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Opinion piece by Josie Bullock
5 November 05
Politically
Correct Corrections
Who would
have thought that a woman taking a front-row seat at a
graduation ceremony for offenders would have caused such
uproar?
Unfortunately,
asking women to sit behind men at such ceremonies is just the
tip of the iceberg as far as political correctness in the
Department of Corrections goes.
At previous
ceremonies, we had been told that "the men protect the
women" and "the men are like gods when they speak
and the women support them". Just before this particular
graduation ceremony, I offered to make a speech, but this was
ignored, as women aren't allowed to speak during the Maori
part of the proceedings. Whatever sugar coating people want to
put on it, the women are definitely subordinate.
Needless to
say, the department thinks it's doing a wonderful job
introducing all this Maori culture. However, it fails to see
that in doing so it is imposing many outdated beliefs and
attitudes on offenders and staff.
On this
occasion, there were women as well as men graduating from the
anti-crime programme. How do they feel about having these
sexist attitudes imposed on them? And surely it sets a bad
example to male offenders by promoting an attitude of male
superiority.
The
Department of Corrections seems to think that because
something is part of Maori culture, it's good. Clearly, lots
of aspects of Maori culture aren't good and should be done
away with. Just as cannibalism has gone, so too should the
sexism inherent in these ceremonies. Cultures aren't set in
concrete. They change as time goes by. Otherwise, we'd still
be living in caves and women would be the chattels of men.
We can't
make Maoris change their own ceremonies in their own domains.
However, when it involves general society, we cannot put up
with this affront to human rights. It amazes me that the first
country in the world to give women the vote has become so
politically correct it tolerates such nonsense.
Along with
the sexism, which is promoted in these ceremonies, there is
also religion. Prayers have become part and parcel of them and
they've even introduced prayers at staff meetings. I feel
rather sorry for the offenders who go on these programmes,
often with good intentions, and get bombarded with religion.
Apparently, it's up to the Department of Corrections to teach
them about their "spirituality".
Of course,
those offenders who admit to having any Maori blood whatsoever
are subject to special treatment. If they have some Maori
blood, even a smidgeon, but don't identify as Maori, then they
are deemed to have "Lack of Pride". What an insult!
Those that
do identify themselves as Maori are also assessed for the
other "Maori Culture-Related Needs". These include
such things as "Whanau Social Influence to
Crime" and "Limited or Lack of Whanau Contact".
It seems non-Maori offenders are a totally different species
and don't suffer from such family problems.
Maori
offenders are encouraged to go on a Maori culture programme to
learn about things Maori. Only Maoris are allowed to attend
and there are no equivalent cultural courses for those of
other races. Clearly, another racist policy.
It is not
up to the Department of Corrections to teach offenders about
what they think their culture should be. It is up to each
individual to become involved in cultural traditions or not,
as they choose. A Maori (or Scot or Samoan or Chinese) may
choose to be involved in traditional practices or not. It is a
personal choice and has no bearing on whether or not that
person takes to a life of crime.
And who
decides what the culture is? Culture can be totally different
for each individual on the planet and changes for each person
over time. How patronising
that the Department of Corrections has decided that it is the
authority on what Maori culture is!
The
Department of Corrections has a lot of other politically
correct policies, some of which are common to other government
departments. These include only employing and/or promoting
those who agree with "the principles of the Treaty of
Waitangi"; separate Maori units and religious units in
prisons; allowing visits outside prison visiting times for
kaumatuas; having staff support networks for Maori and Pacific
Island staff only, and giving preference to minority races in
employment.
This
political correctness means that advantages are given to
particular groups, meaning that everyone else is
disadvantaged. It goes against the concept of equal
treatment for all and imposes attitudes and beliefs, which are
contrary to natural justice and basic human rights.
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Comments:
Josie certainly has my support. I view the imposition of so-called maori values where they haven't existed before as a form of forced recruitment to create a controlled social group. The leaders and supporters of these groups then create a power bloc of their own and enforce it with threat and emtotian stand-over tactics. The rewards in terms of financial and power returns are far greater than would be normally acheived by the self appointed leadership.
(6 Nov 2005)
Josie's situation has to be PC
taken to its most illogical conclusion.Good analogy with Rosa Parkes. Time has honoured her stand yet our PC Govt. vilifies our own gutsy lady. This is an extension of the infestation of Maori PC reverse apartheid written into all our Acts of Parliament and local body policies. Having the Labour Govt. endorse the right of local bodies to have Maori Wards with separate Maori councillors is a further example of this PC. nonsense.
(7 Nov 2005)
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