Simon O'Connor: Call it what it is

A recent fracas involving a government Minister at a music event simply shows that an artist is allowed to provoke, but cannot be provoked.

So, a government Minister has found himself in woke hot water because he dared to give his honest opinion at the recent Aotearoa Music Awards. Chris Bishop, a former colleague of mine and who would happily describe himself on the liberal side of the National Party, was at the awards night and called a highly political musical performance “a load of crap.” Unfortunately for him, even as a liberal, he crossed an unwritten and unseen line which is that you never critique anything progressive or woke. Celebrate, yes. But never criticise.

Simon O'Connor: Woke, but not awake

Another scandal developing around a Green Party MP shows how a woke mainstream media are consciously choosing to remain asleep when it comes to certain people and issues.

The meaning is also quite straightforward. For me, those who are woke have such a moral certainty that their view of the world is right, that they are more than happy to attack, mock, deride, or de-platform anyone who opposes them. So convinced of their deep moral awareness, they leave no room for self-doubt or discussion with others. So convinced in fact, they become emotional even hearing counter-arguments! Their eyes are so open – so awake – that they never think to blink, to refresh, or see perhaps things from a different perspective.

Lushington D. Brady: Newsflash - Fox Was Always Woke

With the forced departure of its undisputed star, Tucker Carlson, Fox News has seen a dramatic slide in its ratings. For the first time in years, MSNBC narrowly pipped Fox in viewer numbers. Worse for the network, many of its once diehard viewers are accusing it of that worst of corporate sins: going woke.

And they’re right.

Rodney Hide: Aotearoa

New Zealand has unraveled. The values and knowledge that underpin a free and prosperous society have been turned inside out, upside down and trashed.

It has happened over night without discussion or debate. A switch was flipped and we awoke in a different country. It is not one we recognise or know.

We are left disoriented and reeling. Brave souls rebel against particular policy but to no avail. There is no argument or debate. That was then; this is now.

The new New Zealand known as Aotearoa is totalitarian. There is one acceptable view on everything and anyone expressing alternative views is morally reprehensible and to be condemned and destroyed. We have learnt to keep our ideas and thoughts to ourselves. To speak your mind risks your career, business and social standing.