We are all too used to a joke involving a pilot walking into a bar, but what about someone walking into an airport masquerading as a pilot. Thinking of this scenario reminds me of Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in “Catch Me If You Can”. The film in question is based on a true story where Frank Abagnale Jr. cons millions of dollars as a Pan Am pilot, doctor and legal prosecutor. Not only did he impersonate all three of these rather prestigious positions, but he acted them out in the work environments respectively.
Similarly Bryce Casey (DJ at the radio station, The Rock) impersonated a pilot at Auckland Domestic Airport, last Saturday at 2:30pm attempted to access a restricted area. The incident at the airport was a television stunt done for the TV program WANNA-BEn. WANNA-BEn has a reputation for pulling such stunts, and has successfully pulled them off in several venues, including cinemas, concerts, and stadiums. However, this time far more serious action was taken out against them.
To their credit men involved got in touch with the authorities on Sunday, as soon as they became aware of the hunt for the pilot perpetrator. Bryce Casey (32), Ben Boyce (33, WANNA-BEn star) and their producer, Andrew Robinson (26) were arrested and charged for breaching Section 56A of the Civil Aviation Act. On the 20th a further 3 men were arrested in the morning and charged at the Counties Manakau District Court later on that afternoon. If found guilty those involved could be fined $10,000 or face up to 12 months prison time.
The idea of incarceration has been endorsed by the Airline Pilots Association and Paul Lyons (Aviation Security Co-ordinator) who stated that “incarceration for a short time, for a time of reflection, would be appropriate”. Lyon’s was satisfied that Casey was unsuccessful in his efforts to access the airport’s restricted area. Although Glen Kenny (President of the Pilot’s Association), did voice concern at how closely Casey’s uniform resembled a real pilots uniform.
Boyce acknowledged that “there was never any intention to cause trouble at the airport. Nor was it our intention for Bryce to breach security.” In an interview with TV3, Boyce noted that Casey “doesn’t look like a pilot, he’s unshaven, he’s got tattoos” and “didn’t have any ID”. In attempt at damage control, Boyce apologised on Facebook and Twitter last Tuesday, but for many it seemed too little, too late. It certainly didn’t placate John Key, who labelled the trio as an irresponsible “bunch of clowns who should know better”. The trio’s poor timing has been especially criticized, due to the stunt’s proximity to September 11 and the Rugby World Cup.
My thoughts on this stunt echo the criticisms of the authorities. But I would also like to say that New Zealand has a terrible reputation of hanging, drawing and quartering anyone who falls from grace. The public eye is ravenous for gossip and speculation and has an unsatisfying thirst for anyone who enters the crossfire. I think it is time to start building up the people who represent our country, rather than tearing them down. No other time is this witnessed so obviously and copiously than prior to an election. So I would like to encourage all New Zealanders and especially anyone who shares in the media traffic, via whatever channel from Facebook to broadcasting to the tabloids to show a little grace. After all what makes us human being’s is our incessant failings and every human being shares two common ties, we are fallen and we have been forgiven.
Love the title. You struck GOLD with that one! It'll be interesting to see what the courts do with this case. I can't imagine they will get jail time. My guess is they'll give them a fine.. but probably not for $10k.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with you on the part of NZ culture that relishes in blaming someone for a mistake. The stink thing is that a fear of mistakes is a reflection of mistrust in those who hold power. The fact we even continue to think that only those in power hold power feeds this fear!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great piece Jordan. I really think that the discussion around punishment is a great discussion that needs to be had more. Do we punish just to punish? Just to exact our "just desserts"? Or do we (and are the APA) keen to punish these three to deter others? or perhaps to "cure them" from their illness (of childishness, i presume)... Interestingly, all of the above methods, statistically speaking, are ineffective.....
ReplyDeleteOk I have tried to reply 3 times now and each time it has played up and I have lost all my material so it better work this time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Des, Eve and Brook for your comments. I will merge my responses to all there of you in one message rather than separately.
Eve you make a great point about New Zealanders, we really enjoy blaming individuals for their failings. I think that sometimes it goes beyond that though, I think we get satisfaction out of it, because it lowers the standard for our actions.
This links in with Tall Poppy syndrome, which has a far more powerful grasp on New Zealand compared with other nations. We don't like people having a superiority complex and we deeply dislike arrogance. Probably half the reason why I (and perhaps other) am so aggravated by Americans.
The Western view of fairness has a significant part to play as well, hence the confusion between equity and equality. We use the terms interchangeably when really they are independent. Even our selective views on religion, such as karma (and an "Eye for an Eye") show our reliance on fairness.
New Zealanders and the West in general have a paradoxical relationship with authority. Where we equally love and hate it, rely and reject it. Our views on fairness fuel fear, as we rely on authority figures (with perceived power) to apply justice fairly. But we are never fully satisfied with their decisions. As you said Eve, we don't trust those who hold power. You need only to look at the the Reader's Digests annual "Most Trusted Poll" and who are most consistently at the bottom? The politicians, judges and anyone who is at the top of their field (those who defy Tall Poppy Syndrome).
The problem is that we need these people in order to provide us with law and order. They distribute and determine justice, in order to punish and deter the offender (and the public) from offending.
Now Brook here's my response to you. You're asking about the relatively new debate, Punishment versus Rehabilitation. The issue with this debate is that it's hard to get an accurate picture of the effectiveness of each option. As New Zealand (or more importantly our government) is constantly changing it's views on which it perceives to be the most effective. So we have not had for some time a stable marker of where we sit on this continuum. Since each government is elected every 3 years, it has a narrow time frame while it's in office to draft up, pass and instate law. By the time it finishes it's term, the next party changes the system, before the previous one has had time to be tested out. However, that being said there is no doubt that government policy is seeing results, as crime rates are going down. That might not stop the legal system, from making an example out of offenders such as WANNA-BEn, who have a reputation of being irresponsible and irrational members of society in their eyes. For that reason Dez, it wouldn't surprise me if they did pay the maximum fine. Whether this will 'deter' others from doing similar acts and whether it will 'cure' WANNA-BEn from performing similar acts in the future remains to be seen.
(Sorry for the extremely long message).
Also Eve as a side note, totally agree with how power is often judged from a very narrow view point. Your point reminded me of Schindler's List when Amon Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) has his discussion with Oscar Schindler (Liam Neeson)about mercy:
ReplyDeleteOskar Schindler: Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don't.
Amon Goeth: You think that's power?
Oskar Schindler: That's what the Emperor said. A man steals something, he's brought in before the Emperor, he throws himself down on the ground. He begs for his life, he knows he's going to die. And the Emperor... pardons him. This worthless man, he lets him go.
Amon Goeth: I think you are drunk.
Oskar Schindler: That's power, Amon. That is power.
As others have said, a great use of title and images.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you ending discussion about people falling from grace. Unfortunately though it's not just those who fall who get picked on, as many "tall poppies" are often made to fall in the first place. Why can't we give credit where credit is due as well as fogive when others fall?
Thanks Stephen!
ReplyDeleteYes you make a really good point, we don't just pick on people, we often lead them like a lamb to the slaughter unbeknownst to them. We need to get rid of Tall Poppy syndrome and hopefully then that will allow us to rectify what you mentioned about "Why can't we give credit where credit is due as well as forgive when others fall?"