Use Golden Rule, not racist speech, says commissioner

Dr Melissa Derby, race relations commissioner at Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, wrote an opinion article in the New Zealand Herald after recent reports of racist abuse. The victims were a CEO of Indian descent, an Asian comedian and young Māori.

Dr Derby noted that legal remedies are available in the Human Rights Act and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.

“The more we understand these important pieces of legislation, arguably the better off we will all be,” she wrote. “However, in the meantime, is it enough to simply say ‘come on New Zealanders. Have you not heard of the Golden Rule?’

“Now I am imagining my parents polishing their halos because a cornerstone lesson of my childhood has seemingly sunk in. ‘Treat others as you want to be treated’ is a key value we share as New Zealanders. We cannot lose sight of it.”

Examples of the Golden Rule are in the Christian Gospels (Luke 6:31 and Matthew 7:12). Versions of it appear in other religions and philosophical traditions.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, complaints can be made to the Human Rights Commission about racism at work, school and in other contexts. 

Dr Derby noted that “freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, which plays a critical role in ensuring that other rights and freedoms we enjoy in New Zealand are protected”.

“Often (but not always) highly offensive and hurtful comments are within the limits of legality. The threshold for turning speech criminal is high for good reason.”

But even though types of speech may not be illegal, it doesn’t mean that people should speak in such ways, she explained.

“All rights come with responsibilities, including the right to freedom of expression. We must choose and use our words responsibly. We must treat others as we want to be treated,” Dr Derby wrote.

“When we see racist behaviour or hear racist abuse, however casual or unintentional it may seem to be, we must not accept or normalise it. We must be upstanders, not bystanders, and call out this behaviour when we can.”

FULL STORY

Why NZ needs to stand up against racist abuse (By Melissa Derby/New Zealand Herald)

The Golden Rule (Internet Encyclopaedia of Philosophy)