Posted on 11/08/2004 5:29:23 AM PST by Neophyte
DEAN QUIT AFTER ANTI-US GIBES
08 November 2004
By MICHELLE QUIRKE
Anti-American feeling was one of the reasons behind the shock departure of the former dean of Wellington's Anglican cathedral.
Speaking from the United States, Douglas Sparks said Kiwi kids taunted his children for being Americans and told them they hoped Iraqis would kill American soldiers.
"We realised six-year-old children don't come up with those kinds of statements on their own. They have to have heard it from some other adult or influential person in their lives.
"My daughter came home from school and said, `I am so upset about what George Bush has done to my life'."
Despite receiving an anonymous note saying "Go home Yankee" from a disgruntled parishioner soon after he started the job in February 2003, Dr Sparks and his family stayed 18 months before homesickness and culture shock took their toll.
The generation who remembered World War II and the Korean War seemed to see New Zealand's ties with the US differently from those whose views were formed at the time of the Lange government's antinuclear stance, former US president Ronald Reagan's administration and now, the war in Iraq, he said.
"I wouldn't say all New Zealanders are anti-American. There were people who had genuinely diverse opinions about the United States and Great Britain vis-a-vis Iraq.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"But being an American, being a point person in that context at that point in time, was detrimental to our family."
Dr Sparks now leads a Minnesota congregation.
He and his family also have fond memories of their time in New Zealand and keep up with the news through the Internet, including National Party leader Don Brash's Orewa race speech.
"I also want to say that part of the anti-American process is somehow connected to the issue of identity," Dr Sparks said.
"What does it mean to be a New Zealander?
"To that extent it's not only Americans. I think the Aussies and Poms have the same kind of experience to a lesser degree."
Dr Sparks was replaced by Frank Nelson as dean of Wellington's Anglican cathedral.
Not only this man was aquitted by the NZ courts (it is freedom of expression, stupid!), but he is looked upon as absolutely suitable to be a mentor of the country's young generation...
Zoolanders is more correct.
Who are the "Poms"? I don't recognize that term.
Perhaps Kerry's sister, this time with Kerry; should make a return trip to NZ. Clear up any misunderstandings they may have gotten from Mz. Kerry's fist visit, made on behalf of brother John.
"pomegranates" - English - because of the sunburn.
I just came back from a 3 week NZ vacation (honeymoon, actually) and the only anti-US sentiment I ran into was in Wellington. It was at the museum on the bay (the name escapes me). Some kids (probably college kids) had written anti-US screeds in chalk on the sidewalk outside the museum. I was really pissed and was going to find the museum HMFIC and complain, but my wife convinced me not to create an international incident. The museum must have approved because they did nothing to remove the graffiti (a lot of it was very vulgar) in the 3-4 hours we were there.
Other than that, the Kiwis are the most gracious, nicest people on earth. We actually talked to more Bush supporters than Kerry supporters. Got to meet and hang out with NZ's #1 Freeper shaggy eel and his wife, Mrs. shaggy eel!
Wow, this just came up. Looks like you have un-desireables there as well.
I heard yesterday that New Zealand has invited all of our "unhappy" citizens to come over there. Just what you need.
One plus, it'll drive up you property values. Hopefully, you can buy it back at a good price as we did a lot of the properties that the Japanese bought when they were flush. Pebble Beach Country Club an excellent example. Not sure I'd want these UD's in my neighborhood though.
A Pom is an Englishman newly arrived in NZ or Australia.
"pomegranates" - English - because of the sunburn.
There is also another explanation:
P(roduct) O(f) the M(othercountry) - the latter obviously being England.
A pom is a shortening of pome "Prisoner of Mother England". The english called Aussies this as a slur, going back to when it was a penal colony. Now the aussies use it as a slur against the British.
Take heart. Just as the ceaseless lies of the left provoked a backlash here, the same will happen over there. Most people are rational. Most liberalism is not. A polarizing figure like Bush (for reasons I don't clearly understand, frankly) brings a stark contrast to both sides, allowing people to see and choose. Most will choose Bush's side.
Couldn't it be a swap? Those unhappy with the US election results might undertake a one way trip to NZ; New Zealanders unhappy with the ugly lezza's femunist junta might tilt the political balance in the USA further to the Right...
Also pommies = Prisoner of Her Majesty is what the Aussies call the people under British rule. Or that's what I always thought.
This is part of the vile Michael Moore legacy, IMO. He has done great harm to the country as a whole, along with the other Hollywood moorons.
Wackos in NZ were very outspoken during the Reagan presidency. They created a 'nuclear free zone' around their country so that no nuke subs or ships could enter their harbors. It was the wacko environmentalists and socialists who were at the forefront of the movement; I don't think the typical New Zealander got that involved in the 'hate America' uproar.
Did you notice that Michael "Leni Rifenstahl" Moore is a fatty copy of Yassir Arab-Fart? They say that the latter's misterious "blood disorder" is a trivial AIDS... and one of the surest simptoms is the sharp weight loss.
I mean, didn't you notice that Michael "Lard Bag Arti-Fart" Moore became a little bit fitter recently?...
And they had brought up a whole new generation of wackos since...
They're in their Klinton years. A lot of great folks over there and their armed forces are dedicated and reliable - when the government will allow them to serve. You do well to have a Kiwi covering your back.
Shaggy says the Klarkenistas are going to be de-throned here shortly. I'd vote for him (shaggy) if I could. Actually, I'm not sure I could not if I was over there, they got very easy on voting.
I missed adressing you on 19 above.
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