John Minto has been leading a noisy protest outside the ASB Tennis Centre.
The target of their protest is Israeli player Shahar Peer. Minto and others are outraged at the treatment of Palestine by Israel.
Protests like this one, targeting one individual, are problematic. They come across as vindictive and nasty. Minto and co probably don’t care – they will argue all Israelis are complicit in the wrongs perpetuated in Palestine. That is the nature of zealots: they fail to see that not everything is black and white.
But not a murmur is raised at the appearance in the same tournament of a player from another country with human rights “issues”. Why no protest at the appearance of Chinese player Li Na? Could it be that she comes from a communist nation? Maybe China’s excesses are justified in the name of the Peoples’ Revolution.
But lest anyone should be tempted to treat the protest seriously, it turns out that one of the protesters was the fellow who dumped a lamington on the head of Act Party’s Mt Albert candidate John Boscawen. An absurd, almost surreal, act of protest.
This protest is best ignored. When was the last time anyone took anything organised by John Minto seriously? 1981?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
4 comments:
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"...Why no protest at the appearance of Chinese player Li Na?..?"
ReplyDeleteUmmm, perhaps because the protest was at least half organised by the PALESTINE Human Rights Campaign? Last time I looked at a map Palestine wasn't in China.
Maybe if it was the Uighar Human Rights Campaign protesting about an Israeli you'd have a point.
The power of the knee jerk authoritarian pack mentality of New Zealanders never ceases to amaze me. Having the guts to protest is a big deal in this apathetic land of ours. Half a dozen people willing to give their time and effort and prepared to get themselves arrested on a principle do far more for democracy than all the blogposts in the world from comfortable lawyers getting themselves in a cultural cringe because they think someone might - gasp! - Be being rude to someone from another country.
I admire (almost, tea baggers and the Westboro Baptist Church need not apply) anyone who is prepared to take on the powers that be on points of principle.
Easily your worst post ever.
Ouch. The media reports I read said the protest was organised by a group called Global Peace and Justice. But I’ll take your word for it.
ReplyDeleteMy issue is not the right to protest – but the protest was misdirected. Why did these people not protest outside the Israeli embassy?
This has nothing to do with cultural cringe. Intimidating a young woman with no power to change her government’s policies is not just rude. It is arguably bullying. And counter-productive. It alienates many whose sympathies are with the Palestinians. The hostile media reaction to the protest is proof of that.
That said, I support anyone’s right to protest – however misguided they may be. I don’t know the full story behind the arrests, but the police response certainly sounded aggressive. The big story behind this protest might well turn out to be that response. being noisy and bothering the hoi polloi should not be something you can be arrested for.
Anyway, I was bound to strike out sooner or later. :)
Ah, how gracious a response sir! I doff my hat to you.
ReplyDeleteI suppose I had a bit of a tanty because the silly season is now obviously targetted by protesters as a time to get attention, and the generally hostile and authoritarian reaction of New Zealanders is incredible, and seems to be getting worse.
It is so scary that I think any criticism of protest from liberally minded people just takes the cake... Our housekeeper (tellingly an Englishwomen - why is it Europeans seem much more capable of understanding the nature of power?) was probably right in her assessment when she said that maybe one day of loud protesting would have made the point, and subsequent days were just bad publicity.
Confronting the state can be scary and most people don't have the guts for it. Fair enough, it does take a bit of courage to risk being arrested, especially for the middle class who imagine the legal system is for lesser beings. But look at the cell phone ban - obeyed instantly by a dutiful population. Whatever you views are on that piece of law the meek and instantaneous compliance was downright scary IMHO. Individuals willing to challenge that overwheling social and political control are exceptional people and deserve if not support then to be not criticised for doing a job vital to democracy.
I don't know how New Zealanders are reacting to the Sea Sheppard saga (McCully isn't a New Zealander, I think he is some sort of reptilian shapeshifter - I hope all the reptilian shapeshifters reading this don't take offence) but a lot of people seem to have adopted a position which is based on a seeming hatred of anyone who frightens them by questioning the established order.
"a lot of people seem to have adopted a position which is based on a seeming hatred of anyone who frightens them by questioning the established order"
ReplyDeleteI think that's right. Most people don't like it when someone kicks up a fuss. We Kiwis are a notoriously demure lot, and most of us seem to prefer to follow the pack.
I also admire people who have the guts to take a stand. One of my favourite politicians was Sue Bradford. Even though I didn't agree with a lot of her ideas, I still admired her guts and passion, and her ability to get things done.
I find people like Minto more of a challenge. He sees capitalist demons everywhere. His rhetoric is boring, and as a result most people dismiss him as a flake.
As for McCully being a reptile, that is certainly news to me. I thought he was one of the Nazgul.