As predictably putrid as now Cabinet Minister David Burch's "house nigger" comment was, the Human Rights Commission probably made the right call in dismissing Shadow Finance Minister Pat Gordon-Pamplin's complaint; although I think we're all aware that if the shoe was on the other foot the HRC would have taken a different view. Insulting someone is not a human rights violation in my book.
They did not however make the right call in charging out with a press release chastising Ms. Gordon-Pamplin as follows:
"While the HRC advocates the fundamental democratic right of free speech and welcomes constructive criticism, it encourages all persons, particularly representatives of the people, to be mindful and to exercise discretion so as not to reduce this or any public body to political sport for personal ends."Such irresponsibility brings with it only further contention and does not, in the opinion of the HRC, serve the interests of the community."
That press release was ill-advised and sounds awfully politically itself. Ms. Gordon-Pamplin, or anyone else frankly, is entitled to make a complaint. It's the HRCs job to decide whether the code does or does not apply. So the HRC comes out of this looking badly even thought they got the decision right in my book - and I hear their decision was neither unanimous nor uncontentious, despite the lecturey statement.
The Broadcasting Commission is a more appropriate forum for the complaint, but there's no chance of those PLP stooges -- led by PLP PR hack Scott Simmons -- giving that a fair hearing. So it'll be 0 for 2 on this front.
Lack of official reprimand notwithstanding, Colonel Burch and his colleagues are more than entitled to practice their vicious brand of racial politics. It's up to the public to stand up and put a stop to it, saying that enough is enough by not validating this behaviour at the polls.
Race based politics will persist as long as its practitioners believe that it will achieve the desired outcome ... despite the corrosive effect that it has on us as a community.
Posted by Christian S. Dunleavy