23 Comments
author

In case you're wondering, I said "swastika" 14 times during that newsletter. Forget the symbol - I'm sick of the sight of the word!

Expand full comment
founding

Seymour may not self-identify as a fascist but quite a few of the coalition would look right at home in a black uniform riding in a tank running over poor people

Expand full comment
3 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

Wee mental Davey is a dangerous piece of

Expand full comment

Great imagery there.!!

Expand full comment
3 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

Between Seymour and Luxon we have an unholy alliance. All normal reactions are reversed. The explanations defy logic. One term Government please.

Expand full comment
2 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

He wants to know where the idiots are - look in the mirror, mate.

Expand full comment
2 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

Actually, maybe he’s onto something. When Act party people wear their badges, we will know where those idiots are too.

Expand full comment
2 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

It’s their gang insignia

Expand full comment

it should be mandatory for anyone who votes ACT to be made to wear a badge so we actually know who these f wits are.

Expand full comment
2 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

Seymour is being rather self-referential with this whole concept though, isn't he? "knowing who the idiots in society are"

Expand full comment
2 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

Well written again Nick.

I have absolutely no problem with gangs and patches, including the Police and Défense Force, or even sporting bodies but my heart stops when I see the swastika.

It strikes fear in me as people who wear or believe in that, outside of the spiritual realm, believe in absolute pure hatred.

Gangs have nothing on that!

I hope David’s electorate turn on him big time. The bigger the better.

As for Luxon’s new line we are open for conversation - sorry I think he has learnt that from a Spin Doctor who is trying to look like he has some brains.

But really for me, Luxon and Seymour - it’s the Strawman ( no brain) and Pinocchio (puppet who really wants to be a boy)

Get them out as there is no end to their damage and BS covering it

Expand full comment
1 hr agoLiked by Nick Rockel

Many years ago I was teaching in London. One of my colleagues was a concentration camp survivor. One morning she came running out of her classroom, shaking, in tears. One of the kids had drawn a swastika on the blackboard and she just couldn't go in. Of course the child concerned had no idea, but it was hugely affecting for her.

Expand full comment
author

When I was writing, I thought of the story Paul McCartney has told of how a little old man smashed the windows at a record store which was promoting the Beatles' new single - Hey Jude. You can imagine what he thought it was.

Expand full comment
3 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

David Seymour's OPINION is dangerously laughable.

Expand full comment

I see a few things going on here. Sleazemor doesn't want swastika or Nazi salutes banned in public, not because he wants the "idiots" to show themselves but because he wants to know there are far right, "right thinking" people who he can trust to back him up whenever he gets accused of inciting racial disharmony across the country.

Luxo will be "up for these conversations" after he judges how great the threat to his "leadership" would be if he took Sleazemor to task over his comments, and the damage caused by them.

Winston will kick back with a glass or two of an vintage single malt and a few cigars, courtesy of the tobacco industry lobbyists, and wait for the walls to come crashing down on the other two's alliance, so he can gain the empty throne unopposed.

I'm almost too scared to think about the US election and whatever fallout will be the result of the vote, either way. I've been watching a few Trump v Sanity posts and am staggered at the ignorance and stupidity shown by his supporters. I realise there's a number of Americans who share this Korero and don't mean any insult or offence to you. ( I figure you came here to get away from it all, anyway.) My Dad was a diehard Republican born in Atchison, Kansas, so I have a bit of insight into these matters.

Expand full comment

I noticed the swastika widely on display in India many years ago as it is religious symbol there. Makes me think, it is not the symbol but the way it is perceived by the audience, and that is a behavioral response based on what we have been programmed to evaluate. Not the symbol but our response - as programmed. There is so much miss-information being pumped out by the media - unless we learn to evaluate the lies from reality what will be our future? Just look at the US election process, to see where we are heading - if we are not already there!

Expand full comment
3 hrs ago·edited 2 hrs agoLiked by Nick Rockel

We also need to guard against withdrawal, as that is what they want. Left leaning people spurning all politics would suit them fine. We have to guard against defeatism. Kia Kaha Ake Ake Ake!!

Expand full comment

Yes, very much as you say - we become so polarized with a learned behavior response, we close minds so we never evaluate, just follow tribal attitude, so many people ignore politics. "Don't discuss" when it is the very thing we should discuss as it is the one thing that effects all of us!

Expand full comment
2 hrs ago·edited 58 mins ago

I know what you say is true however the use of the swastika by the NAZI party in the 1930s and 40s changed the reaction of people to it and the meaning for most. Now in 20 years time all those who saw it during that time will have died but many films and images from that time will contain it in the context of NAZism.

Expand full comment

Is that not the most significant point though? Our perception of what we see, hear, or read, is what influences out thinking, we will either like, dislike, hate or love, based on individual evaluation. With all the rubbish floating around, we need to learn to evaluate and not just respond?

Expand full comment
1 hr ago·edited 1 hr ago

Yes, the reason we read and share Nick Gerard Bernard and Mountain Tui. etc We need that clarity information and encouragement to support better and not turn away.

Expand full comment

The issue is in the context of this article is that Seymour wants gang patches banned but not the swatstika. He wants the gang patches banned because they scare people. He wants the swastika to remain because it tells him who are idiots. This seems contradictory to the other ban.

Expand full comment