Paul Henry suspended by TVNZ

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#388298 5-Oct-2010 15:11

NonprayingMantis: If the guy was European descent, then he wouldn't have said it at all - which is the whole point. Paul Henry only said what he did because the governer general has dark brown skin, implying that people with that colour skin do not look 'kiwi', whereas white people do. That is what is racist about it.

To be clear, I don't think this is a "white" thing. I don't think he'd have said it if he was Maori, either. In the end, I think you'll find Everyone's A Little Bit Racist.

Klipspringer

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#388305 5-Oct-2010 15:19

langers1972:
BraaiGuy:
You clearly have no understanding about the current situation in South Africa

Actually I do as my boss is ex Durban and 2 of my best friends from the UK are Safas and are now back in Capetown and Port Elizabeth.

And what exactly is a 'European South African', isn't that just a PC way of saying you're white?

So you have never been to South Africa then? As said, you clearly have no understanding about SA. Your comments reflect that.

Yes its a PC way of saying I'm white.

Linuxluver

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#388306 5-Oct-2010 15:22

semigeek: Paul Henry has been suspended until 18th October without pay for his comments about the Governor General yesterday on Breakfast. He did apologise. PC madness gone crazy?

Not at all. Henry should have been sacked without a moment's thought.

His comments about the Governor-General were ignorant, wrong and overtly racist....and racist in a way that was beyond debate...implying - as he did - that the Governor-General isn't really a New Zealander (because he's descended from Fijian-Indians).

Some twit at the pub can be stupid on his own time and talk like that. The anchor for the flagship morning news program can be expected to do MUCH better than that. Henry committed an Epic Fail.

That said....Henry should have been sacked by TVNZ years ago and sent back to the talkback cesspit he crawled out of. If I see his face on the telly, I change the channel or turn it off.....and feeel a little sick in my mouth that there are Kiwis who see him as "funny".

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Klipspringer

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#388307 5-Oct-2010 15:23

NonprayingMantis:
BraaiGuy:

I am South African European and I would not have been at all offended if I was asked this question by Paul Henry. This is just being made out to be racist because Anand Satyanand is a man of colour. That's all, if he was a European their would be no issue.

If the guy was European descent, then he wouldn't have said it at all - which is the whole point. Paul Henry only said what he did because the governer general has dark brown skin, implying that people with that colour skin do not look 'kiwi', whereas white people do. That is what is racist about it.

If the guy has a strong Italian accent he would not be kiwi enough? Or maybe if he was wearing a kilt, he would still not be kiwi enough.

Linuxluver

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#388312 5-Oct-2010 15:34

BraaiGuy: I am South African European and I would not have been at all offended if I was asked this question by Paul Henry. This is just being made out to be racist because Anand Satyanand is a man of colour. That's all, if he was a European their would be no issue.

In fact, I don't see why so much fuss is being made out about the whole thing. There are other issues with Maoris etc being allowed more rights to things than European descendent kiwis. To me that?s blatant racism right there. Also being referred to as a Pakeha a number of times by some kiwis to me is also racism. But then, all these issues are tiny in comparison to the sort of racism europeans are exposed to in South Africa.

South African sensibilities on race issues are deeply shaped by the experience of Apartheid - directly and indirectly. They tend - in my experience - to be very much outside the NZ mainstream.....

The experience and background of growing up in an African country isolated from the world by the legal framework of Apartheid in a context of a few million whites trying to rule over a majority composed of deeply tribal black population is SO different to the experience of anyone who grew up in New Zealand that it's difficult, if not actually impossible, to have a sensible conversation on the topic of race. There are very few common touch-points.

In New Zealand, what Henry said to Key about the Governor-General was overtly racist.....as well as deeply - rudely - ignorant. The Governor_General was born here, raised here and has spent his life here. He is a very well known legal figure.

That a South African would have no issues with it isn't really a surprise.....but it does highlight the gap between the two cultural contexts.

South Africans here would be wise to try to understand this through Kiwi eyes....and not attempt to impose their alien experience and values on people here who....arguably....do not want it.

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#388313 5-Oct-2010 15:35

About time he paid for his crimes ... Only 2 weeks?

Linuxluver

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#388316 5-Oct-2010 15:37

joker97: About time he paid for his crimes ... Only 2 weeks?

Wet bus ticket.

Politicians have been forced to resign for far less.

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robbyp

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#388319 5-Oct-2010 15:39

Everyone who lives in NZ is a decedent of an immigrant. I think the question is, what is a real NZer? There is no real answer for it, as it is subjective. My parents have lived in NZ for most of their lives, over 40 years, but they are not considered by the NZ government as NZers, and are not NZ citizens, yet they have been living in NZ for longer than most NZers have been living here. They could become NZ residents by paying the NZ gov a fee, but they have better things to spend their money on. My brother was born here, but now lives in the UK, and now doesn't consider himself a NZer, as most of his family are now there. He even supports the poms in the rugby. (The english don't like the term poms and consider that an insult)

Why didn't the PM pull PH up on his comments? I think it was becuase he didn't find them offensive at the time, and he really should have, if he believed he was crossing a line. When you are talking on a converstation, sometimes there is a disconnect from what you are thinking and saying, and everyone is guilty of that from time to time. PH obvioulsy had time to review what he said, and reliased what he said could be seen as wrong. It was however up to his employer to do something about it, as he is the public face of TVNZ.

BurningBeard

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#388320 5-Oct-2010 15:42

Mr Henry knows how to get people talking about him, even people that don't ever follow him.

Mission accomplished!

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langers1972

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#388322 5-Oct-2010 15:44

BurningBeard: Mr Henry knows how to get people talking about him, even people that don't ever follow him.

Mission accomplished!

I don't think he's clever enough to have planned all this in advance, just got caught with his pants down when trying to be oh so funny

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#388325 5-Oct-2010 15:47

Handle9:
BraaiGuy:

Back to topic, this is being blown out of proportion because it happened to a man of colour.

As opposed to Hone Harawira's comments being blown up when he said he'd rather his kids didn't bring home a girlfriend/boyfriend that was European - which to me, and most people was equally racist. Funnily enough there wasn't much of a debate about that outcry being "PC".

This is being blown up because it was clearly an offensive thing for someone to say on a mainstream "news" program, not because of who it was said about.

I think that's because no one cares about him, he's already shown himself to be crazy! If he appeared on our TV every morning, then I reckon people would tell him where to go too!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

pageweon

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#388328 5-Oct-2010 15:53

alasta: If you ask me completely shutting down state television would be a more effective solution to the problem of gutter journalism.

I highly agree!

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Finch

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#388330 5-Oct-2010 15:55

vinnieg:
Handle9:
BraaiGuy:

Back to topic, this is being blown out of proportion because it happened to a man of colour.

As opposed to Hone Harawira's comments being blown up when he said he'd rather his kids didn't bring home a girlfriend/boyfriend that was European - which to me, and most people was equally racist. Funnily enough there wasn't much of a debate about that outcry being "PC".

This is being blown up because it was clearly an offensive thing for someone to say on a mainstream "news" program, not because of who it was said about.

I think that's because no one cares about him, he's already shown himself to be crazy! If he appeared on our TV every morning, then I reckon people would tell him where to go too!

I care about him. He is funny and also very "Un-PC". Makes a change from everyone else saying "No you cant go there" "Ohh they shouldnt of said that" etc

Klipspringer

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#388331 5-Oct-2010 15:56

Linuxluver:
South Africans here would be wise to try to understand this through Kiwi eyes....and not attempt to impose their alien experience and values on people here who....arguably....do not want it.

LOL. The whole topic of this thread is about kiwi racism on another kiwi. Dont try blame South Africans for opposing alien experiences. You dont want it, you got it with or without the huge south african influence.

geekiegeek

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#388336 5-Oct-2010 16:05

shouldnt the state broadcaster be a cross section of the community? If so I'm sure that there are many, many people who agree with pauls views.

I have to admit when I first saw who the GG was when it was announced I did think - why have we got an indian as the NZ GG? I now know that he was born here etc but I still (personally) would prefer the GG to be at least 2nd generation NZ. Just my personal opinion which last I looked we are all (including Paul) entitled to.

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