Back in the early 1990s, I was working a session of the PA House. It was an overdue budget, so instead of adjouring June 30 we were into July, a hot month that year. The chamber was warm, as was the debate.
One of the old-school lawmakers noted as a stickler for the rules, including proper attire, rose to ask the Speaker if it was permissible for “the gentlemen to remove their coats.” The Speaker agreed that comfort was a priority at this point, and male members were allowed to doff their suit coats or sports jackets. It was a lovely exchange.
Excellent dude with an excellent tie and an excellent pocket square. They have a uniform; he has style.
I agree. And I like wearing ties, especially with something other than the same old boring half-Windsor knot. But nothing will turn me against an article of clothing faster than making it part of a mandatory uniform. Fuck conformity; it’s invariably a tool of the oppressor.
After news of the incident spread internationally, embarrassed members of parliament quickly changed the rule without saying anything in the way of an apology.
One of the more memorable events from my university days was my classics prof, forced to wear a tie for a meeting following our class, ranting about the uselessness of the things. His theory was ties are a giant arrow pointing at your crotch saying ‘look what I’ve got!’ Seems about right.
I get that you’re irritated that he chose to protest the racist rule publicly instead of privately. Why? Pandemic distraction, missed the first vote on the rule, wanted to draw attention to something important to him…doesn’t matter.
What matters is that a stupid colonialist rule came into the public consciousness and got overturned, and that’s a lesson the whole world benefits from (including my own racist ass colonialist country).
My grandfather was a renowned surgeon from Texas. Formal wear for him was a bolo tie not all that different from what’s going on here. “Colonial noose” is the best description of a “traditional” necktie I’ve ever seen. But I think the headline could read “…Maori leader… brings an end to necktie requirement in New Zealand parliament.”
I’m falling in love with his tie. Pull all your money out of GameStop. This is the next thing. Trust me.
Here Rawiri Waititi writes about the tie issue in his own words:
Profoundly:
In my maiden speech I quoted our Te Whakatōhea tīpuna Mokomoko, who said “tangohia te taura i taku kakī, kia waiata au i taku waiata” [Take the noose from around my neck so that I may sing my song].
FFS. Mallard isn’t the bad guy here. Mallard doesn’t like ties either, so he made a collaborative effort to get rid of them. That effort failed because, amongst others, Waititi couldn’t be arsed and ignored him.
Reminds me of my grade 7 teacher. All male teachers at my school had to wear ties for terms 2 and 3. He would wear one into the classroom, remove it and hang it on a hook. On Fridays he would take 5 ties home from the hooks.
If you wish to join The Bad Seeds you will find that a jacket and collard shirt ‘is required’ but a tie is ‘optional’ … however, if you do wear a tie you will have to stand at the back in photo opportunities.
