22 November 2008
On bullwhips, batons, and pigs. Real pigs, in cages.
21 March 2007
Te Waha Nui Online
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Why all the fuss about repealing section 59 of the Crimes Act? Assault and children go together like school and straps, Joan Crawford and coathangers. (Babies and bathwater?)
I think beating a 12-year-old with a bullwhip is a perfectly respectable way to correct a child. Bad nanny state-CYF for disagreeing! We should share more parenting pointers like, when best to use a wooden spoon, a hearth brush, (a poker might be too drastic?), belts, and sports bats. A piece of timber lying around outside?
Perhaps this is an additional use for the famous Kiwi No. 8 chicken wire? The child could be wrapped to a chair first with the chicken wire before the bullwhip is used.
As a teacher, I loved having students come to school the day after reports had gone home telling me of beatings for Cs. It was very satisfying knowing the state supported parents beating as an educational tool, because beating so improved students’ ability to read and write.
It was great not being able to call the parents and absolutely not be able to say such correction was against the law, that New Zealand supported our children’s right not to be assaulted with a law – a force as strong as a bullwhip against the force of the bullwhip.
We should let teachers cane and strap again. Bring back stocks, bring back hanging, we could bring in the electric chair? (OK, now I’m just being silly…)
Thanks to Mae West and Tracey Barnett’s interesting American take on Kiwi life in The Weekend Herald, I now have a good line when in the mood and see the boys in blue. Barnett was asking for a T-shirt with the writing: “Is that a police baton, or are you just pleased to see me?”
We do need to joke seriously about these things, because as Barnett says, it’s painful. Women’s point of view is essential when we are to believe that a police baton is a consensual sex aid, and when one of those saying it could be reinstated into a position of power.
 The controversial advert |
‘Thin blue line’
And on the “thin blue line” between gang rape and consensual group sex, a blog reader sent me a copy of the Dolce and Gabbana ad on the theme, for how the advertising world can contribute to a culture normalising rape. It was pulled from Spain because enough other people felt that way too and let their standards authority know. Complaining can be good!
Talking about group sex - I notice we have a treat on Maori Television coming up this week on Wednesday with a documentary– The Sex Life of Us. And the now ubiquitous question: exactly how much group sex do New Zealanders have?
“Group sex is not such a rare experience: Maori doco”. Apparently one in six Maori have had group sex more than once compared with one in 10 non-Maori. (Is this advertising? Tell John Tamihere. I heard him complain once he tried very hard in the 80s but wasn’t invited to any orgies. Now he’ll really feel bad.)
And are threesomes counted as group sex? Three is a group? Really? We obviously need to watch.
Now – on to the plight of pigs. Canvas The New Zealand Herald’s Saturday magazine, profiled an ethical pork producer Gregor Fyfe at the same time as Heather Mills McCartney has been hitting the headlines again, with her divorce and pig farrowing cages. (I believe her when she says she only goes loud and public with causes, and divorcing from Paul McCartney is like separating from a demi-God. Gee, it’s bad enough in the eyes of your ex mother-in-law, but also the general public?)
I don’t know if men find images of “assisted reproduction” in animal husbandry disquieting, but I certainly do when it comes to lactating animals and their young.
Whenever I purchase pig meat products I have in mind a pig farm I visited as a kid. Pigs happily swilling in big-enough pens in the great outdoors. But on the tele 20 years later I saw a big indoor crate that was opened and contained pig-to-pig life in eternal dark confinement.
Real life
I hoped that was a piece of TV fiction. But now apparently it’s real life, and the picture of the pig farm is more a thing of the past and farmers who care about animal welfare are the rarity.
As Gregor Fyfe says, to get producers to care the consumers have to care and choose animal-friendly farm products.
The internet can be good. The power of our wallets can be good. We can use our purchasing power to determine conditions for animals, and for humans - the wonders of the internet and email to easily support or complain.
And we don’t need to leave our computers to do it.
Link:
- Click on the SAPAC 2007 sexism in advertising campaign link
