am

If you know me, you know I am unapologetically woke. Liberal. Leftie. Whatever label you want to apply to me.

Basically, I think I am a decent human being who wants what is best for all our communities. The things that benefit the least of us. Because by doing that, we are going to build much stronger, healthier and smarter communities for the future.

I am particularly annoyed, triggered; pissed off by; intolerant of all the bigotries – Racism, homophobia; misogyny; ageism; ableism; the punching down of our young people.

All of it.

I know I live in a place of privilege, because I am white and comfortably off. And I understand that with that, comes with a responsibility to give something back. Pay it forward. Speak for those with no voice.

And I try to live true to those beliefs.

I have come to understand that the world and its systems are geared to the success of a small demographic. People will say I have oversimplified this; but if you don’t fit a certain box, then all of a sudden everything becomes harder.

If you don’t Look like the ideal; Love like the ideal; wear the right clothes; believe in the same faith; have the right hair colour; if you deviate from any of the Norms, or if you are neurospicy (neurodivergent), rather than neuro-vanilla (neurotypical); or any other variation from the Usual; then suddenly, you are Less Than. Your differences are perceived as a threat; your very essence is somehow an affront. Your variances are weaponised against you.

We live in complicated times. But I think these differences have always been used to divide us. What is it? Divide and conquer?

Class wars, race wars, religious wars? All designed to distract us from some peoples’ desires for fortune and power. I know, a very simplistic view, but sometimes in life the simple truths are the most accurate.

We are living in a world where sexuality, gender, race and religion are being used against us all – for the gain of a few.

There are groups I identify with, that mean I don’t fit neatly into The Box. Yes I am white, and not poor. But I am a woman; my sexuality is not the mainstream and I am the (very proud) daughter and grand daughter of refugees and immigrants.

I see this war of words and actions on refugees as particularly repugnant. People do not leave their lives, flee to another part of the world (usually foreign to them) with young children and few belongings, on a whim

Just like that Polish mother and her very young daughter who travelled from Siberia, via Uzbekistan, Iran, India Kenya and Tanzania to a refugee camp that was their home for many years; before making a home in Kenya; before finally migrating to Aotearoa New Zealand; today’s refugees are making massive trips to flee something hideous.

When people call their intentions into questions. Spew vile hate about them; Or diminish their struggles; they are really making a judgement about Who they Are.

When the whole immigrant rhetoric plays out; they are demeaning People. Making Humans something Less.

I am very passionate about the whole refugee/immigrant discussion. Because Who I Am – comes from those refugee roots. I was raised by a mother who’s mother had done unthinkable things to keep her and her child alive. I come from staunch women. Strong women. Women who fought hard to be a success.

I am sure there were the “anti-boat brigade” around at the end of WW2. Whatever version they presented as then. But I am glad that the taking in of refugees happened anyway. All over the Commonwealth. Giving people who had lost everything, the dignity and ability to rebuild their lives.

I come from people who chose to emigrate to create a better life for their family. And I know that my family have all contributed much to the communities we now call home. We have made our little spots better places.

I love my adopted country, with a passion. I love its culture; Te Reo Māori, the language. The beauty; the staunchness and humour and kindness of its people.

These things all make me Who I Am.

And that is the essence of all these differences. These things, that mean we don’t fit neatly into that Box by which we are all measured; define who we Are.

We are ALL richer by mixing with people who are different. Our communities grow stronger by welcoming The Different.

We learn compassion by seeing a different point of view.

We learn wisdom by listening to others’ stories.

We learn tolerance by observing how other cultures, sexualities or faiths live.

We learn.

I Am who I Am because of the lives of the people who came before me.

When those groups are vilified for their race, faith, sexuality, migration status; then I feel like my whakapapa (genealogy) is under attack too. When I see all the ignorant hatred out there, I feel guilty that I somehow escape it.

When refugees/migrants are denigrated, then, of course, I feel coloured by that same denigration.

When people’s sexuality is pilloried; then of course I feel like my sexuality is disparaged.

But we cannot help how we are born. Life is a lottery. A very small proportion of people win, because they tick all the boxes in that very small “Acceptable parameter”. The rest of us spend our whole lives trying to measure up, on things we cannot help, or change.

When you hate on something someone is born to be, or has had that decision made for them by life; then you hate on their very existence. You demean yourself more than the person you are carelessly dismissing. All those throw away lines that reject people’s very being, the core of who they are. So many lost opportunities to learn more about another perspective. When who you Are means you cannot appreciate the core of someone else. Then you both lose

Who I Am is the sum of all my past and parts. And that is to be celebrated…

He aha te mea nui o te ao?

He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!

What is the most important thing in the world?

It is people! It is people! It is people!