Posts by Sonal Patel

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  • Flight of the conchords,

    You can also download Episode 4 via iTunes

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Don't Panic,

    I think they really need to stop saying "al Qaeda!" as a reflex. It looks like one of the suspects already arrested is a doctor from Iran, and thus extremely unlikely to be involved with a Sunni Islamist group.

    Well quite. The headlines have been far more sensational than the actual content of the stories too (not to mention Tiger Tiger on a school night), but it certainly didn't keep the crowds away from Pride over the weekend (although the parade route was changed to one street up from Haymarket).

    And on another note, what is with the rising use of the term "Islamicist" instead of Muslim? I've noticed it on quite of media coverage from NZ in particular (yes stuff website, I'm looking at you)

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Singapore, I have a problem,

    Singapore creative community is undoubtedly marginalised (which is what happens when you have no freedom of speech), but those who are genuinely creative produce some fantastic (and incredibly subversive) work - such as the brilliant W!ld Rice theatre company who brought over Animal Farm to the International Festival two festivals ago.

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: Asian Angst: is it time to…,

    Yay!

    Good work Tze Ming, Keith and Charles (I know you're out there somewhere bro ...)

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: Are you gonna liberate us…,

    Jumping out from the shadows (but only briefly) ...

    I haven't commented on PA System that often, some of it has to do with being away from NZ, some of it has to do with not being too fired up issues raised (one notable exception being the thread that would never die), and because the reponsibility I had with my previous job, I didn't want to out myself (anonymity wouldn't have helped me).

    On reflection I have to admit that I pay more attention to your posts Tze Ming because you pick up on issues that no one else on PA does. I remember the day of the Diwali Mumbai bombs being a turning point in my political reflections on NZ. No one except you, (mainstream, alternative media or otherwise in NZ) seemed to comment about it and that made me very upset (which is another tale, for another time). If I had a blog at the time I probably would have blogged about it but I didn't.

    As it stands right now, I don't blog about political issues for a number of reasons: because I'm not home where I understand the system better; I'm tired of fighting the same fight over and over again; I'll choose another medium to express my throughts; or more often than not someone is saying it much better than me (like Sepia Mutiny, Reappropriate or your good self).

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Appeasing Osama,

    Um, folks?

    As I read through these comments could everyone just take the time to realise that all faiths can be weilded and twisted to the benefit of leaders/warlords/organised crime/murderers etc?

    There are not just fundamentalist Muslims in this world, I can think of a few murders instigated by fundamentalist Hindus for starters, or fundamentalist Christians who can't be said to represent the faith as a whole.

    Just saying ...

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: the identity game,

    Um Yamis?

    So who decides what makes an ethnic New Zealander (as opposed to only having your nationality as New Zealander)?

    I'm from an ethnicity that's thousands of years old so it's a bit easier for me but wouldn't there have to be an academic agreement on how the criteria would fit (what constitutes common culture/values etc)?

    Please don't say I'm going to hear the words "bedrock New Zealand values" and "mainstream" any time soon ...

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • Yellow Peril: the identity game,

    But to throw a spanner in the works though if I may. My daughter is half korean, half European (or at least I hope she is or my wife has some explaining to do).

    So what does she check in the box?

    I think you can tick as many boxes as you please. The notes attached to the table up top says:

    "1. People were able to identify with more than one ethnic group, therefore percentages do not add up to 100."

    so presumably you can acknowledge your whakapapa to your heart's content if you wish.

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

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