Five and a half years ago, Jacinda Ardern ruined my vacation. And I still maintain that she did the absolutely right thing.
My wife and I, and another couple were in Wellington for a couple of days before heading to Auckland to then board an Auckland-to-Sydney cruise. That's when she announced the impending closing of your borders. The cruise was officially cancelled in the middle of that night, and we made hasty arrangements to get home. Finally got to complete that trip last December.
As far as I know, I don't know anyone personally who died from COVID (maybe a long-lost classmate or co-worker...), but I know folks who lost friends/family/co-workers. Some misguided types would take my lack of direct impact as an excuse (opportunity?) to become a Denier. I don't. Just got my latest booster last week...
We have too many leaders (such as His Felonious Majesty) who are too insecure to acknowledge, much less seek out, experts and admit someone else might actually know better.
Spot on assessment about our false orange messiah and the insecure, sycophantic lackeys who now run public health in my increasingly backward country. Look for many to die of preventable diseases over the next few years.
Prevention is the most unrewarded of all human achievements. Fighting and rescuing, though it's usually less productive are much more reliable paths to recognition.
If I'd lived in New Zealand, I might not have been widowed. I'm so keen on getting my boosters, I paid for this year's jab after our UK government decided I didn't need it - too young at 72! I'm so glad I did, because I caught my first-ever bout of COVID. Fortunately, it was mild.
I watched Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago and was so impressed by what a competent and capable leader Jacinda was. I wish we had ANY leaders like her in the Divided (formerly United) States!
Sadly, medical science and public health, long reverenced and appreciated in my country, have now been irreparably denigrated by people who seek to destroy it because they can’t understand it and are too intimidated by it to learn.
This is what happens when a society persistently — for decades — devalues education, refuses to honor educators, and minimizes science in school curricula — making it an elective that only smart and often reviled kids are interested in.
In parallel and opposite track, this same society has emphasized and glorified entertainment, sports, celebrity, and increasingly, magical thinking and religion. Is it any wonder so many in my country seek entertainment, eschew study and learning (especially when it comes to complicated, highly nuanced subjects such as medical science), and pursue “wellness” therapies that rely on pseudoscience, mysticism, or faith?
My son died in a car accident during that final Auckland shutdown, I was at the other end of the North Island. It wasn't an easy thing to deal with, it was during the time we could go to Auckland and didn't need testing if you were in and out in 24 hours. It was the hardest and fastest trip I've ever done. We still have not had a 'proper' funeral for him because it is so difficult to deal with.
Would you think that might change my mind about Jacinda? Never, she truly was one of the best leaders this world has ever seen.
The middle-class (and/or rich) white male has so much difficulty with a young woman, with empathy leading incredibly well - something that they will never do and could never do, because as a society we bred empathy out of them.
Five and a half years ago, Jacinda Ardern ruined my vacation. And I still maintain that she did the absolutely right thing.
My wife and I, and another couple were in Wellington for a couple of days before heading to Auckland to then board an Auckland-to-Sydney cruise. That's when she announced the impending closing of your borders. The cruise was officially cancelled in the middle of that night, and we made hasty arrangements to get home. Finally got to complete that trip last December.
As far as I know, I don't know anyone personally who died from COVID (maybe a long-lost classmate or co-worker...), but I know folks who lost friends/family/co-workers. Some misguided types would take my lack of direct impact as an excuse (opportunity?) to become a Denier. I don't. Just got my latest booster last week...
We have too many leaders (such as His Felonious Majesty) who are too insecure to acknowledge, much less seek out, experts and admit someone else might actually know better.
Spot on assessment about our false orange messiah and the insecure, sycophantic lackeys who now run public health in my increasingly backward country. Look for many to die of preventable diseases over the next few years.
Prevention is the most unrewarded of all human achievements. Fighting and rescuing, though it's usually less productive are much more reliable paths to recognition.
If I'd lived in New Zealand, I might not have been widowed. I'm so keen on getting my boosters, I paid for this year's jab after our UK government decided I didn't need it - too young at 72! I'm so glad I did, because I caught my first-ever bout of COVID. Fortunately, it was mild.
It was mild because you’ve kept up on the vaccines and boosters!
I watched Prime Minister a couple of weeks ago and was so impressed by what a competent and capable leader Jacinda was. I wish we had ANY leaders like her in the Divided (formerly United) States!
Sadly, medical science and public health, long reverenced and appreciated in my country, have now been irreparably denigrated by people who seek to destroy it because they can’t understand it and are too intimidated by it to learn.
This is what happens when a society persistently — for decades — devalues education, refuses to honor educators, and minimizes science in school curricula — making it an elective that only smart and often reviled kids are interested in.
In parallel and opposite track, this same society has emphasized and glorified entertainment, sports, celebrity, and increasingly, magical thinking and religion. Is it any wonder so many in my country seek entertainment, eschew study and learning (especially when it comes to complicated, highly nuanced subjects such as medical science), and pursue “wellness” therapies that rely on pseudoscience, mysticism, or faith?
Yep. You nailed it :)
My son died in a car accident during that final Auckland shutdown, I was at the other end of the North Island. It wasn't an easy thing to deal with, it was during the time we could go to Auckland and didn't need testing if you were in and out in 24 hours. It was the hardest and fastest trip I've ever done. We still have not had a 'proper' funeral for him because it is so difficult to deal with.
Would you think that might change my mind about Jacinda? Never, she truly was one of the best leaders this world has ever seen.
The middle-class (and/or rich) white male has so much difficulty with a young woman, with empathy leading incredibly well - something that they will never do and could never do, because as a society we bred empathy out of them.
Your 2¢ can add up to a lot.
Her book was impressive and inspiring, too.