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Black and White

Entry 626, on 2007-10-18 at 21:47:35 (Rating 3, Politics)

The recent raid by police on a primarily Maori paramilitary (allegedly) group, and the ongoing actions since show the fragility of race relations in New Zealand. Today, Maori party co-leader Pita Sharples claimed the raids have set race relations back 100 years. He compares them with the atrocities committed during the famous incident at Parihaka.

He is a leader of the Maori party so I suppose its his role to advocate for Maori, but is this sort of hyperbole really constructive? Of course it isn't. It will prompt several different responses from varying groups in society.

First, it will elicit ridicule from the less culturally sensitive members of society. They will start suggesting the Maori party itself is a terrorist group (which it isn't) and that its a racist organisation (which could be substantiated by some meanings of the word racist) which should be banned.

Second, the more moderate members of society will sigh and think: OK Pita, nice little rant, but let's wait until we see what the facts really are, and let's not minimise serious issues of the past by comparing them to this. This is the attitude I would take. I think a little bit of restraint would be a good thing - at least until some of the facts surrounding the alleged terrorist group are made more clear.

Third, the more active pro-Maori faction will see this as a chance to further criticise the authorities (police and politicians) and to push more politically extreme causes. As I said before, this is not a reasonable response at this time.

But most people will just not care that much. They'll just see it as another disgruntled group being hassled by police and move on. So how could something so minor set race relations back 100 years?

So really, no good will come from inflammatory rhetoric from any part of the political spectrum. I wasn't going to comment on the subject myself until more information was available but with the news full of reaction to the incidents I thought I just had to. At least I hope I have shown a moderate reaction is possible instead of the black and white (and that phrase has multiple meanings in this context) view so many people currently have.

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