Ignorance, arrogance

It is not unusual, quote often justifiably, to read of Hone Harawira complaining of racism.

My grandmother was Maori, born in Pawarenga, and I am proud of my whakapapa, but when I answer the phone I choose to say hello instead of kia ora, because kia ora is a greeting meaning goodwill, and I am not prepared to bestow goodwill on some parasite in Somalia who phones me wanting to correct faults in a computer I don’t own.

My phone number is similar to the one at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa kura, and it’s not unusual to get a call, normally early in the morning, from someone who hangs up on m when I say hello. When I check the number on my call minder, and ring them back, I am invariably greeted with kia ora.

On one memorable occasion the response was “Kia ora, this is Radio Te Hika o Te Ika, How may I help you?”

These people have a huge influence on tamariki at Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, and elsewhere, at the formative years of their lives, which will shape their conduct and attitudes to racial tolerance forever, and Hone Harawira and his whanau are deeply involved in both Te Rangi Aniwaniwa and Radio Te Hiku o Te Ika.

It makes me scratch my head and wonder what values they are passing on to our young, because we are all going to have to live with the end product.

Racism is a combination if ignorance and arrogance, and I am not putting my name to this letter because my whanau and I don’t need any more of either, regardless of the gene pool contributing. I am only human after all.