Diva gets Fahd off
Remember back in August when the Diva decided the death of an old Middle Eastern despot wasn’t good enough reason for the Guyton St flag to flutter at half mast?
He clearly didn’t agree with Tony Blair, Diva of Old Blighty, who was effusive in his praise of the late otherwise-unlamented Saudi:
"King Fahd was a man of great vision and leadership who inspired his countrymen for a quarter of a century as king, and for many more before that," Blair said in a statement.That whole "jailing for six and 10 years each three academics who signed a petition calling for elections" thing, not to mention that "giving 100 lashes to people protesting anything I do or say" thing as well as many other indiscretions of Fahd and the entire Royal Family weren't mentioned in Blair's statement. Well at least he didn't marry Camilla.
In fact, the Saudis themselves made much less fuss then Blair. There was no mourning period, government offices stayed open and flags remained at full mast.
That's because the House of Saud practises one of the strictest codes of Islam known as Wahhabism - favoured by Osama bin Laden - which frowns upon public displays of grief.
So really, in refusing to do anything in Wanganui, the Diva was honouring the King, in a roundabout way, though we're sure he didn't realise it at the time. The flag went to half mast in the first place only because a WDC staff member was doing it by the book and following a Ministry of Culture and Heritage flag raising and lowering advisory.
Today, sanity prevailed and the council decided that "the CEO in consultation with the Mayor decides those occasion when the New Zealand flag is flown at half-mast from council buidlings".
But never one to miss an opportunity, Cr Ray Stevens wanted to know why a portrait of Her Majesty, the Real Diva of Old Blighty, had disappeared from the council chamber at about the same time the Diva of the Ditch joined the pantheon of former Mayors in the black and white portrait gallery around the chamber walls.
A Mexican wave of giggles and sniggers made its way around the meeting room, but stopped abruptly when it met the mayoral throne. The issue was swiftly shovelled off a committee meeting after the mayor pointed out it had nothing to do with the agenda item on flag protocols.
We're sorely tempted to insert the obvious comparison here, but even LawsWatch has it's limits.
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14 comments:
In regards to the flag at half mast debacle, I am sure it was the Sultan of Brunei who had passed away. Brunei is in Southern Asia and I am sure it is a principality. Brunei is not a middle Eastern Country.
The flag should have remained at half mast.
Rubbish. For some vague person overseas that few Wanganui people know. The Mayor did the right thing ordering the flag up again. I seem to recall Laws Watch was up in arms when they had the wrong end of the stick and thought the Mayor had ordered the flag at half mast. Make up your minds. Besides, this is such old news.
Really, Marion, you constantly visit here yet all you do is complain about the content of the posts - not as in disagree, just as in claiming they don't meet your exacting standards. Which are what, exactly? The searing insights and topicality of "A Game of Three Losers"?
If you keep returning to sample something you find unpleasant, we suggest a chat with the Mayoral missus. She used to "help" those with similar proclivities.
"OH" poor Marion!! (are you really Marion?????)
The flag was lowered on a directive from Government. Mickey had the audacity to over-rule this directive. Regardless of the fact that maybe not many people in Wanganui knew the Sultan of Brunei,(vague person???) it is a mark of respect to a leader of a country to lower the New Zealand flag to half-mast on their passing.
This may be old news but it was a blunder by your beloved Mickey.
Lawrence, why should we fly a flag at half mast to respect someone from the other side of the world that no-one had heard of until that day. Puleeze. The Mayor was right on this occasion. Probably 95% of Wanganui people would agree if asked - but it's not important enough to bother asking.
Marion, get off your knees; it's easier to practise autofellatio on your back.
I'm not complaining Laws Watch, just observing that because you can't think of anything Michael is doing wrong you dredge up old news or hold poetry competitions. Its a lot of fun but the point is that Michael must be doing things right because you haven't anything new to complain about. I'm not the man's biggest fan but he's doing pretty well.
Dear Lord the mayor is full of shit. Now the fast food outlets are going to pay for the funding shortfall for all his pets. Better watch out Mickey: your voters eat fast food, and inasmuch as your attitude rubs off on them, I daresay they litter indiscrimitaely too.
My local dairy (and takeaway) owner is well pissed off. He was railing against the "greedy" home-owners who voted for the nil rates rise mayor. Says he thinks we'll be up for a bigger than normal rates increase next year on top of all these extra user charges, and he thinks ML's got short-persons syndrome. Not quite sure about that last one personally...
Exclusive! Newsflash!
We asked the mayor:
What's next for Lhawsanui? (More on the name change saga later)
"I woke up on Saturday morning, wolfed down some raw meat, and went for my morning run. On the way down Lawstoria Avenue, I slipped on a puddle of vomit. It was a yellow putrescence with no discernable solid material, and I determined that this filth must go! From now on, Vision intends to introduce a levy on bars for the clean up of the voimt their patrons inflict on this beautiful town. Which I love."
Thankyou Mr. Mayor. Now back to the desk.
Perhaps the increase in litter is due to the 5% cut in the budget. Did the street clean-up get maintained properly this year?
:)
Colin has the last word:
"You can’t be the autocrat today. Your whole style has to change. You have to be a leader and you have to work with people.” "
Businesses have been hit with pretty vicious rates rises this year, I hear.
Yes we have and we not amused with our mayor.
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