(no subject)

More on David Lange, because he's all over the paper and I was talking to a friend in class today and she didn't know who he was, and I find that horrifying, that any young New Zealander, that any New Zealander who wishes to call themselves that does not know who David Lange. Because, you know, he did things wrong and he made mistakes but ultimately what we will remember about him was the greatest thing right that he ever did, that maybe any Prime Minister of New Zealand ever did, which was his speech at Oxford University, 1985, where he argued on the international stage that nuclear weapons were morally indefensible. I wasn't even born then, but I am still... I still feel this sense of pride, that this New Zealander was able to stand on the world stage and make a difference, and he really did.

So: Here Russell Brown says a bit about the speech and New Zealanders. Public Address also holds the transcript of his speech at Oxford, which I reccomend that you all read- the second page is the better one, by the way, so read the whole thing. It's a skilled piece of rhetoric, if nothing else, and fascinating in light of today's politics but also, it's so iconic, it's so much a part of New Zealand. And I believe in it, and I think if more New Zealanders had read this speech, if more people worldwide had read this speech... well.

X-posted to nz_in_the_world and kiwi_ljs

Also: Even David Farrar and Aaron Bhatnagar (right-wing bloggers) have managed to say nice- occasionally very nice- things about Lange. Admittedly it was economically a very liberal government. Nevertheless, some right-wing bloggers (and Australian Prime Ministers. WTF, John Howard?) would find themselves basically unable to say anything nice about iconic Prime Ministers in the opposing party so, you know.

(no subject)

On speaking with thinkaholic earlier, I was reminded I haven't updated my poetry on here for yonks... since I treat my LJ as something of a non-corporeal filing box, you therefore are the lucky recipients of a poetry dump. *eyeroll*

( the words and letters triptych )

( ever, never, forever )

( ode to a poetry book )

( I really advise you not to click this cut. oh god, I tried to rhyme. )

( untitled for Josephine )

Anyway, that's all. But, you know the drill- I really really really worship and adore feedback, so if you're of that inclination, I'm not ashamed to beg. And by fb I do mean anything; if you hated everything here PLEASE, please tell me so, as creatively as you like. of course, it's even better if you tell me what you hated and why. Positive feedback is great (and if you like them, PLEASE tell me so, too. ;) ) but negative or concrit is probably more valuable to me in the long run- even if it's just "I think that word here is a bit clumsy." Anything.

Look at me begging. You know you want to!