November 11, 2004

This is so touching. Sorry Everybody is pages and pages of picture message of apologies from our American friends. The flipside is kind of scary. In We're Not Sorry most of them are holding guns.

I've had a few comments and emails this week from American readers asking me how they would be received if they came to New Zealand to live:

"I just wanted to ask you if americans were generally welcome in New Zealand. I don't mean officially, I mean, are they welcomed by the people?

It seems they would have every reason not to, but our imperial stance is precisely the reason why this bleeding heart wants to leave.. New Zealand seems like a beautiful place from everything I've read, but I thought I'd try to get a feeling from some individuals there. Thanks a lot! :)"

My reply was:

Americans are very welcome in New Zealand if they have an attitude like yours, and Auckland is a really lovely place to live. Generally the ones that make it this far (and have passports) are pretty cool.

New Zealand is currently running at almost full employment and have just lowered the points system to encourage more applications. Also it's a great place to be a creative as there is a thriving arts scene here. Being a small economy you won't earn much money, but the people/place/lifestyle etc. more than make up for it.

Feel free to mail me (msb@tmet.co.nz) with any more questions. I'm always happy to help being a UK escapee myself.

Best wishes,

MsB

I wonder how long it will be before the brain drain starts. I think New Zealand is about to get an influx of amazing creative people.
Posted by

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:15 am

    But wait there's more... For those who dislike the sorry everybody site there is now a response: notsorryeverybody.com

    But don't worry, there is even a response to that response for those who don't like that response (or something like that): notsorrynoteverybody.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Helen12:21 pm

    I think this one is going to run for some time...

    ReplyDelete
  3. NZMistress7:58 pm

    Yeah, it will probably go on for the next three and something years, until the next "election". I noticed one of the links on the not sorry site lead to "blogs of war". I had a quick look. (shudders)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eric9:05 am

    Thanks again, MsB, for your help. I'm glad to see so many other Americans sad.. However,one cannot overstate the power of the right-wing at this moment. They have more money, they have almost complete control over the media, they have control over all branches of government. The people who look up news on the internet from the UK and independent sources are not a representative sample of the US. A large majority of Americans don't even watch the network news (which glorifies what we're doing)..

    This new military strategy has been in the plans for over 10 years, and MOST Americans (even many liberals) think it's a reaction to 911, albeit the wrong one. For those of us who understand that we are not stumbling towards totalitarian empire by accident, but that it's a concerted strategy, there doesn't appear to be much hope. There is no *evidence* that will change the minds of those who value appeals to faith over reality. They have faith in our leader, regardless of what he does, just like they have faith in creationism, regardless of all scientific evidence.

    The only way to fight a movement that is blind to it's consequences is with force, and I don't believe in that, and neither do most liberals. The conservatives love force. They even find a way to get angry at minorities and gays, who just want a chance to live in peace. To get an idea of how non-violent dissent is being answered, look at this from LA a few days ago: http://www.mydd.com/story/2004/11/10/134638/70

    I sure hope Auckland will have me, and that I'm not already on a no-fly list for spouting off. (sorry to post so long)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Helen7:59 pm

    Here's another one to add to the list Apologies Accepted with messages to Americans from sympathetic global friends.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:31 am

    Everyone here asks me why the hell I left NZ and moved to New York ..arriving the day before 911. err.. everyone that knows where NZ is that is, which isn't all that many.. :/
    ~ demonsurfer
    http://demon.twinflame.org
    ..perhaps I should register with LJ just so I can post with my identity... or maybe I already did but forgot? hmm.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:37 am

    lol.. this is blogger, not LiveJournal.. bah.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Helen10:45 am

    So how are you finding being a Kiwi in New York? Do you miss the space or do you like the energy there?

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)