Andrew Urquhart welcomes public commentator Brendan Malone to discuss the recent use of expletives in Parliament, with speakers being ejected by the Speaker of the House. They explore how standards of speech are not so much "slipping" as being actively eroded or abandoned, linking this to the biblical call for gentleness and respect and the broader concept of human dignity. Brendan argues that speech reflects both self-respect and respect for others, and that MPs represent the whole nation, so their language matters beyond personal preference—even suggesting offenders should be barred from the House for three months, a view he says applies equally across party lines.



The conversation extends to social media, journalism, and fiction, distinguishing between context-driven use of coarse language (such as shock, grief, or storytelling devices like in the film "Odyssey") and deliberate abusive speech in public life. Brendan and Andrew agree that while words and physical violence are not equivalent, careless or vulgar language in Parliament reflects poorly on virtue and civility, and that charitable disagreement—not vulgarity—should be the standard for political discourse.



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Andrew Urquhart welcomes public commentator Brendan Malone to discuss the recent use of expletives in Parliament, with speakers being ejected by the Speaker of the House. They explore how standards of speech are not so much "slipping" as being actively eroded or abandoned, linking this to the biblical call for gentleness and respect and the broader concept of human dignity. Brendan argues that speech reflects both self-respect and respect for others, and that MPs represent the whole nation, so their language matters beyond personal preference—even suggesting offenders should be barred from the House for three months, a view he says applies equally across party lines. The conversation extends to social media, journalism, and fiction, distinguishing between context-driven use of coarse language (such as shock, grief, or storytelling devices like in the film "Odyssey") and deliberate abusive speech in public life. Brendan and Andrew agree that while words and physical violence are not equivalent, careless or vulgar language in Parliament reflects poorly on virtue and civility, and that charitable disagreement—not vulgarity—should be the standard for political discourse. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments Podcast

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.