Dear Dan,

The question is not whether it is legal or otherwise to enter a private property to access the front door, but rather whether it is morally right or wrong. Unless one sincerely believes that they have been invited, explicitly or implicitly, that is wrong to thus disturb the peace of the people inside.

Yuyutsu

Ok, interesting. But what if you open the bedside draw in your room at a hotel or motel, and observe a Gideons Bible, what is your response?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gideons_International

Indy,

I realise English is not your fore, "supersedes" means 'takes the place of', it doesn't mean 'predates'. Mormons give significance to the Christian Bible, but believe the 'Book of Mormon' is a more important work, for true salvation is contained within, first published by Joseph Smith in 1830, reprinted many times. The most commonly used Bible,the 'King James Bible', dates from 1611, as is evident by the Elizabethan language used. The 'New King James Bible' is far more recent, first published in 1982 both are based on earlier Greek text.

As for Maori language, the (Maori) language (Te Reo) the written version was begun in 1814, coinciding with the establishment of Samuel Marsden's Christian Mission in the Bay of Islands. By 1820 the written language was advancing through the work of Professor Samuel Lee of Cambridge University worked with the chief Hongi Hika and his junior relative Waikato to systematise the written language. The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was produced in both English and Te Reo, the Maori translation was undertaken by the Missionaries Henry and Edward Williams, although both were fluent speakers of Te Reo, due to the rushed job of the Treaty there were significant differences between the two versions.

When did the Maoris actually start to teach & read printed words ? The above answers that question. Surprisingly many Maori could read and write both English and Te Reo, whilst most Europeans and others were illiterate in their own language. Of the 500 who signed the Treaty on behalf of Maori, the majority could read one or both versions. William Hobson the first British Governor failed to have sufficient copies of the Treaty produced in any language, and therefore many Chiefs failed to sign.

Hongi Hika (1772- 1826) an ancestor of my wife, was well educated, travelling to England and meeting with King George IV. Samuel Marsden having first met Hongi in Sydney in 1814 describe him as "a very fine character ... uncommonly mild in his manners and very polite".

Indy who was the first in your family who could read and write?

Hi Foxy,

From my experience Bibles are now a rarity in hotel rooms. Without doing an exhaustive investigation as Issy has done to determine that "most homes have doorbells" I can't say conclusively.

A little story, you will appreciate the following.

A few years back in Sydney, my niece, a lovely girl, then a practising Mormon, she had done a "mission" to Guam some years before, she insisted I come along to the Temple this particular Sunday, to get a better understanding of the Moron faith, besides there would be a visiting American Bishop there on his Australian tour, a white guy about 50'ish, the wife and I went along. Never one to shy away from a little controversy I purposely wore my Maori taonga (a bone carving tiki about 100mm long worn around the neck), the niece kept saying; "Uncle put your taonga inside your shirt" I refused, I didn't see why, its my taonga. After the service and meeting the Bishop, he would have assumed I was just one of the congregation. When coming to me the Bishop with a drewly mid western American accent, stops, take my bone carving in his hand for a closer look, saying; "What is this?", I reply; "That is my Maori taonga", from him in an indigent voice; "Its purpose!" from me; "to ward off evil spirits....obviously its not working" with that he moved on. Afterwards my niece said; "Uncle how could you say that to the Bishop."...... "Easy, he's just as intolerant as so many others."

Dear Paul,

Thanks for the story. I remember the times when the
Lithuanians would only invite Liberal politicians to
their Club here in Melbourne for special events -
like celebrating Lithuania's Independence Day,
And so many of the
politicians were ill-prepared for the occasions -
not having done their homework as to what the event
was for which they had been invited. One Independence
Day - Jeff Kennett made a speech - no on Lithuania's
Independence - but on gun-control. Not sure why.

Anyway, today - the Lithuanians have finally learned
over the years - and
now invite politicians from several parties. Not just the one
that took us for granted for so long - and kept saying that
Lithuanians "assimilate" better than anyone else in this
country. Not realizing that it wasn't a compliment.

"supersedes"
Paul145,
The remark re the publishing date was meant as a light-hearted thing.

Many Indigenous command better English than many Australian & indeed British educated !
Put people in undeserved privileged circumstances & they'll inevitably become fluent in jargon in no time at all !
We saw & still see that happening in all arty-farty useless outfits !
You prove yourself to be one of them by opportunistically jumping at the slightest mistakes but totally failing to answer when serious questions are put to you. This just proves that all the education is pointless when you lack integrity. Hasn't anyone ever told you that idealism & hypocrisy don't automatically equate to integrity ?