Cracker by Damian Christie

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Cracker: That's Not My Name

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  • Mrs Skin,

    ...our Commander in Chief is shooting blanks

    In fact the Queen is our Commander-in-Chief. (Of course, the powers are exercised by the G-G).

    the warmest room in the h… • Since Feb 2009 • 168 posts Report

  • recordari,

    At least we're not quite as xenophobic as the French.

    French admit they are racist.

    Are we?

    Anyway, anyone who thinks stacking teams with 'Pakeha' players is going to guarantee better results hasn't been watching the Sevens lately. Go Samoa!

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Anyway, anyone who thinks stacking teams with 'Pakeha' players is going to guarantee better results hasn't been watching the Sevens lately.

    Or indeed NZ rugby. Several of our best players over the past twenty years - Lomu, Umaga, Bunce, Rokocoko, Muliaina, Sivivatu, Nonu have strong Pacific Island heritage. Plus, y'know, a couple of Maori have taken to the game as well.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    You read books of a hundred or two years ago, and it's clear that the authors, or at least some of their characters, assume that red-haired people had fierce tempers. Anti-red prejudice is at least as old as Anne Shirley.

    Even further back, I can't remember whether it's Agamemnon or Menelaus that Homer describes as red-haired. It's not just a Celtic thing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Islander,

    B.Jones - I did mention 'other human groups'? But also, Celts were all over Europe & parts of Asia -even western China. Check out 'the mummies of Urumchi"-

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

  • Stephen Judd,

    "Darkies" is a word that belongs in verbatim quotes of Stephen Foster lyrics, and nowhere else.

    But, much as it pains me to say it, I'm with Rosemary McLeod here. Laidlaw's vocabulary is less offensive but his sentiments are arguably worse: Haden was commenting on a phenomenon based in race prejudice (which he omitted to criticise, true) but Laidlaw is advocating it. Unless there is some careful language about culture vs race in there that McLeod has omitted, I wouldn't let him off the hook.

    Apropos the hug-a-ginga thing -- publicity stunt reinforces the stigmatisation it ostensibly rejects, duh. Radio idiots revealed to be idiots, duh. DOG BITES MAN.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    (Just to wade further into the dangerous and polluted waters of physical anthropology, there are plenty of red-headed Jews. Cue British Israel loons, Khazar convert "Ashkenazim aren't really Jews at all" conspiracy theories, and hand-wringing discussions of Fagin. And in the neighbourhood I grew up in there were definitely red-headed Maori kids... someone tell the pre-Maori Celtic NZ loons, oops they already know.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I've only read the bits that McLeod quotes in her column. But unless there's a good context, Laidlaw's comments aren't very good either.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Islander,

    There's a hapu in Taranaki famous for it's redheads! And, the -strand?- was very well known - it's called urukehu (my mother was consistently known as such during her childhood & youth) and _ _it has absolutely *nothing* to do pre-Celtic settlement in ANZ!_ _

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

  • recordari,

    Or indeed NZ rugby.

    Yeah, I started along those lines, but that was so obvious even our World Cup ambassadors should have been able to work that out. Wait, what?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    red-headed Jews

    I'm trying to remember if I once read that was actually something of a stereotype in olde Britain. But perhaps the 'autheticity'-seeking pillock the passage was about wore the red wig because the thought Shylock was a clown, rather than because of anything to do with jewishness.

    And now I remember how depressing it was researching Shylock.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • st ephen,

    You have to laugh when they cite the Maugers as proof that Polynesians are welcomed into the ranks. The Crusaders thing is really no different than many (most?) New Zealand work places - it doesn't matter what colour your skin is, just as long as you think like us and act like us. And in Canterbury, that means thinking and acting like Robbie Deans and his ilk.

    Graham Henry may be a Canterbury boy, but all those years teaching in Auckland have obviously given him an appreciation for other cultures - or at least a few tools for negotiating his way through cross-cultural issues. The farm boys running rugby in Canterbury? Not so much.

    dunedin • Since Jul 2008 • 254 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    In fact the Queen is our Commander-in-Chief. (Of course, the powers are exercised by the G-G).

    I refer you to section 6 of the Defence Act 1990:

    The Governor-General, by virtue of being Commander-in-Chief of New Zealand, shall have such powers and may exercise and discharge such duties and obligations relating to any armed forces raised and maintained under section 5 as pertain to the office of Commander-in-Chief.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • chris,

    And in Canterbury, that means thinking and acting like Robbie Deans and his ilk.

    <cough> Todd Blackadder. Not that I disagree with your point.

    On the subject of this dog called nigger. I hope they don't change that name for the remake. On the grounds of acknowledging history.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    (I've given up arguing with cab drivers unless I'm very, very bored, because it can make for an uncomfortable ride when you disagree with their considered opinions)

    I'd say good advice for anyone to follow Damian, considering the latest incident in the UK. Jus' sayin'

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

  • Islander,

    If the remake ever happens (we're talking "DamBusters"?)

    My -very dark-skinned- Uncle Bill had at least 3 dogs called 'Nig' (he never called 'em nigga...)

    And, waua! Re that UK cabbie - something made him maximally murderous but - the chances of some such major brainstorm...?

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

  • Don Christie,

    and this is what racism looks like today in England

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/video/2010/may/28/english-defence-league-uncovered

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I had a grudging sympathy for the father of the red-haired boys.

    Really -- I was worried that his boys were going to be beaten up for having such a pathetic dongle for a father. (Newsflash: William Golding was right. Kids are social hierarchy-enforcing douche-nozzles.)

    BTW, did Close Up ever do a follow-up on the holocaust of gingaphobic physical and psychological abuse that swept through our nation's playgrounds last Friday? Or was this like the bullshit-pulled-out-of-collective-media-arse wave of domestic violence that was supposed to follow the AB's being knocked out of the last RWC?

    I don't think you can generally compare "Hug An X" with Hug A Y".

    Sometimes it's just an offensive term. Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes it entirely depends on who you're hugging.

    And if you rush up to a stranger in the street and hug 'em, it's assault every damn time.

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

  • Damian Christie,

    In fact the Queen is our Commander-in-Chief. (Of course, the powers are exercised by the G-G).

    I refer you to section 6 of the Defence Act 1990:

    ...You guys are SUCH kiljoys.

    Re whoever it was that said way back when about the teacher in the ginga story being a top teacher, I'd like to acknowledge your point. I have no doubt. Unfortunately he has less practice in the media than the idiot he was up against, and confused what should have been a pretty simple point (which I think Mr Judd made extremely briefly before).

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Damian Christie,

    @RB

    Actually part-Samoan, not that that has anything to do with his rather dim bulb ...

    So you're asserting his dimness has to do with the non-Samoan part?

    Racist.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Reds under the beds?

    And if you rush up to a stranger in the street and hug 'em, it's assault every damn time.

    Cynic.

    And Campbell live last November had this segment which suggested redheads may be so endangered that by 2060[sic] there will be no more. Really? Not sure The Shining reference was necessary. This video was the result.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Mrs Skin,

    I refer you to section 6 of the Defence Act 1990:

    The point was that either might be surprised to be cited as having undergone a vasectomy.

    the warmest room in the h… • Since Feb 2009 • 168 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    "phat goatee-wearing cute face".

    I resemble that remark, ... hic.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    wave of domestic violence that was supposed to follow the AB's being knocked out

    Actually, it's worse if they win (said before, can't be arsed digging out the reference).

    And thank you, Don, that's the version that came to mind for me too.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    I hope they don't change that name for the remake. On the grounds of acknowledging history.

    Should they also acknowledge history by changing the name to Trigger for the American release (as that's what was done for the 1955 original)?

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

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