Abhorrent injustices
The examples that Jarrod Gilbert highlights (NZ Herald, June 27) are crimes against innocent people, made even more heinous because those perpetrating them are in positions of power, upholding a system that should exemplify honourable characteristics of integrity, trust, justice and truth.
Sadly, those with power officially accorded to
them by institutionalised hierarchical structures are some of the worst perpetrators of indescribable acts of cruelty and abuse, as we have seen with inquiries into abuse in state care, Dilworth School and the Catholic Church, to name a few.
Structures are made up of people who benefit from being in the upper echelons of power and control, and who seem inevitably to abuse it.
To change this inequitable, often iniquitous, situation we need to change these structures that accommodate and often turn a blind eye to these people.
As the visionary engineer, architect and futurist Buckminster Fuller said: "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
Linda Blincko, Devonport.
Free for all
America calls itself the land of the free, a beacon for democracy. Even so far as to encourage regime change in countries far away that pose no threat in any foreseeable future. Meanwhile back in the homeland, citizens kill each other to the number of some 30,000-plus annually and more than 100,000 injured. There are countless homeless, living below the poverty line, suffering daily racism, unable to afford basic healthcare, dental treatment an unobtainable financial luxury, deep divisions along political party lines, labour laws heavily weighted in favour of employers, gun laws that defy any reasonable debate, presidents that quickly become laughing stocks, and now a law threatening to disenfranchise millions of women. And this country has the effrontery to tell others how to behave. American democracy needs a reset. Women could now lead the way on a reset by saying no to the top table of judges who have taken it upon themselves to play God. Then take a look at its foreign policy. And don't forget the greatest military machine in the world, bigger than several large countries lumped together. Redirect some of that military spending into health care.
James Gregory, Parnell.
Retrograde world
Seeing the Taliban return to power in Afghanistan was depressing enough.
Now, the Supreme Court of the United States ...
Step by step, little by little, the US, and the Free World are being dragged back to the Dark Ages.
John Watkins, Remuera.
Rights denied
Women are born to bear both the disadvantage and privilege (along with the pain) of reproduction. As a woman who has fortunately never had to face having to decide on the most difficult and grievous decision, I feel strangely and horribly violated by the overturning of the Roe v Wade Ruling by the US Supreme Court.
I am aware that the US Constitutional Law has no effect here. But how is this denial of the most basic fundamental rights for women any different from what has been the case faced by women in China and Tibet who have had abortions forced on them? Both kinds of dictatorial legislation deny their right to decide when and how they express their sexuality and reproductive capabilities.
Right now, the prevailing attitude forced on many is an anti-abortion one. With the overturning of the Roe v Wade ruling, there is now no overriding legislation that protects pregnant women from an opposite prevailing attitude that could become the norm in the future. Think China.
No, Simon O'Connor, it was not a good day.
Rosemary Simmons, Papatoetoe.
Clear conscience
It's official. Although Members of Parliament are still permitted a conscience vote, they can expect to be harassed and denigrated for exercising it by supporters of and members of the opposing political party.
Public exposure of a member's conscience vote is to be deplored, but the pretence of not having voted according to conscience as demonstrated by Nanaia Mahuta is just fine. Grant Robertson's attack on Christopher Luxon was beneath contempt.
June Kearney, West Harbour.
