According to a report in yesterday's news, New Zealand is ranked number two (behind Norway) on a list of the most peaceful countries in the world. I didn't really don't know what to think about that.
The report says -
That got me thinking about it - what is "Peace"? There are many dictionary definitions, such as 'the state of not being at war'.
But I think that the 'peace' we want is not a watered down kind of peace that means giving up all the beliefs and morals that you hold dear in order to avoid strife. It can't be created by appeasing everyone, without losing the heart of the country. Sometimes peace must be hard-fought for. Sometimes it may even mean going to war. I also looked up 'appease' and it means -
I think a lot of 'appeasement' is happening here in NZ at the moment. Appeasement of the wants of smaller groups at the expense of Justice and moral right.
The report says -
The index was comprised of 24 indicators, ranging from a nation's level of military expenditure to its relations with neighbouring countries and the level of respect for human rights.Now, admittedly, our level of military expenditure is very low but I don't know whether this is a good thing. We have no air force to speak of since Helen sold it off and are pretty much defenseless in the sky. And what's the bet that civil unions, prostitution and smacking also came under the banner of 'human rights' in the 'indicators' used to determine our ranking?
That got me thinking about it - what is "Peace"? There are many dictionary definitions, such as 'the state of not being at war'.
But I think that the 'peace' we want is not a watered down kind of peace that means giving up all the beliefs and morals that you hold dear in order to avoid strife. It can't be created by appeasing everyone, without losing the heart of the country. Sometimes peace must be hard-fought for. Sometimes it may even mean going to war. I also looked up 'appease' and it means -
To yield or concede to the belligerent demands of (a nation, group, person, etc.) in a conciliatory effort, sometimes at the expense of justice or other principles.
I think a lot of 'appeasement' is happening here in NZ at the moment. Appeasement of the wants of smaller groups at the expense of Justice and moral right.
Well, if "peace" means "passive", I can see why NZ is at number 2.
ReplyDelete"Well, we may be "defenceless in the sky" but I don't see hordes of enemy aircraft flying outside my window.
ReplyDeleteThe NZ Air Force was a joke anyway, with a few decrepit planes, based in NSW. Thus, we were already "defenceless in the sky" as by the time they made it to NZ, too late mate.
Better to abandon the Air Force "strike capacity" and spend the money in more fruitful areas.
Just who do you see as a current threat and how do you see we respond?
We are a peaceful nation because we are too far away from all the other hotbeds of unrest.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest danger perhaps is the one we will import. As much as I am in favour of increasing immigrant numbers, there is a danger to who we import and how we manage the infrastructural and cultural stresses created through greater immigration.
Not so zen, not so.
ReplyDeleteDistance did not stop us participating in the Boer war, ww1, ww2, Korea, Vietnam, etc.
No, the difference is government policy.
Of course Western Europe scores highly too.
ReplyDeleteWhile the good old US of A is one step above Iran in other words bad!!!
But the real truth NZ and Western Europe have had peace and can afford not to spend too much on defence because the Good old US of A has kept the peace for us for the last 60+ years.