ajobbins:

What did you do your thesis on?

ajobbins: Not a bad read:

White Privilege: Exploring the (in)visibility of Pakeha whiteness

The preoccupation of this study is white privilege: the concept that those of us who are white have at our disposal a number of unearned advantages that enable us to live our lives with greater ease than many non whites. In one of the most widely cited pieces of writing on the subject, Peggy McIntosh (1988) presented a list of privileges, that she had access to simply because of her skin colour. Many white people, she contended, do not acknowledge these advantages and the ways in which the institutions which constitute Western society privilege members of the dominant white majority.

driller2000: man so many of you need to read about our history so you can at least comment from an informed position

PaulBags:

driller2000: man so many of you need to read about our history so you can at least comment from an informed position

I really don't care what happened to a bunch of dead people, I care what's happening now. The past happened, you can't change what happened so you really can't fix it. But you can change how you act now. Some seem to think discriminating now is ok because of past discrimination. I don't, I don't think discrimination is ok period. You can if you want, but I will never, ever, understand why.

6FIEND:

tigercorp:

6FIEND: snip...

(However there *is* a particular race that have been told for generations that they have been held back or marginalised by history and that *something* has to be changed before they can move on with creating a future for themselves. I wonder if this has anything to do with their individual motivation to succeed? Imagine if you we're told that generally speaking, you wouldn't be able to achieve the same results as the guy sitting next to you unless society changed in some way... How many of you would wait for that change before putting in the effort?)

So which country does this particular race live in and how is that relevant to NZ?

I'm sure the answer you seek is perfectly self-evident to 99% of readers, however I'll give you a few extra clues because you seem to have a little difficulty keeping up:

* It is one of only a handful of countries in the world that have reserved seats in their Parliament for members of a particular race. (Is this because it is intrinsicly more difficult for people of that race being elected on merit?)
* It has established Governmental Tribunals and Councils to review and assess the historical wrongdoings and establish how significantly they have had a bearing on modern-day members of that race. (Is this because what happened a hundred years ago to someone's great grandfather materially effects how successful they can be today?)
* It has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to the various leaders of that race. (Is this to "make up for" those historical wrongdoings and the disadvantage they have perceived to have caused?)
* It has special Governmental programmes across a broad spectrum specifically targetting that one particular race - Health, Education, Housing, Culture - even Television!! (Is this because members of that race need more help than members of other races?)
* It has reserved seats on some Local Councils for members of that race. (Is this becasue they need more help to get elected than members of other races?)

Imagine if you we're told that generally speaking, you wouldn't be able to achieve the same results as the guy sitting next to you unless society changed in some way... How many of you would wait for that change before putting in the effort?)

I'm certain that it's not intentional, but all this special treatment undoubtedly results in a sense of "I'm special" entitlement. And the justification for the "special" status is because their ancestors were victims of colonial wrongdoing. (Which I am absolutely NOT denying) All of which combines at a sub-conscious level resulting in a "victim mentality" (despite all the good intentions) which becomes self perpetuating.

gzt: I have not seen any details of the policy, but it is instantly recognisable as an old Maori Affairs dept policy. For the Mana party I think it has more to do with producing a policy that is instantly recognisable to an earlier generation of Maori voters and taking a position that is uncompromising in contrast to the incumbent Maori Party. In any case they long since made clear it is open to everyone regardless of race.

Elpie: 
I support the Mana Party plan because I know first-hand how much such home loans can help. I don't believe it will ever come to fruition but there is no doubt in my mind that such a scheme would benefit NZ as a whole. 

Harawira lashed out at white people, stating "Gee Buddy, do you believe that white man bull**** too do you? White motherf***ers have been raping our lands and ripping us off for centuries and all of a sudden you want me to play along with their puritanical bullsh1t....And, quite frankly, I don't give a sh1t what you or anyone else thinks about it. OK?"

driller2000:

PaulBags:

driller2000: man so many of you need to read about our history so you can at least comment from an informed position

I really don't care what happened to a bunch of dead people, I care what's happening now. The past happened, you can't change what happened so you really can't fix it. But you can change how you act now. Some seem to think discriminating now is ok because of past discrimination. I don't, I don't think discrimination is ok period. You can if you want, but I will never, ever, understand why.

if you cant understand that wrongs were done - and that they can be addressed and are in fact being addressed - for the benefit of the entire nation - you are exactly the person i was referring to and i won't waste anymore space on the interwebs "arguing" with the likes of you

enjoy your bubble

Elpie:

gzt: I have not seen any details of the policy, but it is instantly recognisable as an old Maori Affairs dept policy. For the Mana party I think it has more to do with producing a policy that is instantly recognisable to an earlier generation of Maori voters and taking a position that is uncompromising in contrast to the incumbent Maori Party. In any case they long since made clear it is open to everyone regardless of race.

That old Maori Affairs home loan scheme was great. It didn't give anyone a hand-out (same fees and interest rates the banks were charging) but it provided mortgages to people the banks wouldn't touch. When my first husband died I wanted a home of my own in which to raise my child. Not one bank would take a chance on a Maori single mother. I had a deposit of 40% of the value of the property I wanted to buy, was working, had an excellent credit history and every initial approach to banks was met positively. Until they met me. I lost out on three properties over the six months I spent having banks tell me that Maori had poor work ethics, so my work history didn't matter, that Maori women were poor risks, that I'd never be able to pay a mortgage if I "continued having children without a father" (that, from the BNZ, not bothering to look at my application and see that being left on my own was not a life-style choice). It was six months of complete demoralisation and discrimination. Then I went to Maori Affairs. I got my loan, got my home, and have been a home-owner ever since. 

People who think discrimination doesn't exist are living in a bubble. It does and is still happening. Worse yet, much of it is unconscious and not overt enough to be able to take action against. 

I support the Mana Party plan because I know first-hand how much such home loans can help. I don't believe it will ever come to fruition but there is no doubt in my mind that such a scheme would benefit NZ as a whole. 

Elpie: I support the Mana Party plan because I know first-hand how much such home loans can help. I don't believe it will ever come to fruition but there is no doubt in my mind that such a scheme would benefit NZ as a whole. 

Elpie: When my first husband died I wanted a home of my own in which to raise my child. Not one bank would take a chance on a Maori single mother. I had a deposit of 40% of the value of the property I wanted to buy, was working, had an excellent credit history and every initial approach to banks was met positively. Until they met me. I lost out on three properties over the six months I spent having banks tell me that Maori had poor work ethics, so my work history didn't matter, that Maori women were poor risks, that I'd never be able to pay a mortgage if I "continued having children without a father" (that, from the BNZ, not bothering to look at my application and see that being left on my own was not a life-style choice). It was six months of complete demoralisation and discrimination. Then I went to Maori Affairs. I got my loan, got my home, and have been a home-owner ever since. 

StarBlazer: The reason for the question is that although I've only been here only 7 years, I get the impression that here 15+ years ago things were quite different; segregation, kids being told off for using Te Reo Maori. 

Now our children are positively immersed in the Maori culture and my wife is starting a Te Reo Maori language and culture course.