In defence of New Zealand

[gordonartist]

My original post.

"New Zealand troops rock Dili with haka war dance.

New Zealand troops announced their arrival in Dili with a fearsome haka today, sending clouds of dust over the troubled East Timor capital as they stamped their feet in the traditional Maori war dance.

While the Kiwis have been on patrol in the dangerous Becora area since early last week, they performed the ceremony today as a formal greeting to Australia's Brigadier Mick Slater, who commands international troops in the city.

"Kamate, kamate - ka ora ka ora (I die, I die -- I live, I live)," a group of 30 New Zealand troops roared, thumping their chests in unison and shaking the ground with their stomping as Brigadier Slater looked on.

"If we could get everyone in the joint task force to show that type of controlled aggression, we would have this thing licked in no time," Brigadier Slater told them after the performance.

"I'd like to see that same demonstration, a big haka with the whole company downtown, it might change the whole tone of this city."

The Australian-led task force of more than 2,200 troops has struggled to contain gang violence in Dili, although the New Zealand contingent of about 140 appears to have calmed Becora, once regarded as a major hotspot.

Take care,

Gordon."

Nomad's reply

"If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy, then yes, Mr. Brave man, I guess I'm a coward. Thats what I think about war pal."

My comments.

Now tell me where in my original post does it mention cowardice? Where in my original post does it mention war except the traditional "Haka War Dance" [usually performed at football matches]? Where in my original post does it mention anything at all that is covered in Mr Nomad's response?

Why then, did he choose to make his comments after a piece of innocuous general interest news. If he wants to make a comment like he did it should be a stand alone comment, not directed against the New Zealanders.

I still think that he owes the people of New Zealand an apology. And if Mr Nomad wants to self-deprecate I suggest he does it in someone else's post.

Gordon.

[spot]

Nomad is not, invariably and every time, the most coherent of posters. If you assume that he is indicating that, unlike those capable of the controlled aggression of the haka, in a war he (Nomad, personally) would be a coward, I think you'd be in the right ballpark in interpreting his intention. Given the practically random order of his words on this occasion and the lack of coherent syntax it is, of course, possible to read other meanings into it. I don't believe they're either warranted or the most likely. I do hope that you can settle for the benefit of the doubt and allow any possible tension to dissipate.

[koan]

Here's my take:

If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy,


Here Nomad offers a particularily funny definition of a word (cowardice) he wishes to introduce to the topic.

then yes, Mr. Brave man, I guess I'm a coward.


Here Nomad gives the reason for introducing the word. (making fun of himself) He also has a mild, but potentially humorous slag on gordonartist by calling him Mr. Brave man but compared to calling himself a coward it is dismissable. I suppose Nomad could be fishing to see what level of humor might be shared between the two posters.

Thats what I think about war pal.


Here Nomad gives a summary reason for having made the comment at all. In context, war seems to scare Nomad and while gordonartist might be a Mr. Brave man, Nomad would run screaming into the desert, or woods or any other suitable escape plan.

I personally find it worth a chuckle. But can this be the last thread about it?

[valerie]

Hey ga you could have found out intent with a pm, no need to start

a thread.



And instead of "you define" maybe insert "ONE DEFINES" and it will read better.



My apologies, Nomad, for my take on it.



Get a grip, ga.

[Accountable]

gordonartist wrote: My original post.



"New Zealand troops rock Dili with haka war dance.



New Zealand troops announced their arrival in Dili with a fearsome haka today, sending clouds of dust over the troubled East Timor capital as they stamped their feet in the traditional Maori war dance.



While the Kiwis have been on patrol in the dangerous Becora area since early last week, they performed the ceremony today as a formal greeting to Australia's Brigadier Mick Slater, who commands international troops in the city.



"Kamate, kamate - ka ora ka ora (I die, I die -- I live, I live)," a group of 30 New Zealand troops roared, thumping their chests in unison and shaking the ground with their stomping as Brigadier Slater looked on.



"If we could get everyone in the joint task force to show that type of controlled aggression, we would have this thing licked in no time," Brigadier Slater told them after the performance.



"I'd like to see that same demonstration, a big haka with the whole company downtown, it might change the whole tone of this city."



The Australian-led task force of more than 2,200 troops has struggled to contain gang violence in Dili, although the New Zealand contingent of about 140 appears to have calmed Becora, once regarded as a major hotspot.



Take care,



Gordon."



Nomad's reply



"If you define cowardice as running away at the first sign of danger, screaming and tripping and begging for mercy, then yes, Mr. Brave man, I guess I'm a coward. Thats what I think about war pal."



My comments.



Now tell me where in my original post does it mention cowardice? Where in my original post does it mention war except the traditional "Haka War Dance" [usually performed at football matches]? Where in my original post does it mention anything at all that is covered in Mr Nomad's response?



Why then, did he choose to make his comments after a piece of innocuous general interest news. If he wants to make a comment like he did it should be a stand alone comment, not directed against the New Zealanders.



I still think that he owes the people of New Zealand an apology. And if Mr Nomad wants to self-deprecate I suggest he does it in someone else's post.



Gordon.If you don't want people responding to your posts, I suggest starting a journal. This particular post is "someone else's post" by the way. It belongs to Tombstone, the owner.



Perhaps he can provide you with a special feature that allows you to grant permission before someone can post on "your" thread?



Until then, this is a third place I expect to see a public apology from you to Nomad.

[Nomad]

spot wrote: Nomad is not, invariably and every time, the most coherent of posters. If you assume that he is indicating that, unlike those capable of the controlled aggression of the haka, in a war he (Nomad, personally) would be a coward, I think you'd be in the right ballpark in interpreting his intention. Given the practically random order of his words on this occasion and the lack of coherent syntax it is, of course, possible to read other meanings into it. I don't believe they're either warranted or the most likely. I do hope that you can settle for the benefit of the doubt and allow any possible tension to dissipate.


****. Its humor *******. Plain and simple humor. Its meant to be quirky and off the wall. It gives me a chuckle, it amuses me. Thats why I come here, to be amused. Is this coherent enough for you ? Theres a whole shitload of it on the internet. Its Jack Handy, from Saturday Night Live. Ive about ****ing had it.

[spot]

Nomad wrote: Theres a whole shitload of it on the internet. Its Jack Handy, from Saturday Night Live. Ive about ****ing had it.Good God, it never occurred to me that it might be a quote or I'd have looked. I'm sure Jack Handy is very funny in context.

Juxtaposed with New Zealand troops engaged in cleaning up the long-term humanitarian disaster in East Timor which originated with Henry Kissinger and some rather compliant Australian statesmen in the seventies, I'm not sure he sits too well. There's not a lot of humour in East Timor, nor in New Zealanders going out of their way to improve the circumstances of a very battered part of the world.

[Nomad]

spot wrote: Good God, it never occurred to me that it might be a quote or I'd have looked. I'm sure Jack Handy is very funny in context.



Juxtaposed with New Zealand troops engaged in cleaning up the long-term humanitarian disaster in East Timor which originated with Henry Kissinger and some rather compliant Australian statesmen in the seventies, I'm not sure he sits too well. There's not a lot of humour in East Timor, nor in New Zealanders going out of their way to improve the circumstances of a very battered part of the world.


whatever see ya around

[spot]

Nomad wrote: whatever see ya aroundHenry Kissinger. Remember the name. Nasty chappie. Can't fly anywhere outside of the USA, rather like Maggie Thatcher's pal Pinochet in that regard. Damned reprobates all three of them, may they rot.