Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Not in front of the children

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  • andrew clive,

    I think the use of the word retarded is fine but retard is derogatory . Like any word if it is used in the nasty manner that Paul Henry subscribed too it isn't acceptable.

    I remember when the Black Eyed Peas had a hit with the song "Lets get retarded in here" they were forced to bring out a PC sanitized version called 'Lets get it started ". Still prefer the original.

    Purposely i will not donate to the blind foundation because they changed their name to something like "Vision Education center" . So they don't need my donation i guess.Though i think they may have changed the name back, so maybe i'll reconsider.

    They have a PC term for baldness too its called "comb free".

    auckland • Since Feb 2008 • 37 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I sometime wonder how Kanzi or Koko feel...

    (Koko actually tried to teach one of her kittens to sign- who knows what exasperated swearing could've eventuated?)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    If intimidation doesn't do the trick, making the little bastard blush just has to do.

    you evil evil man.

    I was quite interested to read today that P Henry suffers from another form of terardation. I feel it explains somewhat.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    andrew clive - the last letter I had from what used to be TRFFTB - now, thankfully, the NZ Foundation for the Blind- came from that organisation.Not any kind of 'Visual Reducation Centre".

    Are you talking about ANZ organisations? Or something far, far ,away?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Deborah,

    I think the use of the word retarded is fine but retard is derogatory .

    I really don't see the difference (other than adjective/noun) when they are applied in a way meant to insult and disparage.

    There's a post at FWD/Forward that discusses why "retard" / "retarded" is problematic: Ableist Word Profile: Retarded

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report Reply

  • Phil Lyth,

    very small point. There was an actual law passed a few years back to change one small word, replaced 'for'

    They are now the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind - an ownership thing

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Accompanied by changes so that the Foundation's blind and vision-impaired members elect the Board.

    No idea what the 'education centre' refers to, Andrew - maybe Homai?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    It's not so simple as saying that any member of a certain group of people can call themselves whatever they like - the labels represent social negotiation over time.

    We all have different depths and angles of understanding, and only some of us have the luxury of specialist interest and/or the credibility of daily experience to draw on. There's also a big difference between a face-to-face conversation and a broadcast utterance.

    Part of the reason why Henry is getting served over this now is a maturity of belonging and politics where the people he is demeaning and their associates are ready to say it's not ok. The context is influenced by other successes, by media coverage and the actions of public agencies including government and even the United Nations.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    The Vision Education Centre is apparently the name of the Auckland residential special school otherwise known as Homai. Seems a strange name to me but if it came out of the community concerned who is anyone else to criticise?

    I am still uneasy about residential special schools, especially impairment specific ones, because their history is rooted in eugenic education and welfare policies of the late 19th century. For example from 1901 NZ parents were legally required to send their deaf or hearing impaired students to the Sumner School for the Deaf to be taught oralism (and punished for any use of Sign Language). The students were only allowed home at Christmas until PM Peter Fraser changed the law to allow them more holidays.

    Thanks for the FWD link Deborah. Makes fun of the PWD (people with disabilities) acronym that disabled people have been reduced to in international policy speak.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Mainly amongst the american influenced wheelie fraternity.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    Part of the reason why Henry is getting served over this now is a maturity of belonging and politics where the people he is demeaning and their associates are ready to say it's not ok. The context is influenced by other successes, by media coverage and the actions of public agencies including government and even the United Nations.

    I really like this - it clarifies things for me. Paul Henry has not cottoned on to this context, perhaps? Or like many of his ilk he sees the hard won progress of minority groups as PC?

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Brutus is an honourable man

    Doubly relevent because the (rhetorical) irony arises from him technically honouring restrictions placed on his speech.

    I've daydreamed about offending the privileges committee and making an apology along those lines. Somehow I doubt either of those things would actually happen.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Part of the reason why Henry is getting served over this now is a maturity of belonging and politics where the people he is demeaning and their associates are ready to say it's not ok.

    That's right Sacha. Explains why, for the first time, there was some mainstream media coverage of the Special Olympics national games last week. The opening ceremony was apparently a huge celebratory event attended by several MPs (but, unfortunately, no one from the Government).

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Dennis Welch has just made an interesting point in his media comment slot on Nine to Noon.

    Can we now look forward to "retarded" finding its way into editorial copy for other news/current affairs shows on TVNZ?

    And if, for the sake of argument, John Key stood up in the House and called Phil Goff a retard (which would be immediately ruled out of order and he'd be required to withdraw and apologise, BTW) would he get a Paul Henry style pass?

    If the answer to the above is "no and no", why not? Someone should be asking Rick Ellis and Anthony Flannery.

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

  • Rich of Observationz,

    All kinds of gangs, not just Polynesian ones, have used Nazi symbols because they communicate being anti-social.

    Still wierd, given that Hitler considered everyone not North European to be an untermensch, with a bit of a free pass for allies, like Franco and Mussolini. Oh, and himself.

    I only raise this coz at the weekend I saw a swastika tag in a central North Island town, assumed it had been put there by skinheads and speculated on how long they survived.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • andrew clive,

    Yes its now called the Homai Vision Education Center.

    It sounds phony.

    I much prefer Homai Blind School which is what it was originally called for a very long time. I'm sure donations were more forthcoming when it was called that.

    I'm sure if Key called Goff a retard or vice versa it would be considered "all fun & games". No real harm done . Whereas Paul Henrys use of the word had some personal private information attached to its use & he was wrong to use it in that way.

    auckland • Since Feb 2008 • 37 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Well that's the main thing

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    As someone who had an intellectually disabled cousin, I refuse to watch Breakfast on TVNZ until that ignorant piece of ableist folderol apologises for the offence that he has caused. Or purchase any of the products advertised during the course of that programme. Does anyone else want to expose them to the wrath of an organised consumer boycott?

    Thank the goddess for Sunrise on TV3.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Sam F,

    Does anyone else want to expose them to the wrath of an organised consumer boycott?

    See above and previous page...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    To clarify, my last comment referred to what was at that stage the last sentence of Mr Clive's post: "I'm sure donations were more forthcoming when it was called that."
    As you were.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    The cultural appropriation of the swastika by europeans was a disaster.
    The Scouts used it as a long service badge and it was used extensively by Anglicans in Christchurch prior to WWII & some Austrian failed artist, vegetarian liked it too.
    The white middle class seem to be trying to rehabilitate it or appropriate buddist teachings. Robin Judkins has one painted on his front porch in Sumner.
    I'm sure Dan Brown could add more to this.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Ben.Shirmer,

    History can never be reversed. During WWII the swastika has changed its meaning dramatically and as long as there are nazis around that refer to the movement it won't loose this meaning.

    Welly • Since Nov 2009 • 46 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    The Scouts used it as a long service badge

    Heck

    as long as there are nazis around

    Longer, much longer

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Nearly 3000bp years longer?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

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