I am sitting here twitching with fury as I haphazardly flick through a few comments on the "Get out of parliament Hone you piece of Crap" facebook page . Yet again, I cant help myself in replying to a bunch of ill informed time wasters who push my blood pressure to boiling point.
Anyway, my argument stems from media continuously portraying Hone in a term I learnt in last weeks lecture, as the "Wild Maori" They gather information and then portray it to the mass majority as the word from God. This then leads to hate pages on social networks, arguing that "Hone is a racist piece of crap" that doesn't deserve to be in parliament.
Don't get me wrong, it's great that people can have an opinion, but please get your facts right before defaming someone's character.
Before I go any further, let us define the word racist.
1. a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others
Familiarity information: RACIST used as a noun is very rare.
The adjective RACIST has 2 senses:
1. based on racial intolerance
2. discriminatory especially on the basis of race or religion
Lets look at the other side of the argument - Why is hone racist? They refer to an email that was sent to a colleague in confidence that happened to find its way into the medias hands who then exposed it for all they could get for it. Yes, some or maybe most would agree that the content of that email was racist and uncalled for, some or maybe even most would agree that he is indeed a racist?
Then the NZ Herald article regarding the comment about his children. Hone said that he would be uncomfortable if one of his children were to come home with a Pakeha? Media have yet again misconstrued this in making Hone sound like he said " I don't want my children to come home with a Pakeha" Racist comment? Maybe in the eyes of the media.
Why is Hone seen as an Osama Bin Laden supporter? Could it be that his farewell and acknowledgement of Osama's life in Te Reo has been translated incorrectly. Translated to mean something that would be seen or read by the majority as more interesting than the actual truth. From this, some or maybe even most may agree that he is endorsing the actions of a man who arranged the mass murder of hundreds of US citizens.
These 3 examples just don't sit right with me. With regards to the racist comments, they were sent in an email to a colleague who then handed it to media out of spite. Not condoning to what Hone said, but he did have a point in expressing how he feels in private.
The osama incident is absolutely ridiculous. Talk about reporters needing to take a course in Te Reo before attempting to translate Maori phrases.
As for the incident regarding his children, pay close attention to the word "uncomfortable" here Hone is merely stating he would feel uncomfortable as opposed to the statement that was released by mainstream media.
How do these examples of what I will call "Hone Attacks" differ to the speech that Don Brash made in Orewa in 2004? What does he mean by the Maori Ethnic group is a very loose one? Remember, this speech was given in public amongst hundreds. Also on the topic of public speeches, what did Paul Holmes mean by "Cheeky Darky" Now refer back to the definition of racist and it can be argued that these statements are indeed racist. No hate mail on these issues though, no protests in the university of Auckland to stop Don Brash from giving a speech.
Here are some examples of posts on the "Get out of parliament Hone you piece of crap" page.
JUST IN... hone and supporters now want to be buried only 2 feet deep so even when their dead they can still get a hand out.....
Wots brown on the outside, that conceals a little white on the inside. And is full of crappy little suprises?.....and NO it's not a kinder egg!....
Wats up with Maori thinking they are special. Hone is just another puppet getting his strings pulled by a bunch of dole bludgers.
Come on, it almost makes what Hone said to be words from a saint. Its amazing at how many people have posted such comments aimed at Hone without really looking in the mirror.Hypocrites wouldn't you say? Its like a game of Chinese whispers. One person says one thing and by the time it gets published it means something totally different. These reactions have been somewhat initiated by media when they misconstrue information to suit their punters!! If you don't conform to what mainstream consider to be socially acceptable, then they will label you a radical, racist, bin laden lover. Or maybe there are not enough Maori swinging pois around to be considered worth writing about after all that's who mainstream media portray the good Maori to be isn't it?
Beware everyone, don't believe everything you read or hear about Hone, I could almost guarantee it has been manipulated to conform with what the majority want to hear.
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