Posts by WH
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a basic human duty to watch out for each other and to speak up
People denying power relationships does annoy me, yes, and I suspect I share that sentiment with others like Tze Ming
There's a lot to admire about that. I think you're right to say that there are unattractive aspects to the 'New Zealander' discussion, but it's easy to reduce other people's complex intuitions about identity into straw men. By framing the argument in it's most unattractive form, you're saddling your opponents with a kind of stigma.
While for some the term 'New Zealander' may represent a rejection of particular domestic narratives about indigineity, to others it may represent an affirmative sense of simply belonging to a place. Or something else.
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Perhaps you'd best re-read what she's actually saying, Logan. By claiming the label "New Zealander" for themselves a certain group of Pakeha are denying it to all other ethnic groups. That's an organised, aggressive and ignorant act, and resistance is to be expected.
redneck
I'd be really disappointed if this sort of comment was to become typical of our discussions. Do you characterise everyone you disagree with in such strident and tendentious terms?
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@ Danielle
Sometimes when you bring the thunder you get lost in the storm
Heh. This could be the next big thing for me going forward.
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I think Graeme is right in his interpretation of the law as it stands. There was a certain amount of strategic opacity in Bradford's public advocacy (that's not intended as flame bait).
To the extent that the question assumes that a smack can form part of good parental correction, I suppose it does beg the question.
I wonder whether it's intended to avoid defining the limits of 'reasonable' smacking. If the referendum succeeds and the law is changed, we would still need a replacement for s.59, the original problem that Bradford used as a bait and switch.
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@ James Green: If your into Andy Samberg, you could check out Hotrod. Best use of a Europe or John Farnham song in a recent film, it's too legit to quit. It's good in a way that's really quite bad.
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The contrast with that point and the fact that Rambo has become almost the pinnacle of the traditional view of 'Manhood' probably doesn't need to be pointed out....
I think it has tended to be seen in the light of the sequels, where Rambo is a juggernaut cum polymath (okay, not a polymath) rather than a person* struggling to adjust to life within an indifferent society.
*Probably still not one to admit to liking at parties.
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And most of these list seem to boild down to 'how to be a competently functioning adult (non-gender specific)'
That's true. I wonder whether I'm just reacting to the framing. If someone gave me a list of great books to read or a list of useful home maintenance tips I'd be grateful. I've often thought that there must be a lot of good advice that gets lost between generations.
On the other hand, we already seem to have some pretty strong ideas about what it means to act 'like a man'. No disrespect is intended, but when I see 'rules about manhood' I think of Doug Golightly gruffly intoning hard truths with a stern expression between sips from a sour beer. Which is probably not what Kipling meant at all.
men have attempted to live up to the expectations of masculinity established in post-World War II America
Thanks for the recommendation. I suppose our archetypes must capture something worthwhile, or something that was once worthwhile. (I always enjoyed the subtext to Rambo I.)
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The modern man in crisis thing is quite interesting. I'm not sure we can or should be reduced to lists of mundane stuff. Have fun with your friends, find someone to love, treat people well. Beyond that do whatever you want.
You could build something cool or go exploring for years on end, go for a run, or do something else entirely.
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Your logic and sophistication are undeniable sachae.
It doesn't have to be this way.
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As for tolerating different belief systems - fine, just as long as you don't try to impose your belief systems on me.
All laws impose a belief system of some sort. We each bring our own values and sky fairies to the public world.