Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Mandela

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  • Paul Campbell, in reply to Alec Morgan,

    I agree - send both of them

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Hebe,

    He’s the PM: it’s his job! Of course he must go.

    Well on that point we disagree. His job is PM of this country, which he is failing at.
    International diplomacy is becoming a farce.
    As Alec said Hone Harawira would be a good choice.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I agree with Hooton - Reagan and Thatcher were instrumental in bringing tyranny to an end

    To bring us the tyranny of the free market, financial deregulation and unemployment?

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

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Rickai,

    Anyone supportive of Communism was, by association, an enemy

    And anyone against was a friend, to be given money and guns. Osama Bin Laden, that type of person.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • DexterX, in reply to Alec Morgan,

    Really if a government figure has to go it should ideally be Hone Harawira leader of Auckland Patu squad in ’81 and nowTe Mana. He is the only actual government rep with any credibility beyond office holding for such a representative role. Hone don’t forget was the sole NZ politician to attend Aussies “Sorry” day, no one else had the rap or balls to attend.

    Totally Agree.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I really hope there’s a heaven in which Mandela is laughing his arse off at the spectacle of the internet playing moral bouncer at his memorial service.

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

  • Alec Morgan, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    I would not want the likes of Ross Meurant, Hiwi Tauroa, Ron Don, iwi that welcomed boks onto their Marae or thousands of other thugby supporters at my funeral if I was Mr Mandela unless they had gone through the most excoriating process of redemption. But given his later reputation Nelson might be ok with them attending.

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alec Morgan,

    Really if a government figure has to go it should ideally be Hone Harawira leader of Auckland Patu squad in ’81 and nowTe Mana. He is the only actual government rep with any credibility beyond office holding for such a representative role.

    Kevin Hague of the Greens has a strong claim too. He was prominent in the 1981 protest movement (he was arrested lots of times) and kept at it through to the cancelled All Black tour of South Africa in 1985.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    John Key, as Prime Minister, must go to the fineral. People proposing otherwise aren't being real. It would be seen by the rest of the world as bizarre insult.

    By the same token, I do believe Key's 1981 amnesia is fair game for comment and mockery. I have never believed that he genuinely couldn't remember his own views and his inability to simply say to Matt Lawrey what he thought then reflects on his character.

    I have been a little nonplussed by the scramble to own Mandela's memory. Kids who weren't alive in 1981 delivering lessons, grown-ups who should know better intoning about how those kids couldn't just assume they'd have been anti-Tour if they'd been around at the time. Sheesh.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • simon g, in reply to Alec Morgan,

    But given his later reputation Nelson might be ok with them attending.

    Since we can’t ask his spirit, we just have to do the next best thing – recall his deeds.

    He set up the ” Truth and Reconciliation Commission”. Not the “Nothing to See Here” Commission.

    The first word was not superfluous. Forgiveness is for those who regret, not those who rewrite.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alec Morgan,

    I would not want the likes of ... Hiwi Tauroa

    Are you sure about that? Here's a picture of him leading an anti-Tour march in 1981.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Key today:

    Mr Key was also questioned about his stance on the 1981 Springbok tour. He has previously said he could not remember whether he was for or against the tour.

    He told reporters this morning: "I'm not going to go and revisit that because if I do I'll spend all day talking about it and I can't be bothered."

    He added: "As I've always said, I didn't go to protest against the tour and I didn't go to any of the games. I was 19 years of age and had lots of other things going on at the time.

    "I'm strongly opposed to apartheid, but I'm not going to make up stuff that wasn't the case 30 years ago and try and reinvent history because it's inconvenient for the left."

    I don't even know what that last part means.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • simon g,

    “I’m strongly opposed to apartheid".

    Key's next speech: "Mr Putin, tear down this wall!"

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Russell Brown,

    "I was 19 years of age and had lots of other things going on at the time."

    I turned 19 two days before the aborted game in Hamilton. I'd been to the same school as John Key and I was in my first year as a cadet reporter. I marched, when I wasn't stationed in the newsroom monitoring the bloody radio.

    I'd played rugby for years and was covering a club rugby game in Christchurch for the Star when the news from Hamilton came through on transistor radios. I vividly recall people on the sidelines expressing shock and anger -- and quietly rejoicing as they spluttered.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I would not want the likes of … Hiwi Tauroa

    Are you sure about that? Here’s a picture of him leading an anti-Tour march in 1981.

    Tauroa copped a bit of flak prior to the tour, to the point of being tagged as “Kiwi Touroa”, by advocating that it go ahead. On his return from a hosted propaganda visit to South Africa he changed his mind.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Tauroa copped a bit of flak prior to the tour, to the point of being tagged as “Kiwi Touroa”, by advocating that it go ahead. On his return from a hosted propaganda visit to South Africa he changed his mind.

    Ah. Thanks.

    Interesting to see the Mayor of Auckland alongside him at the front of that march.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Someone remind me what Bolger did that earns him a spot ahead of others?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I remember a Bromhead cartoon from that time, of Tauroa being led by the nose in South Africa while wearing a huge pair of rose-coloured glasses. On his return he quietly confounded his critics. While I don’t recall too many other details, I have the impression that when he stepped down from his role as race relations conciliator in 1986 he enjoyed pretty much universal respect.

    That’s certainly an interesting photo. Somehow I have no recollection of Colin Kay having taken a stand on the tour.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    Someone remind me what Bolger did that earns him a spot ahead of others?

    He was PM at the time Mandela was elected president, the '95 World Cup, and Mandela's visit to NZ at the end of '95. So I don't think he did much to earn his spot, necessarily, but I think he has a claim on it.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I don’t even know what that last part means.

    It parses out to the exact opposite of the tone. He's literally saying that he won't lie to make the Left look bad, and is better off saying nothing. But somehow the tone conveys that he is a martyr for all of that.


    ETA: Although Gio often points out that his memory hole might actually be because he was against the Tour, but he doesn't want his base to know. Which would be extremely sad, if true.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh, in reply to Russell Brown,

    “I was 19 years of age and had lots of other things going on at the time.”

    I can't even remember the Tour, let alone whether I was for or against, all I remember is it was something the adults would occasionally talk about in hushed tones later in the eighties. I have an excuse, though - I was 5 years old in '81. I like that John Key is going to the funeral, but if he's not going to be honest about '81, he could at least have the decency to tell a convincing lie.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Alec Morgan, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    My recall was Hiwi trod a bit too softly for some given his official position during his time as the third Race Relations Conciliator (nowadays commissioner). Even Ross Meurant later recanted a bit too in various forums on the “clowns” and various other police matters and culture.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10737389

    http://emilmcavoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/The_Beat_Goes_On-Emil_McAvoy-Better_Work_Stories-2007.pdf

    Tokerau Beach • Since Nov 2006 • 124 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    against the Tour, but he doesn't want his base to know

    hardly a man of principle at the best of times.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    By the same token, I do believe Key’s 1981 amnesia is fair game for comment and mockery.

    Yeah, and there’s such a thing as a time and place for all things under heaven. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that when our incumbent head of state passes beyond the veil, New Zealand may well be represented at the state funeral by a kinda-sorta-but-not-really republican Prime Minister. I’ll roll my eyes, but restrain the urge to be a total dick over a funeral.

    He set up the ” Truth and Reconciliation Commission”. Not the “Nothing to See Here” Commission.

    The first word was not superfluous. Forgiveness is for those who regret, not those who rewrite.

    And perhaps,Simon, when it comes to Nelson Mandela in particular or the people of South Africa in general "forgiveness" of any kind is not yours to give or withhold.

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

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    It's us the guy is lying to, though I doubt there will be any such thing as an apology.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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