So Long Henry, Thanks for the Insight

Well Paul Henry is off and the New Zealand public at large are horrified that poor old Paul could cause such trouble with just a few jokes, I mean what is wrong with laughing like a demented hyena because someone's name sounds funny to you or suggesting that a man with brown skin and an Indian accent is not a "real Kiwi"?   Nothing at all, if you are a racist.  (He did later make this half hearted apology)

I was suprised a few years ago by a South African firend who was staying with me in London who informed me how sexist the UK society was.  It was news to me, but fom his perspective as an outsider he saw clearly that the UK was not as enlightened in its attitudes to women as it thought itself to be.  My impression as a newcomer to New Zealand was that a large chunk of the population are latent or overt racists, in simultaneous denial of their racism.  The Henry episode just shows have far we still have to go, when huge numbers of people still don't see any problem with Henry's comments. 

Turkish bath for the soul

The most chilling and disturbing thing today:

God have mercy on America and its legacy of hatred.  (HT RB)

The most heart warming thing today (even though it is from the future)
A retiring Pastors final meditation (HT JH)
God bless America for producing saints like that.

And the net result is . . . an increase in both hope and trepidation for the human race.