To Be Or Not To Be...

So it is at least ironic in this fortnight of extraordinary convergences that Paul Henry's comments regarding the (ethnically Indian) Governor General "looking like a New Zealander" has been trumped by New Zealand Indians asking whether Jacinta Lal, Miss India New Zealand (Central) is Indian-looking enough!

I have to say on the day in question, I was not offended by Paul Henry's questioning.  It seemed to be he was being deliberately ironic - putting a patently absurd question that IS on the lips of the functionally racsist New Zealander, into the spotlight.  The reason I saw it this way was because on the same programme Henry was overtly supportive of another New Zealander who was in the spotlight for similar reasons.  This was the day that Irene van Dyk's appointment as Commonwealth flag bearer was being debated.  Henry was quite clear in his view that someone like Irene who had chosen New Zealand was surely to be even more admired than someone simply born into the privilege.

I simply assumed he was having a dig at those who question New Zealanders by immigration.

Anyways, he hasn't explained himself in that way, perhaps because in causing offence he simply wanted to apologise rather than explain himself.  Or maybe he is just a racsist?

For me, I am more dismayed at the wave of reaction - righteous anti racsism which erodes what I saw as an exercise of free speech albeit a provocative and satirical one.  How does a person lose their job for something like that?  Because of popular pressure and diplomatic pressure from one of the most rascist countries in the world (don't get me started on the caste system). 

Henry's biggest problem is sometimes he is just a bit too clever for his audience.  I am often criticised for using big words so I empathise and say "down with the thick"!  But then the whole media machine would creak to a halt so i guess that definitely probably might not happen...