by Paul Thomas | Jan 16, 2015 | The Age of Terror
Paul Thomas2015-01-16 Writer Salman Rushdie, who knows a thing or two about attacks on freedom of expression, calls them the “But Brigade”: those who deplored the Charlie Hebdo massacre, but then watered down their condemnation with context, caveats, extrapolations... 
by Paul Thomas | Jan 9, 2015 | Strange Days Indeed
Paul Thomas2015-01-09 “ Best of ” lists are a silly season staple. You may think it’s just a matter of listing the ten best books or films or TV shows of the recently concluded year; if so, you couldn’t be more wrong. There’s no fun in compiling such lists if they... 
by Paul Thomas | Aug 30, 2014 | Americana
Paul Thomas2014-08-30 Another week, another racism row. Last week Taylor Swift’s new video was the issue. Rapper Earl Sweatshirt didn’t even need to watch it to know (and tell the world) that it’s “inherently offensive and ultimately harmful.” Swift wears hip hop gear... 
by Paul Thomas | Apr 19, 2014 | Kiwiana
Paul Thomas2014-04-19 I think we can all agree the royal tour went rather well. A Herald editorialist had to de-mothball the words “glorious” and “triumph” to do it justice, and went on to suggest that it surpassed all previous House of Windsor forays to this distant... 
by Paul Thomas | Apr 12, 2014 | Kiwiana
Paul Thomas2014-04-12 That Sir Don McKinnon must be feeling pretty silly right now. No sooner had the former Deputy Prime Minister asserted the inevitability of New Zealand ditching the monarchy than Kiwis of all ages, stages, shoe sizes, star signs, income brackets,... 