open Democracy News Analysis - The Aboriginal apology, , - Comments

Joe.Bloggs on "The Aboriginal apology, "

Joe.Bloggs — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:05:32 +0000

... after re-reading your article, I would like to make my dislike for the Australian Labor Party officially known. How can they use an entire people as a political springboard? Surely there are aboriginals out there who can see this. I'll hazard a guess and say that those people who could see this weren't the ones clamouring for an apology, either...

Joe.Bloggs on "The Aboriginal apology, "

Joe.Bloggs — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 06:52:16 +0000

Definitely a late reply, but still very welcome.

Do you mind my asking where you're writing this article from? The only place I can think of is overseas somewhere - possibly one of the many Aussie expats in Britain. I say this because only the most ignorant person from the inner city area of a major centre would say that the aboriginal people need more material help.

I've lived in many regional areas throughout aus - except for Western Aus - and everywhere I've been I've seen government housing built especially for them, government wages for those who don't work, specialised aboriginal-only recruiting programs, aboriginal-only educators within regular classes at school and even Community Police in the more remote areas of each state. The reality out here is that some of these people just don't want to work, and aren't interested in education. Saying 'Sorry' hasn't changed a thing, except leaving the government and the australian population as a whole open to paying more money for an aboriginal-only dole scheme.

Yes, there is a tiny minority who do work, who do look after their housing, and who do ensure their children get a good education. I work now with many of these people in the Northern Territory, and have worked with them in the past in South Australia. I commend them too, because it's hard getting away from the booze and grog that traps many of the aboriginal people, and who stereotype their existence in the eyes of many visitors to this country - not mentioning many of the locals too. The help is already there, it just has to be guided better. I'll be honest here and say that I don't know how to do this, as I haven't had any experience at that level of management, but I'm sure a work-for-the-dole situation would do well.

This may sound harsh, but many people who have come here fresh from their city homes have found it to be a bleak reality (my girlfriend for one). I haven't written the above through the eyes of a racist or anything else so backward, I've written it through experience.

Yes something does need to be done, but it's about adjusting what help is already there as opposed to just throwing more money at the problem thinking that's going to fix it, which seems to be a common theme with todays governments.

Teo Kermeliotis on "The Aboriginal apology, "

Teo Kermeliotis — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:59:00 +0000

1. I agree that there are serious issues to be discussed when it comes to compensation problems, yet the reality today is that what the indigenous population needs in many cases is serious material help - welfare, job creation, decent housing and infrastructure, as McCormack has said. That reality cannot be ignored.

2. I think it is quite apparent that East Timor's stability is of great concern to Australia, for regional security and economical reasons.

3. I'm sorry for the belated reply.

Joe.Bloggs on "The Aboriginal apology, "

Joe.Bloggs — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:54:24 +0000

It's good to see that the writers on this site bother to defend their articles. If you're going to give the option of giving feedback, you can at least acknowledge the feedback given.

Joe.Bloggs on "The Aboriginal apology, "

Joe.Bloggs — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:19:15 +0000

1. Why should the blacks get the words and the whites keep the money? I'm white, third generation Australian, I can't see why I should be paying compensation for something my family had nothing to do with. What about the more recent various muslim families? Should they flee the atrocities in their own countries just to pay for something they had nothing to do with?

2. Increasing our presence in East Timor has nothing to do with oil or gas. If you were to look at our border with Timor, that issue has been taken care of, and there's nothing our military or diplomatic presence in Timor will do about that. And why should we care? Haven't we got enough Gold, Diamonds and Uranium? What about the Coal and Iron Ore? The Gas shelves off Western Australia? Do we really need to pursue the oil in East Timor? It's funny, I was under the impression that our presence was increased in Timor Leste because someone tried to assassinate their President and Prime Minister...

The Aboriginal apology, ,

Teo Kermeliotis — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:59:10 +0000

When Australian band Midnight Oil took the stage of the Sydney Olympic Stadium in 2000 to perform their reconciliation anthem "Beds Are Burning," with the word SORRY printed in their black outfits, John Howard was present; perhaps the most distressed member of the enthusiastic audience as the whole world was in tune for the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics.

Read the rest of this post...