Upon hearing what he had done the elders in Kiribati and Niue could only respond in one way … ‘they wept!’ They were cut to their very heart and soul and they wept. Some would say ‘an impotent response’. I would say a deep, meaningful and poignant response.

The removal of Jesus Christ from the prayer was done behind the mask of ‘inclusivity’. What a lie!

44% of the popular vote (Christian) had just been excluded and all other faiths and religions brought to a place of nothingness.

Let’s call it what it is – total marginalisation.

It’s been an agenda for a number of years within a particular political group but it was Mr Mallard who decided to make a name for himself and make it a reality.

Jesus Christ out … Trevor in.

Initially the Queen was out too.

Interestingly enough, the speaker has never suggested that he might drop his own (lifetime) title of the ‘Right Honourable’, a title given to him at the urging of our sovereign and head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. No … better that he keep the title given him by her and ditch her instead.

Thanks for the title, now get lost!

A measure of sanity prevailed it seems and he was persuaded to reinstate her majesty to a place of honour in the prayer.

One can see Mr Mallard basking smugly in the title of Right Honourable but his behaviour is neither right nor honourable. It is disgraceful.

This is the thing though … tyranny is but a small step from democracy and in Mr Mallard’s world there is no place for Jesus Christ or those that value the name.

The aim of course is to throw out any reference to religion and the prayer altogether.

We must retain a legitimate democracy not a democratic façade.

Though appearing to be a champion of liberal all-inclusive policy and ideals, what is actually happening is the de-powering of moral virtue and opinion with reference to the political arena.

In short, what I say goes and what I want to do, will be done and there’s not a lot you can do about it.

Wrong … very wrong.

How quickly we can be taken from democracy to tyranny. We must not under estimate what has happened here. Yes there are those who would see it as a small thing, trite even, insignificant and about time.

Make no mistake, though, what he has done is hugely significant.

The lack of transparency or considered consultation. The pre-conceived agenda. The very things that are polar opposite to the speaker’s declaration that he would take his “powerful position seriously and use it to ENHANCE and PRESERVE our democracy”. What followed immediately was pure hypocrisy.

Political writer Sheldon Wolin describes such a situation as ‘inverted totalitarianism’ meaning that the consent of the people governed is of no matter and no more than a joke.

When one has a monopoly of political power and uses it for self-grandiosment then true democracy for all has been compromised at least and abused at best!

As someone has said – ‘an elephant has been given the right to dance among chickens’. Problem is, we, the people of Aotearoa are the chickens!

There is a thought provoking paradox here … those elected democratically become Autocrats and then desperately do everything they can to appear democratic.

One of the unfortunate fundamentals of democracy is that it provides for tyranny it’s number one essential – legitimacy. Our votes make it so.

In the matter of the Parliamentary prayer, submissions have been made, letters written, delegations met with, opinions expressed all with the desire to see the name of Jesus Christ reinstated, to which the speaker has been unmoved, unaffected, immune, and seemingly impervious to any views expressed other than his own.

Behind the masks of democracy and inclusivity the true face of tyranny lurks.

God and religion are being dismantled to be usurped by man – and in this case, one man writing his own legacy at the expense of the faiths and beliefs of many.

And here’s another thought … what if the speaker has set an uncontested precedent for whoever is to follow … and what might happen if that one is ten times worse! What then?

October 30th, on the grounds of Parliament is the day we the people will have our say. God is God. Man is not.

Mr Speaker, we would suggest that you don’t forget it and don’t get it mixed up!