NZ needs a new flag?

I've been reading and witnessing a lot of kerfuffle recently about why we need a new New Zealand flag. I've also been asked for my opinion from friends and acquaintances alike. It's not something that I had given much thought to over the years, and certainly not something that has warranted much allocation of grey matter towards. However in recent times, the level of discussion around this topic has only increased, and one of NZ's top media outlets has taken it upon itself to start asking for submission for alternative NZ flags from it's readers. TVNZ Close Up also had a viewer phone-in poll to select between 3 alternative flags. So what's all this about? Do we need a new flag?
If there's one thing law school taught me, it was that I need to begin any 'opinion' I may have on a contentious issue with the words 'it depends....'. So..

Do we need a new flag? It depends. If I look at the site NZflag, arguments espoused by those that take the affirmative position in this debate, I could sum it up as follows -

1) The current flag isn't flown much because it doesn't resonate enough with Kiwis.
2) The current flag isn't unique enough.
3) The current flag doesn't have much 'brand' impact.
4) There is not enough emotional connection to our flag
5) Current flag is poorly designed.
6) Other symbols than the Union Jack can represent and honour our past too.
7) Current flag isn't instantly recognisable and symbolic.
8) A new flag reflects our changing times - our independence and self-determination.

The arguments in opposition are -

1) Why bother? It's just a flag. There no need to change something that does not tangibly effect our daily lives.
2) The current flag has a lot of meaning and symbolism, and reflects our heritage and historical roots.
3) Many have fought, and died under this flag and changing it would be a form of dishonouring their sacrifice.
4) There are no alternatives that we can all agree on anyway.

I'm sure there are other arguments pro and con on this topic. So going back to my view...

I think we need a new flag. However, I would only support a new flag if our political reality changes. So long as Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth is our Head of State as represented in New Zealand by her Governor General, there is every reason to keep our current flag. It accurately reflects our legal reality. I agree whole heartedly with those that counter that it does NOT reflect the actual reality of our situation in NZ - but this for me is not an argument for a change of flag. Rather, this is an argument for a republic. You can not on one hand claim that we need a change in identity as can be reflected in a flag and have in effect an independence, and claim self-determination whilst on the other hand defend the right for the continued existence of a monarchic system with the Queen as our head. Either we are independent, or we're not. Either we're Her Majesty's subjects, or we're not. And if we're not, are we not a republic?

The Aussies seem to have got this one right. The discussion there is not about their flag - it's about whether or not to be a republic. Why is the 'R' word so dirty in NZ?
The Maori claim a special relationship with the Queen - that began with the signing of the Treaty. Their fear is that a republican NZ, would not be so deferential to a treaty signed with the Queen of England, and Maori rights claims would suffer adversely as a result. I contend this is not ipso facto.

I will not be supporting the change of NZ's beautiful flag, unless we become a republic. Which we should. Therefore, we should change the flag too.

Letter to an Indian Philosophy professor

Dear Professor,

I can’t tell you how fantastic it was to bump into you again on Sunday after so many years. Often in life, as one passes through, one meets people that leave an indelible impression upon you that lasts with you for many years. Most of the time, we are unable to know this whilst we are still in the person’s presence, and only come to this realisation in hindsight. I remember with great fondness the classes I took with you during my time at university, in particular your kindness and character towards your students. I took a lot of understanding from that and have tried over my years since to replicate such character in my own life. In this respect, your influence has been strong, so it truly was a pleasure to see you again over the weekend.

Over the years, I have tried to encourage the learning and understanding of words such as ‘religion’, ‘culture’, ‘tradition’ and ‘values’. I have worked with refugee families, immigrants, and youth from many different countries and backgrounds. In my own ethnic community, which is broadly speaking the ‘Indian community’ (what does this even mean these days?), I feel there is a great deal of ignorance and misunderstanding about Indian history, religions, and philosophy. Some where along the way, we lost the essence and meaning of what it means when we say ‘Indian culture’ or ‘Indian tradition’ and ‘Indian values’. Nowhere is this more evident than in the younger generation....but they are not the culprits, their lack of awareness is in fact the indirect manifestation of their parents lack of knowledge and effort to comprehend.

Gandhi once intimated that his goal was not an Indian republic and independence from the British in law, but rather his goal was an India where Indians can be free to live as Indians in all its beauty and ugliness. To gain independence and yet continue to live like the British do, or how the British have set up, would be no independence at all. Gandhi’s India is becoming a nation no different in nature to any western nation, except we have brown skin. India’s contribution to the world cannot be just cheap intelligent labour with good work ethic – then India is no more than the world’s machine. India needs to contribute to the world’s soul. The beauty and enrichment of Indian philosophical water, is fast being muddied and stagnated by modern religious groups’ deliberate misappropriation of its character for political power, and an apathetic population manipulated and anesthetised into submission. In this spirit, I feel the challenge, Professor, that we have, is not one of provision of information to the masses and the continued presentation of already learnt knowledge – rather, the challenge is to make the teachings, learnings and combined wisdom of centuries of philosophy, meaningful and relevant to the lives and futures of the current generation. This is more a project of communication and ‘packaging’ , than just a promulgation of ‘content’. It has become not enough to just state the truth – one has to state it in a way that resonates. My example, is you. Your character, delivery and attitude to students was not the reason I took a look at Indian Philosophy, however it *was the reason I persisted with it and continued to look deeper and further within it, and contemplated its relevance and meaning in my life, *after I left the course. The packaging (you) is as important as the content (Indian philosophy). Isn’t this the ultimate aim of Indian philosophy – to enrich the soul and fuel its capacity and willingness to contemplate, to examine, to argue, to think, and to understand it’s journey....? Surely it can’t be to define, to know, to restrict, to curtail, to instruct and to shackle one’s capacity to examine outside the given paradigm of the day?

Chaim Potok, the Jewish writer, once wrote in his fictional work ‘The Chosen’, that ‘where there is silence between men, the individual becomes an oasis for himself’ We’re becoming a people of oasis chasers, sold oasis water, while being assured by those who cast us in to the dessert, that the oasis is all we need.

Thank you for inspiring me to continue to think and contemplate.

Kind regards.

Matt Taibbi talks about AIG and the bailouts...

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/26793903/the_big_takeover/

Bankers are Turkeys

I read this book over on the plane ride from Denmark to NZ last year and found it a fascinating read; certainly an entertaining one. If you are a after serious yet entertaining read, check out The Black Swan, by Nassim Taleb.

I stumbled across this interview by Charlie Rose today, and decided to post it on my blog...my highlight "...Bankers are turkeys...." The entire turkey discussing starts 1 minute into the video.

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/9713#

Why New Zealand is better.....

There's many things I like to deride New Zealand about, and much of it is valid. However, in its treatment and respect of foreigners and immigrants, New Zealand, while there's much to improve, is SO far ahead of European countries and most other nations that I imagine this post will surprise my international friends. In my experience in The Netherlands and in Denmark, all letters and correspondence from officials and ministries sent out to me was all in either Dutch or Danish (respectively). Of course, the oft trolled out excuse was, 'well we are in Holland/Danmark'.
I have just received my election enrolment pack, where I get my election card to take with me to the polling booth on saturday to vote in the NZ general election. In the pack is an explanation of voting procedures and locations. These are translated into the following languages - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Chinese traditional, Chinese simplified, Tokelau, Somali, Farsi, Arabic, Vietnamese, Thai, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Punjabi and Niuean.
...as standard. You might think NZ has an abundance of multilingual persons. No. Some of these immigrants only number in the thousands. I look forward to the time when other countries let go of their blind and deaf nationalism and do the logical and intelligent thing.

Ayn Rand shrugged

Former USA Fed chairman Alan Greenspan repents after following the financial market turmoil....

"I made a mistake in presuming that the self-interest of organizations, specifically banks and others, was such as they were best capable of protecting their own shareholders"


Can we all just finally move on from unfettered free market economics???

Bankers and market morals...(comedy?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-oIMJMGd1Q&eurl

Why shit happens...

Why we are idiots.....

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/14-reasons-main-street-loses/story.aspx?guid={F63EC448-D9C1-4138-AC18-97BF0FE68EE3}&print=true&dist=printMidSection