Tagger-jailing judge a 'dickhead' - Harawira
Tagger-jailing judge a 'dickhead' - Harawira
A judge who jailed a tagger because he deemed his graffiti vandalism culturally offensive has been branded a "dickhead" by MP Hone Harawira, who says the judge does not "give a stuff" about Maori culture. Judge Tony Adeane has jailed two taggers in the past two months and has been widely acclaimed for doing so, but Mr Harawira, a Maori Party MP, said stating graffiti was culturally offensive was a "bloody joke". The Maori Party was opposing a bill in Parliament that strengthens graffiti penalties. Mr Harawira was not a fan of tagging, but thought a jail sentence was too harsh. "Look at that dickhead of a judge who sent that kid to jail for tagging because the judge thought it was culturally offensive. "Is that part of the law now? What a bloody joke."
And of course Harawira is correct – throwing people in prison for something as petty as tagging and calling it a ‘cultural crime’ is the sort of warped thinking people who live in gated communities come up with. Now I’m no fan of tagging, and can appreciate the frustration it creates, but as with any youth issue in the mainstream we have managed to make the indiscretions of youth a major problem that needs prison as the solution. Where will it end – killing taggers in the street – oops, we are already there, to the taggers – boys, if you’re gonna bomb – make it for something more than just your stupid scribble – which you can be traced down with – make your tags a statement – ‘end poverty’, or ‘stop the war’ – make your scribble count! But is that’s too much, then keep your scribble in places where the irony will cause me to smile – put them on billboards, do it all over the corporate tagging in our public space, tag all the adverts placed in our public spaces, now that would be funny.
posted by Bomber @ 7:23 am
24 comments
24 Comments:
I imagine the judge was reacting to the people who claim tagging is an art form of expression for Maori culture, and therefore ok...
NS
There was an old church and surrounding property for sale in my area a few weeks ago. Someone tagged all the for sale signs with "Give us back our maori land" and "White theives". That's the kind of tagging I like to see.
Yeah Helengrad, because that's just the sort of "clever" and "ironic" graffiti that doesn't piss people off and make them throw their support behind the judge in question right?
"any youth issue in the mainstream we have managed to make the indiscretions of youth a major problem that needs prison as the solution."
Well, in Hawkes Bay it seemed to work. Tagging went down after the serial tagger was sent to prison for a brief stint.
Obviously that's the last resort & hopefully won't be repeated. But it did reduce the tagging.
When you're duty solicitor people are generally quite concerned about the prospect of prison. Once you reassure them they'll only get community service they relax considerably. In fact first time taggers generally get diversion.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4523874a10.html
"put them on billboards, do it all over the corporate tagging in our public space, tag all the adverts placed in our public spaces, now that would be funny."
Nah, funny would be finding the man who stabbed the tagger not-guilty.
But I guess we have different senses of humour, huh?
Maori are in serious strife if they consider tagging an "art". Bullshit.
The corageous Harawira should concentrate in helping his people, who fill NZ prisons instead of spewing nonsense.
Helengrad, have you apologised to the Moriori yet? Hypocrite.
When you’re wrong son, you’re wrong. Say sorry and move on.”
“That’s what my mum always told me,” said Maori Party rebel MP Hone Harawira, “so I’m apologising to Judge Adeane, because I was wrong to say what I said about him over his decision to send that tagger to jail.”
Bomber,you have more egg on your face.
I was just going to point to harawira's apology but Avenger beat me to it.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00401.htm
But seeing as I'm here:
people who claim tagging is an art form of expression for Maori culture
Name one. Give a reference.
"Everybody, it seems has an opinion on “tagging” or graffiti vandalism. The latest to express her views is Maori Party co-leader Turiana Turia. Her comments that, “Some members of our community see (tagging) as a crime, other members see tagging as an expression of identity” is extremely naïve.
Fortunately very few members of our community see tagging as “an identity of expression”."
http://talkbackmanukau.blogspot.com/2008/02/greater-effort-needed-to-rid-our.html
NS
"Mayor Michael Laws has condemned the comments of Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia in defending tagging and graffiti as an artistic display of culture. "
http://www.wanganui.govt.nz/News/showNews.asp?id=1133
NS
Probably both deriving, to use a primary source, from
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0802/S00032.htm
which is perhaps a little more nuanced, and at least as much about stabbing them not being the answer.
Although i notice she does use the phrase 'art crime', if in scare-quotes.
OTOH i was looking for someone who
- said it was and art form AND
- said it was an expression of maori culture AND
- claimed these opinions for themselves rather than referring to them AND
- said that it was 'therefore ok'
I hope all your fences get tagged every day by gang members. That's what people living in poor areas have had put up with for years. They even get their houses and shops tagged. It only affects the "oppressed" white middle classes when they see too much tagging in their tidy neighbourhoods these days.
I don't think it's a good idea putting taggers in prison. I think it's a racist law and the tagger will probably be much worse when they get out of prison.
helengrad, the genius, said: I don't think it's a good idea putting taggers in prison.
I agree. They should be shot.
OTOH i was looking for someone who
- said it was and art form AND
- said it was an expression of maori culture AND
- claimed these opinions for themselves rather than referring to them AND
- said that it was 'therefore ok'
Well that isn't what you ask when you very snappily said "Name one. Give a reference."
"I think it's a racist law and the tagger will probably be much worse when they get out of prison."
Helengrad,
How is it a racist law? Are you saying some people are more likely to tag just because of their race?
OK, I think the time has come for us all to ignore Helengrad. No legitimate arguments, all based on personal sentiment... still waiting for back up ... still waiting to see she has worked to prove she is better than her male counterparts ... still waiting for any rational argument ... mmm, me thinks we wait ... and wait ... and wait, coz it just ain't happening.
NS
Yes helengrad, but enough about Maori. What do you think about white people?
Every thread is trashed here by trolls who have no opinion and insult people who have and they are always off topic. Makes a decent conversation impossible. Thanks trolls.
Bomber:
'What you gotta ask yourself is this'
Is it OK for me to come on to your property and change it around and ruin it .. if not
'What you gonna do about it punk' ?
If that is the best the Maori's can find to represent them what does that say about the rest of them, dear me.
"Mark said...
Every thread is trashed here by trolls who have no opinion and insult people who have and they are always off topic. Makes a decent conversation impossible. Thanks trolls."
Thats because it's a troll blog Mark.
Remember that Harawira apologised and offered to meet with the Judge.
“When you’re wrong son, you’re wrong. Say sorry and move on.”
“That’s what my mum always told me,” said Maori Party rebel MP Hone Harawira, “so I’m apologising to Judge Adeane, because I was wrong to say what I said about him over his decision to send that tagger to jail.”
“His comments about how defacing public property was culturally offensive, reminded me of an incident from my own past, which had gone on for years.”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0805/S00401.htm
I'm sick of arrogant wankers (generally middle class and white) who believe they have the right to pass judgement on what is or isn't art. I have been a professional artist for 30 years and have taught in art schools and institutions the length of this country. I have made a life of practising and studying art and I can state confidently that tagging fits every definition of art currently posited by theorists. Those ignorant and self-opinionated prats among you, such as Judge Tony Adeane, who have no education, experience or credibility when it comes to art should shut your silly mouths and stick to what you do know. Tag on kids, its rocks my world to see the man get so pissed over a bit of paint. Its not taggers who are costing this country millions of dollars a year, its the stupid councillors who authorise the cleaning. Hey councils, leave the tagging there and spend the money on something useful like council housing, public transport or youth education programmes.
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