Dont know if this made the telvision news so here goes.
Recently I came across a story online about people making racist comments about Maori on a tademe auction that was for a personalised number plate with "MAORI" on it. The writer also mentioned that the comments showed the ugly side of social networking, I thought it more directly showed the ugly side of New Zealand society rather than social networking. I think that social networking actually exposed the truth about some of the characters in New Zealand. For a point of clarity Im not saying that all mainstream or non-Maori are racist towards Maori but that racism present in New Zealand. I know that you didnt need anyone to tell you this but these comments actually proved that racism exist in New Zealand and it got a modern method of extending it tentacles, the internet.
This particular auction was listed for $99,000 and attracted a large number of racist and anti-Maori comments such as (this one is actually mild) "Any Maori that can afford this plate stole the moni" when i read this I thought rreeeeaaalllyyy, like how the Brits stole (or confiscated) Maori land, made millions and continue to use that money to maintain economic and political domination over Maori.
Another below the belt comment was "Maybe donate half the money to a charity to help prevent Maori throwing their babies into walls. I thought that this was a pretty sick comment, its like the writer searched for a level lower than pathetic and found it. Himself!!
Wow - I find it hard to believe that there are non-Māori who feel so angry. You make an excellent point about the medium being just a way that certain people are able to express themselves. You also manage to do this without making generalisations. This is a good blog, and some reference to course material, showing how it fits in, would have lifted this to an A.
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