> Why in God’s name are you making this a personal issue? Are you guys THAT insecure?
See #13 where I explain my viewpoint. I think that it is a very reasonably view to take.
The following is NOT an insult to New Zealand:
I don’t want to travel to NZ because it’s too far away and I would be gone for too long.
The following is an insult to New Zealand:
I don’t want to travel to NZ because it’s a boring, ugly, stinking rathole full of unpleasant people.
See the difference?
Did you actually listen to his interview? I doubt it. Lee spoke with great warmth of the people of New Zealand, said you were the nicest people, and emphasized clearly that yours is the most beautiful country in the world. That’s very good PR for New Zealand, not an insult. At no time in the interview did he use the expression “not interested.”
He also pointed out that Saruman is not in the Hobbit. Since Smaug is not a human character, there would be no reason for him to travel to NZ to do the voiceover work.
At the very end of the interview he speaks of what he will do “if I am still alive” and nearly gasps, “It’s too far. It’s too far. It’s too far.”
There is no insult in any of that and does not discourage anyone from visiting the nation he extols. He is an exhausted and very old man.