Racism - Waititi vs Garner
Racism. Light blue touchpaper and stand well back.
Nothing sets the sparks flying in this country more than this particularly controversial and sensitive subject. And no-one appears to enjoy fanning the resulting flames more than director Taika Waititi, who has displayed a radiant gift for poking fun at a number of sacred cows, including super heroes and societal mores.
The New Zealander of the Year has done it again, in labelling his home country ‘‘racist as f...’’ in a British magazine.
That has sparked the predictable outcry, including a stinging riposte from journalist and Stuff columnist Duncan Garner.
‘‘This guy – a brilliant film director, no doubt about that – he’s gone too far, it’s too extreme . . . lighten up,’’ was Garner’s reply. He even labelled Waititi’s comments as ‘‘sabotage’’, which could be interpreted by some as also ‘‘extreme’’.
Both men are right. There is enough smoke to justify the fire in both bellies.
New Zealand is a racist place. It shares that dubious accolade with practically every other country on the planet. Pa¯ keha are racist. They, too, share that trait with practically every other race around the world. Ma¯ ori as well.
It might be argued humans are inherently racist. Perhaps it’s hardwired into an animal that has evolved to conquer and then expand around the globe. We all share a muscle memory of caution and distrust about anyone not part of our ‘tribe’.
That’s part of the reason we have legislation in place, to help guard against the deeper, darker motives in our DNA. And not only on issues of colour.
Racism is just one offshoot of a wider prejudice that is an equal-opportunity enabler. Bias is not just black and white. It creates snap, often unjustified, judgments and stereotypes around gender, religion, income, vocation; even where you live.
We have all experienced it at one point or another; we can all attest to the burning bitterness left in its wake. No matter our race or station in life. And often, clever artists such as Waititi play with those prejudices for their own ends.
There is a sense of ‘sabotage’ that such comments were shared outside of the established group, that Waititi should ‘‘stop selling us out on the international stage’’. That he has somehow betrayed his wider ‘tribe’.
That such comments still sting in this country reflects some of the truth in what Garner is saying: that we believe we have made great progress in a contentious area.
It seems to be something we care about a great deal more than in other countries, for whom attitudes to their indigenous people are well down the list.
We have skin in the game. We desperately want to make progress, whether we’re Waititi or Garner. That’s the real truth.