Yellow Peril by Tze Ming Mok

I thought you were awesome on Kim Hill.

other moves afoot.

Jolly good. How may the concerned citizen assist? I'm afraid my N&S reading is confined to my GP's waiting room, and I don't buy the HOS, so my economic clout is minimal.

"I'll, I'll, I'll, CONTINUE to not buy your rag any more!"

Like Stephen, I won't buy the thing, so I sneaked a peek in the supermarket today.

The big picture spread ("Queen St, August 2006") was obviously chosen to show the provincial readership how Asians are TAKING OVER Auckland in VAST NUMBERS. "See how tightly packed they are! Just like Hong Kong! We can't breathe!"

The photo was actually taken at the Boobs on Bikes parade, when the entire population was on the streets, jostling for a perve. Including every language school student with a return ticket home in their pocket.

I wonder how many photos they had to go through? "Asians, people, we need Asians! Nobody goes home till we've found the faces that fit!"

My dad once had a boat called 'the yellow peril' in which he'd take us kids fishing. She was a dangerous beast, and painted a bright yellow because we figured that if it overturned (a not unlikely possibility) at least someone would be able to see us. Hence the name.

I've always figured that just like my memories of a boat that once seemed huge and ugly, those that spoke of asian migrants in this way would one day shrink and decay among a mass of mildew and old fish bait. We watch on, both horrified and fascinated by their occasional outbursts, but are they really a credible threat to any seaworthy flotilla?

Perhaps my metaphor has strained it's moorings a little too far, but you catch my drift. These people are surely no more than an amusing spectacle, a remnant of a more quaint and xenophobic time.

P.S. Avast!

Dastardly exploiter:
How come I've never seen you people before?

Nigerian doctor turned bellhop:
Because we are the people you do not see.

The people wearing high-visibility vests.

Nice work. I'm a journo working on a story about immigration and have been given your name as someone who would be great to talk to... but I can't find contact details. So... would you be able to contact me on simon (at) simonyoungwriters.com? Many thanks and sorry for the rather public invitation! :)

Perhaps my metaphor has strained it's moorings a little too far ...

Dude, I was on the point of calling search and rescue ;-)

__Nigerian doctor turned bellhop:
Because we are the people you do not see.
We are the ones who drive your cabs.
We clean your rooms.
And suck your cocks.__

Say what you like about us immo bastards, nobody multitasks like we do.

Jimmy D, I'll refrain from commenting on your metaphor, but I will say one must never be complacent about the potential for xenophobia and racial conflict to rear its ugly head. Remember how Nationals popularity spiked after the Orewa speech on the Treaty?

Unfortunately life is not quite imitating No. 2 yet.

I also thought you were awesome on Kim Hill, surely sanity can win the day.

On that note, I'm always trying to make the point that getting society to acknowledge the rights and contributions of minorities by overemphasising the model minority 'high achievers' who get awards and prizes and are well integrated, is problematic.

This is a good point. But it is also true that Nelson Mandelas and Aung San Suu Kyis provide symbols that are powerful enough to transcend stereotypes and change minds. Maybe they inspire us to remember that despite our differences we have most of our best attributes in common.

Neither Nelson Mandela nor Aung San Suu Kyi are 'minorities'...

Neither Nelson Mandela nor Aung San Suu Kyi are 'minorities'...

Nor did/do they represent the values of the societies they lived/live in -- they were/are both rebels by the standards of the prevailing doctrines of their times.

Rather it would seem that 'mainstream' New Zealand demands an idealised conformity on immigrants.

Rather it would seem that 'mainstream' New Zealand demands an idealised conformity on immigrants.

My point was that Suu Kyi and Mandela became symbols of virtue that dramatically altered prevailing popular attitudes. Martin Luther King was the focal point for a similar social metamorphosis in the US. Some stereotypes, like the one DC was trying to foment, prey on our primal fears and suspicions. I think that there certain ideas that can overwhelm such suspicions, just as there are forces that can deepen them. Like it or not, when Pita Sharples was interviewed on Close Up about the Kahui murder people were watching. The man calmed the angry crowd.

Tze Ming prefers the beauty in the everyday approach, and I see the force in this too.

Hey all,

gotta thank PA System for the heads up on the Coddington article.

After reading this post I made my way to my fav coffee shop to digest it all. I actually thought the article on the Orgasm researcher was way more interesting.

Anyway not being one to hold back the opinions, I sent the classic "outraged of Karori" into North & South and won letter of the month.

So cheers guys $800 case of Moet was al down to this post.

Chee -- hick--- rs

hey, check out the byline for the online version of today's sideswipe:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/column/story.cfm?c_id=702&objectid=10416771
(i only clicked on it because the PA words of the year were in there)

hehe, is this an ironic boxing-day jibe by the herald online staff, or has dc found a new summer job?

Nah must be a typo, some of the information in the piece is correct, couldn't be.