Remarkably similar editorials have appeared in at least three "independent" NZ newspapers, the Southland Times, the Nelson Mail and the NZ Herald, in the past few days. This is how blog reader Marybelle responded to the Herald's editorial on line. They published her letter, without the opening paragraph.
"I have already read this Editorial yesterday in the Fairfax South Island newspapers - Southland Times and the Nelson Mail. I wonder who wrote this Editorial. I doubt if our government takes advice from Editorial opinion.
Mainstream media here in NZ really haven't a clue about what is happening in Fiji. If mainstream media started to read the truth then maybe we would be seeing different Editorial opinion. To find out more in-depth information I suggest you go to Prof. Croz Walsh's blog "Fiji: The Way it Was, Is and Can Be" www.crosbiew.blogspot.com This blog, unlike a lot of the other Fiji blogs, posts both the positive and negative about what is happening in Fiji. It is balanced.
McCully has done the right thing going to Fiji to talk. Sanctions should be lifted. No matter what side of the fence you are on - we all want to see Fiji become a proper democratically run country instead of the gerrymandered democracy of the past - we all want to see Fiji prosper. Editorials like this one do not help - they only breed negativity about Fiji. How about a positive Editorial next time?
Marybelle
North Shore City."
**Two English fictional characters popularised by Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland and other stories. The Tweedle brothers always complement and never contradict each other. Photo: Stitchontime.com
Update:
The Otago Daily Times, however, reported differently. As another reader observed: "There must be something wrong - this NZ editorial actually seems to be reporting information rather than peddling bias regarding NZ/Fiji affairs."
4 comments:
Look at Haiti and weep! Think of what might have occurred had this been Fiji. But.....we would have been better situated because we have a military capability to respond coupled with a Disaster Management body which has been growing in capacity and tries to do its best. Also, we have leadership from the Prime Minister's Office to ensure a measure of co-ordination. Think back to where we were prior to 2006 And weep once more. Backs turned to us, the people? It had become a bad habit. Blacked out motorcades of indifference driving above the speed limit through the populace which paid them. There will be no weeping or gnashing of teeth when these people have their pensions taken out. These pensions were paid for by the good, honest people of Fiji.
The Nelson Mail and the Southland Times? Who cares what they have to say about Fiji. Reminds me of the famous instance of the Australian rural newspaper that ran an editorial about Russian expansionism in the 19th century headlined - "We warn the Czar!". I'm sure that just like Nicholas the Second, Frank Bainimarama will be quaking in his boots.
Anonymous (please use a pseudonym),
The concern is not the Mail or the Times but the cumulative effect of such misinformation on the attitudes of the NZ public, politicians and policy towards Fiji.
The media regurgitates and spreads its news across wide, international networks, where it influences leaders in the UK, EU, UN, USA, Commonwealth,and Forum countries.
If I thought my blog had no influence on people's opinions, I'd close it down.
There's nothing weak about wanting friends and Fiji needs all the friends it can get. But I like your story about the Czar.
And you would come running to NZ and Australia for help - and you would get it quickly, because Kiwis still love Fijians regardless of the idiocy of people like Commodore Bainimarama, who hasn't skippered any boat bigger than a patrol craft.
Sure, Fiji has been stuffed around since the days of Rabuka.
Post a Comment