The flag at the school where I work flew at half-mast today in recognition of the passing of former NZ Prime Minister David Lange on Saturday. (Full story here, or here). His auto-biography was released only last week.
I don't much like politicians but this guy was the exception. I was in high school when he came into power after the Government of the day called a snap election and lost. I remember him as a man who bought a conscious to politics. A leader who was concerned with more than just the dollars, but formulated policy on principals. It has been said that in any factory in South Auckland the bosses in the office supported Mr Lange's nemsis, Robert Muldoon, while the workers on the floor were usually right behind the man they knew as Mr Honourable.
The Lange government was responsible for what I feel was a defining act as a nation, our anti-nuclear stance. It is sad to think that these days there is talk from the National Party of giving away our nuclear free status which is seen by Washington as a hurdle to a free trade agreement with NZ. Personally I fail to see what trading meat and dairy products has to do with nuclear power or nuclear weapons. It amounts to nothing but a vulgar bribe by the US government.
To quote a GreenPeace spokesman, "To gamble with New Zealand's nuclear-free future on the slim hope of a free trade deal is dangerously short-sighted and demonstrates ignorance of what the legislation means." I'm sure Mr Lange would agree.
RIP David Lange (1942 - 2005). You made me proud to be a kiwi.
8:23:38 PM 
|
