Nov 15
The histories of native peoples are often silenced, relegated to 'pre-history ... My question here is simply this: What are the the little-known histories that disrupt the dominant idea that "if it wasn't for us, you'd still be running around in grass skirts?"
I loved the Shawshank Redemption. Its on my list of all-time favourite movies. There is enough inspiration in its themes of redemption, loyalty, and integrity-in-the face-of-corruption, to satisfy a consummate dreamer like myself through numerous sittings...
An old post pulled from my facebook page, that I wrote back in February. It was a letter to the police commissioner, but really - to 'New Zealanders' in general. Tried to get it published in a number of newspapers, but sadly (if unsurprisingly) no takers. I imagine that, similar to LudditeJourno's experience recounted here, the news editors had attitudes akin to this one, from a Dominion Post Editor:
"I’m not terribly interested in the Parihaka festival – unless there is a hard news angle from it i.e. riot/police raids etc."
Replace Parihaka with Waitangi and you get the picture...
At the risk of raining on the parade (there's that bearers of discomfort thing again), can't say I'm too inspired by the flash-mob haka that's traveling like lightening around the web. The minute I saw it I knew it was part of the Rugby World Cup buildup, which left me feeling - ambivalent? Māori culture has long been celebrated as 'spectacle' - great when it comes to sporting fracas or official 'lets look multicultural' state events, but disparaged when engaged in as a means of protest...
A tip for all singles who are crazy enough to practice in or study under the discipline of psychology - LIE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO!!! Its a total romance killer - and I've come to dread getting to that unavoidable part in a conversation: "so what do you do?". "Working on a PhD, half-time raising teens, and tutoring at the university" is my standard response. "What are you studying?" ... OK wait for it ... "Psychology"! Bang - game over, a look of fear slides fleetingly across their face to be replaced by the polite catch-ya-later smile...
If you've read all of my blog (which of course, all good blog visitors should ha! Especially one as a-prolific as this one!!) you'll know that just over a year ago I shuffled off this marital coil! (I feel I must attribute to Mr Shakespeare here, but you'll note it is not a verbatim quote!!) Thus it should not be surprising to learn that I've recently been making tentative forays into the 'dating' scene, one year seeming a respectable mourning period; sadly my first foray has ended in disaster. OK, that's probably overstating it a little..
You know I’ve been thinking … there is an unwritten rule (actually there’s many, but anyway) that when we suffer, we should suffer in private, in silence even, hiding in a corner somewhere licking our wounds; only emerging when we can put on a brave face, a ‘right’ face for the world. Yeah well, fuck that! There is great value in sharing our wounds, our heartaches, our suffering...
Turangawaewae 