Are young environmentalists 'muppets' as has been claimed recently, in our newspapers and on various right-wing blogs? Should students who are exhibiting signs of interest in where politics and environmentalism intersect be disparagingly dismissed because of their youth, as curmudgeonly conservatives seem so willing to do?
I don't think so.
Those young people who came along to the Riverton's public meeting to see Invercargill's political hopefuls in action, were bright and polite students, wanting to see for themselves what was on offer and to take the opportunity to ask questions of them, despite the criticisms from some members of the audience. Each of them belongs to a student-initiated group at the local high school, 'Green-agers', which has been active in various environmental activities, including finding out about policies of the various main parties and how they relate to their interests. The had made placards that highlighted several issues they help to be important; climate change, lignite mining and deep sea drilling and displayed them at the entrance to the hall in which the 'debate' was to be held. All smiles and good humour they were too.
In today's Southland Times, there is a story of an 'Invercargill school student', who has made it his business to clean up the dunes of Oreti beach, where rubbish has been dumped. Robert Tucker is a Year 12 student, like my daughter Hollie, so unfairly described by the irate and misguided letter to the editor writer, "Nicolas Wainwright" as a 'muppet'. I wonder if the same title will be applied to Robert? His actions in collecting bag after bag of rubbish from the beach and his audacity in contacting the newspaper to express his concern about the state of the environment on our popular beach, will surely earn him the title, "Muppet".
Don't you think? (For those anonymous commenters who find the rhetorical question confusing, I'll add, "I don't think so. Robert's efforts are admirable and he deserves nothing but praise.")
22 comments:
Those who call them muppets are more likely to have a hand up them being controlled by an unseen operator than the AKSHULL muppets. Good on the young people for cleaning up the environment that,s been soiled by the unthinking.
Was Robert Tucker one of those at the meeting that Mr Wainwright referred to?
I don't think he was, Anon@9:22 I don't know Robert personally, though I admire the stand he's taken and his willingness to step up to the plate and do something about a degrading environment.
Anon@8:53 - agreed.
I don't think he was, Anon@9:22....
You appear to have answered your own question.
Are young environmentalists 'muppets' as has been claimed recently, in our newspapers and on various right-wing blogs?
Which newspapers and right-wing blogs have ever claimed "young environmentalists are muppets"?
Newspapers and blogs haven't made those statements, Anon. Commnentators in both have.
Anon @ 9:22
Of course, Robert is to be admired for his actions, as are other young people. Dismissing them with a demeaning quip is wrong, in my view, and that is the message of my post. I know a good many young environmentalists and I admire them and their work very much.
Demeaning quips are your forte, Robert, yet you bridle very quickly when someone else uses words much milder than your invective.
Anonymous - that's very true, the difference here (and the difference is an important one) is that the 'muppet' quip is aimed at a small group of young people who did nothing to deserve negative criticism. They came of their own volution, dressed very well, behaved politely and represented their age group very well. The negative comments that were levelled at them were not valid and a little hurtful. There is an understanding that politicians children should not be used as leverage to criticise their parents, yet here this has happened. I think it's low. It's true that 'muppets' isn't especially cruel, but it is demeaning and I believe an adult who made that comment in a newspaper is deserving of criticism for it.
My own 'demeaning quipping' is almost always aimed at well known politicains, to whom such barbs are part and parcel of their assumed roles, or commenters on blogs who 'fire first', with personal 'abuse'. I'm not one to make disparaging comments of any ordinary person, unless I've received a number from them already. It may not seem that way to the casual observer, but I have a discretionary process.
"Bridle" is such a great word, Anonymous. You are so very learned :-)
I await your response with eager anticipation.
Why are you dragging Robert Tucker into your argument when you have said he was not there. The only reference to his being a muppet is from you. What might his parents think of that?
What pish, Anonymous. You know perfectly well that I'm featuring Robert's story (follow the link) to highlight the reality of young, activated, environmentally aware people. Your attempt to cloud my intend is lame. However, I sense you will close your mind and surge on with your attempts. How dull you are.
I've a question for you, Anonymous.
Why don't you use your real name when you comment?
Are you using anonymity to hide the fact that you are not being up-front with your argument and want protection when readers see that you are merely bullsh*tting?
Would a suitably contrite public apology for your "childish" (was that the term?) behaviour when these young innocents were in your company at an adults forum perhaps assuage the rising wrath in Southland? Or can it all be laid at the feet of Mr Wainwright who erroneously sees young minds being led astray, albeit willingly?
Do these young people have a view on all this?
Do their parents?
Lessons all round, I suspect - for better or for worse.
I don't know about 'lessons', Anonymous, but certainly a showing of colours.
As to an apology, you're clearly not a reader of the Southland Times, in which this morning, my apology appeared.
"Seems I over-stepped the mark with my too-enthusiastic barracking at the candidates' meeting at Riverton.
I've been watching Back Benches on TVOne, where the lively audience has plenty to say to the guest politicians, and hoped to bring a little of that energy to our southern meet-the-candidates night.
Perhaps I should have stayed at home watching t.v.
To all those who found my yahooing annoying, I apologise.
Robert Guyton
Well done, Robert.
Thank you, Anon.
You apologised? I picked you as the sort that would not bend to the grim and the insipid.
I apologise regularly, Armchair Critic, to all and sundry. And I'm looking forward to the next meeting with eager anticipation.
Ah this is brilliant! And I think we have met before Robert (Mr Guyton), at the James Hargest political society in was it 2011 or 2010, don't remember but it was the year you ran for council. We put them posters up all around the school :P But anyway, the quality of our environment is on the slide, lets be honest, this stuff accumulates, it does not go away. I have just finished a project on PVC gloves and the poisons in PVC plastics.
Robert! That's very good and encouraging indeed to hear from you and what you are doing. It's been some time now, since my visit to your school, which I enjoyed very much - I got elected, as you might know, and have done all I can to turn the tide. You'll know Chris Kennedy, no doubt. he's in Welly. Maybe you know Hollie as well.
Yes! I am good!! Yes Chris is in Victoria , my friend said he saw Chris on Friday here at the school, and yes, I do know of your daughter, she went to that MUNA thing did she not?
She did indeed. Chris has done some great graphic work, have you seen any of it? He's got talent!
Post a Comment