Thread: Gillard / Aboriginal Fiasco

What a palaver! Her body guards panicked a bit didn't they?

I personally don't get what the Aboriganals are protesting about... Don't they get more help and benefits than their European settler cousins? Haven't land rights been addressed yet?

Whats their gripe?

I can see it from both sides, I feel guilty about what happened all those years back, BUT, I think we have tried to apologise and help them ever since.

I think it goes way deeper....the damage done willt ake generations to fix...if ever...there is still a massive inequality between indigenous and non indigenous Aussies. Some of it all their own doing, I suppose when your parents are uneducated and dont give a toss you then go on to feel and act much the same....I think its a tragic shame and when I saw the history of it displayed at Perth museum even I felt ashamed of our ancestors who did those things....trouble is some of these indigenous people are struggling to live a 21st century life and adapt to what our society expects but thats at odds with the way they want to live..
I think the answers lie in their own communties. Aboriginal leaders should take charge and educate their communities...they must move on, take responsibility for their own well being....things will change Im sure but it will take time and patience and money and a will to make the change from the people themselves. I think theyve been treated shoddily and that treatment continues but they also get pots of money/resources thrown at them too....youve got to let hem decide what they want and need and then support them to do it from within their own community.

youve got to let hem decide what they want and need and then support them to do it from within their own community.

but aren't we all supposed to live harmoniously together as one big happy family? You can't have communities just for selected groups. Whats the old saying.. "fit in or something something..."

It was a ridiculous overreaction from her bodyguards, when they came out the door there was probably 2 'protestors', they could have just quickly walked to the car without all the crazy carry on we saw.

Originally Posted by Aldo

What a palaver! Her body guards panicked a bit didn't they?

I personally don't get what the Aboriganals are protesting about... Don't they get more help and benefits than their European settler cousins? Haven't land rights been addressed yet?

Whats their gripe?

Originally Posted by Aldo

but aren't we all supposed to live harmoniously together as one big happy family? You can't have communities just for selected groups. Whats the old saying.. "fit in or something something..."

Yes I know.....but the change, the direction and then the implementation of it is only going to work if its coming from within not some out of touch government bod deciding whats best without any in depth appreciation of the issues they face....

Originally Posted by Tillyfloss

Yes I know.....but the change, the direction and then the implementation of it is only going to work if its coming from within not some out of touch government bod deciding whats best without any in depth appreciation of the issues they face....

But then you get the old "tail wagging dog" senario. Pandering to minorities IMO is the biggest cause of racism. Equality means just that, when minority groups whether in the UK or Australia get preferential treatment it gets peoples backs up and the extreme right are always there to fan the flames of resentment. The solution is simple, one rule for everyone.

A huge problem is that so many jump on the bandwagon the get what they can out of it. Just look at some of the Aboriginals, I reckon their grandmother once shook one by the hand and that is the full extent of their Aboriginal blood.

Originally Posted by ophidian

A huge problem is that so many jump on the bandwagon the get what they can out of it. Just look at some of the Aboriginals, I reckon their grandmother once shook one by the hand and that is the full extent of their Aboriginal blood.

Mmmm. But was that by choice or was it because of the shocking - and deliberate - Government programmes that went on into the 1970s and which are now all lumped together under the name "The Stolen Generations."

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

It was a deliberate, wilful attempt at genocide.

As recently as the 1950s, Aboriginal people were still being shot for sport in parts of the Outback.

It will take more than one generation for such shocking events to be forgotten. Personally, I think it will take 200 years - if it ever happens at all.