Pandemonium in Austrailia

[butwhatif?]

The guy surrounded by people running? The one with a staff hanging limply at his side as he appeared to walk past the running white people? I doubt it was a weapon. The main weapons they would have would be spears and boomerangs. It was likely a walking stick.

RSBM-
They would only use spears or boomerangs if they were living on the land....not camping outside parliment house! And based on his clothing, he is an urban aboriginal. (though some urban aboriginals will take time out to go 'walkabout' to re-connect with their true culture)

There is a history of aboriginal deaths in custody and there's lots of bad blood between police and aboriginals, so that guy was most likely armed to protect himself from being beaten by the police. (again JMO)

Generally, Aboriginals either fear police or hate them, and they teach their children to have the same disrespect for authority. Which probably stems from so many of them being killed over 200 yrs ago, and the stolen generation, where people in authority took the children from their parents because they believed the children were living in sub-standard conditions. But these conditions were there culture and their way of life.

If you want to learn more about the history, you can watch this:

[video=youtube;sxFZwKpazDw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxFZwKpazDw&feature=related[/video]

I personally don't take one side or the other. There's lot's of grey areas.

I have a lot of respect and interest in aboriginal history- my sister works with these people (the tent embassy and other activists) to fight for their rights.
For example, our welfare system here is run by 'centrelink'. The gvt recently decided to stop payments or control where their money was spent, based on the most ludicrous things.
One aboriginal lady had her payments stopped because her teen son had been truant from school for 1 day....they don't do that for caucasions, or other ethnic groups unless there is a much more serious reason. When my sister walked into centrelink with this lady and a documentary crew in tow, her payments were re-installed. :great:

On the other hand, aboriginals are entitled to a lot more welfare than non-aboriginals.....it's mostly to encourage the younger generation to get a good education, and for them to have decent housing.

The problem is, when they (and this is very general-I'm not saying ALL) get nice new housing estates, they trash them in no time.
I personally believe it is due to the divide of wanting to live on the land in their native culture, and also wanting to be a part of urban Australia.

Would write much more...but gotta go enroll my kids into their new school.

 

[butwhatif?]

Back from enrolling my girls at their new school and getting their new uniforms. They had lot's of beautiful aboriginal artwork on the playground.

Anyway, just saw this posted by the Greens on FB. :floorlaugh:

The Greens NSW
Announcement: Stolen shoe apology. A very formal handback ceremony due to the great importance, will be held to return the stolen shoe in return for the stolen land.

In the meantime, Julia will be provided a voucher for replacement footage only at specified shops. Footage from SBS and the ABC will not be acceptable as these providers may be too difficult to manipulate. No further mileage from the incident is to be made.

Julia will be eligible to make a shoe title claim which will take approximately twenty years or more before this is seriously considered. This will be dependant on Julia being able to show continuous connection with the shoe. This may be difficult to prove as she will not have had the shoe for 20 years.

Julia will also have to provide evidence she is a full-blooded shoe owner.

Well aware of the mileage he would get out of this footage incident, Tony was willing to cede sovereignty of the shoe without resistance, proving he doesn't have a leg to stand on. In the spirit of reconciliation, Tony is offered a voucher to assist in costs to cover his crutch.

Jamms Shoe Title Collective
Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra

And this, my friends is why I vote for the Greens!! Politics and humour.
I'm thinking the crutch thing is a double entendre since nobody likes seeing Mr Abbott getting about in his budgie smugglers. LOL.

*WARNING* If you click on the following link and see the image you may be scarred for life.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/en...edos-ban-promise/story-e6frewz0-1225825223670

 

[Gardenlady]

Back from enrolling my girls at their new school and getting their new uniforms. They had lot's of beautiful aboriginal artwork on the playground.

Anyway, just saw this posted by the Greens on FB. :floorlaugh:



And this, my friends is why I vote for the Greens!! Politics and humour.
I'm thinking the crutch thing is a double entendre since nobody likes seeing Mr Abbott getting about in his budgie smugglers. LOL.

*WARNING* If you click on the following link and see the image you may be scarred for life.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/en...edos-ban-promise/story-e6frewz0-1225825223670

Thank you for that laugh first thing in the morning here! :floorlaugh: why oh why can't we have witty politicians here? And at the same time making an excellent point about the unfairness of how the indigenous people's are treated!

And why don't we have a viable green party!? :sigh: