I think that in their zeal to be absolutist about the right to free speech, the Free Speech Union have become confused about what is their purview, and what isn't. In the case of Destiny Church holding loud rallies every Sunday morning for months in Cranmer Square in Christchurch, which had residences around it, the residents weren't complaining about the content of what was spoken at the rallies, but were complaining about the ongoing loud and disruptive public nuisance factor of the rallies. The FSU mis-read that, too, and stepped in to defend Destiny Church's right to free speech, which wasn't the subject of the complaints. Likewise, with Drag Queen Story Hour in libraries, the FSU has mis-read the nature of the objections and the protest, there, too. These were moral objections to drag queens' presence amongst little children, and not about what the DQs were saying. The FSU even went so far as to say that the drag queens had a right to express their "gender identity" as a part of diversity and inclusion, but I notice that the last few communications from FSU haven't mentioned that part again. I agree to the right to free speech (but find I can't be absolutist about it, irrespective of whether that stance is right or wrong), but that right doesn't automatically come with the right to behave as we want, or be where we want, when exercising that free speech right, especially not in public venues. The FSU needs to be a bit more discerning about the prime nature of complaints before stepping in to defend free speech like a bulldozer.
Yes, it feels like they are trying to be populist at the expense of common sense. Maybe their CEO is just too young and eager? I don't know what it is. But the Board appears to be being dragged along by their noses here. A bit of a strategy meeting - or seven - is needed.
Thank you for that clear and uambiguous commentary. I simply do not understand why so many people feel that every little highway and byway of their life needs to be gratified by innocent children.
It's been an interesting thought exercise for me, also a FSU member...where exactly did I stand on this? Instinctively it didn't feel like a matter of defending speech, but why not? I've seen some of the ghastlier clips from the States on twitter and it seemed the parents were there for their own reasons, when very small kids are involved they are voiceless... their kids were being exposed, I imagine they would say, to an 'inclusive' & 'fun' event; some 'marination' in some 'rainbow' people's activities via library book-reads was good for them, surely?, 'why yes!' But where is the 'how & why' in all this? Did it kick off as an off-shoot to more general Pride celebrations/events, which are mainstream now? I applaud the A'Dale protestors, exercising their rights civilly. Did the librarians there canvass public sentiment on this? Nothing said about that by the reporter. Because children are at the heart of this it MUST be thought through, canvassed & abandoned if it's mainly about drag queens feeling the need to be included, or worse, as others have suggested. The FSU? Too quick to retreat into the purity of their principles perhaps...good to read this piece thanks & the thoughtful responses.
I always thought of drag queens as adult entertainment, usually on Auckland's K Rd. I have no idea why anyone would think they'd be appropriate people to hang out with kids. What on earth were these guys reading to the children too?
What concerns me most about DQST is the conditioning of adults who are the final safeguard of children.
Nobody seems to care about the barriers to a child attempting to report sexual abuse might face when all the surrounding adults are so very accepting of every possible form of sexuality.
> To see the intelligentsia of the NZFSU somehow act like this “just can’t be”, and clutching their collective pearls on Twitter about how cerebrally sound their “serious” thinking is, was disheartening to say the least. (Not least, I admit, because I’m a paid-up member of this illustrious union and I don’t really want to believe how stupid I’ve been).
"I did not leave the Democratic Party; the Democratic Party left me." -- Ronald Reagan, 1962. The more things change...
As a paid-up member of the FSU, I agree with every word written here. As to their argument, whatever happened to the concept of "you can't shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre"? (There are always limits to free speech.) These are children we are talking about here; they are the intended audience. No rational adult would countenance taking a toddler to a drag show in the late evening so why is it OK during daylight hours?
For those who don't get it, this is much bigger than some men having fun. This is about indoctrinating children to make them available for the sexual pleasure of adults. It starts in children's libraries and accelerates at schools. The next lesson is that you can choose your sex based on your feelings of the day. This is a lie that harms children: https://lucyleader.substack.com/p/lying-to-our-children-hey-all-parents
This debate is pointless unless it is accompanied with inf on what the children were told, and what occurred during the readings. I would have no qualms about my child hearing Hairy McLary from Donaldsons dairy read by a deep-voiced person with garish make-up. So? nothing happened. If the kid asked 'was that a man dressed up? I'd just say yes. So? If there was a whole lot of self-conscious 'explanation' about sexual identity, we'd be outa there.
I don't go down rabbit holes and conspiracy themes, but I do truly believe that there are forces at work re this gender stuff that are targetting our children and youth, just as they have with climate (which is warming btw) and subverting the education.
Your children are at highly impressionable ages. They might not say anything there and then, which is probably worse, but they will have noticed that something was 'amiss' and the more children that are influenced about 'being born in the wrong body' etc, the more the fad (as it is) will grow, especially with social media and peer influences.
As they say, 'get 'em young'. As an example, I am afraid of spiders. I exhibited such fear to my daughter from her formative years. She is now terrified. The analogy is relevant.
The Red Rag NZH refused to publish my letters to the editor regarding my utter support for the protestors who scuttled the tranny party at Avondale Library.
I am sick of this gender crap being forced upon me in my everyday life and have now Bank officers signing off with he/she/it/their crap. I refuse to converse with them, or respond to any person signing an email thus. I wish I knew where more of these 'readings/parties' were planned as I'd be in there to support a protest.
And while I'm on the topic of emails...I am also sick of having maori crap being forced up me in greetings and valedictions. Likewise of phone calls. Speak to me in English, or something else I speak such as French or Japanese, but not some worthless language that 99.9% of the world don't give a rat's fart about, never mind understand.
You no doubt raise some very interesting historical points but, mate, I'll write about what I want, when I want, how I want. Want it to be different? Write your own stuff.
I think that in their zeal to be absolutist about the right to free speech, the Free Speech Union have become confused about what is their purview, and what isn't. In the case of Destiny Church holding loud rallies every Sunday morning for months in Cranmer Square in Christchurch, which had residences around it, the residents weren't complaining about the content of what was spoken at the rallies, but were complaining about the ongoing loud and disruptive public nuisance factor of the rallies. The FSU mis-read that, too, and stepped in to defend Destiny Church's right to free speech, which wasn't the subject of the complaints. Likewise, with Drag Queen Story Hour in libraries, the FSU has mis-read the nature of the objections and the protest, there, too. These were moral objections to drag queens' presence amongst little children, and not about what the DQs were saying. The FSU even went so far as to say that the drag queens had a right to express their "gender identity" as a part of diversity and inclusion, but I notice that the last few communications from FSU haven't mentioned that part again. I agree to the right to free speech (but find I can't be absolutist about it, irrespective of whether that stance is right or wrong), but that right doesn't automatically come with the right to behave as we want, or be where we want, when exercising that free speech right, especially not in public venues. The FSU needs to be a bit more discerning about the prime nature of complaints before stepping in to defend free speech like a bulldozer.
Yes, it feels like they are trying to be populist at the expense of common sense. Maybe their CEO is just too young and eager? I don't know what it is. But the Board appears to be being dragged along by their noses here. A bit of a strategy meeting - or seven - is needed.
Hi Rachel
Thank you for that clear and uambiguous commentary. I simply do not understand why so many people feel that every little highway and byway of their life needs to be gratified by innocent children.
It's been an interesting thought exercise for me, also a FSU member...where exactly did I stand on this? Instinctively it didn't feel like a matter of defending speech, but why not? I've seen some of the ghastlier clips from the States on twitter and it seemed the parents were there for their own reasons, when very small kids are involved they are voiceless... their kids were being exposed, I imagine they would say, to an 'inclusive' & 'fun' event; some 'marination' in some 'rainbow' people's activities via library book-reads was good for them, surely?, 'why yes!' But where is the 'how & why' in all this? Did it kick off as an off-shoot to more general Pride celebrations/events, which are mainstream now? I applaud the A'Dale protestors, exercising their rights civilly. Did the librarians there canvass public sentiment on this? Nothing said about that by the reporter. Because children are at the heart of this it MUST be thought through, canvassed & abandoned if it's mainly about drag queens feeling the need to be included, or worse, as others have suggested. The FSU? Too quick to retreat into the purity of their principles perhaps...good to read this piece thanks & the thoughtful responses.
Thank Hilary. Yes, it's an interesting one for sure. But I feel very strongly the FSU should have sat this one out. No good has or will come of it.
I always thought of drag queens as adult entertainment, usually on Auckland's K Rd. I have no idea why anyone would think they'd be appropriate people to hang out with kids. What on earth were these guys reading to the children too?
Good piece, I dislike all unions , full stop
So the question remains, who at the FSU has come out as a Drag Queen?
Excellent article!
What concerns me most about DQST is the conditioning of adults who are the final safeguard of children.
Nobody seems to care about the barriers to a child attempting to report sexual abuse might face when all the surrounding adults are so very accepting of every possible form of sexuality.
Yep, I agree with you, and I always err on free speech than otherwise, but this is definitely otherwise.
Nuf said. Well written Rachel.
> To see the intelligentsia of the NZFSU somehow act like this “just can’t be”, and clutching their collective pearls on Twitter about how cerebrally sound their “serious” thinking is, was disheartening to say the least. (Not least, I admit, because I’m a paid-up member of this illustrious union and I don’t really want to believe how stupid I’ve been).
"I did not leave the Democratic Party; the Democratic Party left me." -- Ronald Reagan, 1962. The more things change...
As a paid-up member of the FSU, I agree with every word written here. As to their argument, whatever happened to the concept of "you can't shout 'fire' in a crowded theatre"? (There are always limits to free speech.) These are children we are talking about here; they are the intended audience. No rational adult would countenance taking a toddler to a drag show in the late evening so why is it OK during daylight hours?
For those who don't get it, this is much bigger than some men having fun. This is about indoctrinating children to make them available for the sexual pleasure of adults. It starts in children's libraries and accelerates at schools. The next lesson is that you can choose your sex based on your feelings of the day. This is a lie that harms children: https://lucyleader.substack.com/p/lying-to-our-children-hey-all-parents
Well said Rachel. With you all the way on this!
This debate is pointless unless it is accompanied with inf on what the children were told, and what occurred during the readings. I would have no qualms about my child hearing Hairy McLary from Donaldsons dairy read by a deep-voiced person with garish make-up. So? nothing happened. If the kid asked 'was that a man dressed up? I'd just say yes. So? If there was a whole lot of self-conscious 'explanation' about sexual identity, we'd be outa there.
Wrong. Sometimes the visuals are more than enough to do the damage.
This is also not specifically about Auckland. I'm going for the bigger picture here. Join me?
It's a very short step between "a deep-voiced person with garish make-up" reading to kids and this: https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1631064634760351745?t=oH5K9oIbOwOKqnnxKGowYw&s=04&fbclid=IwAR02zdBc3xXLVRB0EtqqEfpjibBVh5bJxmsDHYWyKt-SUVoZHMhZT2Sgv-g
That's just plain disgusting and bears out our opinion on this. My twitter account is permanently suspended for railing against this gender crap.
Sometimes matters need to be looked at with a wider and deeper lens than just what is superficially apparent.
I don't go down rabbit holes and conspiracy themes, but I do truly believe that there are forces at work re this gender stuff that are targetting our children and youth, just as they have with climate (which is warming btw) and subverting the education.
Your children are at highly impressionable ages. They might not say anything there and then, which is probably worse, but they will have noticed that something was 'amiss' and the more children that are influenced about 'being born in the wrong body' etc, the more the fad (as it is) will grow, especially with social media and peer influences.
As they say, 'get 'em young'. As an example, I am afraid of spiders. I exhibited such fear to my daughter from her formative years. She is now terrified. The analogy is relevant.
The Red Rag NZH refused to publish my letters to the editor regarding my utter support for the protestors who scuttled the tranny party at Avondale Library.
I am sick of this gender crap being forced upon me in my everyday life and have now Bank officers signing off with he/she/it/their crap. I refuse to converse with them, or respond to any person signing an email thus. I wish I knew where more of these 'readings/parties' were planned as I'd be in there to support a protest.
And while I'm on the topic of emails...I am also sick of having maori crap being forced up me in greetings and valedictions. Likewise of phone calls. Speak to me in English, or something else I speak such as French or Japanese, but not some worthless language that 99.9% of the world don't give a rat's fart about, never mind understand.
Yours,
Glenn J Pacey
Straight, horny, and proud of it.
Okey dokey. Fair enough.
But "horny"?
Well, that was a lesson in how not to talk to me.
You no doubt raise some very interesting historical points but, mate, I'll write about what I want, when I want, how I want. Want it to be different? Write your own stuff.
Couldn't agree more.