Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

They've welcomed the goal, whilst objecting to the method. But quite frankly, I don't think they have the luxury of refusing assistance at this stage. Put yourself in their shoes for a moment. Your community is suffering from alcoholism, child abuse and health problems. The government responds by offering free (albeit compulsory) medical checks and a crackdown on child sex abuse, in return for a prohibition on alcohol and pornography.

This leaves you with a choice: accept the offer, or refuse it. And your decision turns upon your answer to a simple question: "Is my child's health, safety and wellbeing more important than alcohol and pornography?"

To me, it's a no-brainer.

Of course, the whingers will be in full voice. The NT government has been humiliated by the revelation that its policies have done little or nothing to improve the plight of indigenous Australians - so we can expect plenty of noise from that quarter.

The usual mix of lefties and try-hard activists (none of whom have offered a viable alternative!) will try to spin this as a case of "Big Brother" government ruthlessly dominating a hapless, helpless people in regional Australia. So we can expect plenty of arm-waving and pointless rhetoric from that bunch as well.

w00t! I've entered a parallel universe. :eek:

How can it be "Naziesque" to remove alcohol from communities with high levels of alcohol abuse? How can it be "Naziesque" when dry communities already exist and were originally instituted at the request of Aboriginal leaders?

Is it "Naziesque" to take away heroin from a drug addict? Is it "Naziesque" to take away alcohol from an alcoholic? Is it "Naziesque" to remove pornography from a house where it is being shown to young children?

In the midst of all this, Noel Pearson has just proposed a scheme under which indigenous families found to be neglecting their children will have their welfare payments cut (an excellent idea, IMHO). Is that "Naziesque"? Is that "treating Aborigines like 2nd class citizens"?

No amount of hand-wringing and foot-stamping by various interest groups can change the fact that previous strategies have been spectacularly unsuccessful. Their legacy is the current situation. If something needs to be done, and nobody is doing it, they've got no right to whinge when someone else comes along and does for them. That's the bottom line.

It won't solve it, and nobody expects that it will. But it removes two of the primary contributing factors. That's a step in the right direction, wouldn't you agree?

It's a moot point. If Howard does something now, people point to the election and cry "vote-buying". If he does nothing, he's demonised for "not caring about indigenous Australians". Since he's damned either way, I prefer him to act.

People's lives are at stake here. Their kids' lives are at stake. Their communities are at state. Their entire future is at stake. They need to accept this proposal - or at least something like it.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Hi Vash

Of course child welfare is of the paramount importance, thats a given.
When I used the term naziesque, it is a somewhat strong one, I know, but it does seem to have a leaning that I find quite alarming (even if done with best of intentions). Its just such a hugely complex issue.

Regarding the alcohol ban, whilst it hopefully will help alleviate some issues, the alcohol abuse is obviously symptomatic of much deeper problems - the answer to these, I dont know.
Its a whole bag of issues.
I agree that anything that will help should be attempted (within reason & through discussion with the communities involved).
By removing porn/alcohol, whilst it may help as they’re contributing factors, that’s what they are, contributing factors – it’ s a starting point, but its like treating a very serious sympton (which obviously needs addressing) without treating the cause.
I completely agree that something needs to be done, to help secure a brighter future all round for the people & communities involved.
I hope it does help & that longer term strategies will be implemented to help combat the cause of the problems within these communities.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Err...like England or LA? Why should a whole community be punished?

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Well Aboriginals should be threated as equals. So let them drink if they want but the otherside of the coin is no special entry in to 3rd level education and no special entry into alot of civil service positions (check out job requirements for some government jobs compared to non aboriginal applicants).

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Imo it's 'Naziesque' to pick on a minority people to force them to submit to laws imposed on that group alone. It smacks of persecution.

I'ts already been pointed out that these problems are universal. Maybe laws about child abuse, alcohol abuse and pornography abuse should be rethought and apply to all and not just the visible few. Yes that might be unpopular, but it would be fair, and many would benefit.

I agree that 'lefty' views on welfare have created a dependence culture and it's time for a radical rethink. I mean that for all communities, including here in UK.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Is that a fact about the missing gene? I think I might actually have killed mine and could do with another!

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Gene or enzime, I'm not sure, but yet they are missing something because they never invented fermentation here. So for the last 60,000 years they evolved with no method to break down alcohol. One pint stays in the blood for ages, so it's easy for them to get perpetually pissed.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Just like one post from you , gets me perpetually "pissed off".........:rofl:mm

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Yup, sounds like my problem!

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Oh my god, Child Abuse IS a problem no matter where it is or to what extent. There is no justification for it, therefore it is a HUGE Problem. How on earth can you dig out research that isn't correct statistically, when most children that suffer, rarely or Never speak about it ? :curse: How dare you discredit children who are too afraid to speak up, by implying it doesn't happen as much, you ignoramous.

I never implied it was being made up by racists, and said nothing of the sort, I just said that because figures are inaccurate, they cannot be compared, so go fabricate about someone else ;)

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

It shows that the charges should never have been laid in the first place, and is pure political interference if you read the history of the matter. He was simply doing his job, locking up a drunken yobbo who was 4 times over the limit , swearing and yelling in the street at 8 o'clock in the morning, happens all over the world, no matter what race or creed you are. The fact that the copper was punched in the mouth as he got this man out of the van, and then stumbled and fell on top of him as he tried to get him into a cell so that he could sober up, doesnt mean that he should be charged with manslaughter. If you are driving along the street, and some drunken idiot falls into the road in front of your car, are you going to take responsibility? I feel for the copper and his family. Prior to this incident , he was highly respected my the indigenous community on Palm Island, and had done a lot for them.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

As birdynumnum suggests, the above does warrant a thread of its own:)

Back to the original post from arkon, on a similar theme, I was amazed when I first lived in Melbourne to hear people refer to a 'bug' as in virus etc as a 'wog':huh:

That must have been a reflection on the Greek community I would say, and not a very nice one.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Utter drivel...

Hurley was forced to change his story when confronted with the medical evidence. All along he said that he fell beside the deceased and not on top of him but when it became obvious that the injuries sustained could only have come from a heavy blow he had to change his story or admit assaulting him. And his reason for changing was because he couldn't remember exactly in the aftermath, although as the prosecution pointed out he could remember exactly where the other people were at the time, exactly where the vehicle was, etc...

"White policeman prime suspect in death in custody case of black man. Authorities try to smooth it all over, bit of an outcry in the press, farcical trial arranged with all white jury who find not guilty in record time of a few hours - including their lunch break."

Sounds like deep south USA in the 1950's not a supposedly 1st world country in 2007.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

Now even after all my 20 years plus here in Melbourne, I'm still UK enough to struggle to with that term. The thing is, and I work in an environment where at least 50 pct of my co-workers have Meditteranean parents. Beleive me it does not upset them to be called wogs, or be referred to in that way. So If I go back to work, after carrying a cold this weekend and say to my two Italian parented female co-workers, that "I've been in bed with a Wog all weekend" They will find the phrase more risque than offensive.

So do you think you guys have the right to tell our local Italian/Greek/Maltese/Turkish community to stop calling each other wogs. If so the old UK tradition of lets change these lesser colonials, still seems to be alive and well on this thread. No wonder Aussie workforces groan sometimes when they see another fresh of the boat Pom coming to change and better their world.

Re: An Aboriginal day today
 

No I dont think that we have the right to tell any community what they can call each other, I just struggle with it is all I was trying to say. When you say " you guys", who are you referring to by the way?