, much less its abhorrent offensiveness (to anyone with any real sense of personal dignity let alone historical political perspective)). Although in this context it's not so much that I now embrace views on the centre-right or even (supposed) 'far right' of politics, it's rather that those (relevant individuals, whether political actors or otherwise) cited in my various blogposts-to-be maintain a commonsensical (despite at times unorthodox), useful and effective approach to said issues.
And moreover 'cut to the chase' of what really matters (in their particular contexts). As opposed to the highly overrated ability to have all their Ps and Qs lined up proper with all their i's appropriately dotted and t's crossed. So, no, all the current, oh so fashionable social media-endorsed political correctnesses are entirely bypassed - thank God!
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Another Good 'Un Bites the Dust: New Zealand's Quixotic Dick Quax Exits the Earthly Stage
"The days of our lives are
seventy years...
...[their boast] is soon cut off, and we
fly away."
So declares a stanza in Psalm 90, 'A Prayer of Moses the man of God'.
And so it proved in the shortened life of New Zealand athletics 'icon' Dick Quax, a runner associated with my earliest recollections of growing up in this land we once called 'God's Own'. He made the final stretch of the last lap...to complete his own 'appointed'/allotted lifespan of 'threescore and ten' - if only just making it over that seemingly arbitrary line (before dying last week). But make it he did.
Dick Quax's running achievements were many and varied, and truly legend...indeed to my surprise 'the half had never been told' me - or I'd simply never bothered to check things out; whichever.
From 1969 through 1980 (or thereabouts) I've worked out - c/o the ever-ready assistance of Wikipedia - that Dick Quax 'scored' significantly in nine out of ten major competitions entered. Five of these nine/ten were in the 5,000 metres, in which he managed three New Zealand records, one world record, and one Olympics silver medal; he achieved a New Zealand first in the one mile; another Olympics silver medal in the 1,500 metres; a New Zealand record in the 15 km marathon; and a New Zealand record time in the Nike OTC Marathon (distance unspecified) in Eugene, Oregon.
Quax forms an unforgettable part of my middle childhood years, alongside his contemporary running 'legends', Rod Dixon and the fabled John Walker. The three are all 'conflated' in my mind, inextricably associated with such memorable happenings as the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games and the 1976 Montreal Olympics, 'TV events' we sat glued to as we cheered on our own 'greats', among whom Walker, Dixon and Quax were right up there - with the best.
Competing in their respective races to the finish, chiefly against the African greats (such as Tanzanian Filbert Bayi), themselves oftentimes haling from that renowned strip of Kenyan rural real estate which nurtured so many of the continent's athletic champions, they gave sporting success a whole new meaning, inspiring many of us including Yours Truly... .
And though my own achievements were somewhat modest, I did tear off into the lead during my first or second year at intermediate (at the tender age of eleven or twelve), ultimately arriving 21st or 22nd at the finish line (amidst a pack of a couple hundred of us, prizes going only to the first twenty). And later - at around double that age, 24/25 years - I finally succeeded (at an annual church camp at Pascoe's Park in my birth-town, Christchurch) and won the 4km race...though as I ever remind Pastor Paul Gredig whenever I happen to bump into him again, I'm still oh so patiently awaiting my certificate for first place... .
Though having little time nor truck for Quax's later politics - as an ardent Act NZ local body politician in Auckland - I understand he was ever regarded as a man of principle who actually stood for something, perhaps a rarer thing in modern-day politics of whatever realm or geographical locality than many might imagine. Yes, the word integrity readily springs to mind, however much one at times might happen to disagree with the specifics of his particular politics.
It's sad to me that Dick Quax evidently held such implicit faith in orthodox medicine, as the chemotherapy and radiation treatment he was eventually subjected to as he closed his days, not only no doubt dealt to his inoperable cancer (of whatever sort), but in the process finished him off as well. (Something he did acknowledge as he ended his days, which seemingly he'd resigned himself to anyhow.) Yes, when the supposed 'cure' is as lethal as the disease, is it any wonder that so many are so readily turning to unconventional treatments such as Vitamin C therapy and the like? After all, survival is all that ultimately matters, and whatever successfully effects this is worth a go, surely?
But his final admonition is worth repeating, however often: the 'desperately ill DQ wanted to warn fellow kiwis: "Get your health checked!" ' Something Yours Truly, outside the conventional health system now for a few years, needs to ever bear in mind, especially since a major change in a certain regular feature of my otherwise excellent health profile, after a major personal crisis which escalated from awful to absolutely dreadful just under three weeks ago. Yes, 'twould appear Quax's appeal has much personal resonance indeed!
I cannot conclude with anything more meaningful than reflecting back upon the words of the memorable theme song of that aforementioned '74 Commonwealth Games, admittedly a 'meet' that Quax himself achieved no success at (whether he was actually there or otherwise; I'm a little unsure.)
As Steve Allen declared - to my piano accompaniment in years gone by (as I successfully rendered the sheet music into something reasonably tuneful - if I do say so myself):
We've got to...jo-in to-gether, let our laugh-ter fill the air...
it's time for every race and creed...to throw away their every care...
let sport un-ite us all as one...in the Spirit of the Lord a-bove...
And let us all re-mem-ber...the Games are for the fos-tering of peace and love...
Once in ev-ery fo-ur years, the Commonweath be-comes
a un-it to which ev-ery-one from anywhere belongs
They gath-er in the place that's named,
This time it's in Christ-church,
And get-ting it on to-geth-er,
Playing sport with a fee-ling that should sur-round the earth
Here in our own cou-n-try...the Games will now be held
And peo-ple black and white will come from all parts of the wor-ld
For the time that they are here, we'll get to know them well...
And hope that in the fu-ture, our rel-at-ion-ships...will tell...
We've got to - join together, let our laughter fill the air
it's time for every race and creed to throw away their every care
let sport unite us all as one in the spirit of the Lord above
And let us all re-mem-ber, the Games are for the fos-ter-ing of peace and love
Thank you, Dick, for yourself wearing that spirit well...throughout your shortened life...whether on the field or off the field...you indeed 'played [your] sport' with a feeling that should surround the world...and contributed in your own small way to helping unite us all as one...people/humanity...
seventy years...
...[their boast] is soon cut off, and we
fly away."
So declares a stanza in Psalm 90, 'A Prayer of Moses the man of God'.
And so it proved in the shortened life of New Zealand athletics 'icon' Dick Quax, a runner associated with my earliest recollections of growing up in this land we once called 'God's Own'. He made the final stretch of the last lap...to complete his own 'appointed'/allotted lifespan of 'threescore and ten' - if only just making it over that seemingly arbitrary line (before dying last week). But make it he did.
Dick Quax's running achievements were many and varied, and truly legend...indeed to my surprise 'the half had never been told' me - or I'd simply never bothered to check things out; whichever.
From 1969 through 1980 (or thereabouts) I've worked out - c/o the ever-ready assistance of Wikipedia - that Dick Quax 'scored' significantly in nine out of ten major competitions entered. Five of these nine/ten were in the 5,000 metres, in which he managed three New Zealand records, one world record, and one Olympics silver medal; he achieved a New Zealand first in the one mile; another Olympics silver medal in the 1,500 metres; a New Zealand record in the 15 km marathon; and a New Zealand record time in the Nike OTC Marathon (distance unspecified) in Eugene, Oregon.
Quax forms an unforgettable part of my middle childhood years, alongside his contemporary running 'legends', Rod Dixon and the fabled John Walker. The three are all 'conflated' in my mind, inextricably associated with such memorable happenings as the 1974 Christchurch Commonwealth Games and the 1976 Montreal Olympics, 'TV events' we sat glued to as we cheered on our own 'greats', among whom Walker, Dixon and Quax were right up there - with the best.
Competing in their respective races to the finish, chiefly against the African greats (such as Tanzanian Filbert Bayi), themselves oftentimes haling from that renowned strip of Kenyan rural real estate which nurtured so many of the continent's athletic champions, they gave sporting success a whole new meaning, inspiring many of us including Yours Truly... .
And though my own achievements were somewhat modest, I did tear off into the lead during my first or second year at intermediate (at the tender age of eleven or twelve), ultimately arriving 21st or 22nd at the finish line (amidst a pack of a couple hundred of us, prizes going only to the first twenty). And later - at around double that age, 24/25 years - I finally succeeded (at an annual church camp at Pascoe's Park in my birth-town, Christchurch) and won the 4km race...though as I ever remind Pastor Paul Gredig whenever I happen to bump into him again, I'm still oh so patiently awaiting my certificate for first place... .
Though having little time nor truck for Quax's later politics - as an ardent Act NZ local body politician in Auckland - I understand he was ever regarded as a man of principle who actually stood for something, perhaps a rarer thing in modern-day politics of whatever realm or geographical locality than many might imagine. Yes, the word integrity readily springs to mind, however much one at times might happen to disagree with the specifics of his particular politics.
It's sad to me that Dick Quax evidently held such implicit faith in orthodox medicine, as the chemotherapy and radiation treatment he was eventually subjected to as he closed his days, not only no doubt dealt to his inoperable cancer (of whatever sort), but in the process finished him off as well. (Something he did acknowledge as he ended his days, which seemingly he'd resigned himself to anyhow.) Yes, when the supposed 'cure' is as lethal as the disease, is it any wonder that so many are so readily turning to unconventional treatments such as Vitamin C therapy and the like? After all, survival is all that ultimately matters, and whatever successfully effects this is worth a go, surely?
But his final admonition is worth repeating, however often: the 'desperately ill DQ wanted to warn fellow kiwis: "Get your health checked!" ' Something Yours Truly, outside the conventional health system now for a few years, needs to ever bear in mind, especially since a major change in a certain regular feature of my otherwise excellent health profile, after a major personal crisis which escalated from awful to absolutely dreadful just under three weeks ago. Yes, 'twould appear Quax's appeal has much personal resonance indeed!
I cannot conclude with anything more meaningful than reflecting back upon the words of the memorable theme song of that aforementioned '74 Commonwealth Games, admittedly a 'meet' that Quax himself achieved no success at (whether he was actually there or otherwise; I'm a little unsure.)
As Steve Allen declared - to my piano accompaniment in years gone by (as I successfully rendered the sheet music into something reasonably tuneful - if I do say so myself):
We've got to...jo-in to-gether, let our laugh-ter fill the air...
it's time for every race and creed...to throw away their every care...
let sport un-ite us all as one...in the Spirit of the Lord a-bove...
And let us all re-mem-ber...the Games are for the fos-tering of peace and love...
Once in ev-ery fo-ur years, the Commonweath be-comes
a un-it to which ev-ery-one from anywhere belongs
They gath-er in the place that's named,
This time it's in Christ-church,
And get-ting it on to-geth-er,
Playing sport with a fee-ling that should sur-round the earth
Here in our own cou-n-try...the Games will now be held
And peo-ple black and white will come from all parts of the wor-ld
For the time that they are here, we'll get to know them well...
And hope that in the fu-ture, our rel-at-ion-ships...will tell...
We've got to - join together, let our laughter fill the air
it's time for every race and creed to throw away their every care
let sport unite us all as one in the spirit of the Lord above
And let us all re-mem-ber, the Games are for the fos-ter-ing of peace and love
Thank you, Dick, for yourself wearing that spirit well...throughout your shortened life...whether on the field or off the field...you indeed 'played [your] sport' with a feeling that should surround the world...and contributed in your own small way to helping unite us all as one...people/humanity...
Thursday, May 31, 2018
A Depressingly Dumbed-Down Generation: Bookless and Simply Clueless (in the USA and even God's Own)
So revealed the affable Hillary Barry - alongside her simply incomparable sidekick - upon tonight's 'Seven Sharp', as they showed anecdotal interviews done with both Americans and kiwis, the latter apparently all within 100 metres or so of the Birkenhead (Community) Library. Hard to say which was more plain-as-daylight evident - staggering - simply awful: the respondents' ability to recall *even just one book they'd ever read, or their clear as the proverbial mud utter cluelessness - in the case of many of them (of either younger or older generations, but especially the former, and **surprisingly more so among the female participants) - the majority evidently hardly even aware of what a book actually was.
One particularly stunningly bright gal even gave the interviewer an odd, quizzical, double-take look, conjecturing as to whether a magazine constituted a book...!!!
"Good God" - which I say with all due reverence, addressing the Almighty with the dignity He (and only He) ever deserves: "help us all!"
*In the American sample only one in four could recall the title of a book they'd - ever! - read, though truth be told, I'd doubt those Aucklanders sampled here - and in what's a well-to-do, affluent as suburb to boot - statistically outdid the yanks.
**In view of the anecdotal observation (of many, through the years) that - at least in New Zealand - women (at least of a previous generation) tend to read books an awful lot more than do men.
One particularly stunningly bright gal even gave the interviewer an odd, quizzical, double-take look, conjecturing as to whether a magazine constituted a book...!!!
"Good God" - which I say with all due reverence, addressing the Almighty with the dignity He (and only He) ever deserves: "help us all!"
*In the American sample only one in four could recall the title of a book they'd - ever! - read, though truth be told, I'd doubt those Aucklanders sampled here - and in what's a well-to-do, affluent as suburb to boot - statistically outdid the yanks.
**In view of the anecdotal observation (of many, through the years) that - at least in New Zealand - women (at least of a previous generation) tend to read books an awful lot more than do men.
Bill English, Now Another Former (National Party) Member of Parliament (Clutha-Southland): Bowing Out With Old-Fashioned Civility, Good Humour and Grace
'They say' one learns more about 'our' politicians from their opening (maiden) and closing (valedictory) addresses in Parliament's debating chamber than the rest of the time they spend up in Wellington 'on our behalf'. Whether that is true in every instance is of course highly debatable, and doubtless oftentimes wholly untrue, but in the case of William *Simon English, perhaps more true than for most. Anyhow, he completed his 29-year - and precisely 10,000 day - stay in New Zealand's unhallowed corridors of political power with what can only be termed, and is widely acknowledged as being, a great valedictory: one which I consider displayed real panache and aplomb - stylistic flair, to be sure, but even more some real, nitty-gritty, and moreover meaningful and memorable substance.
But first, may I make a couple disclaimers: and yes, admittedly this has been written somewhat 'after the event', and even - today - is being completed on the very day, and just as I hear for the first time that Mr English will now be referred to as a Sir. Be that (latter fact) as it well may - and it matters not one iota to this commentator, anyhow, it's hardly a sign of real sainthood simply to have been acknowledged, in however high-falutin' a fashion, as a knight, a dame, a lady or a sir (in the annual Queens Honour's List or in the New Years Honours). Either in New Zealand or anywhere else.
And moreover, and more pertinently by far, though long a contemporary of the political fortunes of **Bill English, of his rise and rise and rise - and then fall - and then rise and rise and rise, and again, eventual and final fall, I have very mixed views about the politician let alone the policies he espoused and pursued and the principles he arguably stood for - or oftentimes compromised, depending upon one's viewpoint. For the record, I tended to think well of him...except for four things in particular.
These were and are, as follows. Firstly, his sudden about-face upon his fundamental moral/religious principles on becoming Prime Minister, to wit the issue of homosexual marriage: vociferously and persuasively opposing such and maintaining it would insidiously serve to undermine the age-old institution of marriage (if my memory serves me aright), then recently declaring that the sky hadn't fallen in as he'd expected and so it really hadn't been such a big deal after all.
Secondly, his unwillingness - as leader of the entire nation - to be willing to subject his own (Roman Catholic) communion, let alone state institutions throughout the land, to the sort of proper sexual/psychological abuse inquiry that has been so effective and successful in Australia especially, and thus stand up for the victims of this scourge upon society and individual 'souls'.
Thirdly and fourthly, his rather shady, vague and more pertinently, highly questionable and problematic involvement in what's become known as the 'Todd Barclay Affair'; and - from both my recollection and moreover, the confirmation of then-contemporary newspapers - his continual denial of a pending challenge to his then leader, now 'Dame' Jenny Shipley, until of course he expeditiously mounted just such an extremely effective coup d'etat.
But be all that preceding guff as it very well may...and taking away not an iota from any or all of it: English made a number of very notable and memorable and moreover highly commendable and useful, important points in his valedictory speech which not only deserve a mention, they warrant placing upon the record for years, even decades to come - if our present world has that long, which is extremely unlikely. But nevertheless... .
Anyhow, let me cite a number of these (in bullet-point fashion, as seems most convenient) and then comment upon (some of) them, as the case may be. Firstly, let me simply quote (parts of) some of his best one-liners, the standouts among them anyway, for due reflection and consideration.
*"Everybody can teach you something" - the pauper as well as the prince "has something useful to tell you", so "listen to everybody": it's "an excellent way to get/arrive at the best product/decisions."
*"Jack's as good as his master." So "give everybody a fair go", "Treat everyone with respect and kindness."
*"Stay grounded in the real world" (rather than putting on airs and graces).
*"[The] integrity of the individual person" "matters much more than petty (bureaucratic) processes". "[We] need to be sensitive to the plight of suffering, institutionally-used and -abused individuals."
*"Just throwing money at everyone (and everything) is extremely unwise", since money-showering/spraying was ***"no substitute for well-targeted/focused/directed help". It was "(far) better to back people to make the changes they need to make (in their own lives)."
And head and shoulders above all his other insightful, admittedly simple but simply profound observations upon New Zealand's (and doubtless the Western World's) political scene was this one: "the dangerous complacency of good intentions." What others have called 'do-gooderism', and still others 'God-bothering'.
Opposing the establishing of yet another royal commission, this time upon the need for proper 'social investment' in citizens in welfare dependency, this much-praised, increasing focus of the National Government has been seen as English's own baby. Though he cited it in another breath entirely, National's ongoing liaison with the Maori Party over Whanau Ora (from early days) was a case in point: it had been "an excellent programme" which "exemplified these very (local, grass-roots) values/principles" of helping the individual on a case-by-case basis (as opposed to simply showering them with money).
Bill English also heaped praise upon (former Maori Party co-leader) Tariana Turia for her involvement in this and other such innovations, "giving credit where credit is due"; likewise recalling his own hands-on engagement with the 'iwi group' and its intense discussions, the profound lessons he learnt from these, and their singular effectiveness and successful outcome, citing them as being the highlight of his own tenure in Parliament.
Recollecting some memorable personal examples, and without engaging in self-pity, English yet stoically reflected upon the innate unfairness of the politician's lot - "Yes, people blame politicians for anything and everything" - and how being heartily bashed about by the brother of one successfully-enrolled Olympic/Commonwealth athlete taught English some extremely valuable lessons in personal composure under very stressful, difficult circumstances when fortitude was required.
On a similarly personal level - but vis-a-vis his political colleagues - English lavished high praise on his erstwhile leader. John Key, (who indeed was unquestionably one of, if not in fact New Zealand's all-time most popular politician/s/leader/s), had 'relentless optimism' ("in dealing with everyone, every day, on every detail of every issue".
Even more generous was his singling out of Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee. "In a wonderful testimony to his sterling character", "displaying the sense of selflessness required" in his handling of the Christchurch recovery, GB "never once mentioned his own (family's) personal circumstances", which BE "years later discovered had been dire".
Bill English exemplified (and enunciated in his valedictory) an old-fashioned individual-centred (as opposed to individualistic) ethic, political purposes formed and fashioned by his Roman Catholic convictions ("which often coincided with those of the National Party"). And which were based upon mutual respect (between citizens and their government), and humility and teachability on the part of politicians. Yes, he well understood, from personal experience, the serious limits of big government.
Yes, good 'ole-fashioned kiwi values which no-one would argue with, based upon giving everyone 'a fair go'. A pity then that those various governments of which English was an integral part rarely seemed to practice these oh-so-worthy virtues and values.
For me, Bill English's own star never shone out brighter than when he - around 2010-2012 or so - decried and earnestly inveighed against the 'moral failure' of simply building ever more prisons; rightly understanding that that in itself represented an utter failure of our society. Though truth be told his own Government kept on building ever more and bigger ones.
In conclusion, Sir Bill (William Simon) English in his justly-celebrated final address to Parliament
espoused and advocated some, indeed many, just, praiseworthy and significant goals, aims and aspirations, ideals and values - let there be no mistake. Ones which deserve commendation and note - from anyone who happened to say or promote them, in fact.
And who would dare to second-guess him or even argue that it''s easy to sound all high and mighty as you prepare to exit the scene without really achieving said aims and objectives, or at most only getting the actual debate underway? Or that he only really ever managed to get a few of those well-intentioned ideas up-and-running or posted upon the political dartboard of actual accomplishments?
Well admittedly, some verily might, but that's for another day (of the historians' assessments and all). But it is somewhat more problematic for one's legacy if it is argued - and in Mr English's case it can easily be - that the policies he and the various long-serving Governments of which he himself constituted a not inconsiderable or powerful part actually often completely contradicted such aims and objectives, even at times effectively nullifying them; whether that be by deliberate design or simply unfortunate (by-product) consequence.
And nowhere more glaring can that, those innate contradictions between the earnest politician's wistful reflections and the actual, on-the-ground realities...of what actually transpired under his (and his party's) long leadership of this nation...be seen, that in the widespread de-institutionalization of New Zealand's mental health facilities from the time of the fourth Labour Government on into the nineties when English's own party was ruling the nation's roost.
Yes, there was indeed "massive disruption" to peoples' lives, great dislocation and all the rest. The pertinent question, however, for Mr English was and will remain: did his, the Bolger (and then Shipley) Governments reverse any of these awful changes?
Yes, the question is rhetorical, and the answer is unequivocal, and reflects poorly upon English et al. Hardly! Not on your nelly!
No, the gulf between the very best of intentions, that Mr, I mean, Sir Bill English, himself bemoans and decries and the actual, on-the-ground realities that in fact played out while he and his mates manned and womaned the ship of state is a not inconsiderable one, and indeed cannot feasibly be bridged...except maybe by political spin-doctoring and the like. Because unavoidably words like inconsistent, self-contradictory and even hypocritical spring readily to mind, and cannot easily be refuted. And I've only cited one particular glaring instance in this case.
However, since none of us either can really know or indeed has any right to sit in judgment upon another's true motives or intentions, I'll conclude by giving Bill English the benefit of the doubt and let his own final, self-chosen 'epitaph' be his 'final word' here. After quoting a poignant line from a favourite James K Baxter poem, English mentioned how his brother ****Connor informed him 'the other day' that he'd be leaving Parliament exactly 10,000 days to the day he'd first been elected.
Footnoting Baxter's inimitable words - These unshaped isles...won't fit/fix the chisel of the mind - English signed off with deep feeling, barely holding back the tears, by saying that he believed and was satisfied (in his own mind) that every day (he'd been in Parliament) he'd turned up to take his turn up/on the chisel...
In conclusion, it sadly seems to me that Bill English himself contradicted the very things, values and principles he so ably and often articulated, advocated and championed - aka the suddenly-acceptable Marriage Amendment Act, his inexplicable refusal to countenance a commission of inquiry into state and private/religious et al institutional abuse, his disingenuousness re mounting a challenge to his former leader - one of the worst-kept secrets in modern NZ politics - or his questionable, unethical involvement in the Todd Barclay Affair, or, for that matter, in apparently 'rorting the system' (in terms of rental subsidies allowed for politicians) for his own (family's) financial benefit.
While none of that makes him the worst politician of all time - by a very long shot or stretch of the imagination - unfortunately it does tarnish his 'high-integrity' political brand, in my view anyway, and somewhat irretrievably. However, in championing a series of 'old-fashioned' political values when they were increasingly going out of fashion, in maintaining a level of personal decency and civility and simple good manners at all times in his political discourse and interactions with other politicians and the public-at-large whether inside or outside the chambers of Parliament, and in sticking it out and keeping on keeping on however his oft-waxing, oft-waning political fortunes were fluctuating, after just under thirty years in the high pressure cooker that is modern Western and kiwi political life Bill English can hold his head high that he seemingly survived with his *****personal integrity intact.
*A name he shares with two of National's most outstanding MPs of my lifetime: former Minister of the Environment/MSD & all sorts, plus later ambassador to France, Simon Upton; and former Minister of Finance and one-time wannabe (and highly likely) National Party leader (& future PM) Simon Power.
**Curiously, he (former National Party Deputy Leader) and John Key, thrice elected Prime Minister in landslide proportions (in terms of MMP, anyhow), respectively shared the exact ages of two of my older siblings, one of whom I'd still maintain shared a remarkable facial resemblance to Mr Key; or is that now also Sir John Key? Whatever.
***English even claimed the use of the word 'customer' in the WINZ system of Government-beneficiary relationships was a personal triumph of his; that it was intended to put it upon the basis of treating the welfare recipient with more respect and due deference and the like, rather than as
merely another faceless statistic. I must sadly inform - and can verily assure - Mr/Sir Bill English et al that in practice it's done, if anything, the very opposite; if he'll excuse the unintended 'pun' - of all his 'good intentions'.
****A former Federated Farmers Chairman (occasionally on Q&A and/or The Nation) whose face I noted having once encountered (the resemblance to Bill being uncanny) as I recalled having passed him outside NZ Post as I ensured I was on the Electoral Roll in the run-up to General Election 2002.
*****In his own mind anyway, though I well realize that the rental fiasco and the Barclay Affair have inevitably left at least a cloud of doubt and/or uncertainty over even that (in both my own and the eyes of many of the public, no doubt). But I at least am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt (in both instances, however outwardly troubling), as neither seem to fit his public persona.
Though of course it has well been said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and none of us are immune to the subtle eroding effects of that inescapable aspect and reality of human nature. But for my part I believe a few have managed to do just that historically, to wit the biblical heroes and heroines Joseph and Daniel, each Prime Minister of the world-ruling heathen empires of their respective day/s, and Mordecai and Esther who also served as high official and even Queen in a similar context of a non-Jewish world-ruling empire.
So it can be done. And in our day and age such notable personages as Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, even Barry Goldwater and Margaret Thatcher spring to mind. Sure, they might occasionally have infuriated the hell out of some, but true integrity is something else altogether, and cannot be so easily judged and determined, as some 'on the tip of my tongue' quote from Shakespeare would itself only corroborate...
But first, may I make a couple disclaimers: and yes, admittedly this has been written somewhat 'after the event', and even - today - is being completed on the very day, and just as I hear for the first time that Mr English will now be referred to as a Sir. Be that (latter fact) as it well may - and it matters not one iota to this commentator, anyhow, it's hardly a sign of real sainthood simply to have been acknowledged, in however high-falutin' a fashion, as a knight, a dame, a lady or a sir (in the annual Queens Honour's List or in the New Years Honours). Either in New Zealand or anywhere else.
And moreover, and more pertinently by far, though long a contemporary of the political fortunes of **Bill English, of his rise and rise and rise - and then fall - and then rise and rise and rise, and again, eventual and final fall, I have very mixed views about the politician let alone the policies he espoused and pursued and the principles he arguably stood for - or oftentimes compromised, depending upon one's viewpoint. For the record, I tended to think well of him...except for four things in particular.
These were and are, as follows. Firstly, his sudden about-face upon his fundamental moral/religious principles on becoming Prime Minister, to wit the issue of homosexual marriage: vociferously and persuasively opposing such and maintaining it would insidiously serve to undermine the age-old institution of marriage (if my memory serves me aright), then recently declaring that the sky hadn't fallen in as he'd expected and so it really hadn't been such a big deal after all.
Secondly, his unwillingness - as leader of the entire nation - to be willing to subject his own (Roman Catholic) communion, let alone state institutions throughout the land, to the sort of proper sexual/psychological abuse inquiry that has been so effective and successful in Australia especially, and thus stand up for the victims of this scourge upon society and individual 'souls'.
Thirdly and fourthly, his rather shady, vague and more pertinently, highly questionable and problematic involvement in what's become known as the 'Todd Barclay Affair'; and - from both my recollection and moreover, the confirmation of then-contemporary newspapers - his continual denial of a pending challenge to his then leader, now 'Dame' Jenny Shipley, until of course he expeditiously mounted just such an extremely effective coup d'etat.
But be all that preceding guff as it very well may...and taking away not an iota from any or all of it: English made a number of very notable and memorable and moreover highly commendable and useful, important points in his valedictory speech which not only deserve a mention, they warrant placing upon the record for years, even decades to come - if our present world has that long, which is extremely unlikely. But nevertheless... .
Anyhow, let me cite a number of these (in bullet-point fashion, as seems most convenient) and then comment upon (some of) them, as the case may be. Firstly, let me simply quote (parts of) some of his best one-liners, the standouts among them anyway, for due reflection and consideration.
*"Everybody can teach you something" - the pauper as well as the prince "has something useful to tell you", so "listen to everybody": it's "an excellent way to get/arrive at the best product/decisions."
*"Jack's as good as his master." So "give everybody a fair go", "Treat everyone with respect and kindness."
*"Stay grounded in the real world" (rather than putting on airs and graces).
*"[The] integrity of the individual person" "matters much more than petty (bureaucratic) processes". "[We] need to be sensitive to the plight of suffering, institutionally-used and -abused individuals."
*"Just throwing money at everyone (and everything) is extremely unwise", since money-showering/spraying was ***"no substitute for well-targeted/focused/directed help". It was "(far) better to back people to make the changes they need to make (in their own lives)."
And head and shoulders above all his other insightful, admittedly simple but simply profound observations upon New Zealand's (and doubtless the Western World's) political scene was this one: "the dangerous complacency of good intentions." What others have called 'do-gooderism', and still others 'God-bothering'.
Opposing the establishing of yet another royal commission, this time upon the need for proper 'social investment' in citizens in welfare dependency, this much-praised, increasing focus of the National Government has been seen as English's own baby. Though he cited it in another breath entirely, National's ongoing liaison with the Maori Party over Whanau Ora (from early days) was a case in point: it had been "an excellent programme" which "exemplified these very (local, grass-roots) values/principles" of helping the individual on a case-by-case basis (as opposed to simply showering them with money).
Bill English also heaped praise upon (former Maori Party co-leader) Tariana Turia for her involvement in this and other such innovations, "giving credit where credit is due"; likewise recalling his own hands-on engagement with the 'iwi group' and its intense discussions, the profound lessons he learnt from these, and their singular effectiveness and successful outcome, citing them as being the highlight of his own tenure in Parliament.
Recollecting some memorable personal examples, and without engaging in self-pity, English yet stoically reflected upon the innate unfairness of the politician's lot - "Yes, people blame politicians for anything and everything" - and how being heartily bashed about by the brother of one successfully-enrolled Olympic/Commonwealth athlete taught English some extremely valuable lessons in personal composure under very stressful, difficult circumstances when fortitude was required.
On a similarly personal level - but vis-a-vis his political colleagues - English lavished high praise on his erstwhile leader. John Key, (who indeed was unquestionably one of, if not in fact New Zealand's all-time most popular politician/s/leader/s), had 'relentless optimism' ("in dealing with everyone, every day, on every detail of every issue".
Even more generous was his singling out of Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee. "In a wonderful testimony to his sterling character", "displaying the sense of selflessness required" in his handling of the Christchurch recovery, GB "never once mentioned his own (family's) personal circumstances", which BE "years later discovered had been dire".
Bill English exemplified (and enunciated in his valedictory) an old-fashioned individual-centred (as opposed to individualistic) ethic, political purposes formed and fashioned by his Roman Catholic convictions ("which often coincided with those of the National Party"). And which were based upon mutual respect (between citizens and their government), and humility and teachability on the part of politicians. Yes, he well understood, from personal experience, the serious limits of big government.
Yes, good 'ole-fashioned kiwi values which no-one would argue with, based upon giving everyone 'a fair go'. A pity then that those various governments of which English was an integral part rarely seemed to practice these oh-so-worthy virtues and values.
For me, Bill English's own star never shone out brighter than when he - around 2010-2012 or so - decried and earnestly inveighed against the 'moral failure' of simply building ever more prisons; rightly understanding that that in itself represented an utter failure of our society. Though truth be told his own Government kept on building ever more and bigger ones.
In conclusion, Sir Bill (William Simon) English in his justly-celebrated final address to Parliament
espoused and advocated some, indeed many, just, praiseworthy and significant goals, aims and aspirations, ideals and values - let there be no mistake. Ones which deserve commendation and note - from anyone who happened to say or promote them, in fact.
And who would dare to second-guess him or even argue that it''s easy to sound all high and mighty as you prepare to exit the scene without really achieving said aims and objectives, or at most only getting the actual debate underway? Or that he only really ever managed to get a few of those well-intentioned ideas up-and-running or posted upon the political dartboard of actual accomplishments?
Well admittedly, some verily might, but that's for another day (of the historians' assessments and all). But it is somewhat more problematic for one's legacy if it is argued - and in Mr English's case it can easily be - that the policies he and the various long-serving Governments of which he himself constituted a not inconsiderable or powerful part actually often completely contradicted such aims and objectives, even at times effectively nullifying them; whether that be by deliberate design or simply unfortunate (by-product) consequence.
And nowhere more glaring can that, those innate contradictions between the earnest politician's wistful reflections and the actual, on-the-ground realities...of what actually transpired under his (and his party's) long leadership of this nation...be seen, that in the widespread de-institutionalization of New Zealand's mental health facilities from the time of the fourth Labour Government on into the nineties when English's own party was ruling the nation's roost.
Yes, there was indeed "massive disruption" to peoples' lives, great dislocation and all the rest. The pertinent question, however, for Mr English was and will remain: did his, the Bolger (and then Shipley) Governments reverse any of these awful changes?
Yes, the question is rhetorical, and the answer is unequivocal, and reflects poorly upon English et al. Hardly! Not on your nelly!
No, the gulf between the very best of intentions, that Mr, I mean, Sir Bill English, himself bemoans and decries and the actual, on-the-ground realities that in fact played out while he and his mates manned and womaned the ship of state is a not inconsiderable one, and indeed cannot feasibly be bridged...except maybe by political spin-doctoring and the like. Because unavoidably words like inconsistent, self-contradictory and even hypocritical spring readily to mind, and cannot easily be refuted. And I've only cited one particular glaring instance in this case.
However, since none of us either can really know or indeed has any right to sit in judgment upon another's true motives or intentions, I'll conclude by giving Bill English the benefit of the doubt and let his own final, self-chosen 'epitaph' be his 'final word' here. After quoting a poignant line from a favourite James K Baxter poem, English mentioned how his brother ****Connor informed him 'the other day' that he'd be leaving Parliament exactly 10,000 days to the day he'd first been elected.
Footnoting Baxter's inimitable words - These unshaped isles...won't fit/fix the chisel of the mind - English signed off with deep feeling, barely holding back the tears, by saying that he believed and was satisfied (in his own mind) that every day (he'd been in Parliament) he'd turned up to take his turn up/on the chisel...
In conclusion, it sadly seems to me that Bill English himself contradicted the very things, values and principles he so ably and often articulated, advocated and championed - aka the suddenly-acceptable Marriage Amendment Act, his inexplicable refusal to countenance a commission of inquiry into state and private/religious et al institutional abuse, his disingenuousness re mounting a challenge to his former leader - one of the worst-kept secrets in modern NZ politics - or his questionable, unethical involvement in the Todd Barclay Affair, or, for that matter, in apparently 'rorting the system' (in terms of rental subsidies allowed for politicians) for his own (family's) financial benefit.
While none of that makes him the worst politician of all time - by a very long shot or stretch of the imagination - unfortunately it does tarnish his 'high-integrity' political brand, in my view anyway, and somewhat irretrievably. However, in championing a series of 'old-fashioned' political values when they were increasingly going out of fashion, in maintaining a level of personal decency and civility and simple good manners at all times in his political discourse and interactions with other politicians and the public-at-large whether inside or outside the chambers of Parliament, and in sticking it out and keeping on keeping on however his oft-waxing, oft-waning political fortunes were fluctuating, after just under thirty years in the high pressure cooker that is modern Western and kiwi political life Bill English can hold his head high that he seemingly survived with his *****personal integrity intact.
*A name he shares with two of National's most outstanding MPs of my lifetime: former Minister of the Environment/MSD & all sorts, plus later ambassador to France, Simon Upton; and former Minister of Finance and one-time wannabe (and highly likely) National Party leader (& future PM) Simon Power.
**Curiously, he (former National Party Deputy Leader) and John Key, thrice elected Prime Minister in landslide proportions (in terms of MMP, anyhow), respectively shared the exact ages of two of my older siblings, one of whom I'd still maintain shared a remarkable facial resemblance to Mr Key; or is that now also Sir John Key? Whatever.
***English even claimed the use of the word 'customer' in the WINZ system of Government-beneficiary relationships was a personal triumph of his; that it was intended to put it upon the basis of treating the welfare recipient with more respect and due deference and the like, rather than as
merely another faceless statistic. I must sadly inform - and can verily assure - Mr/Sir Bill English et al that in practice it's done, if anything, the very opposite; if he'll excuse the unintended 'pun' - of all his 'good intentions'.
****A former Federated Farmers Chairman (occasionally on Q&A and/or The Nation) whose face I noted having once encountered (the resemblance to Bill being uncanny) as I recalled having passed him outside NZ Post as I ensured I was on the Electoral Roll in the run-up to General Election 2002.
*****In his own mind anyway, though I well realize that the rental fiasco and the Barclay Affair have inevitably left at least a cloud of doubt and/or uncertainty over even that (in both my own and the eyes of many of the public, no doubt). But I at least am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt (in both instances, however outwardly troubling), as neither seem to fit his public persona.
Though of course it has well been said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and none of us are immune to the subtle eroding effects of that inescapable aspect and reality of human nature. But for my part I believe a few have managed to do just that historically, to wit the biblical heroes and heroines Joseph and Daniel, each Prime Minister of the world-ruling heathen empires of their respective day/s, and Mordecai and Esther who also served as high official and even Queen in a similar context of a non-Jewish world-ruling empire.
So it can be done. And in our day and age such notable personages as Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, even Barry Goldwater and Margaret Thatcher spring to mind. Sure, they might occasionally have infuriated the hell out of some, but true integrity is something else altogether, and cannot be so easily judged and determined, as some 'on the tip of my tongue' quote from Shakespeare would itself only corroborate...
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