Yellow Peril: Asian Angst: is it time to send some payback?
95 Responses
First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 Newer→ Last
-
Does it strike anyone else as weird that these staunch defenders of indivuality and personal freedom have picked racial profiling and forced deportation as free speech issues worth taking a stand on?
Well, to be fair, Franks also went mightily into bat for homophobes. And he even spoke at the annual convention of the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards, which has a three-decade history of trying to limit what New Zealanders can see or hear. He never even gives the impression of feeling conflicted.
-
I'm sure there are some freedoms Franks feels passionate about - I'm sure he has highly principled notions about his freedom not to have to pay any tax.
-
Reminds me of this gem from Jim Peron (a libertarian, for the record):
-
On a side note, here's a novel solution for race-hate offenders: maroon them in Tokyo or Hong Kong for a couple of weeks, and they might understand what prejudice is about.
That's a bloody good diea - though they should be in line behind everyone who voted for the respectable faces of xenophobia - because you're either blind or lying to yourself if you think there isn't a big constituency (from the Greens through to Winston First) that responds to muttering about dirty foreigners turning everything to shit.
-
Here's what I find bizarre about their position: Franks, Coddington et al were MPs for ACT, the liberal party, the party that wants to fight for personal freedom and keep the evil power of the state out of people's lives.
Oh, and the party of personal responsibility. Except, apparently, for Debs who is a victim, not of her own incompetence as an journalist and statistician, but of a grand, shadowy conspiracy.
-
Oh, and congratulations to all involved. I do wonder to what degree we need to see more of this sort of thing as the quality of reporting in NZ seems to be continuing a decline.
-
Yay!
Good work Tze Ming, Keith and Charles (I know you're out there somewhere bro ...)
-
Oh, and the party of personal responsibility. Except, apparently, for Debs who is a victim, not of her own incompetence as an journalist and statistician, but of a grand, shadowy conspiracy.
And besides, an older boy made her do it.
-
Mr Rapania, we can pontificate on whatever jingoistic shit there happens to be anywhere in the media world. Anyway, my intended focus was to be grateful that we have a Press Council. Minority groups in other countries, even developed ones, are not so fortunate.
Sonal, you're right. I am out here. Probably not the one you meant, though. -
Good to see that it still stands that anyone cant just publish any old BS they feel like and call it journalism. I recall nearly falling out of bed laughing at that line of tripe from De-borer
Thanks to all involved in keeping our checks balanced. -
Just read this morning's paper and have to partially recant my earlier comment. Just read the most jingoistic anti-Japanese rant since the last jingoistic anti-Japanese rant. Anti-whaling Japan-bashing as national identity. Barrel-scrapers we can be at times.
-
Mr Rapania, we can pontificate on whatever jingoistic shit there happens to be anywhere in the media world. Anyway, my intended focus was to be grateful that we have a Press Council. Minority groups in other countries, even developed ones, are not so fortunate.
Well, fair enough as far as it goes. I just have to wonder how much use the Press Council will be when the likes Peters and Turia start ramping up the brown neck rhetoric as election season approaches, and both National and Labour start shamelessly kissing up for coalition partners? Deserved as Debs bitch-slapping was, (and on another front, Government kinda admitting this week its last round of pandering to Peters was a miserable failure) I'm just respectfully suggesting there's very little cause for self-congratulation here. There's a deeper issue here: Jingoism, economic nationalism and immigrant-bashing not only sells newspapers and magazines, it gets votes. Don't confuse the symptom with the disease.
-
Craig: I noted your subtle inclusion of economic nationalism in the same breath as jingoism and immigrant-bashing. One can very much be economic nationalist and an inclusive multiculturalist.
-
Well done everybody.
As for this suggestion of dumping the xenophobes in Tokyo or Hong Kong for a week: Nah. Too easy. I recommend Shanxi. Ms Coddington should be given a job in a coal mine out that way. That'll learn her real fast.
-
From today's Japan Times, an interesting article on the issue of the Western media and racism in the reporting of the murders of two white females (an English teacher and a bar hostess) in Japan.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070612zg.html
The JT also gives voice to the protest against a vile publication wholly focused crime and foreigners. This charming expose was widely available in your local convenience store until a bunch of English teachers and activists took them on.
-
Just to preserve Steve Judd's gem for posterity, it is CODDINGTONSWALLOP with an S to preserve homology.
Wouldn't it make a catchy title for her column? Go on Steve, let her use it without royalty. -
sweet jesus, you lot are dull
Can i just say...
Tze Ming Clan aitn nuttin ta fcuk wit!!!!!
Maximum respect. -
No you can't.
-
yo Juha, where's ya posse?
Oh, you aint got one
SUCKA! -
only just caught the news!
congrats to tze ming and keith.
about time that hack got a come-uppance.
-
Peter,
It's one battle won and marginal 0n a global scale (not making it any less important though). I don't think the links I posted are that "dull." In fact, I think they both pose different perspectives on bigotry in media. Sure, it it's all about sticking it to well-known white racontuers in the NZ media....
-
dammit, the good stuff always happens when i'm too busy to get online!
well, a very belated congrats to tze ming et al. keep making waves guys!
-
Jim, those were interesting links you provided, thanks
-
Congrats. I've been reading PA for loooong time, but never really bothered (:p) to participate in any discussion. It will be interesting to see what North and South prints on their July issue. The absolute minimum I believe. I'm also willing to bet that they will give (Codding)*(ton ) yet another chance to defense herself on why providing factual accurate information (rather then fudging stats) to her read is an insult to them. Time will tell. Again, gratz guys.
-
Craig: I noted your subtle inclusion of economic nationalism in the same breath as jingoism and immigrant-bashing. One can very much be economic nationalist and an inclusive multiculturalist.
*giggle* I didn't think I was being subtle at all, but if you cab pull of that magic trick please tell the likes of Anderton, Peters, Turia et. al. Now, to be fair, do I think you can be a scrupulous and fair-minded critic of free trade, open markets and a liberal immigration framework? Yes, and I'd go further and say they're public policy debates we need to have. But you can only have those debates when, to be blunt, objective reality gets a look in. Sorry, but I remember when Peters was up and down the country frothing about an 'Asian Invasion' of little yellow folks who were stealing our country out from under us -- and it just wasn't true. Let's say that again: IT JUST WASN'T TRUE.
Coddington, for all her sins, is nowadays in no more a position to influence trade or immigration or foreign policy than you or me. There are far too many respectable xenophobes still in Parliament who do, and it looks increasingly likely they're going to have enormous influence over the shape of the next government. No matter who wins.
That's worth thinking about -- and I hope the media is actually going to step up and decide what's more important. A sensational headline, or actually contributing to a thoughtful debate that leads to good public pollicy.
Post your response…
This topic is closed.