This is edition 2025/184 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. Opponents, Not Enemies.
Chris Trotter
- 🏠 Private vs Public: Every citizen, regardless of status, has the right to peace and privacy at home. Politics belongs in the public realm, not at people's doorsteps.
- 🚪 Crossing a Line: Protesters smashing a window at Winston Peters' house marked a dangerous shift from peaceful demonstration to violent intrusion, creating fear and insecurity.
- 🕰️ Historical Context: "Breaking and entering" used to be a serious crime. In older times, people fortified their homes to protect against unwanted entry, underscoring the sanctity of private space.
- 🇬🇧 Home is Sacred: The concept of “An Englishman’s home is his castle” reflects the historical importance of private spaces being inviolable.
- 📜 New Legislation: A proposed bill to make protesting outside private homes illegal is gaining support, as recent events resonate more deeply with New Zealanders.
- ⚖️ Existing Laws: Some argue the bill is unnecessary, as there are already laws against this kind of protest behavior. People once would have faced charges for such actions.
- 👮♂️ Changing Times: Protests in the past were directed at public spaces, not private homes. Today, we view political protests as expressions of civil rights, but the private sphere remains sacred.
- 💬 Respect for Opponents: In the past, political opponents were seen as fellow citizens, not enemies, and protests were directed at issues, not at individuals' homes.
