Simon O'Connor: The 'right' response

The conduct of Charlie Kirk before his assassination, and the likes of Israel and Maria Folau, give us a good idea of how we should respond to the increasing challenges in society.

Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the recent release of an exclusive interview with Israel and Maria Folau, I’ve been asking myself - what is the right response to having your views challenged so aggressively and dramatically by opponents?

Ani O'Brien: When the Left decides violence is justified

Charlie Kirk’s assassination could have been a moment of unified horror bringing together anyone who values democracy, free speech, or civil society. That it was not is cause for great alarm and demonstrates that society-wide political animosity is at dangerous levels. Kirk was not killed in an accident. He was hunted, targeted, and gunned down in front of an audience because of his political views. His killer didn’t just dislike what Kirk said, he believed Kirk’s very existence was intolerable and he was justified in eliminating him. This is the culmination of years of rhetoric from the left that frames conservatives not as political opponents but as evil incarnate, “hatemongers” whose words are literal violence. Once you have convinced people that speech is violence, it is only a small step to convince them that real violence is simply “self-defence.”

Simon O'Connor: Violence is the resort for those without reason

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is yet another sad illustration that too many prefer violence to rational debate.

Charlie Kirk was a 31 year old, husband and father of two young children, and someone whose skills were to talk, debate, and discuss. For this, he was assassinated.

John Klar: Is Social Media Fueling Crime and Violence?

Burning, vandalizing, and even defecating on Tesla EVs have become commonplace despite cameras that capture culprits in the act. Such brazen behaviors are endorsed and encouraged, embracing lawlessness as a moral good. Vietnam War protesters were not this extreme, and their goal was more visible and less self-destructive. Social media algorithms seem to be fueling terrible side effects.

Musk Derangement Syndrome and TDS

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Should we expect all this violence to be the new normal?

We have a young producer working on this show called Jack, who’s recently moved over from London.

He asked us today why we're all so worked up about this one shooting on Ponsonby Road - and why if you open any of the local newspapers' websites today, it’s right there at the top of the front page.

Kate Hawkesby: How over the violence are you?

How over all the violence are we right now?  

I can’t tell you how over it I am. I’m sure you are too. It’s actually getting ridiculous and what I’m worried about now is that not even a change of government is going to stop it.  

A stabbing murder at an Albany bus stop in Auckland Monday, another knife incident 30 minutes later in Auckland’s Waterview, the next day, Tuesday, a person taken into custody after a knife found Kepa Road, in Auckland’s Orakei. That same day a shooting at a Rotorua intersection.  

Point of Order: Budget 2023 sluice-gates are opened.....

.....$1bn will flow into cyclone recovery

Whoa there. Did Budget Day arrive several days earlier than Point of Order had been led to believe?

Five press statements from the Beehive landed in our email this morning, embargoed for release at 10.30 am.

The PM led the charge, announcing a billion-dollar flood and cyclone recovery package as part of Budget 2023 that covers the basics of rebuilding roads, rail and schools while preparing for future events with a big investment in flood protection measures.

Here’s how the dosh is being distributed.

Point of Order: Some crime data to inform Marama Davidson, some to please law-and-order ministers

No, the chart above does not come from the Beehive. We found it today on Kiwiblog, under an item headed The Facts on violent crime.

The chart from The Facts speaks for itself, in relation to Marama Davidson’s claim that it is white CIS men responsible for violence in the world, David Farrar writes.

Lindsay Mitchell: Responding to Marama Davidson's dogma

Green's co-leader Marama Davidson just keeps digging the hole she is in deeper. First she showed her bitter antipathy towards white CIS (same gender as birth) men. Then she walked it back to all men.

Last night on TV1 News she said, “…overwhelmingly it is men who are the biggest threat to women and children when it comes to violence and I needed to make that clarification.”

Point of Order: Marama Davidson was reminded of the Maori numbers......

......maybe – before admitting mistake about who causes violence

Marama Davidson, Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, has featured in media headlines after being hit by a motorcycle near the scene of the Posie Parker protest and for sharing an inflammatory opinion about the perpetrators of violence.

On The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury reports that Davidson was caught on tape claiming …

Heather du Plessis-Allan: The actions of the protesters ceded the moral high ground to Posie Parker

Tell you what surprises me today; it's the apparent lack of self-awareness from key members of that protest against Posie Parker at the weekend. 

Max Tweedie from Pride Auckland – who wasn’t one of the organisers I believe, but did support the protest – had it put to him in an interview this morning that it was an ugly scene.

And he said, no it wasn’t ugly- there was a lot of joy, a lot of celebration, support for trans communities, and this is what happens when you spread hate and division.

Steve Baron: Fighting violence with violence

Some people smoke, others debauch themselves with alcohol, drugs and gambling; my indulgence is for cafés. I enjoy the chance to read the newspapers, to get that quick fix of caffeine and a chance to chat with all sorts of interesting people from time to time. The eternally effervescent girl with the dragon tattoo and cheeky smile always has something to say when I bump into her in the café. Something she said to me today, about a moment in her life she considered ‘not one of her finer moments’, got me thinking. We all have times like this when we make mistakes and do and say things we regret. 

Unfortunately Christmas is a time when stress levels often become elevated, dangerous situations arise and physical abuse eventuates. Oh of course he didn’t mean to do it and he promises never to do it again and after all it’s really out of character for him. Yes, its amazing how people can often justify almost anything—even murder. The abuse of women and children should never be brushed aside because these instances usually have a tendency to escalate. If a guy will hit you once, he will hit you again and it will probably be worse next time because he knows he got away with it last time.