Racial ‘simplicities’

Reading Joel Maxwell’s rants, I felt anger growing: these crude, generalised, insulting racial stereotypes, these crude groupings, these simplicities. Are there no ‘‘Ma¯ oris’’ in NZ First?

Are all MPs ( ‘‘Ma¯ oris’’ too) smoking, boozing hypocrites? Are all ‘‘Ma¯ oris’’ good, wise, spiritual victims of ‘‘Pa¯ keha¯ ’’ ignorance and villainous exploitation? Do ‘‘Ma¯ ori’’ gangs have nothing to do with targeting kids for marijuana and meth sales? Are all ‘‘Ma¯ ori’’ pot smokers nice, controlled, upright folk, while ‘‘Pa¯ keha¯ ’’ exploiters drink whiskey in their spa pools?

What is a ‘‘Ma¯ ori’’ or ‘‘Pa¯ keha¯ ’’? Is Lydia Ko a ‘‘Pa¯ keha¯ ’’? My Iranian or Fijian-Indian friends?

Maxwell complains of selfsatisfaction, self-righteousness and a one-eyed view of society among ‘‘Pa¯ keha¯ ’’. I suggest he ponder the nature of racism and his whole cultural heritage.

Chris Blackman Richmond, October 16