The sun, not carbon dioxide, governs climate. The UN was -- and still is -- teaching much pseudo-science ... propaganda that pretends to be science.
Then there is Keith's dig at Donald Trump. Trump has cut funding to the very organisations that have been producing bent data, lies and deception.
(Abridged)
WILLIAM PARTRIDGE
Hunterville
Self-inflicted
I wholeheartedly endorse Michael Wilton's comments (letters, May 24) where he accuses Potonga Neilson of "verbal diarrhoea", and to be suffering the effects of a "self-inflicted wound".
In wondering why his verbose diatribes continue to be so regularly published in the Whanganui Chronicle, and seldom, if ever, abridged, one can only conclude that this is due to "political correctness".
(Abridged)
V GREGORY-MEREDITH
Wanganui
Scrap the Treaty
I feel obliged to respond to Derrick Storey (letters, May 22).
Derrick, you are so right in your comments. It seems inappropriate in today's PC world to comment on topics not favourable to those who call themselves Maori.
That many comments made by those who are ardent Maori supporters (all of whom seem to have doctorates in creative Maori history) are racist is undeniable. The classification "racist", of course, does not apply to those Teflon-coated wise men and women within Maoridom who can speak with impunity.
It is unfortunate that censorship also plays a part in the reasons for apathy amongst older persons who try to counter the claims of these historical experts who always manage to find another reason to dip into the country's coffers. Why try to make factual points (albeit perhaps hard-hitting) when sentences are deleted from submissions to the newspaper? It seems that persons like those mentioned above can make offensive comments and yet equivalent comments by persons with a non-Maori perspective are "abridged".
That Maori receive additional special treatment over and above that afforded to all New Zealanders is fact. Can you imagine the furore if a bunch of non-Maori staged a protest march deploring such things? And yet Maori want even more say in deciding what can or cannot be done in this country.
You mention "farting against thunder". I say hurry up, because soon we will not be allowed to perform that bodily function without a permit from the local iwi.
Concerned citizens will never win the fight for racial equality until the Treaty of Waitangi is scrapped. Only Government has the wherewithal to close the divide by treating all people the same.
(Abridged)
D PARTNER
Eastown
Under the mat
Michael Wilton (letters, May 24), urges me to retire my pen.
It's a familiar theme: Let's sweep it all under the mat.
Early in the Taranaki hearings of the Waitangi Tribunal, Doug Graham, who was Minister of Treaty Settlements, promised that we, the Taranaki tribes, would soon be able to put aside our "grievance mode" and get on with developing a future for our tamariki and mokopuna.
And some of the younger generations of Maori were advocating that we, Taranaki Maori, should take the settlement money and set up our own department of social welfare, education and justice etc ad nauseam.
What the hell for? One government is enough. So we now have a few million dollars and are saddled with a "governance entity", which invested those paltry millions in stocks and vowed to grow the money. You're laughing? Quite so.
But it ain't over yet. Justice has yet to be seen to be done. And it's very likely that I won't live to see that happen. So I'll just keep stirring the pot.
POTONGA NEILSON
Castlecliff
Fry's rant
So Stephen Fry has had his rant with his question to God at the Pearly Gates.
Now, before anyone gets their knickers in a twist over blasphemy laws, let's agree that any such laws should be revoked. A good question, though, is whether you will go to the UN and tell them before you pick on Ireland or NZ. The majority of countries in the UN, of course, have blasphemy laws -- many of them with the death penalty, floggings and/or imprisonment.
Far from me to answer for God, but in my musings I imagine God might answer Stephen something like this:
"Stephen, I hear your question. It is one that has been asked many times before. Rather than me answering the question, should you not be answering it yourself? After all, you as man were put on this earth to manage and make decisions. Now how well are you doing?
"One example:100 years ago, men in their wisdom decided to have a war. It was to be a war to end all wars. Solve problems. Now we all know what a pig's ear man made of that. One other example: Nature was designed and created in perfect harmony. Now you, Stephen, know that if you crap in the environment, you get a crap result. Thus disease and corruption. Whose responsibility is that?
"How long can my mercy and love last, ... Your response, Stephen, your decision."
DAVID TUCKER
Wanganui East
