I guess this is a feelings post
Well, I knew I'd been lying awake for awhile but I thought it would be something like 2am, not... seven. Sleep fail.
I guess I'm pissed and frustrated about this memorial in a few hours. I don't even know if I want to go anymore, and I'd rearranged a lot of plans to make sure I'd be able to attend.
I wanted to grieve for my friends and grieve for my city, and stand with people who were doing the same. I wanted to pay tribute to what's been lost and what's been learned and what we've shown we can do. But the politicians and the bureaucrats have different ideas about what's important, and the memorial they've planned is not the one I want or I need.
I've seen the programme described as an Anglican church service, and that's pretty apt. Despite the fact that many of the people who died weren't even Christian, that many of the people who live here and are dealing with this aren't Christian.
Since the earthquake, Christchurch, particularly in the southern and eastern suburbs, has been about community and helping each other and caring about each other. It has been about finding common ground, and that's exactly what I needed out of this memorial. Common ground, a goddamn connection with someone, anyone. Not a selfish, narrow memorial that spits in the face of everything we claim to value.
Fuck you, Bob Parker. Fuck you, John Key. Take your goddamn Bible readings and go choke on your crocodile tears.
I guess I'm pissed and frustrated about this memorial in a few hours. I don't even know if I want to go anymore, and I'd rearranged a lot of plans to make sure I'd be able to attend.
I wanted to grieve for my friends and grieve for my city, and stand with people who were doing the same. I wanted to pay tribute to what's been lost and what's been learned and what we've shown we can do. But the politicians and the bureaucrats have different ideas about what's important, and the memorial they've planned is not the one I want or I need.
I've seen the programme described as an Anglican church service, and that's pretty apt. Despite the fact that many of the people who died weren't even Christian, that many of the people who live here and are dealing with this aren't Christian.
Since the earthquake, Christchurch, particularly in the southern and eastern suburbs, has been about community and helping each other and caring about each other. It has been about finding common ground, and that's exactly what I needed out of this memorial. Common ground, a goddamn connection with someone, anyone. Not a selfish, narrow memorial that spits in the face of everything we claim to value.
Fuck you, Bob Parker. Fuck you, John Key. Take your goddamn Bible readings and go choke on your crocodile tears.