Clarfication on flag burning protest
We've received a number of messages regarding a flag-burning protest by "republicans" today, reported tonight by TVNZ. Firstly, the "Republican Party" has nothing to do with the Republican Movement; we are a separate organisation.
Secondly, we do not support burning New Zealand's flag, which is probably illegal. Not only does burning the flag not acheive anything, it offends plenty of people unnecessarily.
Secondly, we do not support burning New Zealand's flag, which is probably illegal. Not only does burning the flag not acheive anything, it offends plenty of people unnecessarily.
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Yep certainly not a good look....I did not see this on the news myself, but my neighour (HK immigrant) said to me "those republican people have been burning NZ flags....are they terrorists?" Certainly not a good look and the publicity they get belies the fact they have a tiny following.
Just goes to show that republicanism is not immune to vandals and publicity seekers in their midst!
"we do not support burning New Zealand's flag" Good on you! But many republicans do want it to be replaced. That would be more devastating to the flag than one copy being burnt by a publicity-seeking republican.
Yes, they got fewer votes than we have members.
BTW, you'd really be "devastated" if the flag changes? I thought it was a non-issue...
"republicanism' with a ritual piece rather than meaningful engagement with the issues. Reminds me, I really must get round to doing that Gaynz.Com piece on microparties and their irrelevance to NZ politics that I've been ruminating about.
"I thought it was a non-issue..." Well I wrote that it was a non-issue CONSTITUTIONALLY. That does not imply that I think that the design of the flag is non-issue from the perspective of NZ society or people.
But I wonder, did you omit a vital word from what I wrote by mistake or deliberately to try to undermine my post?
That was not the only thing whose meaning was twisted: I actually said ""we do not support burning New Zealand's flag" Good on you! But many republicans do want it to be replaced. That would be more devastating to the flag than one copy being burnt by a publicity-seeking republican." So no, I would not be devastated, the existing NZ flag would be devastated by being eliminated if many republicans (many of whom also want to see the current NZ flag replaced) got their way.
*Varies. They get more than one percent of the vote sometimes, but I get the feeling most of the more pragmatist potheads don't want to 'waste' their vote. It is the best polling microparty. for all that
When I first met Kerry Bevin, the RNZP leader, in 2007 (they crashed our debate on Dominion Day) he asked me what my "issue" was - as Chair of the Republican Movement. Fairly obvious I would've thought.
I'll give WestmiNZter one thing - he doesn't give up. And yes, he's yet to accuse me of being in the IRA, Freemasons or being a communist (all things I'm regularily accused of).
I support our current constitution. However I do also recognise it is not perfect. The monarchy as an institution goes back centuries (with a slight hiatus) and has accumulated traditions and conditions that C21st people and social conventions would deem to be not entirely appropriate! The result is that the monarchy now has a white European Anglo-Christian patriarchical bloodline. Unfortunately this leads to its attraction for skinheads, fascists and ultra-revisionists. On the other hand, in NZ republicanism can sound more attractive to anarchists and communist.
Given some of its other policies, your friends, the Republican Party is a bit of mystery to me on this score....I would have thought it would have been Monarchist to be honest!
I am pleased I seem polite....although there has been the odd time I would like to give "The Chair" a verbal slap!
I think they are. As Craig said, they're into "tack-on" republicanism.
although there has been the odd time I would like to give "The Chair" a verbal slap!
As long as it's only verbal :-D. There's lots of people who want to slap me.
*"But Craig, doesn't it bother you that Canada is a constitutional monarchy? (smirk)" [My mate Alan the pro-choice, same-sex marriage supporting and assisted suicide backing ACT supporter and third generation Sino-Kiwi]
"I'm willing to live, learn and adapt. And come to think of it, there is a Canadian republican movement..."
Most of the Christian Right seem to be kneejerk monarchists, though... apart from my cousin who's the 'blue sheep' of our red ribbon devoutly leftist family...devoutly Catholic...and republican...
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