Readers familiar with my politics might be perplexed at least (shocked at worse) by the heading to this post. Trump acolyte Shane Jones should lead the charge Let me go further. Arguably Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading Trump acolyte, NZ First deputy leader and cabinet minister Shane Jones, should publicly advocate for the government to getContinue reading “Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize!”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Bondi Beach murderous terrorism
On 14 December a father and son, reportedly linked to the ISIS, clerical fascist organisation committed a murderous attack on innocent participants at a Jewish celebration on Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach. At least 15 were killed dead and around 40 seriously injured. Australia’s popular Bondi Beach the scene of mass slaughter There is no wayContinue reading “Bondi Beach murderous terrorism”
Nicolás Maduro kidnapping, US imperialist expansion and implications for New Zealand
There is much to understand from the dramatic kidnapping (abduction is perhaps a better word) of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores last weekend by the United States armed forces, combined with the military attack on the country’s capital Caracas. This understanding is greatly helped by the comments of the US’s first electedContinue reading “Nicolás Maduro kidnapping, US imperialist expansion and implications for New Zealand”
Free Speech – the ethics of conviction and the ethics of responsibility
On 25 September Kwame Anthony Appiah, who teaches philosophy and law at New York University, had a paywalled article titled ‘Watch What You Say’ published by the New York Review of Books. It is a fascinating read on his review of two books on free speech within an historical and contemporary perspective. Thomas Paine’s rightContinue reading “Free Speech – the ethics of conviction and the ethics of responsibility”
Tucker Carlson ‘tuckered out’ with Donald Trump and Israel: insights for New Zealand rightwing politics
The origin of the expression ‘tuckered out’ goes back to the east of the United States around the 1830s. After New Englanders began to compare the wrinkled and drawn appearance of overworked and undernourished horses and dogs to the appearance of tucked cloth, it became associated with people being exhausted. Expressions such as this canContinue reading “Tucker Carlson ‘tuckered out’ with Donald Trump and Israel: insights for New Zealand rightwing politics”
Gaza doctor speaks truth to genocidal power; New Zealand government needs to listen, learn and act
In 1962 Bob Dylan released his famous Blowin’ in the Wind, a protest song that uses a series of rhetorical questions to challenge war, oppression and human inaction on social issues like racism and freedom. Young Bob Dylan’s lyrics applicable to today’s genocide of Gaza Palestinians It was released in the context of the American civilContinue reading “Gaza doctor speaks truth to genocidal power; New Zealand government needs to listen, learn and act”
Far right cannibalising the mainstream rightwing; implications for New Zealand
Until recently I used the terms ‘hard right’ and ‘far right’ interchangeably. Certainly, dictionary definitions didn’t substantively differentiate. Broadly speaking they refer to people in political parties or other organisations with extreme rather than moderate or compassionate rightwing views. However, in part influenced by observing the behaviour of the ACT and NZ First parties inContinue reading “Far right cannibalising the mainstream rightwing; implications for New Zealand”
The Ignoble Nobel: from Hitler to Kissinger to Machado
Much to the disappointment of US President Donald Trump, on 10 October the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Maria Corina Machado. In the words of the Committee the award was “…for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transitionContinue reading “The Ignoble Nobel: from Hitler to Kissinger to Machado”
A sinking heart over Palestine non-recognition decision
After a period of political ‘game playing’ over making an announcement, insensitive given the tragic circumstances of the genocide in Gaza and increasing Palestinian expulsions on the West Bank, the Government has advised the United Nations General Assembly that it is not recognising Palestinian statehood. Winston Peters announced unconvincing non-recognition decision The decision was announcedContinue reading “A sinking heart over Palestine non-recognition decision”
Rhyming holocausts from the Herero in early 20th century to Gaza today
From time to time people assert that history is repeating itself. I don’t necessarily agree, depending on how far one wants to drill down. However, history does rhyme a lot (echo a lot is another way of expressing it). I thought of rhyming (or echoing) history when reading a paywalled article by Israeli-American historian OmerContinue reading “Rhyming holocausts from the Herero in early 20th century to Gaza today”
Political Bytes 