Craig Lord
There seems to be a new festering sore arising in our youth and unless it is lanced quickly, it will become toxic and spread like – well, like a pandemic. Ironically, I am talking about a virus, but it’s a virus that spreads from hate.
I’m fairly sure we are all aware of the School Strike 4 Climate. It’s a movement that uses schoolchildren to march the streets demanding action regarding climate change. Whether it is a useful movement is subject to debate, but out of this has come the virus.
On the 12th of June, School Strike 4 Climate – Auckland division – has put out a statement on how it will be disbanded due to racism. The Auckland branch has, under the guidance of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), decided to end the SS4C because they no longer want Pakeha involved. Yes, that’s correct, Pakeha are banned.
So I’m very sorry to all the white people out there, but you are now deemed unworthy.
This is the virus I speak of.
Reverse racism is growing, hatred is growing, the desire for unity is quickly disappearing and all because a certain few want it that way. They thrive on it, feed on it, and then it spreads – see what I mean about a virus?
The BIPOC membership is in desperate need of attention and they should be given it but not in a bad way. The attention that they should be given is pity, help and guidance. Their elders need to step in to cull the hatred that is growing, and we need to accept that they are not evil but simply misguided. In fact, a lot of it could be our fault – but like the School Strike, that’s another debate for another time.
Two segments of the statement stand out for me more than the rest:
“S4C also delayed paying financial reparations for the work BIPOC groups/individuals within and alongside the group have done for this organisation in the past.”
“We fully discourage any future and current Pakeha-led groups from occupying the space we leave behind.”
Both of those should have you raising your eyebrows.
What we need to be aware of, is that groups often use umbrellas of good deeds to hide their real desires and, unless you are inside said groups, you never really know their true end game. Because of that, we have to be diligent and aware of what is happening. We have to take notice, and we have to prepare ourselves for various outcomes. If not, then a whole lot of hurt is coming.
I don’t know where this leaves SS4C now. They have been used and tossed aside. Many won’t care, it was just a day off school, but for those students that took part with a genuine feeling that they were part of something, they will be upset about this and rightfully so. In fact they should be angry about it. They will now be feeling the full brunt of the race game. That is something I have tried to stamp out my entire life.
I can only hope they don’t turn their anger back at BIPOC otherwise it will just expand the sores rather than diminish them.
Honestly, the students who have been cast aside because they are Pakeha are the ones who need to be the most mature now as they are the ones who need to set an example. They should be the ones to define the future and show all sides that there is no need for division.
This has now become much more than concerns about Climate Change.
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