Michael McClelland provides a piece from the Platypus Affiliated Society for our Special Edition of The Commonweal: What is to be done? Published in March 2025.
The summing up is "I don’t expect success. That much I know."
So the unstated answer to the question "What is to be done" is "Do nothing".
Meanwhile some of us are doing stuff and are being successful, building rangatiratanga, mana motuhake and kotahitanga.
The post makes plenty of mention of "that abstract, slippery concept known as New Zealand", a "country of inveterate, backwoods, thick-headed, egotistical philistines, who have brought their “civilisation” with them from England and keep it to themselves like a dog in a manger" but none of Aotearoa whose people are resourceful, cooperative, educated and continuing to extend and enhance a resilient culture founded in the realities of their own whenua.
To me the article illustrates nothing more than the vacancy left over from two centuries of colonialism. I hope that was the writer's intention.
"So the unstated answer to the question 'What is to be done' is 'Do nothing'."
No, this isn't necessarily the conclusion one should draw, but I intentionally framed the article in such a way that it might be (mis)read this way! :-)
I'm glad you read the article and that it caused some reflection at least.
The summing up is "I don’t expect success. That much I know."
So the unstated answer to the question "What is to be done" is "Do nothing".
Meanwhile some of us are doing stuff and are being successful, building rangatiratanga, mana motuhake and kotahitanga.
The post makes plenty of mention of "that abstract, slippery concept known as New Zealand", a "country of inveterate, backwoods, thick-headed, egotistical philistines, who have brought their “civilisation” with them from England and keep it to themselves like a dog in a manger" but none of Aotearoa whose people are resourceful, cooperative, educated and continuing to extend and enhance a resilient culture founded in the realities of their own whenua.
To me the article illustrates nothing more than the vacancy left over from two centuries of colonialism. I hope that was the writer's intention.
Hi Geoff,
"So the unstated answer to the question 'What is to be done' is 'Do nothing'."
No, this isn't necessarily the conclusion one should draw, but I intentionally framed the article in such a way that it might be (mis)read this way! :-)
I'm glad you read the article and that it caused some reflection at least.
Best,
Michael