by Catherine Delahunty
Today, December 3, is International Day for the Rights of People with Disabilities.
TVNZ might be at risk of becoming blasé about complaints to the Human Rights Commission. After all, it is becoming a regular occurrence thanks to their ongoing support for Paul Henry’s barking and dog whistling.
Henry is willing to incite prejudice and contempt for women who are not Barbie and people with intellectual impairments. TVNZ could solve the problem by sacking Henry or requiring him to show some respect for people different from himself and the stereotypes he loves to foster.
His comments are not in private, they are on prime time television and they hurt people. They may also be in breach of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities Article 17 which says:
Every person with disabilities has a right to respect for his or her physical and mental integrity on a equal basis with others.
TVNZ is supposedly one of our public broadcasters and they should be leading the implementation of the Convention, but they seem impervious, so long as abuse creates an audience.
Published in Featured | Society & Culture by Catherine Delahunty on Thu, December 3rd, 2009
Tags: disability, human rights, Paul Henry, sexism, Stephanie Mills, Susan Boyle, TVNZ
More posts by Catherine Delahunty | more about Catherine Delahunty
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
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People with intellectual impairments? Don’t be so negative!
Call them ‘dart boards’, ‘punching bags’, or ‘base balls’. You must place emphasis on what they can contribute to society!
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I’m not sure if that is sarcasm or not Sapient.
But looks like the Don Brash perspective to me – we are all economicunits and no more. NOT!
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For once i agree with her.
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Iiiiiii think somebodies being a bit precious.
The Greens had no problem in calling responsible parents “beaters” and “bashers” actually even “perverts” if I recall correctly.
Sorry Cath, reel your own in first and people might listen.
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Shunda – you recall incorrectly.
You’re a cheerleader for Paul Henry too! Your fondness for Ian Wishart is concerning enough and I’m just going to assume you’re a Christine Rankin groupie and a Michael Laws devotee, but Henry?
Show some class man!
Next you’ll be singing the praises of d4j!
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Greenfly you are being naughty, I said nothing about cheer leading just pointing out some inconsistency from those perched high and lofty.
Remember greenfly, I am all about balance and perhaps the Henrys are a good balance for the Bradfords.
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“…and I’m just going to assume you’re a Christine Rankin groupie and a Michael Laws devotee,”
That’s a very insulting thing to say about someone, Greenfly
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However, I’d be very reluctant to suggest that TVNZ should face external legal pressure not to air content which criticises specific groups; instead they should have more robust internal processes to ensure that they make proper editorial decisions so what they air is in the public interest.
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Yes it was
i think he meant I’m just going to assume you’re a Christine Rankin devotee and a Michael Laws groupie
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toad,
my attempt at most negative kudos of the week.
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Not much different than Bradford with her “whackers”, “abusers” and “perverts” rhetoric.
And lets not forget Mr White Mofos.
Not a word said about them.
Not much leadership worth following going on in this country, huh. Once leaders condone divisive language, few people will bat an eyelid when a TV personality does it.
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Not a truer word has been spoken.
It all filters down from the top people.
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Henry insulted a specific person. Your ‘but somebody else said something else about someone else’ argument is lame excuse-making for someone I assume you must be defending. Why you would defend the awful Paul Henry? I don’t know and I can only extrapolate out that you would defend others of the same ilk (Rankin, Laws, Banks, Wishart, echhh!)
Not a word said about them.
Don’t be ridiculous!
(The early-morning nature of this post is the result of being woken by a possum chakking in the trees outside – the hunt was unsuccessful, though my son and I and our dog, had a great old time trying. He’ll be back tomorrow night and we’ll be ready. I did get to poke him with the sharper end of my javelin).
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There’s your challenge.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Hypocrisy response!!!
I think a public figure, such as a radio or television personality, insulting a kindly person such as Ms Boyle, by calling her ‘retarded’ is deplorable. The remainder of your claim, Biggie, is just fabricated to further your own ends and your last sentence is nonsensical.
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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“I don’t know and I can only extrapolate out that you would defend others of the same ilk (Rankin, Laws, Banks, Wishart, echhh!)”
Greenfly if you put all those people in the same room together I doubt one would conclude they are all of the same “ilk”.
And as far as Paul Henry goes, lets be honest about the Susan Boyle incident, the ONLY reason she is famous is because she is frightfully ugly. “Oh look how that wretchedly ugly woman can sing” the world cried. Being honest about the two faced-ness of the masses will only help reduce said two faced behaviour.
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Whit the fonk is a ‘whote’ mofo Blig Bloo?
I’m sure Bloo, the words most readers here associate with you are the ones you use most often – LIAR, LIES, and LIE.
You’ve made your bed, Bro (and now you’re lying in it).
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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Shunda – imagine, if you will, that room! Laws, clawing at the walls, the backs of those around him, his own face…Wishart eyes a-squint, snivelling in the corner, nursing dark imaginings, scribbling indecipherable notes…Banks, whining, wheedling, bullying his way to the centre of the room…Rankin, towering nose-pinchingly over the seething dwarves at her jack-booted feet .. Have I missed anyone?
Oh yes! Paul Henry, inveigling his way from gargoyle to gargoyle, smarming his sorry path beneath the carpet, sniffing out vulnerabilities.
Great bunch of friends you’ve got Shunda!
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Can’t be everywhere Bro, though I see Johnny Boy Key is going to Copenhagen! I suppose he doesn’t want to miss out on any reflected glory. Oh, how he loves to bath in that stuff! He’s using your money to get there Bro. You must be seething! .
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Fly
Henry, Laws and co, would you silence them if you had the power?
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Never Bro – you know me, I love the conflict and creative tension that opposing ideologies bring. I’d silence you though!!!
(Do I have to say that I’m joking? You got it, eh Bro!)
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Amazing how the Green blog stayed silent on the corruption of science. So long as the ends justify the means, eh.
I note Jon Stewart fronted up on the issue – damning the non-scientists for their despicable behavior.
Where were you?
Science demands that their conclusions be thrown out and the question re-examined. We may still find the planet is warming, but I have no faith in the existing process.
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I don’t think there was any great concealment of data, just that in the on going melee with “skeptics” someone (unwisely) got a little childish and the “skeptics” are presenting it as grand concealment.
If there was any grand concealment it will all start to unravel but I predict that next year (while there will be the usual adjustments) this will be seen as just an incident.
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jh – that’s a very sound assessment.
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BB 10:22 AM, BP 10:40 AM –
On the last climate change thread I asked to not have a discussion about whether climate change is happening. But there is a General Debate thread where you can make comments of that nature without threadjacking this one which has nothing to do with climate change.
Please keep on topic. You have been warned. And other commenters, please don’t respond to threadjacks. It only encourages them.
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“Great bunch of friends you’ve got Shunda!”
I am not sure whether you really believe that or not greenfly, if you do you are certainly off the mark a bit.
To be honest I can’t stand M Laws but I understand why he has emerged, he is the result of an overbearing left wing, an inevitable manifestation of unbalance and left wing control.
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So who said “Here’s the really interesting revelation: she is in fact retarded … And if you look at her carefully, you can make it out,”?
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Well, she is. That’s why she’s popular.
If she was “together”, she would be unremarkable.
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In what sense is she not “together”? I haven’t watched E! in a while so break it to me gently.
Also her singing ability doesn’t hurt the popularity. I thought it was more her background and ‘unlikely’ looking appearance.
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It’s the ugly duckling story. Also, she’s also clearly a little… special…in terms of intellect.
If some blonde Britney walked out and sung to the same level (good but not great), it wouldn’t be remarkable.
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Big Bro wrote: “I know the Greens would remove all ‘non believers’ if they had the chance but until then we have a thing called free speach”
not true. Frog could ban people (just like on Kiwiblog) if he wanted to.
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It’s always creepy when politicians freely discuss prosecuting people who exercise their absolute right of free speech. Whatever happened to “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”?
If your nauseating UN extends its convention of “rights” (sic) to include religion – as the Muslims are seeking to do – will the Greens advocate prosecution and punishment of those who criticise Islam? Presumably so.
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“Paul Henry’s Breakfast workmate Peter Williams has publicly distanced himself from the controversial broadcaster after his infamous Susan Boyle “retard” remarks.
The newsreader told guests at an awards ceremony last week that he “completely disassociate[s]” himself from Henry’s comments about the Scots singing sensation.
Two weeks ago, Henry laughed on air as he talked about how Boyle was starved of oxygen at birth and suffered an intellectual disability.
“Here’s the really interesting revelation: she is in fact retarded … And if you look at her carefully, you can make it out,” he said.
Henry’s comments – which made headlines here and abroad – were met with outrage, and the Human Rights Commission received more than 220 complaints. Henry has refused to apologise.
At Thursday night’s Attitude Awards, which honoured New Zealanders with disabilities, Williams received a round of applause when he said: “I completely disassociate myself from Paul Henry. I only wish he could be at nights like tonight, to be inspired by people with amazing attitudes.”"
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/3130595/Colleague-condemns-Paul-Henrys-retard-remark/3130595/Colleague-condemns-Paul-Henrys-retard-remark
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Williams thinks Henry’s retarded.
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Wat says (inappropriately):
“It’s always creepy when politicians freely discuss prosecuting people who exercise their absolute right of free speech. Whatever happened to “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”?”
In this case though Wat it is basic good behaviour as when parents teach their kids not to comment when they see someone with an unusual disability.
—
Despite Henry’s popularity, Williams would have made swift gains by his demonstrable good character.
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Henry may be a dork, but the only people stupider than him are the people that turn the TV on and watch him so they can get all offended.
If everybody turned off the idiot box there would be no problem.
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Shunda – Susan Boyle doesn’t watch Henry’s programme.
Do you think she was offended nevertheless?
Is she ‘stupid’ to be offended by what he said?
Shunda?
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How about her family?
People who didn’t watch ‘dorky’ Henry, but heard about what he said from their friends?
People who read about it on a blog?
Wise and sensible people who watch the news and heard about Henry’s stupid comments that way – what about them?
No problem?
How about the children of the ‘stupider than Henry’ people who watched the programme, who heard their parents discussing his stupid comments?
How about those little guys?
Eh!
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So greenfly you are advocating for a society where saying stupid or controversial things should be illegal?
Who cares what Henry says is my attitude, and who cares what Tiger woods, Paul McCartney, or Ginger Spice thinks or does.
Paul Henry and Susan Boyle are nothing but constructs in an industry propped up by nothing other than the shallow, mind numbingly stupid attitudes and desires of the brainless masses.
Big fan of shortland street are you greenfly? Maybe desperate housewives?
Please, I know you are smarter than to just “play along”.
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I don’t watch morning television, its stupid.
Last thing I want to start the day with is the bloody tv.
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“So greenfly you are advocating for a society where saying stupid or controversial things should be illegal?”
Or, more likely, a society where people who constantly say stupid things don’t get to hold down a job on TV because their boss chooses to fire them?
Anyway, I agree that anyone who chooses to watch TV first thing in the morning needs to get out more
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Shunda- My apologies – I thought she was a actual person! – someone who might be hurt by hearing someone else calling her a retard – what a dill I am!
You’re right of course – who cares what Paul Henry says. Why, he could say,
‘Jesus was a liar and a thief’
and, while thousands of impressionable viewers might go along with what he says, as they do, there’s no problem with that – after all, who cares!
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The thing is greenfly, Paul is not an authority figure that anybody should look up to, it distresses me that people make such a big deal over this shallow stuff when the people actually leading the country (all parties) are up to far worse.
The only reason this is a big deal is because he is not politically correct, the actual substance of his statements and his actual standing in society are pretty minor.
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man I am tired, got to try and get some shut eye, gotta get up for morning television!
sdfsdf
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What Henry said was factually accurate…she IS slighly retarded and you CAN tell by looking at her…she has the look.So what? Same with the Mills moustache comment…it also was factully accurate and obvious to everyone with eyes.And what is this “human rights” bullshit?Boyles rights were not violated in any way…She has no right not to be offended by the comments of others if she even knows of them or cares….same as the rest of us.
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James – of course! No one has the right to be treated respectfully – what was I thinking!
How factually accurate you are.
Shunda – On television this morning, Paul Henry said Ian Wishart was retarded! That guy! What a factually accurate, non-pc hero!
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Greenfly,
Liar is a given, but I don’t know so much about thief; though certainly a vandal whom willfully destroyed the property of all those hard working merchants at the temple simply because he disagreed with them
.
Then again, if one attributes the actions of a religion to the prophet, he is likely the greatest thief to have ever lived. Not to mention greatest bigot, greatest religious extremist, greatest mass murderer, etc.
Boyle is a retard. The whole world is just laughing at her, not with her. One could argue that by pointing it out he is the only one actually being humane.
Rimu,
But he does not say stupid things. He says what many are thinking for humerous effect and in doing so gains a great amount of publicity for himself and for the show. I would imagine that almost all of it was positive.
If you cant laugh, your dead. If you cant state the truth, your imprisioned. If you cant be mean, your repressed. Just because you dont agree that he should say what he does does not justify his expulsion anymore than your flirting with threading justifies your expulsion from the party (and that threading was probally far more harmful to the blog than his comments were to the show).
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Jesus Sapient! Don’t be afraid to say what you really think!
Boyle’s state of being isn’t the question, it’s whether or not she’s deserving of polite treatment. The whole world laughing at her? I doubt that, sales of her cd have been phenomenal. Do you think people bought it so that they could sit around guffawing? (Disclaimer: I’ve been avoiding almost all exposure to Ms Boyle from the beginning and have no interest in her as an entertainer)
If you can’t state the truth, your (sic) imprisoned
If you can’t use discretion, you should find a job outside of broadcasting.
If Paul Henry was interviewing a courageous child dying of cancer and said, ‘Pew! Your breath stinks and despite your courage, you are quite an ugly child’, would you be reminding us of the importance of humour?
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Greenfly,
No one has the right to be free of offence nor the right to respect. Offence can not be given, only taken and can be taken from any action no matter how small. Respect is something to be earned.
Discretion is important in the politics of inter-human interaction, I am sure that Paul Henry knows well how to use discretion. That he does not use it here, I would guess, is because it provides entertainment. If she puts herself on the public stage she is putting herself in a situation where she will be ridiculed and she should be prepared for such; that is part of the cost of seeking the benefits she stands to gain.
I would find that statement hilarious and there is no reason that he should seek not to offend that child. People being nice to people on their death bed is just as much bull as people only saying nice things about people whom die or leave when really a good number hate them.
Ive had limited exposure but she does not seem particuarly good, its the ‘ive never been kissed’ and ‘im an incredibly ugly, retarded, blight on humanity’ that gets her as far as she has gotten. All the little retards feel sympathy for her.
If one is offended and one can’t handle it then one can go and hang themselves for all I care. In fact I would encourage such as it would be a boon to humanity. We should sell ready made devices such that retards like boyle can do it too.
Thats what happens when you don’t re-read that which you have written.
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Mr Henry did not call Miss Boyle a retard at all.
‘ere, where’d BB go?
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Sapient
You say – No one has the right to be free of offence nor the right to respect.
Indeed, but that’s not my argument. Mr Henry doesn’t treat people such as Ms Boyle with respect. There is no need for him to be disrespectful. He harms those he treats this way.
You add – Respect is something to be earned.
I don’t agree. Respect is something you give.
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Greenfly,
Ah, but that is the thing. Thus, the only reason he would have not to say such is respect for her feelings and concern for his career. There is no need to respect her and in all truth such comments have been a massive boon to his career. He has every reason TO be disrespectful toward her as it provides him with a substantial benefit simply because of emotional self-rightious people like these making such a big fuss.
We will have to agree to disagree. To me respect is just like trust in that if you give it to one for which you have no reason to do so then you are just as retarded as boyle. Just as you don’t put a rope in the hand of a punk, tell them to hold it, and then jump of a bridge hoping that they do what you say. You show respect through your actions just like you show trust, but people must earn such treatment by earning the trust or respect.
The axial person i mentioned in the general thread trusted the person on the SB which i mentioned when she had no reason to. Turns out he stole her wallet and ID that night.
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Henry’s is purely self interest then, Sapient. He had no need to ‘hurt’ Boyle, it just suited him to do so. I’m not promoting mindless granting of respect, just restraint and discernment.
Henry uses disrespect as a tool for his own self biggerment. What a tool.
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“Then again, if one attributes the actions of a religion to the prophet, he is likely the greatest thief to have ever lived. Not to mention greatest bigot, greatest religious extremist, greatest mass murderer, etc.”
You’re kind of reaching there a bit Sapient, I think Jesus would be pretty upset with some of the actions of those claiming to represent him.
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Greenfly,
Well even if his intent was purely to hurt boyle, which I strongly doubt, it could still provide him with satisfaction and thus some benefit.
I would not consider practicing restraint as respect necassarily. I am a very calm person but I, on a regular basis, hold a desire to end the life of those I encounter should they be doing something so obviously detrimental to society. That and people whom are total idiots. I don’t act on these desires, not because I respect the people – I detest them – but because the consequences for myself outweigh the emotional gratification.
As to him being a tool, that may be so. All humans use others for their own ends. I use everyone else on this blog as a source of entertainment, as a source of personal growth, and as a source of information. To use others for ones means is the human way, the way of the ape, even the way of any sucessful thinking species. How others are used and manipulated only changes the ends – and thus the wisdom of the action – , it does not make it inherently wrong.
Shunda,
Indeed, it is reaching. But the same reaching has been applied to many religious leaders and political leaders. I would say that many of his teachings have been altered, many have been used for political purposes. Ultimately his teachings are not the source of morality but morality dictates which teachings are adhered to; the moral zeigeist.
Personally, I think that Jesus was probally just a tool of bigger boys. He may of wanted to help but I doubt that he was anything great. Just a psychologcially disturbed man beign manipulated by those whom sought power. Even after death being manipulated without stop.
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the sociopath discussion has been moved to http://blog.greens.org.nz/2009/12/05/general-debate-5-december-2009/
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