Today's talk was a quick video presentation from Chicka Dixon who is an old Aboriginal Activist
from the 60s. He kept referring to "the struggle" which is the fight for Rights and Equality for the Indigenous peoples of Australia. He was one of the few who first set up the "Tent Embassy" on the lawn in front of the Parliament house in London. His dismissal of the process of Reconcilation the "I'm sorry campaign".
1000+ people walked acrosss the harbour bridge to make the Prime Minister say sorry, but then a couple of weeks later 1000s of people voted for Pauline Hanson and the One Nation Party, into house of government.
"Queenslanders are the most racist people in Australia."
He is bringing the fight on white mans terms. Educating the people, being a realist, and working the capitalist machine.
Questions, doesn't he think that the fact that the symbolic apology from the prime minister would give people the inspiration to fight harder a series of chain events that would occur to make it more positive for Aboriginal Rights?
In the end he is right about the struggling situation that the Aboriginal people are in. If as
a community they are able to pull themselves out a hole they will recieve some credibility, as it
will be a prime example for people still believing in stereotypes such as these.
My thoughts on Aboriginal situation.
Having spent quite some time with the local Eora, and Wiradjuri tribe folk during my previous university years, I met alot of people from linguistic conferences from Rural Australia.
I felt that there was still this proprogated angst against white australia for the sins of the past.
Which granted is valid we did basically massacred, and assimulated their people and culture, for at least 100 years of our history.
For everyday Australians, most of us understand the tradgic and unfortunate circumstances in which our country was founded upon, but we can't understand how we can bear the responsibility for the past?
Our millions of migrants, and first generation Australians from all over the world, can not how we can individually be responsible for the decisions of the past. would there be an issue at all if today, there wasn't any Aboriginal issues?
Will we bear the responsibilities by financial compensation through the federal government through taxes. Is this fair, as we live in our current state because of the past that we went through?
The American Japanese people, during World War II were put into concentration camps, and as 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation Americans they were still detained and their constitutional rights were taken from them. Years after the war, they lodged a case against the American government and won this compensation.
Reasons why the Prime Minister John Howard has NOT to say sorry.
1. Cost to the Australian People
2. Liberal Party conservative party
3. Legal Proceedures
Our current administration is now more concerned with the following.
-Streamlining work place relations laws.
-Streamlining the Australian economy.
-Good Economy, complacent people, awareness.
Does our complacency make us apathetic to this "Sorry" issue?
