Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: It is your right and duty to vote

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    If it came up at all I'd be amazed. Do tell.

    I've come across it at a club with people saying that "we needed jews to look after the money". I gave them a five minute history about how being forced to be moneylenders had screwed Jews over and given them a nasty stereotype which was held against them hundreds of years later.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Unless things have changed a lot in the last 25 years, what Paul describes is my experience. The teasing/bullying angle was more out of a desire to personalise harrassment rather than any real antisemitism, but "jew" as a verb for cadging etc was just commonplace place slang until I made my displeasure clear. (Hamilton, 1975-86)

    There was the workmate who made some passing reference to money and Jews and when I went "what?!" he said, well everyone knows Jews have deep pockets and long noses, and continued in that vein while my jaw dropped further and further -- I was honestly too shocked to get really angry. It happens.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    That sucks, Paul. Never really encountered antisemitism much in NZ before. It was alive and well in Australia, though, and most unpleasant.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    I've always assumed "Pacific's triple star" as being the Great Southern Triangle. Though why it needs guarding I'm not sure.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    well here we are in this day and age with our third Jewish Prime Minister, you'd would think we'd be past it by now - mostly though I think this is an artifact of petty schoolyard behaviour - the same thing that does result in physical bullying in the extreme - school should be a safe place, probably one of the safest places in our society and we need to make the effort to make it so

    Of course the current Minister could start by leading by example ....

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    That sucks, Paul.

    Sure does Ben. Generally that was why I left Australia too. Blatant racism.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Abuse is the new black. Among the youff it is kinda cool to be politically incorrect and quite unpleasant towards groups who can be isolated and stereotyped: first it was the gingas, then the gays, now the Jews.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It might not excuse the method of Williams' approach, and I am not usually one for agreeing with Jim Anderton, but there are some valid observations in his release today....:

    Sigh... When the shuttle containing Jim Anderton's brain lands could someone give me a call? Williams has gotten extensive media coverage, and anyone who claims otherwise is either stupid or a liar.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Horrified, but not surprised, at the talk of school bully-language unchanged after decades.

    You'd never get away with that over here (although funnily enough you can get away with ribbing a kid for being an atheist -- our then 7 year old didn't mind too much, as it gave him a chance to explain the logic of atheism, which usually bored the other children into submission).

    But I really just popped in to belated high-five Ben W for this:

    Surely the nation's Van can be found hanging out with the nation's Munter.

    The anthem will never be the same, in my head.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Hosking,

    Never got to the Nation's Van bit - its submerged in that vast unexplored hinterland of the national anthem, beyond the first verse, where most of us go "nrr nrr nrr nrrr/nrr nrr nrr/ GAAD DEFEND NU ZEE-EE LAND"

    But if the nation had a van, it would be a white Ford Escort.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    But I really just popped in to belated high-five Ben W for this:

    Right back at ya, although I'm worried it's a witicism. My belated and almost certainly plagiarized sole entry to the actual topic of this thread.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    But if the nation had a van, it would be a white Ford Escort.

    It would be a Caravan! Man does one see plenty of those in the hols.:)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    I thought the Van was way further up the song, but I just checked out the lyrics and Rob's right.

    So the tune is decent, and with a bit of syncopation it could really swing, but man, are those lyrics due for an overhaul. "Men of every creed and race"? That's not OK.

    We could do better amongst ourselves, and do it by Friday. "Hey New Zealand, you're quite neat". Take it away, PAS.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    The nation's vans have been stolen by P addicts.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    Despite your stinky jandalled feet?
    You deserve an occasional treat?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Max Call,

    I had a few students who were making derogatory remarks about 'Jews'. It turns out they had been watching 'Borat'.
    I gave them a history lesson and a quick run down on Sacha Baron Cohen and it stopped (AFAIK).

    Fruit Bowl of New Zealand… • Since Jun 2007 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Hey New Zealand, you're quite neat
    A rugby team only France can beat
    A small contribution to rising heat
    God! Kumara is nice to eat.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    Hey New Zealand, you're quite neat
    A rugby team only France can beat
    A small contribution to rising heat
    God! Kumara is nice to eat.

    Now that's what I'm talking about. I think we can weave Stephen's lines in now:

    Got to admit it is quite sweet
    Despite our stinky jandalled feet*
    We deserve an occasional treat
    Cos we live in New Zeeeeeealand.

    * Alt. That sheep are good for wool and meat.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Only ever holidaying & working holidaying in OZ, I've never come across the routine racism I see often in Christchurch.
    Close examination of our colonial history is pretty horrid.
    Pogroms, I mean, Dawn Raids anyone?

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    We could go on...

    Don't dream it's over
    Whilst we still have the pavlova

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Or...

    Lets us all sing a song of joy
    For Sir Ed and Susan Devoy

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Litterick,

    Likening dawn raids to pogroms I find more than a little distasteful. I had a similar reaction to the description of what happened to Maori in Taranaki as a "holocaust."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1000 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    To be fair it's "nations' van" not "nation's van" .... we have to share it

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    We think we were the first to fly
    And we're stuck with P to get us high
    We must always blow on the piiiiiiiiiiie...
    Hamilton has Geoff Lea-ea-land

    Or something.

    ETA Good point, Paul. How many nations have to share this van? Do we all get in it at once, or is there a rota system? Australia gets the van on alternate Thursdays, something like that.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    "From dissension*, envy, hate
    Ladies, please bring a plate"

    or

    "Guard our country's spotless name
    For that grubby mark, I'm not to blame"

    Someone tell me to stop....!
    * what exactly is that?

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

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