Te Reo should be compulsory in New Zealand schools
I've been watching bbc"s Emerald Isles with Ardal O'hanlon. What struck me was the number of Irish speakers including the presenter. Eire has made a point of teaching Irish even after 700 years of colonisation trying to stamp it out.
The Finland education system guarantees the right to learn one's native language,Sweden includes Sami in the curriculum,South Africa is introducing bilingual education in school,Brazil guarantees the right of indigenous people to be taught in their own language, Peru recognises Quechua and Aymara alongside Spanish, Similar schemes in Malaysia, Singapore and so it goes.
And there is repeated research showing how that learning more than one language when you are young helps overall brain development. And we, in Aotearoa, have such an opportunity!!
Just now I went on to Google Scholar and looked for any existing papers published any year whatsoever claiming enforced bilingualism/learning of two languages at early school age increased children's IQ over their development.....:
(1) only ONE paper (dated 2022...?) makes that claim and it was published by Vietnamese scholars after a study in Vietnam comparing the developing !Q's of students at an enforced bilingual Vietnamese/English school with students who went to a Vietnamese language only school......
(2) there was no sample control/any study over the backgrounds etc of which children in the Vietnamese population were sent to either of the schools, so therefore it was definitely NOT a valid/controlled scientific study;
(3) only ONE paper cited it, and negatively, because its writers had checked out/followed the progress of an Indonesian child brought to the USA when early school age by her parents because her father had gained a scholarship there (an Indonesian who could read and write English we therefore must assume...!)..the paper pointed out that she had extreme difficulties and needed lots of extra tuition and long-term support....to learn to SPEAK as well as write and read English....which is highly predictable in my view. Let's not be so ridiculously idealistic/"woke" when it comes to young children learning languages....learning their country's bicultural history (whether the child is a new immigrant or not!) is vital and is a different "kettle of fish'' .....ah!...so does 'pata ika" (as Google told me) have the same meaning....??....no it simply doesn't...I rest my case.
Dear Kim, Google is a wonderful thing. I asked it "what does research say about learning second or third languages when young and there were multiple studies on just the first page of studies and papers arguing how bilingualism contributed to language development. "Bilingualism is associated with cognitive benefits such as improved executive functions, enhanced literacy skills and greater cognitive ability.
I do not know where you get the "Compulsory" side of this argument. The worst compulsion was in early schooling of maori students when Maori was their first language and they were forced to learn in English and were strapped if caught talking in te reo Maori.
My daughter was in a bilingual class in her early years. I was stunned to hear a six year old comment where the verb came in a sentence in English and how that was different in Te Reo. She did not know the name for the concept of a verb, but she understood its role in a sentence. It is that awareness of language construction that is of such benefit to the learner, not only for language but for many other subjects as the quote above suggests.
Please put in my question into google and you will see many different research responses.
Well well, and here was me thinking Google Scholar was infallible when asked directly logical and clear questions..!!! so thankyou Marion....my father was Welsh (born 1920, died 2020) and he was caned at school in Wales on his first day there when he was only six, for speaking Welsh.....he never forgot it and said "the Pommie bastards" whenever he told the story... by the way I wrote two papers (in the decade before Covid) explaining the evolution of human cognition/narrativity, and the grammar needed for languages, for a PhD...
I argue that this cognitively unique trait arose because we are the only species that has ever entered the behavioral niche of reading the stories told by our own and other animal's trackways as laid out in the environment in which they are made....(which ALWAYS tell a story...) and I can inform you that (as Noam Chomsky has always held) this is why the understanding of grammar (narrativity of events described in languages) is innate to our species, so the fact that a six year old has an understanding of the grammar rules in sentences without knowing the names of the rules is not surprising to me at all...,and I will try asking your question of Google....and then Google Scholar again, thankyou!! But remember, Google describes the territory/subject matter, and Google Scholar supplies the source studies that territory/subject matter is a necessarily always somewhat personal-therefore-ideological= an only possibly correct interpretation of....which is why it is better to read the sources that gave rise to any ideology or belief before making any informed judgements....
By the way there is nothing at all racist about my POV on learning languages!!! I only disagree with the belief that learning an extra language (or two or three) directly increases IQ levels in children!!!! Whereas it might increase EQ, but even that I doubt, because one only has the DNA one is born with. Gaining more cultural understanding is a different matter altogether....of course that will increase....but that is not an increase in IQ.
Yes , and when our Youth Choir performed (and won!) in Wales this year it was a delight to hear the casual use of Welsh by the competition organisers, and by the press in the TV coverage. As you note, Kathleen, Aotearoa is just part of a global reclamation of indigenous languages. Our racist anti-Te Reo dinosaurs are embarrassing!
Exactly! I’ve said it before, but most of the people I know of, who whinge about Te Reo have Irish, Scottish, Welsh ancestry. You’d think they’d know better. Maybe they don’t know their own ancestral history?
What is it with the locked profiles?!? They seem to be an eclectic mixture of dogs, motorbikes, skulls, tattoos (strangely), boats, souped up cars, and might just let you know that, among other vague things, they are digital creators. Which is ?? - playing around on your device?? A nasty bunch of cowards, in my book.
Sadly the RW have taken advantage of our collective tolerance, giving the closet racists a platform and branding those who still display tolerance as woke. I blame the likes of wee mental davey for my recent lack of tolerance. Ive become an intolerant wokester
Yes, I am feeling more and more intolerant (and downright angry all the time). But not about ridiculous things...just about equality and common decency.
I'm the same Shell, I just get so intolerant of people who express racist views. The thing that amazes me is that people who you have thought are quite decent,make these awful statements and just assume that you agree with them! That it's a given! I have people who I have considered friends that I avoid now. It's hopeless trying to put your view across,they are so certain that they are right.
🤔 Being “tolerant” of differences that don't harm others is one thing - being tolerant of intolerance that is based on bigotry, racism, misogyny et al allows harm to occur to innocent people targetted & for the intolerance to gain “legitimacy” 🤬 I have quietly held this view for decades, but of late have been more vocal about NOT being tolerant of intolerance 👍
The fact is, the more racism & ignorance that those trolls spew out, the more it tells us how vital Te Tiriti & history studies are to this country. To end historical amnesia would see a more productive happier country.
Tolerance is difficult when you see so much destruction and hate. The trick is not to turn it into revenge (or at least violent revenge). I try to practice compassion, but I am not always good at it when it comes to our political world. I will never understand why humans resort to or condone killing or hurting or punishing others. I could never, ever support the death penalty for example, which is something that still dominates US politics. But study long history, revenge has always been a thing, including in Palestine. Often in the name of power ; more often in the name that my god is better than yours. Day for Tolerance is a good reminder, but I can't promise to be tolerant of our current government, their vengeful nature and their greed.
'Tolerance' could be a companion to 'common sense'. Neither should be taken for granted. Both are worthy, and recently, in short supply in our ruling government.
Thanks Nick, In amongst other things I needed to do, my brain decided it needed to sort out the the word tolerance and words that go with it like the verb tolerate and tolerant..
Oxford dictionary says to tolerate is to: allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) without interference.
To be tolerant is to showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behaviour that one does not necessarily agree with. Anyway its all about 'allowing' things we dislike.
There has been severe testing over the last few years, to the limits of what I would or even should tolerate. If I can't tolerate something then what can I do about it?
The genocide in Gaza is intolerable. What can I do to stop it? I can 'hope' that our government would take a stand against it. Palestinians are living in 'intolerable ' conditions without proper shelter and food and are under constant attack.
Inside Aotearoa New Zealand I don't want to tolerate the relentless 'march' towards a future that I don't want for myself or my grandchildren because it suits the greedy few.
Certain mooted changes cross a line where certainly tolerance of the views of some others is not right or sustainable.
There are some things that I can do to voice my increasing outrage at what is happening.
I can stay informed
I can gather with others
I can sign petitions
I can vote
Some days it doesn't feel like enough....
Anyway I'll go and pull some weeds from the garden now.
OK I'm just going to come out and say it. I'm Intolerant. To Grass. Long grass. To clarify I mean the stuff that grows on your property ( actually that could be the other stuff too ). No. Lawns. I think it comes from being a professional lawn mower in my teens ( a few years back...in the 70's ) working for the Napier City Council doing the lawns on the Marine Parade and also working at a Golf Course, doing the fairways and around the bunkers ( I was never allowed to do the greens, which annoyed me no end, only the most experienced greenkeepers were allowed to do them ). I'm really kind of weird and get much satisfaction from mowing lawns. It is good exercise and I have one of those new fangled Woke Electric lawnmowers. I love it. That should get the anti-woke intolerants fuming and firing up their diesel utes and blowing hideous amounts of smoke into the atmosphere..Just to blow any credibility I may have had, I live next to a dog park and I love it when they let the grass grow and wildflowers become abundant and the dogs run and leap around with manic grins on their faces. I mowed my lawns earlier and can now sit on the deck and now tolerate them with a big smile. A job well done. They just look lovely.
I bought one of those as well as I also have a thing about lawns I also have an e to electric hedge trimmer & whipper snipper as I have a diesel vehicle an old one.
You're on your way Pauline. One day you will replace that old diesel with Electric or similar. I have a PHEV which is great. My late wife chose it and she loved that car more than any other ever, and she has had a few great cars, including a yellow Renault R10 which we named the Custard Square - it was seriously cool. I charge the PHEV on sunny days when my solar is transferring to the grid. I cashed in my Kiwisaver ( there wasn't a lot ) and got solar fitted and for about 6 months of the year I am in credit for power. I reckon I'm saving way more each year than Kiwisaver makes in interest, and back when I did it Kiwisaver was going backwards. All power to solar and electric I reckon - I am less beholden to Big Oil and Big Electric and feel all the better for that. Just wish I could rid myself of Big Clowns.
I thought I saw Trump eased tarrifs - on beef I think.
Sandra’s comments are incredible and a sad disgrace eager for apartheid New Zealand. It was not Jenny May who introduced Te Reo on Breakfast. She was there very much a “whitey” then. Jack Tame it was who introduced Maori and Maori inclusion instead of exclusion. (After all they had had their own separate programme earlier if they were up for it) Jack Tame was addressing Pakeha or the general non-Maori citizen. He introduced as essential introduction to our origins in the Maori culture and our citizenship heritage.
Jenny May was always compassionate, appreciative, warmhearted and inclusive. She was not the political interviewer - as someone commented the Producers should have schooled to adequacy or not used her for that. Her forte was elsewhere.
Sandra: Maori were the only New Zealander’s in 1840. Their nation had been recognised internationally after its Confederation of Chiefs in 1835 declared themselves one nation as well as separate Iwi. They agreed to power share when Pakeha settler’s were a tiny tiny minority. Our treaty should protect both groups in one nation. We grabbed the lot. We - historical Pakeha and all born here or migrated here with citizenship granted have grabbed political power and land that belonged to Maori. It’s our joint history. The only way to unity is valuing both heritages. Face it - it has been heavily British and Pakeha settler way of things. To the huge disadvantage to valuing Maori culture and heritage. We are supposed to be equal partners. If you can’t live with that perhaps you should find another country. Come to think of it it would be appropriate if the current Government all went off to other countries, instead of trying to pervert this beautiful land.
I say this to my sons sometimes. I love you to bits but I dont always like you. However I genuinely cannot say that about any member 9f the current coalition or frankly any Tory party member ever.
Excellent piece Nick. Thanks heaps. You are such a kind and sane person and I depend on your info and take on all this utter BS we are faced with right now. Keep it coming. Kia kaha
All Kiwi kids should have the 'compulsory' opportunity to learn the unsanitised history of the country they call home. The opportunity to learn te reo should also be readily available, as the norm, from their first day of school.
I remember reading about the Paradox of Tolerance a while back. That the paradox disappears if you see tolerance as a social contract, rather than a moral contract. If someone does not abide by the terms of the contract, then they are not covered by it. In other words, the intolerant are not following the rules of the social contract of mutual tolerance. Since they have broken the the terms of the contract, they are no longer covered by the contract and their intolerance should not be tolerated.
Thanks the idea of social contract and people breaking that is interesting. The thing is much of our social contract is unstated. Important though for each of us to have considered wny we are intolerant of specific actions of others.
Te Reo should be compulsory in New Zealand schools
I've been watching bbc"s Emerald Isles with Ardal O'hanlon. What struck me was the number of Irish speakers including the presenter. Eire has made a point of teaching Irish even after 700 years of colonisation trying to stamp it out.
The Finland education system guarantees the right to learn one's native language,Sweden includes Sami in the curriculum,South Africa is introducing bilingual education in school,Brazil guarantees the right of indigenous people to be taught in their own language, Peru recognises Quechua and Aymara alongside Spanish, Similar schemes in Malaysia, Singapore and so it goes.
Love it! Think of all that IQ that those countries are growing as they learn their language!
And there is repeated research showing how that learning more than one language when you are young helps overall brain development. And we, in Aotearoa, have such an opportunity!!
Just now I went on to Google Scholar and looked for any existing papers published any year whatsoever claiming enforced bilingualism/learning of two languages at early school age increased children's IQ over their development.....:
(1) only ONE paper (dated 2022...?) makes that claim and it was published by Vietnamese scholars after a study in Vietnam comparing the developing !Q's of students at an enforced bilingual Vietnamese/English school with students who went to a Vietnamese language only school......
(2) there was no sample control/any study over the backgrounds etc of which children in the Vietnamese population were sent to either of the schools, so therefore it was definitely NOT a valid/controlled scientific study;
(3) only ONE paper cited it, and negatively, because its writers had checked out/followed the progress of an Indonesian child brought to the USA when early school age by her parents because her father had gained a scholarship there (an Indonesian who could read and write English we therefore must assume...!)..the paper pointed out that she had extreme difficulties and needed lots of extra tuition and long-term support....to learn to SPEAK as well as write and read English....which is highly predictable in my view. Let's not be so ridiculously idealistic/"woke" when it comes to young children learning languages....learning their country's bicultural history (whether the child is a new immigrant or not!) is vital and is a different "kettle of fish'' .....ah!...so does 'pata ika" (as Google told me) have the same meaning....??....no it simply doesn't...I rest my case.
Dear Kim, Google is a wonderful thing. I asked it "what does research say about learning second or third languages when young and there were multiple studies on just the first page of studies and papers arguing how bilingualism contributed to language development. "Bilingualism is associated with cognitive benefits such as improved executive functions, enhanced literacy skills and greater cognitive ability.
I do not know where you get the "Compulsory" side of this argument. The worst compulsion was in early schooling of maori students when Maori was their first language and they were forced to learn in English and were strapped if caught talking in te reo Maori.
My daughter was in a bilingual class in her early years. I was stunned to hear a six year old comment where the verb came in a sentence in English and how that was different in Te Reo. She did not know the name for the concept of a verb, but she understood its role in a sentence. It is that awareness of language construction that is of such benefit to the learner, not only for language but for many other subjects as the quote above suggests.
Please put in my question into google and you will see many different research responses.
Well well, and here was me thinking Google Scholar was infallible when asked directly logical and clear questions..!!! so thankyou Marion....my father was Welsh (born 1920, died 2020) and he was caned at school in Wales on his first day there when he was only six, for speaking Welsh.....he never forgot it and said "the Pommie bastards" whenever he told the story... by the way I wrote two papers (in the decade before Covid) explaining the evolution of human cognition/narrativity, and the grammar needed for languages, for a PhD...
I argue that this cognitively unique trait arose because we are the only species that has ever entered the behavioral niche of reading the stories told by our own and other animal's trackways as laid out in the environment in which they are made....(which ALWAYS tell a story...) and I can inform you that (as Noam Chomsky has always held) this is why the understanding of grammar (narrativity of events described in languages) is innate to our species, so the fact that a six year old has an understanding of the grammar rules in sentences without knowing the names of the rules is not surprising to me at all...,and I will try asking your question of Google....and then Google Scholar again, thankyou!! But remember, Google describes the territory/subject matter, and Google Scholar supplies the source studies that territory/subject matter is a necessarily always somewhat personal-therefore-ideological= an only possibly correct interpretation of....which is why it is better to read the sources that gave rise to any ideology or belief before making any informed judgements....
By the way there is nothing at all racist about my POV on learning languages!!! I only disagree with the belief that learning an extra language (or two or three) directly increases IQ levels in children!!!! Whereas it might increase EQ, but even that I doubt, because one only has the DNA one is born with. Gaining more cultural understanding is a different matter altogether....of course that will increase....but that is not an increase in IQ.
Yes , and when our Youth Choir performed (and won!) in Wales this year it was a delight to hear the casual use of Welsh by the competition organisers, and by the press in the TV coverage. As you note, Kathleen, Aotearoa is just part of a global reclamation of indigenous languages. Our racist anti-Te Reo dinosaurs are embarrassing!
Exactly! I’ve said it before, but most of the people I know of, who whinge about Te Reo have Irish, Scottish, Welsh ancestry. You’d think they’d know better. Maybe they don’t know their own ancestral history?
What is it with the locked profiles?!? They seem to be an eclectic mixture of dogs, motorbikes, skulls, tattoos (strangely), boats, souped up cars, and might just let you know that, among other vague things, they are digital creators. Which is ?? - playing around on your device?? A nasty bunch of cowards, in my book.
Don't forget the ones holding really big fish. There seems to be a lot of them as well.
Sadly the RW have taken advantage of our collective tolerance, giving the closet racists a platform and branding those who still display tolerance as woke. I blame the likes of wee mental davey for my recent lack of tolerance. Ive become an intolerant wokester
Yes, I am feeling more and more intolerant (and downright angry all the time). But not about ridiculous things...just about equality and common decency.
I'm the same Shell, I just get so intolerant of people who express racist views. The thing that amazes me is that people who you have thought are quite decent,make these awful statements and just assume that you agree with them! That it's a given! I have people who I have considered friends that I avoid now. It's hopeless trying to put your view across,they are so certain that they are right.
Yes! Incredible really, except it’s obviously happening everywhere. And that’s what you get when the government says it’s fine to be racist now.
Same. I never used to feel as angry as I do now.
🤔 Being “tolerant” of differences that don't harm others is one thing - being tolerant of intolerance that is based on bigotry, racism, misogyny et al allows harm to occur to innocent people targetted & for the intolerance to gain “legitimacy” 🤬 I have quietly held this view for decades, but of late have been more vocal about NOT being tolerant of intolerance 👍
Very good distinction Cindy. i shall try to remember that one next time I am left with my mouth open at the bigotry!
Me too John. Zero tolerance for any of them but most especially wee Davey
The fact is, the more racism & ignorance that those trolls spew out, the more it tells us how vital Te Tiriti & history studies are to this country. To end historical amnesia would see a more productive happier country.
I sincerely agree., Leonie!
Its ironic isn't it!
Tolerance is difficult when you see so much destruction and hate. The trick is not to turn it into revenge (or at least violent revenge). I try to practice compassion, but I am not always good at it when it comes to our political world. I will never understand why humans resort to or condone killing or hurting or punishing others. I could never, ever support the death penalty for example, which is something that still dominates US politics. But study long history, revenge has always been a thing, including in Palestine. Often in the name of power ; more often in the name that my god is better than yours. Day for Tolerance is a good reminder, but I can't promise to be tolerant of our current government, their vengeful nature and their greed.
'Tolerance' could be a companion to 'common sense'. Neither should be taken for granted. Both are worthy, and recently, in short supply in our ruling government.
Very good point Annie!!
Thanks Nick, In amongst other things I needed to do, my brain decided it needed to sort out the the word tolerance and words that go with it like the verb tolerate and tolerant..
Oxford dictionary says to tolerate is to: allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) without interference.
To be tolerant is to showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behaviour that one does not necessarily agree with. Anyway its all about 'allowing' things we dislike.
There has been severe testing over the last few years, to the limits of what I would or even should tolerate. If I can't tolerate something then what can I do about it?
The genocide in Gaza is intolerable. What can I do to stop it? I can 'hope' that our government would take a stand against it. Palestinians are living in 'intolerable ' conditions without proper shelter and food and are under constant attack.
Inside Aotearoa New Zealand I don't want to tolerate the relentless 'march' towards a future that I don't want for myself or my grandchildren because it suits the greedy few.
Certain mooted changes cross a line where certainly tolerance of the views of some others is not right or sustainable.
There are some things that I can do to voice my increasing outrage at what is happening.
I can stay informed
I can gather with others
I can sign petitions
I can vote
Some days it doesn't feel like enough....
Anyway I'll go and pull some weeds from the garden now.
Feeling you Heather
OK I'm just going to come out and say it. I'm Intolerant. To Grass. Long grass. To clarify I mean the stuff that grows on your property ( actually that could be the other stuff too ). No. Lawns. I think it comes from being a professional lawn mower in my teens ( a few years back...in the 70's ) working for the Napier City Council doing the lawns on the Marine Parade and also working at a Golf Course, doing the fairways and around the bunkers ( I was never allowed to do the greens, which annoyed me no end, only the most experienced greenkeepers were allowed to do them ). I'm really kind of weird and get much satisfaction from mowing lawns. It is good exercise and I have one of those new fangled Woke Electric lawnmowers. I love it. That should get the anti-woke intolerants fuming and firing up their diesel utes and blowing hideous amounts of smoke into the atmosphere..Just to blow any credibility I may have had, I live next to a dog park and I love it when they let the grass grow and wildflowers become abundant and the dogs run and leap around with manic grins on their faces. I mowed my lawns earlier and can now sit on the deck and now tolerate them with a big smile. A job well done. They just look lovely.
Haha, I bought a “new fangled Woke Electric Lawnmower” to offset my V8 Muscle car.
It’s bloody brilliant not to having to hurt my shoulder every time I want to start it! Just push the button 😊
Love the push button. My shoulders are shot so I gotta look after them.
I bought one of those as well as I also have a thing about lawns I also have an e to electric hedge trimmer & whipper snipper as I have a diesel vehicle an old one.
You're on your way Pauline. One day you will replace that old diesel with Electric or similar. I have a PHEV which is great. My late wife chose it and she loved that car more than any other ever, and she has had a few great cars, including a yellow Renault R10 which we named the Custard Square - it was seriously cool. I charge the PHEV on sunny days when my solar is transferring to the grid. I cashed in my Kiwisaver ( there wasn't a lot ) and got solar fitted and for about 6 months of the year I am in credit for power. I reckon I'm saving way more each year than Kiwisaver makes in interest, and back when I did it Kiwisaver was going backwards. All power to solar and electric I reckon - I am less beholden to Big Oil and Big Electric and feel all the better for that. Just wish I could rid myself of Big Clowns.
International day of tolerance, and my older son's 53rd birthday. Nice.
I thought I saw Trump eased tarrifs - on beef I think.
Sandra’s comments are incredible and a sad disgrace eager for apartheid New Zealand. It was not Jenny May who introduced Te Reo on Breakfast. She was there very much a “whitey” then. Jack Tame it was who introduced Maori and Maori inclusion instead of exclusion. (After all they had had their own separate programme earlier if they were up for it) Jack Tame was addressing Pakeha or the general non-Maori citizen. He introduced as essential introduction to our origins in the Maori culture and our citizenship heritage.
Jenny May was always compassionate, appreciative, warmhearted and inclusive. She was not the political interviewer - as someone commented the Producers should have schooled to adequacy or not used her for that. Her forte was elsewhere.
Sandra: Maori were the only New Zealander’s in 1840. Their nation had been recognised internationally after its Confederation of Chiefs in 1835 declared themselves one nation as well as separate Iwi. They agreed to power share when Pakeha settler’s were a tiny tiny minority. Our treaty should protect both groups in one nation. We grabbed the lot. We - historical Pakeha and all born here or migrated here with citizenship granted have grabbed political power and land that belonged to Maori. It’s our joint history. The only way to unity is valuing both heritages. Face it - it has been heavily British and Pakeha settler way of things. To the huge disadvantage to valuing Maori culture and heritage. We are supposed to be equal partners. If you can’t live with that perhaps you should find another country. Come to think of it it would be appropriate if the current Government all went off to other countries, instead of trying to pervert this beautiful land.
Psychologists generally insist that our desire to change people is a wish to make them be like us.
That raises difficult questions about our own agendas.
I want the likes of Seymour and Peters to ‘wake up’ and smell the coffee I enjoy.
Does that make me a controller?
Most of us would say “But we want them to change for the common good.” And that seems like a good answer, after all, are we not the “good guys?
It is a bit like the injunction
from various religiosas and mystics, to love our neighbour. I struggle with that one. Some people seem just so obnoxious.
So you can love them but you don’t have to like them?
Ok. I will try that.
But I do wish that the NACTS and the looney lot would get off the grass.😉
controller
I say this to my sons sometimes. I love you to bits but I dont always like you. However I genuinely cannot say that about any member 9f the current coalition or frankly any Tory party member ever.
A conundrum perhaps.
Indeed
I’m proud to be tolerant. And woke.
Kiwi’s are unique. It is Maori culture that makes us who we are. I don’t understand why some can’t see that.
Excellent piece Nick. Thanks heaps. You are such a kind and sane person and I depend on your info and take on all this utter BS we are faced with right now. Keep it coming. Kia kaha
All Kiwi kids should have the 'compulsory' opportunity to learn the unsanitised history of the country they call home. The opportunity to learn te reo should also be readily available, as the norm, from their first day of school.
I remember reading about the Paradox of Tolerance a while back. That the paradox disappears if you see tolerance as a social contract, rather than a moral contract. If someone does not abide by the terms of the contract, then they are not covered by it. In other words, the intolerant are not following the rules of the social contract of mutual tolerance. Since they have broken the the terms of the contract, they are no longer covered by the contract and their intolerance should not be tolerated.
Thanks the idea of social contract and people breaking that is interesting. The thing is much of our social contract is unstated. Important though for each of us to have considered wny we are intolerant of specific actions of others.
.