Whitey can cry too
Great news for all those tense and up tight honkies - white people can cry too. Pita Sharples, guru and cultural grief commentator let Pakeha know that they can loosen up a little and get down with the soul brothers and sisters.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says Pakeha should not allow their funeral practices to repress expressions of grief.
Speaking at a National Loss and Grief Association conference in Hamilton yesterday, Dr Sharples said Maori had managed to maintain their collective identity, which was well expressed in funeral ceremonies and protocols known as tangihanga.
Tangihanga involved a process which was "intimate, personal and excruciatingly intense - and also a process of incredible collective therapy" designed to "share and lift the weight off our shoulders".
"The process of grieving is also absolutely uplifting; a celebration of life, not loss."
Not so with Pakeha funerals, he said.
"I contrast that with the outstretched handshake, 'My sincere condolences', or maybe a polite expression of regret in a Hallmark card.
NZ Herald
posted by Bomber @ 12:16 pm
10 comments
10 Comments:
This got pulled from the April Fool's file way too early, right?
Yeah, it's funny how Sharples can make sweeping, bigoted statements about another ethnic group, but he can't take Don Brash stating the obvious about Maori and lung cancer.
What cultural arrogance. 'Oh Maoridom is such a special culture, the Pakeha can learn from us, our tangi are so wonderful.' Maori culture is important, but it is not any more important than any other culture. This whole preciousness about maori culture is also rather out of place if you consider the actual accomplishments of said culture.
Ever Actually been to a Tangi?
Im white and the vast number of funerals I have been to are European in nature in a church predominately with the exception of my grandfather. Whilst I respect our funerals and I think they do represent us well I do believe there possibly something we could learn from a Tangi. In saying that shapels could of said so without doing so in an offending way, although I doubt he meant to just thats the way he came across.
In response to Laws if your the actual Michael Laws the 'celibrity' guess couldnt expect much more from you. Whilst you are sharp, smart and have some generally good ideas on some issues your ability to take anything from another culture is very debatable. Your comments on the Tongan king were a good example of this. Yes i dont think he was a great leader, but the Tongans did respect him and for that reason so should we.
Meh
Actually Pita Sharples probably has a point, and I think Pakeha culture can learn a few things from Maori culture, just as they can learn from us.
Give me European reserve over all that ugly, sickening wailing any day.
Anonymous - huh?
I said Pita Sharples made some bigoted sweeping generalisations about another ethnic group (mine in fact). And that makes ME the racist?!!!!
Mulholland's Law at work.
Thanks Dr. Sharples, I'll have a think about what I can learn from Maori customs when the occasion comes. In return, I trust you won't be offended if I suggest a few things Maori could learn from Pakeha that might improve their lives?
Quote of mark:
By the way, what's up with Sharple's mullet? Is this 1985?
Hes bringing back the biff like good the old Aussie bowler that starts with G and i cant remember right now
On a more serious note the difference between stalin and the king of tonga is stalin killed more of his people than hitler did where as the Tongan king has not. Additionally the tongans respect him because his family (his dad I believe) brought peace to Tonga by uniting the fewding tribes.
To illustrate my point if Bush was shot tomorrow we would still pay our condolences, even tho the dude has done alot more harm to the world than the Tongan King because he is the American Pres by their (well maybe more the supreme courts..) choice. Its curticy.
To Blair and Mark, what wrong, did the truth hurt. Get use to it as I will be waiting.
Post a Comment
<< Home