A request for Gender Equality
This is a draught of the letter to be sent to Mr Key, please read over it and comment about what changes, additions or subtractions you feel are necessary. A week from now I will circulate for signatory from men’s groups.
Dear Prime Minister John Key,
Congratulations on your appointment to Prime Minister of New Zealand, your success has certainly shown that New Zealand is wanting change. To wit I am writing to you on behalf of a number of Men’s groups around New Zealand regarding an ongoing concern on gender equality.
As you are aware there is a Ministry of Women’s Affairs but as yet there is no Ministry of Men’s Affairs, which we (as the collective Men’s groups) believe has in effect set barriers between men and Women in this country. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is a Government funded group set up to help Women overcome their many issues whilst Men’s groups around the country are struggling to get by relying on memberships and donations. I’m sure you can appreciate Men have just as many issues to contend with and the lack of any real support and the knowledge that Women are getting that support has taken it’s toll on New Zealand Men.
The obvious answer to this problem is to initiate a Ministry of Men’s Affairs, but as you have pledged to reduce government spending we can suggest, in the name of gender equality, the discontinuation of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to be replaced with the Ministry of Gender Affairs.
We give you full and strong support on this issue being resolved in a fair and gender equal way.
Yours sincerely and on behalf on New Zealand Men’s Groups,
Justin Harnish
Member of the Republic of New Zealand Party
Mr Key has options till this Sunday, After he announces a cabinet and ministerial portfolio’s he has no choice for another 12 months maybe more.
To wait a week is to miss the boat.
Send it on your own if that is what you wish to say.
Comment by allan Harvey — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 11:15 am
Thanks Allan, Will do.
Comment by Tigerseye — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 11:18 am
Tigerseye, Nice letter but you need to do more. IMO
The gender gap IS a priority. NZ is a sucker for the UN. lol
There is no cancelling out A Ministry for Women. It is just not going to happen for many reasons. The best outcome that is real and practical is a gender commission.
Think about it this way; We are stuck moving forward. Backwards is not an option unless you are expecting the majority of people to admit they got it wrong. Not even politicians are that stupid.
What you need is evidence to show that equality exists. That women have almost made all their goals succeed.
Women’s Affairs is going to have 50% of women in all political positions by the year 2012. That’s right … for the next elections there are going to be quotas in politics and business boards.
I personally would like to ask John Keys to make a law saying that at least 50% should be for men and then I would refer him to what Sweden has done. 40% women, 40% men and the other 10% either gender. Otherwise we are going to have more women than men in positions like we do on councils and other affairs. . It is radical feminism we are fighting. They want to rule the world.
I would also give him a reason for doing this by stating that Sweden business is having the same women on most boards which is extremely bad for business because … ell, for one. These women are making far more money than men and if one board goes down by their actions, all boards go down.
You need to also add reasons why you feel the pendulum has swung too far left for women and give some advice would help.
Plus who are these groups who you represent? Their names need to be added to your letter.
Just trying to help you grow. NZ is not expecting yet a men’s ministry. We must prove why it is deserving on a political standard.
And I am purposely scrutinise. Please see this as an attempt to add to your wonderful work. Not all I say is even relevant. It is just how I do life. lol
Comment by julie — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 11:34 am
Tigerseye, I would simply recommend savings through dropping the Ministry of Women’s Affairs at this stage, perhaps suggesting a new Ministry of Gender Affairs at some stage in the future if necessary and when we have enough money. Keep in mind that if the current women’s ministry is turned into a gender ministry, it is likely to continue as if a women’s ministry.
I would also make the point that the existence of a Women’s Ministry amounts to government sexism.
Also, watch the apostrophe. “It’s” means “it is”, while when referring to the possessive form just leave out the apostrophe, i.e. “its toll”.
Good work.
Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 12:08 pm
After reading all your useful comments I have, in part, rewritten the letter. As Allan has pointed out we have no time to spare, this has to be posted now but it is, I believe, the first of many steps to be taken. I hope I have the support of all here. Perhaps in this very limited time frame a number of readers and contributors here can pen their own letter in much the same vein as this one and get it sent today.
Comment by Tigerseye — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 12:49 pm
Hey, guys… How do I say this nicely.
Do you respect Kerry Bevin? I hope you do because he is not a silly man. I don’t as a politician but as a man I do. Sometimes the man without all the material possessions or hard earned education status knows what is going on. I guess they have more time on their hands!!!! But still as a carer of men he stands above.
You,,,, Hans are way off track. But I hope in time you will grow.
Tigerseye, maybe at this stage it is better if you just send John Keys a letter from yourself. You have not done your homework very well if you think you represent men’s groups.
I know you listen and I think that is wonderful. I had done the same when I first came here. But the most of men are individuals in this online. The men’s groups get it and are forming a different path. Hey, they totally get it. But they just got sick of losing more and more ground to the radical feminists and made a moderate stand because that is where they can grow.
I am so glad you are on board but you can’t speak for men’s groups when most of the men here don’t even speak for a group.
This is the point you will learn to understand. The radical men don’t want to make the effort. They just think they deserve control just because they are men. I like some of them very much but they are are losing the biggest gains through pain of having to build. They just think swinging a machete around is good enough.
And Paul Catton,. you are not allowed to speak up against this. You have won more for most men, than most men just by playing the game and not the man. This is not a gender war. It is just a cycle of nations. Empowering men is the key not dis-empowering women.
Comment by julie — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Julie (or whatever your real name is), in what way do you believe I am “way off track” and in what way do you condescendingly hope I will “grow”?
And who are you to tell people, apparently from your position of superior wisdom, what they “will learn to understand”. Or indeed to tell other posters they are “not allowed to speak up against this”?
I look forward to your elaboration.
Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Thank you Julie,
I hear what you are saying and I agree. My first option was to write a letter from just myself and then thought that perhaps a small group of us would all like to put our 2 cents in which is why I wrote it in an semi-open contribution format.
My observations have lead me to understand that a lot of great ideas here are voiced yet nothing is done… maybe I’m not speaking for the Men’s groups, maybe I am. Maybe I should just speak on behalf of those that can’t be bothered. Your point, Julie, is well taken and I will in fact send the letter speaking only on my behalf. I had little time to do any homework as such, I thought I would have a lot of feedback and input which I have but my one week was cut to one day…hence I am taking your advice.
I’d like to also add that this has actually worked well. Sharing this letter has shown me that even though we are a fractured group, we are still a group and we are becoming more familia with each other which can be very beneficial to us all. With a large number of individuals, each with their own idea on how things should be done and what would be best it makes for a very interesting ad hoc cabinet.
You have all made some good points, in my opinion, and I have taken what I consider to be the best parts of each comment to put the final letter together.
Thank you for your feedback. I’ll keep you posted…
Comment by Tigerseye — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Travel well Hans. You are a good man.
Comment by julie — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Justin – No I don’t support what you are calling for. I am not at all convinced of the need for any Ministry of Gender Affairs; it just seems like an unnecessary expense. We may as well have a Ministry of Tiddlywink Affairs. It will make much of nothing, and is likely to waste our money on unwanted PC social engineering. Further, your proposal will in no way help Keys to make the savings he seeks in government spending.
Of course, you have every right to make whatever suggestions you wish to whomsoever you wish. I would ask though that you make it clear you are speaking as an individual.
Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:13 pm
Julie, I don’t appreciate yet another patronizing response. I would appreciate it if you answered my questions in good faith.
Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:15 pm
I will do my best to make you not feel or think I am patronising you from now on. You are a great asset. I have much still to learn.
Comment by julie — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:34 pm
With respect, Hans, we have 2 contradicting approaches to this issue. Your’s is to discontinue the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to reduce expenditure and mine is to initiate a Ministry of Men’s Affairs bringing a fair chance for gender equality. An idea from the left and the right – the centralist view is to have an amalgamated Gender Affairs to bring the gender issues back into line as much as possible.
I have not been made aware of any such issues from the TOTT (The Organisation for Tiddlywinks Tournaments).
As I say this with respect I hope you can appreciate the humour and you can rest assured that the letter has been sent on my behalf alone.
Comment by Tigerseye — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 2:41 pm
.
Its called political appeasement and is no different than the approach used by Chamberlin in the 1930’s.
What happens is that the system neuters any change by giving crumbs to the so called moderates (appeasers) the system becomes further entrenched and fundamental rights are further eroded.
Giving up ground for “peace in our time” (Moderate response) does not improve the status quo. In fact there are no gains and the moderates are absorbed and controlled by the system. Groups like Men Alive et al are crippled in achieving real change as the system controls them by their giving it control through appeasement.
It’s seen in Parliament as selling out for the perceived and illusory power of being in Government and it continues to deliver further erosion of fundamental rights.
Change can only be effected when political appeasement is abandoned as an approach and a decision is made that any further attempt to remove rights will result in a long and protracted “war” against the perpetrators with the sole aim of defeating them.
It’s not unusual for men to go to war ill equipped and under resourced and divided. There will be casualties and collateral damage and defeats. There will be occupations of the system by feminists and we will fight as a resistance striking small blows while marshalling our resources and preparing to win back the lost ground.
This war is not one of violence like our fathers and grandfathers experienced. It’s one of political action and winning hearts and minds to create a counter hegemony to redress the balance. The current political situation (worldwide) is very similar to the 1930’s and the danger of fascism (expressed in our domain as post modernist feminism) is more present than before.
Appeasing quislings will be many in number, they always are when you are fighting an army of occupation but like the quislings of old they will be revealed for what they are. Those who sell out their brothers for personal gain and power within the current regime abound in plenty.
The time has come for leaders to make a stand and say NO MORE APPEASEMENT _ WE WILL FIGHT them at every turn and if it takes us 20 years we will overcome.
From Rosa Parks to an African American President of the United States was never thought possible but it has happened. Action not appeasement led to this. Men brought it about and New Zealand men will bring about what we seek. The fight will be long but yes we can effect the required changes and when history is written it will judge the current feminist system (and feminised men) for what it really is an aberration on the pages of Kiwi History.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Thu 13th November 2008 @ 3:07 pm
A Ministry of Gender Affairs would be run by feminists to pursue the same goals as the current Min of Women’s Affairs but under slightly more PC double speak. There is no reason to think otherwise.
It’s a noble idea but in reality it would actually be worse than the current situation.
The Min of Women’s Affairs is doomed. What you are inadvertently doing is giving it a life line to keep going under another name.
Stick to calling for the scraping of the Min of Women’s Affairs. You’ll find there is political support for that. The reason being that it’s an irrelevant Ministry struggling to find ways to justify itself. It’s an easy way to trim some government spending.
Comment by Dave — Fri 14th November 2008 @ 4:07 pm
Don’t make it from men’s groups, make it from Fathers and Men of NZ.
Comment by Scott — Wed 19th November 2008 @ 4:11 pm