Re: Aborigines?
 

It wasn't designed to get a reaction at all. The opening post asked what the deal is with how they are viewed here... I told it as it is. Like it or not that IS how they are viewed here.

How do I feel about them?? Dunno, I have yet to interact on any level with a single one.

Re: Aborigines?
 

I don't think I'm the one that needs educating :rolleyes:

Re: Aborigines?
 

That's a bloody good question.. why do you?
What have the events of 200 years ago got to do with you?

200 years ago my ancestors were being worked into early graves in cotton mills and pits.
Until the descendents of that bastard Watt, who started all that industrial stuff off, make an apology to me and mine, I'll never truly feel vindicated.

Re: Aborigines?
 

Hi, I live in the suburbs of Darwin and there are hundreds of aboriginies here. From what I have seen, and this is in my opinion, the majority of them are uneducated and have a long way to go when it comes to issues of self-respect, self-esteem and taking care of themselves.

Many aboriginies here are homeless and for the ones who are given housing, it gets totally vandallised and is then unsuitable to be lived in. Many (not all) aboriginals in Darwin don’t wash - stink to high heaven and all they do is drink, scream at each other and end up in assults. Its unfortunate, but its life up here.

I've personally witnessed assaults, drunks/junkies lying at the side of the road (which is a daily occurrence) and their children being mistreated. I know this happens in all walks/races of life but its not something I like my own kids seeing on a daily basis.

I am in no way a racist guys, just giving my opinion of something I live with every day.

Re: Aborigines?
 

Of course you don't. You don't want to educate yourself because you're too proud to admit your lack of knowledge on the subject, yet you do nothing to assist the problem, probably don't know any aboriginal people to ask their opinion, carry on in your own white world bubble saying 'I don't know'.

Everyone needs to be educated on the subject. I know I do. I know quite a lot about it because it's a subject close to my heart. I have aboriginal friends. I have met and interacted with many aboriginal people through UWS over the past 18 months whilst working there and I care deeply for the disenfranchisement of this country's indigenous folk. I still don't know enough but I want to.
That's probably the difference between us. And if you're going to roll your eyes at me when I talk about education, then at least spell properly. ;)

Re: Aborigines?
 

Very true running water and electricity are luxuries to millions of people.
The UN only on Friday have now said that it is a human right to have clean water, no mention of having running water.

Re: Aborigines?
 

Oooh, since the UN declared access to clean water a human right last week. Do keep up. :lol: I think if you google, you'll find the details right there on the web.

'It expresses deep concern that 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water and that more 2.6 billion do not have access to basic sanitation.'

I think in Australia, it would be good to provide access to safe electricity because this would prevent aboriginal children being electrocuted by illegal hook ups. I personally think that all people should have access to the same basic things. Simple, I know, eh?

Of course, Australia didn't sign the vote because obviously it has issues with providing clean water as a right. However, given that it signs up to the Bolivian resolution under the UN, then it doesn't matter whether it abstained or not. It is now a human right. End of.
;)

Re: Aborigines?
 

Those who think that the attempted genocide of these people happened hundreds of years ago, need to think again. The stolen generation was still taking place in the 70's and maybe later. These kids are todays adults that we see getting drunk on the streets. We look down on them, but it is this society that caused them to be like that. It might not have been me personaly, but i am part of the society that did and so it is my fault and up to me to help to put it right or at least show tolerance for the peope.

Add in to this the fact that we have imposed on to a culture the alchol and drugs that our society has had thousands of years to adapt into and we have given them decades.

Finaly, the simple truth is that much of their culture is not well suited to 21st centurary life. But the reality is, if it comes down to it, this is THEIR country, we are at best badly behaved guests and at worst invaders.

Re: Aborigines?
 

Access to clean water is not access to running water, sometimes you dig your hole so it's almost as deep as a well:rolleyes:. Did the UN just declare electricity a basic human right as well?
Illegal hookups are just as you said illegal, unless it's free the people stealing it are going to continue to do so, though that's O.K in your book we can excuse them any crimes because a hundred years ago some of their granpappies were abused & that makes it all O.K. That logic is seriously flawed! Do you excuse Venables & Thompson their heinous crime because for centuries their working class parents, grandparents etc. etc. have been abused by upper class toffs.
Sometimes I can't work out if your a tree hugging greenie, a commie or just a bleading heart. You fight for the right to life for animals that cause massive destruction of crops yet you then bang on that everyone should have electricity. That nasty polluting stuff that's allegedly causing "global warming"
"All people should have access to the same basic things" Well that's not really going to work is it. You can't make someone go to work all week to pay for something that you then give to someone else for free, there's a limit to the welfare system & free electricity isn't part & parcel of it. What next free cars to get to the bottle shop for a slab of VB? You really want to have your cake & eat it lol

Re: Aborigines?
 

Do you not mean "that is how they are viewed here by some people"?

Its not my view, and not the view of most of my work colleagues and many people I have come into contact with since living here. It does however appear to be the view of those people who have chosen not to learn about aboriginal culture nor to understand how and why the current social issues referred to in this post came to be.

I have been very lucky that through my work with the very people that society complains about, I have been able to gain some insight into the culture and beliefs of Aboriginal people and what went wrong from "their" perspective. What I learned most of all is that all it takes to break through the misunderstanding is to respect everyone as an individual, accept each other for our differences, acknowledge that we have all made mistakes, past present or forgotten, and endeavour to not repeat the same.

We, and I mean the collective we, are all part of the problem and we all need to be part of the solution. Ignorance is bliss, but if you know the ship is sinking shouldnt you be doing something about it?

Re: Aborigines?
 

I'm far from sure, it was 15+ years ago and I was still pretty young.

Anyway, this whole topic is a lot sadder than I originally thought to be honest, very interesting though.

Re: Aborigines?
 

Let me clarify Cresta, When I said running, I meant clean. As in not polluted, easily accessible, a basic right.

Did I say it was ok? Show me where I said that.
I don't know if you've ever been unable to pay your electricity bill Cresta, but I have. There are lots of ways to do it and there is a reduction if you're getting Centrelink help. If you have no money, there is still a way to do it.

I didn't say it was ok to steal electricity did I? Nor did I say it was ok because people were abused, did I? You really do make massive leaps of logic based on not very much.
Ironically, the Au gov will supply these things to the land that they want the aboriginal people to live on, but not to the land that the aboriginal people themselves want to live on. :huh:

Bang on? :confused: Why must you try to 'work out' what I am? Does it bother you that I have a different opinion to you?

And yet the irony is Cresta, that actually, you can. The Au gov gives cheaper rates of electricity to aboriginal people (if they're in need), pensioners etc. You obviously don't know that. When I was a single parent struggling to pay my bills, I got a major discount. So whilst you were going to work all week to pay for electricity, they were giving me some for free. ;)

As for what I am, it may continue to elude you for some time yet. :lol:

Re: Aborigines?
 

Well theres equality for you!

Re: Aborigines?
 

I think you are missing the point! Of course no one condones the committing of any heinous crime, whoever they are or wherever they are from. But.......we stole their land. We took away their right to live from the land and exist in a culture that was based on kinship and family. We ruined it. We forced upon them things that they didnt want, need or understand and then we punished them when they did not conform to our way of doing things. We told them they needed running water and electricty but did not educate them or provide access to jobs or training so they could pay for it themselves. We said they had to live in houses, not on the land as they were used to, and then condemned them when because we have no comprehension of what "family" means for Aboriginal people, the house which wasnt big enough anyway, gets trashed. We thought we were doing the right things taking their children away but we stole their ability to pass on their cultural beliefs and stories, and then we condemn them again when they retaliate with frustration and anger.

What gave us the right? Who are we to decide how these beautiful people, who are very aware of the issues amongst their own communities, who had a law and order system better and more effective than any we can ever dream of, who are we to decide how they should live their lives? But that is what we did, whether intentionally or in ignorance and I feel guilty, I am ashamed, and I am sorry for what colonisation and westernisation has done to the Aboriginal people in this country. And anyone who now takes advantage of what this wonderful country has to offer should at least acknowledge that our ancestors whether it be 200 years ago or 20 years ago - got it wrong!

Re: Aborigines?
 

Let me clarify for you Kelli. They'll get cheaper electricity if they're in need and on a pension. Your regular joe in the street aboriginal person won't get help if they're working and housed, which many, many are.

Funny you're asking for equality. You should really go and check out an aboriginal settlement for that.