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High commissioner criticises 'redneck' element in Eskimo row

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Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:00a.m.

New Zealand's high commissioner to Canada has expressed disappointment about her compatriots' reactions to a complaint from a Canadian tourist that Eskimo sweets are racist.

Seeka Lee Veevee Parsons, 21, an Inuit of the Nunavut Territory in Canada, said she was shocked when she found the Eskimo marshmallows for sale last week, saying they were an insult to her people.

The correct term was Inuit or Inuk, Ms Parsons said.

High Commissioner Kate Lackey told Canadian media that New Zealanders were loyal to Eskimo sweets, but she criticised rude radio comments, online insults and calls for the 21-year-old tourist to head back home.

"I would hope New Zealanders would be a bit more courteous and understanding," Ms Lackey said.

"I'll probably get into trouble in New Zealand for saying such a thing, but often there's a sort of 'rednecky' element ... The people who get on talk-back (radio) and stuff haven't had time to think through a bit more deeply how the other person might feel."

Most reaction was in support of keeping the name, and Cadbury/Pascall says it will not make any change.

"That sounds a wee bit hard-hearted, but, as I say, this particular candy has been around for so long," Ms Lackey said.

"I think New Zealanders would have had absolutely no idea that it might cause offence to another people."

The controversy was unlikely to cause a political rift between New Zealand and Canada, she said.

"You could hardly have two countries closer together in attitudes and values than Canada and New Zealand."

NZPA

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Comments

26 Apr 2009 12:57a.m.

Cassidy wrote:

I never for a second thought the eskimo lollies and pies are racist, and they are both very yummy too. But i think if inuits are becoming offended by the naming of the products then we need to change it, and regardless of which name they end up using we will still enjoy them. Com'n NZ lets do the right thing!
Just tell me how you would feel if someone sold some lollies and called them kiwis?

26 Apr 2009 12:57a.m.

Cassidy wrote:

I never for a second thought the eskimo lollies and pies are racist, and they are both very yummy too. But i think if inuits are becoming offended by the naming of the products then we need to change it, and regardless of which name they end up using we will still enjoy them. Com'n NZ lets do the right thing!
Just tell me how you would feel if someone sold some lollies and called them kiwis?

25 Apr 2009 09:57a.m.

Alien wrote:

it's actually quite funny reading the article and all the replies to this woman. I guess she now has to think Canadians are red necks because the majority of the replies from Canadians are the same as those in the NZ sites.

25 Apr 2009 05:10a.m.

Ignacio Arellano wrote:

There is probably racist people here in NZ, just like anywhere else in the world I guess. Now, even though I honestly think that this lady is getting a bit over excited about all this issue, I do think that something could be learnt or taken from this.

I am not a kiwi, being here for about 5 years and it has always grab my attention how kiwis, sometimes make comments that may be considered racist or offensive just by not kwnowing what are they talking about!.

NZ is part of the world, but it seems that for a large group of the general public, the "world" gets to be Aus, the Uk, and thats it!.

I am latin, from Chile South America, and its kind of funny that when I say iam "latino" for example, kiwis don't believe me because I have light skin, iam 180 cm and I have light green eyes! (they do answer me that!...so funny!).

Or that every spanish speaker person should be an "amigo" speedy gozales type of "andale andale" mexican character for example.

This Canadian inuit lady, over exagerating, understandable yes, but its not like someone is literally laughing of their ancestors and stuff.

So, my point is that it would be interesting that kiwis would be more open to learn about the world, basic general cultural stuff, as although this country is far away from lots of places, it is still part of the world with all that it means!

Maybe something could be taken from this..just a thought!

Saludos!!

25 Apr 2009 12:14a.m.

Michael, Dalian wrote:

The Commissioner to Canada had perhaps be well advised to temper her language. The term 'redneck'was coined in the United States for Scots and Irish settlers.Folk who worked hard to make America what it is today.That the term has been 'kidnapped' by others and now means something entirely different.That should not detract from the fact that many of Scots/Irish descent will find her comments on 'rednecks' offensive.
Remembering of course that the european discoverer of New Zealand and the greatest navigator the world has ever seen, Captain James Cook, was himself the son of a Scottish farm labourer. Otago was settled by Scots.The first University in both Australia and New Zealand was founded by Scots. Insulting 'rednecks' insults those hard working settlers who helped to make New Zealand the place it is today.
Why is it today so many minority groups are so thin skinned and petty?At the drop of a hat, they complain at everything anyone says.
Soon methods of communication will devolve into only grunts and gestures if normal words become hijacked by minority groups.Oh I forgot, grunts and gestures will be considered to have sexual connotations and be banned too.
Confucius perhaps says it best:"To be wronged is nothing,unless you remember it and make a crime of it"
In plain language?It is not the word itself which is offensive.It is the method of delivery.If they can't differential between when someone is being or not being offensive.Then it is time that they GREW UP!
A Scots/Irish Kiwi mongrel with a Chinese wife.

24 Apr 2009 10:59p.m.

cyril wrote:

Who cares. the problem with society these days is that we are afraid we will hurt someones feelings or upset someone with some trivial thing like this. But at the end of the day who cares

24 Apr 2009 09:34p.m.

David, Auckland wrote:

Ok, so that makes me a redneck. I'm proud of that.