Occam's Cultural Razor?

[drcuriosity]

So, there's lots of talk in the NZ media about the "terrorism raids" we had a while back, and evidence recently leaked to the press. These bits in particular caught my eye:

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November 17-18: "Quasi-military training camp": Police say texts refer to meetings as "Rama", which can mean light, torch or to go fishing with a torch.

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April 27: [...] Suspects then given codenames Brown, Green, Blue and Pink and told to wear balaclavas to avoid being identified by locals.

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Iti christened the group "Rama", the Maori word for enlightenment, and is alleged to have stated three months ago that he had stopped all his other activities in order to "make war on New Zealand".

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See, given the Reservoir Dogs-style codenames and so forth, my immediate thought upon seeing meetings called "Rama" was that it was code for "rendezvous", after the classic Arthur C. Clarke story Rendezvous with Rama.

Indigenous culture or pop culture? How geeky is your average "terrorism suspect", anyway?

Comments

[surrealfish.livejournal.com]

Given that Rama means flame, or lamp in Maori, I'm sure they were trying to make some metaphor towards a meeting that progresses the flame of revolution, or something similar.

Also, this whole busines is incredibly inriguing, given the protests today. I'm kind of sick of people nay-saying the police and SIS, given as I expected, that the information gathered is quite damning.

[drcuriosity]

Yeah, most probably ideological symbolism :-)
Tame Iti doesn't really strike me as an SF kind of guy...

[cheesecat.livejournal.com]

I'd be surprised if he's ever finished a book in his life.

[el-gremmo.livejournal.com]

I'm sure he has. Although, he probably didn't keep within the lines...

- Gremlyn

[muerk.livejournal.com]

Yeah. After reading bits and pieces that have been leaked I'm grateful that these guys were dragged out into the light of public awareness.

I think the police intervention has saved lives and for that I'm really grateful.

[morte-o-merce.livejournal.com]

frankly, i'd like it if the natives of my continent would rise up and throw down the European oppressors. but hey, i'm biased. :)