Youth Week Hoodie Day criticised

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Manu Caddie Member	# Posted: 26 May 2008 16:51 Reply What else would we expect from Ron Mark who will say anything to get himself in the news?! Pity his criticisms are not backed up with any concrete arguments - that might provide something to actually respond to. Something I'm interested in is where the boundary is between something like a piece of clothing being appropriated from another culture (in this case US basketball clothing to streetwear) and becoming part of the new host culture (in this case some sub-sets of 'youth culture' in NZ)... is it important to know where the boundary is or when can we say something is no longer just a part of US street culture but now a part of youth culture in Aotearoa - is it important to be able to say that? I guess it is if Ron Mark sees it as a negative that young people in NZ might be emulating American culture - though I'm not sure what he proposes as an alternative indigenous fashion - black shearing singlets and swandri? - Manu. - - - - - - Youth Week Hoodie Day criticised New 3:36PM Monday May 26, 2008 By Maggie Tait The highlight of this year's Youth Week is Hoodie Day on Friday but NZ First MP Ron Mark says it is sending the wrong message. The week is to be launched at Pataka Museum in Porirua this evening hosted by Youth Minister Nanaia Mahuta. Organisers said the highlight of events was Hoodie Day where people would wear the sweatshirt-type tops to try and break down stereotypes that only young hooligans wear them. Hoodies have hit political news before; in July 2006 Conservative Party leader David Cameron said people should "hug a hoodie". Mr Mark criticised the idea and said it was a misuse of the $35,000 spent on Youth Week activities. "I think it's a little bizarre that a Maori MP would be promoting black American gang culture as a way to try generate some positive messages about New Zealand youth," he told NZPA. "There are 1001 things the Government could spend taxpayer's money on in order to promote the positive things that youth are involved in." Hoodies are common clothing for all youth and the idea was to break that negative stereotypes about youth. Advertisement Who will you Marry? Find out their Exact Name It's Scary How Accurate it is! www.Funbox.com New Zealand Sweatshirts 100% - 400gsm Sweatshirts With Genuine Felt Tackle Twill www.stl.net.nz Hoodies at Karmaloop Top Clothing, Accessories, Bags & More at Karmaloop. Free Shipping. Karmaloop.com Advertisement But Mr Mark said the negative connotations were based on reality and pointed out some malls had banned hoodies. "Unfortunately there's an element in New Zealand society that through their actions have bought the hoodie into disrepute and unfortunately a lot of New Zealanders look at youths kicking their heels around the streets today, they look at youth gangs, youth crime and the rap American culture and they see totally negative things from those hoods." - NZPA
Lone Ranger Member	# Posted: 8 Aug 2008 23:24 Reply Yeah but people are entitled to their opinions...personally I found the pics of Nandor Tanczos in a hoodie rather disturbing. Maybe Ron Marks has a point when he says: "I think it's a little bizarre that a Maori MP would be promoting black American gang culture as a way to try generate some positive messages about New Zealand youth,"
Manu Caddie Member	# Posted: 9 Aug 2008 13:52 Reply Ron Mark is a grand-stander who will say anything to get himself some media attention. Hoodies were originally used by surfers and basketball players. Just because a tiny fraction of people of African-American descent in the USA are part of organised 'gangs' and a smaller proportion of those people sometimes where sweatshirts with hoods - doesn't mean that article of clothing is owned by that sub-culture and others wearing it are promoting that sub-culture. If you follow the logic[!] of Mr Marks position then no one should wear sports shoes, jewelery, baseball caps, beanies, boxers or belts - because they are sometimes worn by some gang members in some places! The Mayor of Kapiti Jenny Rowan wore a hoody too - as did the Mayor of New Plymouth and probably other places - do you find that disturbing also?! - Manu.
Lone Ranger Member	# Posted: 9 Aug 2008 18:46 Reply No, just Nandor and hey...lay off a bit, this is a forum for us to freely express ourselves...if you gonna shoot me down and correct me we won't have a democracy. Being a youthworker does not mean you have think the same as everryone else...we are as individual as the young people we work with.....neither of us has to think in a certain way just because we wear the youthwork badge (or hoody!)...I am actually wearing my hoody as I type this and Mr Marks may well be a grandstander but that doesn't mean everything he says should be discredited.
Manu Caddie Member	# Posted: 9 Aug 2008 20:25 Reply if you gonna shoot me down and correct me we won't have a democracy. I'm sorry - I didn't think I was shooting you down or correcting you - I was simply providing my perspectives on the Ron Mark quote you provided. Dedicating time and energy to ongoing debate and robust deliberation is essential to maintaining a healthy democracy... which is what these forums are designed to encourage. I agree that not everything Mr Marks says should be discredited - but where I disagree with him I will say it - and if it is that easy to discredit him in this case perhaps it may mean we need to challenge the media to ignore him (on some issues at least) as much as they would ignore others who the general public do not give much credit to the opinions of?

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