Do you think Orthodox Easter, which is quite a big deal around these parts, St Patricks day, et al cause division ? We have a Maltese band go up and down our street once a year as well, when they remember their day. I've nicknamed erm to my Maltese mates, the Gozo do dah band.


Neither worry me, and I'm fairly sure a special day for remembering the atrocities of years past for the Koori's would worry me either.


Not sure why it would worry you, when I am fairly ambivalent to the prospect... as I'm sure most people would be. This is laid back "She'll be right" Australia after all.

I think the division comes if you feel threatened by what could come out of their day.... which is nothing but reconciliation in my eyes.

I'll repeat my view, the problem is looking back, not forward.

Stop obsessing over things that ain't going to change, and stop looking back and living in the past - start thinking about how you are going to take advantage of living in a developed country.

PS caveat

I have no issue with celebration of culture.

Celebration of culture has no relation to remembering war.

Australia remembers war jointly. Feel free to join in or feel free to promote divisions. Your call.

Its fair isn't it?

It is harder for those that experience such diminished life chances as a result of the past to take that view.

Tell that to:

David Unaipon
Cathy Freeman
Neville Bonner
Archie Roach
Bronwyn Bancroft
Adam Goodes
Albert (Elea) Namatjira
Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Benn Harradine
Evonne Goolagong Cawley

I'm sure they wouldn't want us dredging up the past.

Ban or a better word 'stop' Anzac and Remembrance days then ? As that could be seen as hypocritical behaviour. They are definitely days where the Australian and UK people look backwards.

Not sure that it is a good idea either.

I dont think a special day is either divisive or inclusive.... just remembrance and acknowledgement that there were atrocities in the past. It could be part of a healing process...not sure. I cant see the harm in it myself.

Point is, they don't.

They have enhanced life chance as a result - if they want to grasp them.

It would be far easier if Aus and NZ were united and it could all come under the Waitangi day banner.

Thing is this issue isn't going to go away, possibly fester and get worse and end up with a very controversial situation in the future. Perhaps Australia needs it's own version of Waitangi day and face the issue head on.

I'm personally not comfortable with historic events being watered down, buried, diluted and falsified en masse..... Which by not acknowledging the situation Australia is currently abetting....Probably the UK's biggest fault. Although I doubt the British are Robinson Crusoe in enhancing their version of history.

This is why left wing governments are evil. The aboriginal thing has been done to death in this country. A line has to be drawn and everyone move on.

I'm starting to understand Zulu now when he says the left hate western countries.

But I identify with the left and I certainly don't hate Western countries! I'm an advocate for social justice but I have zero colonial guilt. I have never wanted to move to a non-Western country and I am proud of many of the values of Western countries (democracy, human rights, equality to name a few). That doesn't mean I am arrogant enough to think my culture is superior and has nothing to learn from other cultures. I believe in multicultural integration (as opposed to assimilation, marginalisation or separation) because that model protects both the host and immigrant cultures. However, I'm not especially nationalistic, although I do have a deep love for both England and New Zealand. I am pretty hopeful that my current infatuation with Australia turns into something similar

I've not mentioned politics at all, mine is just my own human response to the confirmed historical incidences I know of.

Not sure how you feed politics into something that is such a humanitarian issue ?

Why does a line have to be drawn and where and what is the threat

Its the left wing that keep bringing it up, rallying people to cry out for past injustices. Its been done to death. There comes a point when you join as and move on or you just keep causing divisions.

There is no one alive today who was a part of the settlement or invasion. There is no one alive to blame, there is no one who remembers or even knows what aboriginal culture was before settlement or invasion.

Remember the past, but wallowing in it helps no one.

So the left wing are bringing up politics when an approach to unity differs from the one you favour; however, it is not bringing up politics to make your position. You're not making any sense?!
Even on this thread, most posts mentioning a political/ ideological position are those where claims are made about "the left" by those who most certainly do not identify as such or are posts in response to such.

Yep, the left wing wallows

Even yesterday, lets have a royal commission into "PAST" banking behavior.

The central right wing, lets just clean it up.