Domination is what you have been perpetrating on this list since you joined it, belittling, ridiculing or slandering the racial and/or sexual attitudes of anyone who dared not to blindly hew to your hegemony. At Mon, 15 Mar 1999 15:42:45 EST, you wrote: > > > >Posted by MLR: Speeches and Press Releases on May 09, 1998 at 14:47:23: > >Maori Law Review (MLR) > >Excerpts from speech to Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait >Islander Affairs, Perth, Western Australia > >15 August 1997. Hon Tau Henare Minister of M�ori Affairs > >There's a common catchcry among indigenous people of the world. It's a simple >line that goes something like this: I'm black and I'm beautiful, and I'm proud >of it. New Zealand is going through an exciting phase politically and it's >exciting for me personally, as a New Zealander, as the Minister of M�ori >Affairs and as a M�ori. I'm proud to be M�ori. Undeniably black and beautiful. >For me being M�ori is something no-one can take away from me. I have my >whakapapa, my genealogy, the thing that binds me and my children to the land, >to New Zealand. > >�. It's a time when, as a result of New Zealand's first election under our new >system of proportional representation, M�ori are for the first time >represented in the New Zealand Parliament like never before. At thirteen >percent of the population, M�ori hold a corresponding number of the seats.. >With M�ori holding fifteen of the one-hundred-and-twenty seats in the house. >This is a great result for M�ori people and for democracy as it is a time of >renewed hope and positivity in M�oridom. Because for the first time you've got >fifteen brown faces-not four - but fifteen, advocating a very pro-M�ori >position and ensuring the voice of the indigenous people of Aotearoa are >having a real say and making their presence felt in the corridors of power. > >Along with this you've also got three M�ori sitting around the cabinet table >having a direct input in to the decisions that reflect on the lives of all New >Zealanders �. It's an exciting time not only for us as M�ori, but I believe >for all native peoples of the Pacific to sit up and take a long hard look at >what's happened in little old New Zealand. > >�. If you listen to the radio talkbacks back home, read some of the blatantly >racist commentaries on the growing force that is M�ori clout, you know as a >people, as a force, we're heading in the right direction. Like I said at the >beginning I'm unashamedly black, and I'm unashamedly beautiful and I won't lie >down for anyone who tries to suggest there's something wrong with the pride I >take in myself as a M�ori. > >Because of the stringent pro-M�ori stance my immediate colleagues and I have >taken, and also some on the opposition benches, we've copped a lot of flak >from the media who've painted us as thugs, heavies and hoods. We can't help it >that this country, that the media, have got used to a M�ori political element >who in the past have just sat there and said nothing. That's not our problem. >But according to the media it is. According to them we should be those >handkerchief-head uncle toms: yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir. > >If our stance, our position, is arrogant because we stick up for what we >believe in, because we have a strong M�ori mandate which says that's what we >want you to do, if that's thuggish, then so be it. I'll wear that label, not >kindly, but at least we're advocating what we were put there to do. > >**** >those of us blacks in america use that same term 'hankerchief heads' in the >same way - and no sir, i won't be one. > >i have effectively screened off your mentalities, maintaining contact with all >of the people on the list I have come to like and share with, and have no >impact on my life - > >Dees has not crippled me with his penile insults. >Chris has not bound me with his "love" and "salvation". >Susan has not educated me to her "expertise" on African cultural retention and >Sri Lanka > >I bet you three miss the days when such activities would "work" on us folk so >well. Must be hard for each of you to see them going so so very quickly. Those >maoris will not let chris be their great leader, just like the sudanese women >won't, he can't push out the taliban to rule over afghanistani women; joe may >find that he gets to old to be super hero to women who may well protect >themselves - or not need protection and susan will find those student growing >up too strong for her to control and too wise for her to 'educated'. > >I sought nothing other than to participate in an ecofeminst discussions and >maintain my ability to express factually and on my experiences as a black >woman without needing to get the approval of the three experts on what is >valid and factual and what is not. I didn't get that in full. > >What I wanted from the list were those people involved in the area to share >with - and I got more than I expected, got a whole list of book and web site >sources, as well. So much of the resources I got will enhance my activities >and awareness - so I did get what I wanted. > >You got back your insulated e-mail world where no one challenges your demented >perspectives on certain issues. And where you will be allowed to pretend you >know, and are, what you don't know and aren't. > >I am content. And I expect that you all are as well. > > > > > > Joe E. Dees Poet, Pagan, Philosopher ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Access your e-mail anywhere, at any time. Get your FREE BellSouth Web Mail account today! http://webmail.bellsouth.net ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
