When I think of the various protest, or activist, movements of late one deeply troubling observation is becoming abundantly clear – there are those in New Zealand who genuinely believe that violence is acceptable when it comes to their cause. The classic, ‘the end justifies the means’.
This is the belief of zealots, fundamentalists, and of course, terrorists. Such people and groups are so morally certain of their position that they consequently feel enabled to act against all and any who oppose them. Those who disagree with them are so wrong, so in error, that removing them by force is appropriate. Naturally, this is a mindset at odds with a properly functioning democracy.
The terrible conflict between the terrorist group, Hamas, and the State of Israel highlights this very clearly. Many (not all!) supporting the Palestinians have made it clear they believe the terrible violence – murder, rape, and kidnapping – on October 7 was acceptable. The near inability of leaders of the various Palestinian groups here in New Zealand to condemn these actions of Hamas is striking. In recent months, they have sought to ignore this key catalyst to the current conflict or at least, downplay its significance. Sadly, many commentators in mainstream media are also willing to diminish the barbaric events, mostly against civilians, by justifying such deeds as ‘resistance’ or part of a colonial struggle.
Critically when reflecting on such matters, it is easy for any person to find reasons to justify actions, but that doesn’t make the actions OK. And this is ultimately what is at the heart of the issue – there are those among us who believe there are reasons for violence to further their ends.
This is not simply related to events on the other side of the world. More locally in the Pacific, we see the same justifications arising with the violence now occurring in New Caledonia. Activists here in New Zealand are saying that the violence, looting, and intimidation are ok because it is rebellion against a colonial power. Put aside the complete inaccuracy of such statements, because the situation again simply illustrates that there are New Zealanders who think violence is ok.
Right here at home, last year, we had the violent protests in Albert Park. A few days back I met one of the women assaulted, Judith. She was punched multiple times and yet there are still those here that believe the violent suppression of speech was acceptable. Her and others view was supposedly so wrong, that violence was seen as the right response by those protesting. Mainstream media too sadly played it’s part in all of this, encouraging the protest and consequently diminishing what occurred. Implicitly, some commentators reinforced that violence was an acceptable response to this group of women seeking to meet and talk.
Ultimately, we all hold strong views on various matters. But for most of us, our convictions on such matters manifest in robust discussion, debate, or the pursuit of legislative change. We do not, and never will, turn to violence.
And so we should take very careful note of those in our society who are accepting of violence to further their cause or supporting those who act violently to achieve their ends. It is perhaps a harbinger of things to come for whatever next cause they feel drawn too. Such zealots are always a small group proportionate to the population, but acts of violence are an amplifier.
Violence is not acceptable. In a democratic society such as ours, it is better stop such moves towards violence early on rather than letting is spread.
NEW RADIO SHOW AND PODCAST
I have recently begun hosting a online radio show, on every Friday from 10am to midday. The first show was last week so feel free to check it out. I would love to hear what you think. My very first guest was my friend and Taiwan’s representative here in New Zealand, Joanne Ou. It was a wide ranging chat on everything from trade to defence, our shared cultural history to joining the WHO. You can check this particular interview here.
I also chatted with the Maxim Institute’s, Dr Stephanie Worboys. She has recently released a report called ‘Shaky Foundations’. It notes a decline in trust in our democracy. We discuss her findings, notably why she thinks trust has declined and what we could do to turn things around. You can hear the interview here.
Wokeist-approved violence
Do as you are told or get tasered , sprayed , beaten , contorted , kicked and stomped on , handcuffed , locked up then abused by the courts and the delay and interference of the justice system ………………….
Simon O’Connor is right about the worrying acceptance of violence, and no it’s not just wokists. It’s our Anglo-Polynesian culture. The aggression underlying English society is well recorded in films and the reporting of football hooliganism. And anyone who has grown up in rural NZ knows that getting bashed up is a right of passage, though I think my mother was rather startled when the woman next door threatened to come over and belt her, presumably for being “smart”.
However it’s hard to know whether Simon O’Connor is dangerously ignorant or simply dishonest on the situation in the Levan – the “conflict between the terrorist group, Hamas, and the State of Israel”. Israel, cheered on by Anglo-Saxon countries like New Zealand, was founded on terrorism, and expands through terrorism. The terrorist actions of Zionist thugs in Palestine in the 30s and 40s were well reported in the English language press. Yum, thought Peter Frazer, our kind of people, let’s give them Palestine. New Zealanders had and have no problems with Zio thugs blowing up houses with Palestinians asleep in them, taking the city of Acre by poisoning the water, poisoning wells in the West Bank, burning crops, etc etc etc. New Zealanders have no problems at all with the alliance between Israel and ISIS. New Zealanders love terrorists, as long as they’re “our” terrorists.
As for October 7, the rather strange narrative that Hamas having spent months developing a plan to take Israeli hostages to exchange for the children being abused in Israeli prisons, decided to focus on mass rape and decapitating babies, turned out to be a pack of lies. This has been well reported, with even Israeli authorities admitting the lack of evidence. Why are NZ politicians, and bloggers, still peddling what they know to be fiction?