Saturday, June 19, 2010

a butterfly sting

What does thinking strategically mean?

For Pita Sharples it means,
From Waatea News Update
"Dr Sharples says it comes down to what is possible politically, and the party has to think strategically rather than walk out if it doesn't get everything it wants.
“The only way Maori are going to have power is to be part of a coalition at this stage as an independent party and if we walk now, well who’s going to marry up with us in the future, so we’ve got to see it through. So many coalitions and stuff fall down or break up. We’ve got to hang in there and try and see it through,” Dr Sharples says."
Are you really independent Pita? If you follow the gnats line and support and back their position, even when your instincts say to do the opposite - is that independent?

Who will marry with you into the future? Ummm anyone in power who wants to keep the power.

This is the problem i think - the maori party don't actually realise what power they could have. Being independent and above the left/right meme gives the maori party the ability to dance like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Unfortunately that is not the situation. To allow the insults to Tuhoe to go unanswered told the story for me - that was weak and the oppostite of the kaupapa as I understand it. Dancing like a bee and stinging like a butterfly is apt. Bees deliver much information from their dances and a butterfly sting is a bit like a butterfly kiss.

Try listening to this Pita



Lyrics
"Bullet With Butterfly Wings"


The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain?
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game

Even though I know - I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold - like old job

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

Now I'm naked, nothing but an animal
But can you fake it, for just one more show?
And what do you want?
I want to change
And what have you got, when you feel the same?

Even though I know - I suppose I'll show
All my cool and cold - like old job

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Then someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son, yeah.
Tell me I'm the chosen one
Jesus was the only son for you

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage
And someone will say what is lost can never be saved
Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage

Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a-
Despite all my rage am I still just a rat in a cage

Tell me I'm the only one
Tell me there's no other one
Jesus was the only son for you

And I still beleive that I cannot be saved

Any of those lines tell the story. And the title of the album: "Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness" could be the catchcry for many supporters who wanted the maori party to lead, to deliver, to bind together, to be independent...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Betrayed desires and a piece of the game. How apt. We Maori like to forgive which is both a blessing and a curse. Along with the forgiveness we also like to give second chances which is also all well and good. But a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th chance?? Why would I vote a 3rd time for a party that has continuously watered down its ideals and more or less sold us out by accepting so much less than its goals? Well I wouldn't, not a third time. Being shat on 3 or more times might be OK for the Maori Party but not for me.