Jordan Peterson Threatens Everything of Value In NZ
Hi everyone! I'm in Australia, and off to New Zealand in the next couple of days. I thought I'd bring you up to date with a story that's been breaking there that's of some substantial interest and a certain degree of absurdity. A group they're known as Auckland Peace Action released a press release on Monday, 11th of February 2019, stating, quote, "Jordan Peterson threatens everything of value in our society."
I had to admit, that was rather impressive because that's not an easy thing to manage. Anyway, I'll read you a little bit of it. What happened after the release was that a journalist, Shawn Plunkett, interviewed the author or the spokesperson of this particular press release. Then, we had a chance to talk the next day.
So what you're going to see in this video is me reading the press release. Then you're going to see Shawn interviewing Iris Crow Zolciak—hope I've got that reasonably right—of Auckland Peace Action. Then you're going to see the full interview that I had with Shawn the next day. So here goes:
"Jordan Peterson threatens everything of value in our society." In the lead-up to Jordan Peterson's visit to New Zealand, we have a duty to condemn his sexist, queer-phobic, racist, and deeply reactionary views, says Iris Cruz Ociock of Auckland Peace Action. Jordan Peterson, professor of psychology at the University of Toronto and turned right-wing media celebrity, is in New Zealand to promote his book, "Twelve Rules for Life."
This book, while offering superficially useful life advice to an audience of disaffected white men, promotes a reactionary misogynistic view of the world, utterly in opposition to New Zealand values. While we, as a country, have many problems, we can be justly proud of our values of gender equality, egalitarianism, and social inclusivity. As Ms. Krizia sac, Jordan Peterson is actively trying to undermine these values. This is distinctly unhelpful.
I won't redo the rest of it; you can find it at Scoop Politics if you're interested. Now, we'll turn to Shawn's interview with Iris and his analysis of her claims.
Shawn: “Iris, your group has come out with a press release yesterday that got some coverage, saying Jordan Peterson threatens everything of value in our society. Why? Why does telling kids to clean their room up represent the end of civilization as we know?”
Iris: “What I would say is, telling kids to clean their room is probably not a bad thing. The issue comes at that of, you know, are pretty far from all that Jordan because no one's doing...not really. That's what his book's about; that's what he's promoting.”
Shawn: “Honors to her?”
Iris: “No, I would say not. If you can look at some of what's actually said in the book and many of the media comments he has made elsewhere, it seems quite clear that he has some seriously problematic views.”
Shawn: “Name one.”
Iris: “Okay, let's see, let's begin with his kind of service interview with Camille Talia, where he effectively has said that he believes that discussions with men—he knows how to stand morally because there's a possibility of violence.”
Shawn: “Does that suggestion or idea, which a lot of people agree with, threaten Western civilization and the foundations of everything of value in our society?”
Iris: “Well, I'm not going to speak about that; I weren't speaking of Western civilization and whether that concept even makes sense, but consider how that's going to be read.”
Shawn: “It’s going to be read as saying we need to think about, deny the differences—biological and behavioral—between sexes, but we need to talk about these things honestly and openly.”
Iris: “If we're going to make progress on some issues of gender in our society...”
Shawn: “But on the cultural mule area, where frankly homosexuals are still getting beaten up, we have ridiculous rates of domestic partner violence...”
Iris: “Frankly, I just won a chick, Jordan Peterson, to your knowledge, has he ever advocated for beating up a homosexual, nor has he ever advocated people beat their wives or beat homosexuals?”
Shawn: “I don't believe we have no...”
Iris: “Are there...”
Shawn: “Can I please, can I continue? Yeah, the factual matter...Jordan Peterson has a platform. There are many people paying attention to them, and if you're making statements in such a situation, it is vitally important that you know the statements you make cannot be misread.”
Iris: “Sad that he is responsible for the misreading of his statements.”
Shawn: “Is he?”
Iris: “I would say that look, everyone has made...you feel...everyone has made kind of see...”
Shawn: “So do you think he should be shut down? Do you think his ideas are too dangerous and he shouldn't be allowed to speak in New Zealand?”
Iris: “I don't believe he should be shut down. Here's why; we're not doing that. The issue, however, is that his ideas are rather more problematic. Which ideas? Which ones specifically?”
Shawn: “That you should clean your room, that you should hold your shoulders back, or that you should take responsibility for your own life? That people shouldn't be compelled by governments to use particular words in particular circumstances?”
Iris: “Okay, but what about particular words in particular circumstances?”
Shawn: “Yes, I agree. It would be ridiculous to make the government...”
Iris: “...to force you, effectively, to use government phrases.”
Shawn: “But waiver statements are being read in the media, including by some people.”
Iris: “Yeah, well, he can't be responsible for the stupidity of people reading his statements.”
Shawn: “Again, I'm saying...do you think people are not responsible for the effects of the things they say?”
Iris: “Well, yeah...not particularly, but I'd also say that it would seem to me from my observation of the impact that Jordan Peterson has had...”
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The interview continues with further discussion about the claims made and the societal implications presented by both sides.
Later, the Auckland Peace Action Group did release another press release on the 14th, stating, "Auckland Peace Action is issuing a statement to publicly correct the record about a protest action that occurred in Wellington in 2018." This action occurred at the screening of the film "Ben Gurion" at the Dark Edge Film Festival.
Both Auckland Peace Action and our sister organization Peace Action Wellington opposed the showing of this film as it is subject to an international boycott on behalf of Palestinian civil society organizations. At both Wellington and Auckland screenings, the screenings were disrupted by activists with noisemakers and alarms. Subsequently, the Dark Edge director alleged that there was a fake bomb at the Wellington screening, and this was reported by New Hub.
This was a complete lie; there was never ever any fake bomb of any sort whatsoever. NZ police attended both protests and were fully aware that the items in the theaters were noisemakers, as were the theater-goers. The theater was not evacuated and no one was arrested.
It appears that, at least as far as Auckland Peace Action is concerned, that Shawn overstated the case in that lecture. In any case, the next day I had a chance to talk to him directly.
Now, we’re going to segue directly into that. First, let's get the pronouns out of the way: What would you prefer I called you? Professor? Dr. Jordan?
Jordan: "Jordan's fine. Jordan's fine, I like it that way as well."
My first question for you and the reaction here in New Zealand to the very idea that you're coming here or that you're fronting on this show today. I just got to say, and I've watched you for a couple of years—you are one of the most hated people online. Why do you think it is that?
Jordan: "Well, I'm hated by a very small minority—a very noisy and committed people. They're noisy and committed, and they can make a lot of racket. They are very good at it and often professionally trained to do so. They're very casual with their, what would you call it, epithets. I mean, I was listening to you introduce me, and you listed off about 20 terrible things that I might be, many of which were contradictory, but that doesn't seem to make any difference."
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The interview continues, addressing Jordan's perspectives on the criticisms he faces, societal implications around his ideology, and reflecting on the impact he's had on individuals.
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Jordan: "So, as we continue, let me just end this video with a reminder that there are still tickets left to the 'Twelve Rules for Life' lecture tour. If you'd like to see it in New Zealand at the Michael Fowler Center Thursday, February 21st—that's in Wellington—at the Logan Campbell Center Saturday, February 23rd—that's in Auckland—then back to Australia, ICC Sydney Theatre at Darling Harbour Tuesday, February 26th in Sydney, Plenary Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Wednesday, February 27th in Melbourne, and in Brisbane, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre Thursday, February 28th. You can find information about those tickets at Jordan B. Peterson dot com forward slash events. That's Jordan B. Peterson dot com forward slash events. Hope to see you there! Thank you very much, bye-bye!"