By Simon O'Connor

The word ‘woke’ is thrown around a lot these days and I am often asked what it means. Usually I am asked by those who are woke and who themselves are used to manipulating words to their benefit and now – disquietingly for them – find themselves on the outer when it comes to word usage.

Woke for me has one meaning and one convenient usage. The usage is simply – woke is a much quicker way of describing those who embrace cultural Marxism, intersectionality, DEI, progressivism, and concepts such as decolonisation. As you can anticipate, it’s quicker and more convenient to just say ‘woke’ than list all these various -isms and ideologies.

The meaning is also quite straightforward. For me, those who are woke have such a moral certainty that their view of the world is right, that they are more than happy to attack, mock, deride, or de-platform anyone who opposes them. So convinced of their deep moral awareness, they leave no room for self-doubt or discussion with others. So convinced in fact, they become emotional even hearing counter-arguments! Their eyes are so open – so awake – that they never think to blink, to refresh, or see perhaps things from a different perspective.

For those who know me, they know I hold opinions on various matters very strongly but I am not woke for one simple reason – I am more than happy to discuss, engage, debate, consider, reflect, and change position. I hope I am right, but don’t hold an absolute moral certainty that I am right. Importantly, while I might hold views deeply I can also appreciate that some people can hold the opposite views, equally deeply.

That the word ‘woke’ has changed from it’s original meaning is highly disconcerting to the woke. What began as a word within the Black civil rights movement of the 1960s and meaning people should be ‘awake’ to the racial segregation of the day, has now morphed into the new meaning we commonly use it today. Where once it was a positive expression, today ‘woke’ is not something that progressives are particularly keen at being called and is why there is an attempt to erase it’s usage. They often complain it’s used derogatorily or as a cheap barb, at the same time they are running about decrying everyone they disagree with as a ‘fascist’. Those upset with the word ‘woke’ are also the same crowd who have been very busy inverting the meaning of many common words. Think ‘diversity’ which now has nothing do with breadth and scope, but only singularity. Or ‘inclusion’, which ironically is used these days to exclude anyone the ‘woke’ don’t agree with.

As readers will know, the term ‘woke’ is often used to describe mainstream media. Naturally, it’s not fair to tar all journalists and reporters with this sobriquet, but as a whole, the word accurately fits. Survey after survey (usually by journalists themselves) describes those in mainstream media as left, or far-left, in their views. Issues from climate change to the Treaty are not discussed, but propagandised monologically. Think of how often the various comments sections get closed off!

Nothing illustrates this more clearly that the mainstream media’s decision – so far – to ignore the alleged behaviour of Green MP, Benjamin Doyle. I don’t wish to go into too many details as the key point I want to make is how mainstream media are actively deciding to not report something of clear public interest. It is also something potentially exceptionally serious, if not criminal (let alone ethically and morally repugnant).

The media are so woke yet not willing to be awake to this developing story and situation, even if potentially a safety issue related to little children.

It seems that this Green MP being ‘woke’, embracing progressive far-left proclivities, and holding radically destructive views put him beyond critique – again, even if involving allegations around child safeguarding.

In Benjamin Doyle’s case, it centres around what appears to be his private Instagram account which is also well-followed by Green and Maori Party MP colleagues – which to a degree, corroborates that it is his (as too deleting all the posts and hiding the account once exposed). The allegations are of sexually inappropriate behaviour and innuendo around children. The account’s name itself is based on slang that describes the body parts of little children while also insulting Christianity. In some instances, the account uses emojis associated with child sexual abuse.

The allegations – and we must stress they are only allegations at this stage – are exceptionally serious.

And yet so far, silence from mainstream media (and the Green Party). The same media who have rightly chased after many MPs whose behaviour has been questionable. I won’t list them all off here for no other reason than the list is long – from inappropriate use of photographs to drink driving; affairs to asking ‘don’t you know who I am?’. There are no shortage of examples and media have often delighted in pursuing said MPs even in instances where it verged on inappropriate. By inappropriate, I mean pursuing so relentlessly in a way disproportionate to the offence (real or alleged). Often, although not in every case, the MP is on the centre-right of politics although clearly not always the case if you think of the other recent Green Party scandal around shoplifting!

But the point remains – why is New Zealand’s ‘woke’ media all of a sudden asleep around these exceptionally serious allegations being made of a Green MP? Why too are the usually moralising Greens so quiet?

Headlines have been written for far lesser matters and with little to no evidence. The current situation has more than enough to join the dots’ as it were.

It appears that the woke don’t like reporting on the woke. That the more radical you are, particularly in the gender and sexuality space, the more protected you are from scrutiny.

For the sake of the children involved and the integrity of our parliament, I hope some mainstream journalists do pick this up and investigate and report.

That’s their job after all – if they are willing to be awake.

Originally published at OnPointNZ.