12 votes

Thousands in New Zealand protest against George Floyd killing

22 comments

  1. [21]
    Algernon_Asimov
    Link
    Why? What do they think they're going to achieve? I doubt very much that the American government is listening to what Kiwis say - they're barely listening to their own citizens, let alone people...

    Why? What do they think they're going to achieve? I doubt very much that the American government is listening to what Kiwis say - they're barely listening to their own citizens, let alone people on the other side of the world.

    8 votes
    1. [11]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. [10]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        If they're protesting against racism towards indigenous people, that does not include the descendants of African slaves imported to the Americas. As for wanting the NZ Prime Minister to denounce...

        If they're protesting against racism towards indigenous people, that does not include the descendants of African slaves imported to the Americas.

        As for wanting the NZ Prime Minister to denounce Floyd's killing, did anyone think to ask her first. before taking to the streets?

        2 votes
        1. [10]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. [9]
            Algernon_Asimov
            Link Parent
            I can't read the article. It's paywalled. That's valid. They could do that any time.

            I mean, that is just from reading the article.

            I can't read the article. It's paywalled.

            Show the non-racists in the US, that they aren’t alone in the world

            That's valid.

            Highlight their own problems with racism.

            They could do that any time.

            1. [2]
              Deimos
              Link Parent
              Please don't comment dismissively on articles you don't even read. You seem to just be trying to cause a bunch of bickering in here for no apparent purpose.

              Please don't comment dismissively on articles you don't even read. You seem to just be trying to cause a bunch of bickering in here for no apparent purpose.

              10 votes
              1. MonkeyPants
                Link Parent
                Is there a way to bicker without dragging down the whole tone of the place? If I tag my own comments as noise, will they automatically be hidden? Or is there a general, don't bicker policy? I...

                Is there a way to bicker without dragging down the whole tone of the place? If I tag my own comments as noise, will they automatically be hidden?

                Or is there a general, don't bicker policy?

                I always find @Algernon_Asimov's contributions interesting. Even when I don't agree with him. Especially when I don't agree with him.

                (I know I am at fault here to, it takes two to argue.)

                1 vote
            2. [6]
              ibis
              Link Parent
              No it isn't

              I can't read the article. It's paywalled.

              No it isn't

              2 votes
              1. [5]
                Algernon_Asimov
                Link Parent
                It is for me. Maybe I've reached a monthly limit of free articles, or something like that, but I can't read this article.

                It is for me. Maybe I've reached a monthly limit of free articles, or something like that, but I can't read this article.

                1. [4]
                  ibis
                  Link Parent
                  The guardian does not put up paywalls. It's a whole thing. It's literally in their page banner - look in the top left hand corner of the page - "Available for everyone, funded by readers" Look...

                  The guardian does not put up paywalls. It's a whole thing.

                  It's literally in their page banner - look in the top left hand corner of the page - "Available for everyone, funded by readers"

                  Look closer at the "paywall" message. There will be a link you can click that will just show you the whole article for free.

                  2 votes
                  1. [3]
                    Algernon_Asimov
                    Link Parent
                    They might not put up paywalls, but they do require people to "register for free and continue reading". Maybe "paywall" isn't the right word for that, but, whatever it's called, I'm blocked from...

                    They might not put up paywalls, but they do require people to "register for free and continue reading". Maybe "paywall" isn't the right word for that, but, whatever it's called, I'm blocked from reading unless I register my details with the Guardian.

                    (Yeah, I know: I could register with the Guardian, but that's just a paywall of a different kind. Instead of paying with money, I'm paying with data.)

                    1. [2]
                      ibis
                      Link Parent
                      Did you try clicking the button that says “not now” right next to the “register for free” button.

                      Did you try clicking the button that says “not now” right next to the “register for free” button.

                      2 votes
                      1. Algernon_Asimov
                        Link Parent
                        Well, now I feel foolish! I hadn't noticed that. :/ Thank you.

                        Well, now I feel foolish! I hadn't noticed that. :/

                        Thank you.

                        1 vote
    2. [3]
      kfwyre
      Link Parent
      Even if our government isn't listening, us Americans are. Seeing this story brought tears to my eyes. Seeing so many people from across the globe choosing to speak out against the racism that...

      Even if our government isn't listening, us Americans are. Seeing this story brought tears to my eyes. Seeing so many people from across the globe choosing to speak out against the racism that pervades my country and show support for the justice we so desperately need is powerful and meaningful and humbling in ways I can't describe.

      7 votes
      1. [2]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        So it makes some Americans feel good. That's nice, I suppose. But will a protest by people in New Zealand actually change anything in the USA?

        So it makes some Americans feel good. That's nice, I suppose.

        But will a protest by people in New Zealand actually change anything in the USA?

        1. [2]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. Algernon_Asimov
            Link Parent
            Honestly... I know it's wrong. but I'm finding it hard to get too worked up about this. For the past few years, my perception of the USA has been changing. I no longer see it as "like Australia...

            Honestly... I know it's wrong. but I'm finding it hard to get too worked up about this.

            For the past few years, my perception of the USA has been changing. I no longer see it as "like Australia but bigger". I've been mentally associating it more and more with authoritarian countries and third-world countries: Russia, Turkey, the Phillipines, etc. The type of countries where you read about a dictator oppressing his people, and the citizens living in sub-standard conditions, and you just go "well, that's just business as usual for <that country>". And, more and more, that's how I'm seeing the USA. It's retreating into a dystopian land and moving away from the rest of us.

            1 vote
    3. [7]
      MonkeyPants
      Link Parent
      What did Colin Kaepernick achieve? Isn't that what makes it such a powerful statement? Thousands of Kiwis got off their asses, to make a statement against racism. Isn't it good to stand up for...

      What did Colin Kaepernick achieve?

      Isn't that what makes it such a powerful statement?

      Thousands of Kiwis got off their asses, to make a statement against racism.

      Isn't it good to stand up for what is right, even when it is hard, even when it seems pointless?

      5 votes
      1. [6]
        Algernon_Asimov
        Link Parent
        I don't know. Who is he? I don't see the point in pointless actions (pardon the pun). If you're going to take action, make it count. Direct your action at the people who can actually change...

        What did Colin Kaepernick achieve?

        I don't know. Who is he?

        Thousands of Kiwis got off their asses, to make a statement against racism.

        Isn't it good to stand up for what is right, even when it is hard, even when it seems pointless?

        I don't see the point in pointless actions (pardon the pun). If you're going to take action, make it count. Direct your action at the people who can actually change something or make a difference. Shouting from the other side of the world won't achieve much.

        1 vote
        1. [4]
          MonkeyPants
          Link Parent
          Colin Kaepernick is the guy who protested police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the American anthem prior to NFL games. Fox News somehow made kneeling during the American anthem...

          Who is he?

          Colin Kaepernick is the guy who protested police brutality and racial injustice by kneeling during the American anthem prior to NFL games. Fox News somehow made kneeling during the American anthem seem unpatriotic, so 30% of America really hates his guts. He lost his job as a result. Four years later, it seems like everyone is doing the Kapernick

          I don't see the point in pointless actions (pardon the pun). If you're going to take action, make it count. Direct your action at the people who can actually change something or make a difference. Shouting from the other side of the world won't achieve much.

          Would you call Gandhi's actions pointless?

          3 votes
          1. [3]
            Algernon_Asimov
            Link Parent
            But are they doing anything else? Or just kneeling? Absolutely not! https://www.biography.com/activist/mahatma-gandhi The actions Gandhi took were intended to directly harm British interests in...

            Four years later, it seems like everyone is doing the Kapernick

            But are they doing anything else? Or just kneeling?


            Would you call Gandhi's actions pointless?

            Absolutely not!

            https://www.biography.com/activist/mahatma-gandhi

            Gandhi became a leading figure in the Indian home-rule movement. Calling for mass boycotts, he urged government officials to stop working for the Crown, students to stop attending government schools, soldiers to leave their posts and citizens to stop paying taxes and purchasing British goods.

            The actions Gandhi took were intended to directly harm British interests in India.

            He wasn't sitting in New York or Tokyo or Sydney, shouting at the British to get out of India from half a world away. He was right there, on the ground, taking direct action against the British.

            1 vote
            1. [2]
              MonkeyPants
              Link Parent
              How far away is India from Brittan?

              He wasn't... shouting at the British to get out of India from half a world away

              How far away is India from Brittan?

              4 votes
              1. Algernon_Asimov
                Link Parent
                Given that the British authorities Gandhi was protesting against were in India (which was kind of the point of his protests), the distance to Britain isn't relevant. The people he was protesting...

                Given that the British authorities Gandhi was protesting against were in India (which was kind of the point of his protests), the distance to Britain isn't relevant. The people he was protesting against were right there.

                2 votes
        2. culturedleftfoot
          Link Parent
          One protest in and of itself may not change the world, but it is often a necessary/useful step in organizing to enact change by heightening awareness, connecting like-minded people, facilitating...

          One protest in and of itself may not change the world, but it is often a necessary/useful step in organizing to enact change by heightening awareness, connecting like-minded people, facilitating information-sharing, etc. I don't blame you for not understanding the context if you're not even aware who Colin Kaepernick is, but you might find it makes more sense with broader perspective.

          1 vote
  2. MonkeyPants
    Link
    As the internet goes dark for George Floyd, there are people all around with world protesting in solidarity. I thought this was so powerful, it belonged in it's own post, not with the daily thread.

    As the internet goes dark for George Floyd, there are people all around with world protesting in solidarity.

    I thought this was so powerful, it belonged in it's own post, not with the daily thread.

    7 votes