The Auckland Writer’s Festival! Really? Ok, the only book David has written is “Too Dumb For Democracy” and he is going to the country that has been ranked the most democratic in the world, so I hope he is coming back with a suitcase full of trenchant insights. After spending a couple of weeks in Aotearoa, playing bridge with Kiwis online for a year or so and reading the NZ Herald regularly, I’m pretty sure they are not smarter than us. In fact, getting off a plane from Vancouver and wandering around Auckland I had this weird feeling I was in Vancouver’s twin separated at birth. All the Victoria Parks and English place names. The truly sad WWI memorials with long names of young men that died on the other side of the world. Of course it is just another part of the world that my British ancestors royally fucked up. Perhaps the most hilarious (but also quintessentially British in a Pythonesque way) is the country’s constitution, which was written in English and Māori, apparently signed by 400 Māori leaders who promised to stop killing settlers… but which apparently says different things in Māori than English. I’m looking forward to David’s next book when he discovers the secret to democracy is not being smart (the opposite of dumb) but remaining strategically confused and ambiguous at the intellectual/elite level but practical and fair-minded down at the level where people live their lives.
David was invited as part of a delegation of Canadian writers, the others being Yann Martel, Maria Reva, and David A. Robertson, all of whom attended the 'Meet The Canadians' event. It was so popular it was oversold, with at least 200 turned away, the other 600-odd seats quickly taken. Yes, the only book David had written is one you mention; he did however also make a contribution to 'Elbows Up', a collection of responses by prominent Canadians to Trump's threat to annex Canada. It was also available for sale at the festival and is well worth the read if you haven't already done so. David was very well received by audiences while he was here, inspiring a real laugh at his joy at receiving a carton of Lion Red beer.
That is superbly expressed David...no wonder you were invited to the Auckland Writers Festival. I hope you get to share this wisdom across many forums.
The Auckland Writer’s Festival! Really? Ok, the only book David has written is “Too Dumb For Democracy” and he is going to the country that has been ranked the most democratic in the world, so I hope he is coming back with a suitcase full of trenchant insights. After spending a couple of weeks in Aotearoa, playing bridge with Kiwis online for a year or so and reading the NZ Herald regularly, I’m pretty sure they are not smarter than us. In fact, getting off a plane from Vancouver and wandering around Auckland I had this weird feeling I was in Vancouver’s twin separated at birth. All the Victoria Parks and English place names. The truly sad WWI memorials with long names of young men that died on the other side of the world. Of course it is just another part of the world that my British ancestors royally fucked up. Perhaps the most hilarious (but also quintessentially British in a Pythonesque way) is the country’s constitution, which was written in English and Māori, apparently signed by 400 Māori leaders who promised to stop killing settlers… but which apparently says different things in Māori than English. I’m looking forward to David’s next book when he discovers the secret to democracy is not being smart (the opposite of dumb) but remaining strategically confused and ambiguous at the intellectual/elite level but practical and fair-minded down at the level where people live their lives.
David was invited as part of a delegation of Canadian writers, the others being Yann Martel, Maria Reva, and David A. Robertson, all of whom attended the 'Meet The Canadians' event. It was so popular it was oversold, with at least 200 turned away, the other 600-odd seats quickly taken. Yes, the only book David had written is one you mention; he did however also make a contribution to 'Elbows Up', a collection of responses by prominent Canadians to Trump's threat to annex Canada. It was also available for sale at the festival and is well worth the read if you haven't already done so. David was very well received by audiences while he was here, inspiring a real laugh at his joy at receiving a carton of Lion Red beer.
I still have that bottle!
That is superbly expressed David...no wonder you were invited to the Auckland Writers Festival. I hope you get to share this wisdom across many forums.
You don't have to tell me twice! ;)