Muldoon Divisive, not Hart

I am intrigued by the reactionary attitude, and an almost violent one at that, displayed by a Urge number of New Zealanders to the activities of Hart.

This is an organisation which has always practised non-violence, and I have yet to see evidence of the "groundless" and "misinformed" information which is apparently being sent in copious quantities to the four corners of the earth.

Why then the reaction? Could it be that Hart hits a little bit below the belt and tweaks the otherwise dormant conscience of New Zealanders who prefer to sit idly and comfortably by, in little old Godzone, while the rest of the world, and all its ills, pass them by?

New Zealand has been heard to make the occasional rumbling about various events and areas around the world where oppression or inequality has been manifested, but when the opportunity arises to aid, or at the very least, show support, for the oppressed or unequal through (heaven forbid), a small sacrifice on our part (i.e. 30 rugby playes would be prevented from playing twenty or so games of rugby), we balk and turn our backs.

We attack the source of the tweak (Hart) rather than the source of the conscience (apartheid). This approach requires absolutely no sacrifice on our part and is thus infinitely more preferable. It's a bit like treating an injury with an aspirin, it helps get rid of the pain, but does nothing to help heal the wound.

Incidentally, its ironic but not surprising that it seems to be the very same people who supported our intervention in Vietnam, who are now throwing their hands up in horror at the thought of interfering in South Africa because, they say, it's 'none of our business", or "we shouldn't be sticking our nose in other peoples affairs".

I was also intrigued by a comment in a recent edition of Salient to the effect that the F.O.L., Hart and other such groups (whoever they are), are creating class divisions in New Zealand society. This may or may not be so, but in any event, they pale into insignificance when compared to the divider of NZ society, supreme. You guessed it, the New Messiah himself, the Right (appropriate enough) Honourable (less appropriate) R.D.). Muldoon. Think on it,