VUWSA and flag burning
May 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am by David FarrarHaving failed to burn a flag on ANZAC Day, certain idiots instead burnt it at an SRC discussing ANZAC Day. To e fair to VUWSA it was former executive members rather than current ones. NZPA reports:
The New Zealand flag was set on fire today at a meeting called to resolve whether Victoria University students should lay a wreath on Anzac Day.
Joel Cosgrove, a former Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) president, burnt the flag after making a speech against New Zealand imperialism.
He and fellow Workers’ Party members Marika Pratley, a former VUWSA executive member, and Alastair Reith doused a New Zealand flag with an accelerant and lit it, student magazine Salient said.
Staff from the student bar swiftly put the fire out, and ejected Mr Cosgrove, who later said he had been served with a trespass order banning him from the Student Union building.
Interesting is this statement:
The Workers’ Party action was nothing to do with VUWSA, president Jasmine Freemantle said.
Yet Freemantle is a member of said party I understand – is she saying she knew nothing about it? UPDATE: I am told Freemantle resigned some time ago from the party.
The original Salient story is here.
Related posts:
- Will VUWSA President be flag burning tomorrow?
- VUWSA and VSM
- UNITE, VUWSA and the Workers Party
- VUWSA Rep Groups
May 7th, 2009 at 10:01 am
“Joel Cosgrove, a former Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) president, burnt the flag after making a speech against New Zealand imperialism.”
Our fucking what now?
It remains an offence to burn the New Zealand ensign and its also arson.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 10:05 am
This will no doubt whip up a flurry of hysterical responses.
Whilst I agree that the conduct is offensive, remember they are like children trying to get attention from their parents.
The best thing is to ignore them, to give these morons the oxygen of publicity is the worst thing you can do.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Then smack his bottom and put him on the naughty mat… oh wait, he’s an adult. Arrest him and charge him.
Big boys rules now little Joely.
you don’t correct bed wetting arsonists by ignoring them.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Cosgrove, it couldn’t be could it? Big fat head?
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I think you may find Freemantle is no longer a member
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I am a student at Victoria University, I have been emailing VUWSA intensively pleading for them to let me leave in some way! I cant believe that VUWSA condone burning the NZ flag by remaining passive over the situation. Given that only 5% of students vote in student elections, and therefore only 2.5% vote for the incumbent they are not representative.
I’d prefer to have my $120 back. They are there to advocate for us by reducing fees and giving students a voice. That is all. However they seem to position themselves for redistribute of wealth, and promoting their own agenda without even thinking about the students. They are not a political party though they seem to think of themselves as one, they do not even try to represent students any more, its a joke.
As a student I am embarrassed to be associated with this group of left-wing, anti-New Zealand, group of self-important students.
(I hope that a Minister or two read this post
)
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Murray:
‘ “Joel Cosgrove, a former Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) president, burnt the flag after making a speech against New Zealand imperialism.”
Our fucking what now?’
This: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2386913/SAS-in-Anzac-task-force-plans Clear evidence that the legacy of the ANZACs are being coopted for future military adventures… We don’t need to join with the Australian military (imagine Iraq in 2003 if we had)…
‘It remains an offence to burn the New Zealand ensign and its also arson.’
Murray I think you should check Hopkinson v New Zealand Police and no it is not arson either as the building didn’t burn down…
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I hope the VC makes the trespass order a bit wider than the Student Union building.
That twit who recklessly set fire to the Stafford House lift panel was kicked clean out. Admittedly the cost and inconvenience of the Stafford Hous incident was far greater.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Time to fight fire with water:
Lets start a register of people in NZ who have burned the flag regarding ANZAC day. Send out a notice each year of those that have died and the location of their remains. Then every year on the weekend after ANZAC day anyone who wants to can visit the grave sites and piss all over them.
We will call it a political protest and act all offended if anyone tries to take away our right to do it.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:28 am
It’ll never work Kimble because those who are so strongly against the burning of the flag understand the concept of basic human respect.
Those whose tiny little egos mean they want all the attention for having done nothing to contibute to our freedon though would think nothing of pissing on the unknown warriors tomb.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Murray doesnt understand the concept of freedom.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Nick, you are right about that court case. To make things worse, the said protester was a teacher if my recollection is correct.
So now he would be poisoning the minds of impressionable young children, like a previous teacher of mine who superimposed a nuclear blast radius circle over a picture of the Auckland harbour to demonstrate what would happen if a visiting US navy ship had a reactor melt down. Mental dork he was.
Anyway, that was way off track, if they did burn a NZ flag in front of myself, I seriously would feel like I’d want to kill them, because I love my country. If they want to protest (and even nuts jobs like these dickheads have a right to protest) about something that NZ as a nation did, why not get a bucket of water and scrub the flag clean.
Vote:I almost got to the stage of doing that outside Parliment after the EFA was passed. It demonstrates love of country and disagreement with something the same country has done.
May 7th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Can the Workers Party please display their flag or symbol from now on – I’d like to know what symbol of theirs that they cherish so I can burn it in front of them.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:55 am
“Murray doesnt understand the concept of freedom.”
That anyone from the Left could say this is laughable.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 11:59 am
” Kimble
“Murray doesnt understand the concept of freedom.”
That anyone from the Left could say this is laughable.”
That anyone from the Right could say that is laughable.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I have said it before and I will say it again. If some wanker wants to burn my country’s flag under the guise of freedom of expression/speech then I should have the right to stop him (and punch him in the nose).
And any twat who thinks ANZAC day glorifies war needs their head read. If anything ANZAC days are reinforcing an increasing peacenik culture in this country.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
GPT1 (758) Vote: 0 0 Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I have said it before and I will say it again. If some wanker wants to burn my country’s flag under the guise of freedom of expression/speech then I should have the right to stop him (and punch him in the nose).
Since when has there been a right to commit common assault? freedom of speech does not include freedom to commit violence. If only I knew where you lived, I’d burn a flag on your front lawn…Anyone who is prepared to commit a violent act because of damage to a piece of cloth deserves to be committed.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Dave Dave Dave – I like your writing but this is just your VUWSA = Bad hobby horse stepping up a gear. Bit lazy. It’s not outrageous enough that they’re imposing compulsory unionism upon a helpless (and no doubt national-voting) student majority, but now they’re just a bunch of flag-burning traitors? Your fans will be in fits!
All students are VUWSA members.
Some students are ignorant little fuckwits with an endless sense of entitlement.
Are all in VUWSA, therefore, ignorant little fuckwits with an endless sense of entitlement? Discuss.
(Or, with the demise of the Labour Government, is VUWSA just the next best subject available for these polemics against the evil left? There’ll always be some lefties, somewhere, for this haughty mix of strawman-ridiculing and faux outrage to be aimed at, for the entertainment of the faithful, won’t there?)
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
GPT1 (758) Vote: 0 0 Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
And any twat who thinks ANZAC day glorifies war needs their head read. If anything ANZAC days are reinforcing an increasing peacenik culture in this country.
Then why the parades, the marches, the drums and the medals? Why the emphasis on war stories?
If you want a day of remembrance without the jingoism, try November 11 and its quiet reflection.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
” Kimble
“Murray doesnt understand the concept of freedom.”
That anyone from the Left could say this is laughable.”
That anyone from the Right could say that is laughable.”
And Libertarians look on amused…..;-)
“I have said it before and I will say it again. If some wanker wants to burn my country’s flag under the guise of freedom of expression/speech then I should have the right to stop him (and punch him in the nose).”
While I can empathise with your sentiment I can’t agree with actually doing it.No ones rights are violated by a flag burning….people may be offended but theres no such right as a right not to be offended…offence is a subjective feeling within a persons mind based on the values that person holds.
Depending on the property rights context etc if you were to act to stop the flag burning and punch the person YOU would be in the wrong and the law should punish you for you have violated the rights of another.
Ina free anf just society people have the right to be wrong and take wrong cources of action…..until that action violates the rights of a non consenting other…thats the limit.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
If you’re wearing the flag when he lights it on fire, you can punch him, though, right?
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
“Since when has there been a right to commit common assault? freedom of speech does not include freedom to commit violence. If only I knew where you lived, I’d burn a flag on your front lawn…Anyone who is prepared to commit a violent act because of damage to a piece of cloth deserves to be committed.”
You are were in the right Jack….up until you threatened to burn a flag on SOMEONE ELSES property…when you slipped into the same immoral position of the nose puncher. If you were to burn it out on the road front you would be within your rights….allowing for council issues etc.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Ollie, this twit’s got bugger all to do with the SA now. From the story it’s clear the SA sought to have a discussion about the wreath – while I don’t agree that paying respects to our armed forces, past and present, is problematic, I appreciate that others do.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Oh and Anzac day is not about glorifying war, or commenting on NZ involvement in past, present or future wars.
It is about being very, VERY f*cking grateful to old NZ soldiers, living and dead, who went and fought for this country. And nothing else. Someone ought to have explained this to Joel Cosgrove…
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Would it not have been fairer to call this post “The Workers’ Party and flag burning”???
Two other highlights from the Salient:
Freemantle was quick to extinguish the thought that the burning was endorsed by VUWSA by saying that flag burning was the one thing she did not want VUWSA to engage in on ANZAC day.
In 2003 Paul Hopkinson, a Workers’ Party member, was convicted of destroying a New Zealand flag with intent to dishonor it. This conviction was later overturned under the context that Hopkinson was exercising free speech. He later burnt the flag again and was charged with disorderly conduct.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Those charges were subsequently withdrawn.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Jail the scum for treason. All the slimy little coward is doing is telegraphing to the Chicom generals that he and his little gang of commies is here waiting to help them if they ever need him.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Red’s tolerance is legend.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
“Red’s tolerance is legend.”
Yeah…..ain’t he just a wonderful and inspiring advocate for freedom?
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Mynameisjack – be honest. If you knew where I lived you’d be around looking for a handout.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
# hayek (45) Vote: Add rating 0 Subtract rating 0 Says:
May 7th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I think you may find Freemantle is no longer a member
>>
not according to her own bio on the vuwsa site.
>Jasmine is a member of the Workers’ Party of New Zealand,
and if i recall from last year she is also the partner of the muppet that burnt the flag (is he not the same idiot who wore a penis tshirt to graduation?)
also notice that her photo on the vuwsa site has a poster of what looks like mao in the background?
http://www.vuwsa.org.nz/_r/uploads/2009/02/2-president.jpg
total waste of skin.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
You’re right, that is mao. You can see the bald patch.
Vote:May 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Paul Paul Paul…. I believe the link between Joel the workers party gimp and the VUWSA President Jasmine – aren’t they sharing the same bed still? I mean fucking. I am sure the pillow talk must be hilarious between these two Workers Party comrades.
Joel is a sad case, can anybody imagine being a member of the Workers Party, an oxymoron if ever I heard one. The best thing to end this madness is to stop forcing students to fund VUWSA which helps bankroll and office space for the Workers Party. VSM anyone?
Vote:May 8th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Where is the Council when you need them.
Vote:Surely there must be an ordinance against lighting a fire in a public place and thus a resource consent should have been required. A bit of excessive tree trimming brings the wrath of god down on the heads of the perps so how is this different?
May 8th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Clint, yes. Why is it mandatory for scarfies to fund these bludgers?
Vote: