"The worst thing about hone Harawira's comments is that it seems to have given free rein to every racist and malcontent in this country to let fly with their own racist garbage.
In that respect, Harawira has done New Zealand a service.
The thin veneer of racial tolerance has been stripped away and the nasty, vindictive, racist underbelly of this country has been fully exposed.
This is no longer about Harawira taking a day off to see paris, nor about one email with intemperate wording.
The email itself is mild compared to some of the racist bigotry I've read plastered throughout websites and chatboards.
This is new Zealand; the scum has bubbled to the surface.
Harawira is a damned sight more honest than any other platitude-mouthing politician."It really does seem as if hone has burned his maori party bridges. It always comes down to mana. I think hone should give up national politics and get back out on the streets. He has a huge personal following and there is lots to do.
I give big kudos to the maori party. I talked about sacrifice here. If you are trying to change things you can go top-down or bottom-up. If top-down, then you are choosing to work within the system to change the system. The only way to change the system that way, is to be effective. I cannot judge if the tradeoffs for maori and the maori party and the foreshore and seabed repeal are worth it. But remember it is acknowledged as the biggest land grab ever. If that can be changed and rights vested with tangata whenua then it will be a very big win.
The bottom-up approach of working with the people to create change is effective and suited to certain personality types. We need the sues and hones out in the streets.
The debate about race and racism is a festering sore. It is disappointing that pakeha have taken the 'hurt feelings' line instead of asking why some maori feel that way? There have been wrongs and there are still hurts. The real way to deal with them is to talk and discuss them. So instead of goff getting on his 'hurt feelings' horse, he could have taken the debate and discussion to another level. A level where people are actually heard and listened to. A level where deeper understanding is attained, from all sides. (As a side note to goff - that would have driven you to stardom, your profile would be statesman like and your PM stakes would have risen.)
It is okay for there to be strong feelings around this issue. Creating opportunities for greater understanding is the way to go because it brings us together and helps build stronger communities. And we all live within these communities.
Born to be wild - Steppenwolf
Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Lookin' for adventure
And whatever comes our way
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
I like smoke and lightning
Heavy metal thunder
Racin' with the wind
And the feelin' that I'm under
Yeah Darlin' go make it happen
Take the world in a love embrace
Fire all of your guns at once
And explode into space
Like a true nature's child
We were born, born to be wild
We can climb so high
I never wanna die
Born to be wild
Born to be wild
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