Conversational diversions

(paraphrased) Taxi driver, at 6 am today:

I come from Hungary and we were brainwashed by the [expletive] Communists. The immigrants from China are all brainwashed to think their government can do no wrong. All the newspapers, TV, schools are controlled by the [expletive] Communists! New Zealand is becoming like that too. The police treat me like a criminal when I am just doing my job -- speed cameras are easy cash machines.

Workmate:

The Divinity Code is brilliant. It's by Ian Wishart, and puts a Christian perspective on those atheist arguments, and a real insight into how they [Christians] think. The chapter on "Fire" blew my mind.

[The same guy (not a Christian) spent the next 30 minutes or so explaining and trying to lend his copy of The D.C. to anyone nearby].

Another workmate:

I can't believe that the National Party is chickening out of the Emissions Trading Scheme. We have to stop Climate change or there will be no future!

My response: But why should New Zealand always be at the forefront of these idealistic crusades? We are shooting ourselves in the foot, nobody really pays any attention to us, and our contributions are miniscule on the global scale.

I would have loved to explore these conversations but I had to (inconveniently) do work to pay the bills.

Comments

[belt]

Take faith and peace in the fact that those people's opinions do not count for much, so influencing their thought would have little effect.

But when you vote in the next lot of pollies, your vote may just count for something.

Taxi driver: do not speed. There is no justification for that, or killing someone, especially a child of Ian's, Ropata's or mine.

Workmate: as I understand it, God will come into your life if you ask for it. Not of you're being bullied to ask. So lay off the pressure, and focus on making your own family's life better.

Another workmate: Did you cycle to work? Carry your shopping in reusable bags? Use eco bulbs? Turn of the microwave, stereo, TV, computer, and any other device on "stand-by", compost all green waste, go to bed when the light fades and get up when it is back, eat sustainable foodtuffs made locally (etc)... if not... go home and improve your own life.

[belt]

yikes. must proof read my posts... no chance of an upgrade to the blog software with an edit function?

[John Boy]

Alas I bought another depressing book the other day - a second hand copy of "The Sell out of NZ" by Denis McKenna. I had no idea what is was about really but the title caught my eye.

It explains a lot of what we see happening and is interesting as it was printed in 1989. In the latest Investigate John Key is all about looking forward and not back. Maybe you should revise that John; some of us are learning from the past and watching you. Not every one is dumb all the time as Helen is now finding out.