Photo by Alex Ellinghausen
In 1996, 25,000 people converged on Parliament House in Canberra to protest the Howard Government’s proposed changes to workplace relations laws. Somewhere along the line, the protest became violent, windows were smashed and 90 people were injured. It was a disgusting attack on our elected officials and I lost complete respect for white people after that.
Awkward!
I ignited an ugly twitter backlash as I watched the news last night. I simply tweeted that I am proud of the Tent Embassy and I think it’s up to the first Australians to say when they don’t need it anymore. A lot of people unloaded on me because they read into my comment support for the violent riot that engulfed Prime Minister Gillard and Tony Abbott. One lady, with whom I’d established a great relationship during the Queensland floods last year, was aghast. “You condone the violence too I suppose? Well I’ve lost all respect for them. And you.”
Photo by Alex Ellinghausen
I do not condone violence of any kind, against anybody, but I will not withdraw my respect for the Aboriginal community at large because of the actions of a few. Just as I would consider someone who judged white Australians by the violence of the Melbourne gang wars an ignorant idiot! Wouldn’t you?
Australia Day, celebrated on the anniversary of the landing of the first European settlers on the island that was already home to a civilisation, is incendiary. It is the anniversary of an invasion, whether you like it or not. The time frame in which that civilisation should “get over it” belongs to no one but them I’m afraid, no matter how frustrating it is to the those who want it all forgotten and left in the past. I’d love to know when America should “get over” 9/11 and just “get on with the future”. Or how much longer the Jewish people have to dwell on the Holocaust before it gets old.
Photo by Alex Ellinghausen
Harsh? Absolutely hideous and I’m cringing as I type but none of it will go away because we don’t want it to be there. It happened to people and it hurt. I have friends who are grandchildren of Holocaust survivors and it echoes through them even though it happened so long ago. It is not up to me to tell them how to feel about what was inflicted upon their ancestors by a racist regime. It doesn’t belong to me and I can never really get it. I’ll never feel the terror of the Twin Towers falling in front of my eyes, with people I knew inside it, not knowing what would happen next. That trauma does not belong to me.
The terrible gap that exists between the life I lead, and the third world existence of Aboriginal Australians is real, and it’s now, and that does belong to me. And it belongs to you too. That gap is not about Tony Abbott being successfully wrong-footed by a lucky journo and it’s not about an extremist minority getting carried away with themselves and the cameras. I beg of you, do not let the images of the Prime Minister fleeing a mob harden your heart against the Aboriginal people with whom we share our home. I know she would not want that to happen.
Photo by Alex Ellinghausen
We have an opportunity to be the generation that got it right. We all deserve a beautiful January day every year to celebrate the nation we have built together since the First Fleeters embraced and danced with the Aborigines in those first days in 1788. That’s how it went down you know, I’m not making it up. The first days were friendly, respectful, inspiring. Please let those be the images you think of and talk to others about today.
This is the footage of the protest and PM Julia Gillard being rushed away, which was captured by Channel 9.
Meshel Laurie is a comedian and broadcaster. You can catch up with her on Nova’s Drive Show with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold 4-6pm on weekdays.Meshel is also a member of the Advisory Board of SISHA (South East Asia Investigations into Social and Humanitarian Activities), an ambassador of Karuna Hospice, an ambassador of Childsafe Australia and an ambassador of A Flying Start for Queensland Children, for the Queensland Department of Education and Training. You can follow her on Twitter here.
Comments
380 Comments so far
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‘…… That gap is not about Tony Abbott being successfully wrong-footed by a lucky journo….’
WTF! Are you trying to rewrite history or just too lazy to research exactly what Tony Abbott said at this function? Please clarify exactly what you mean here…..
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Hi Meshel, Im sorry but i really take issue with you describing the holocaust as “so long ago”. We are talking about 1938-1945 here, our grandparents generation. Not to mention a thousand years of anti-semitism.
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Normally love watching the circle on channel ten…….not today
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From these pictures, the only thing Julia Gillard is in danger of is being pulled along the ground by her bodyguard – this just looks like a massive political stunt to me – what are the government up to that they don’t want us to notice???
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Well written and reasonable, Meshel. Nicely done.
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Well that is what it is supposed to be. I have the greatest respect for genuine aboriginal people, but i get so Pi…d off at these people who have blond hair and blue eyes, and call themselves aboriginal. Have a look at how many of them were involved in that protest, dam, i even saw an asian guy amongst them. How quickly they forget that they also have white herritage, but because that gets very little from the government, that goes out the door. I was disgusted at Rudd when he appologised on my behalf, i have nothing to appologise for. What happened , happened 200 years ago, it had nothing to do with me, or the aboriginals alive today, get over it, move on, nothing is going to change what happened all those years ago. And as for burning the Australian flag, that flag belongs to all of us, and those who did it deserve horse whipping. I’m sure if i burnt an aboriginal flag they would be jumping up and down from the rafters. And now to all those uni student type people who will now call me racist, get off the dole, and get a job, contribute towards a good Australia. I hope the government can identify all those involved in that protest, kick them off the dole, they should have been out looking for a job, and not sitting on their arses being paid by me and all the other Australian tax payers.
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OUTRAGEOUS!
I dont care who did what or the tents really BUT when the AUSTRALIAN Flag is spat on and burnt I see red. Black white or other we are Australian. Why was nothing done when these people spat on the flag!!! Why do we have one rule for some and another rule for others it is wrong
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How can people put things in the past when they are still being marginalised? Please do your homework before you make generalisations.
http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/
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POLITICAL CORRECTNESS DOES NOT LEGISLATE TOLERANCE; IT ONLY ORGANIZES HATRED………… Jaques Barzan
Just a view
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Well done Meshell. Some the statements made here are offensive and worrying, but they are ones I hear regularly. It’s hard to challenge them every time, so it’s great when someone like you does it publically . But they are there and people really believe this stuff. All the government initiatives and sporting carnivals in the world count for zip if we ( and by WE I mean all Aussies) don’t face up to these prejudices and challenge them. As a middle class white person , I can do very little about many of the issues facing Aboriginal Australia but I can challenge people who make racist comments and I can try to educate others. By the way, I am SO sick of hearing people say things like…..Well if they would just… Blah blah blah.
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Exactly what is so racist about expecting aboriginal people to take some ownership of their own future. Pandering to an eternal victim mentality is a large part of the problem. Time for all to move forward while acknowledging past wrongs, and this should include aboriginal people deciding to work toward improving the lives of themselves as well. This is not a racist idea for gods sake.
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Exactly exactly exactly!!! Considered a career in politics??!
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Thanks, but mum, I’ve asked you not to comment on my posts in here.
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Would you make an agreement with the federal government to perform certain behaviours such as washing your children’s faces twice a day in exchange for the installation of the one and only petrol bowser in your community?
Can you imagine the outcry and protests from Australians if they were asked to agree to this arrangement? No other Australian has to make this agreement to have access to fuel.
This happened in 2004 to the people of the remote Mulan community in WA. What happened to Aboriginal people 200 years ago is mindboggling. It is still happening. Makes it all a bit difficult to move on, doesn’t it?
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I had to google that to make sure it was real – and it is real…. UNBELIEVABLE!
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You don’t have an update to this post that Tony Abbott was verbaled and he didn’t say those things. What about an update that Gillard’s office started this. Yes that’s right. Gillard’s office used the race card to score political points.
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Mamamia insanely left wing and pc to the point of the ridiculous, surely you jest. Cough.
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The post doesn’t need updating because its not about Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard. Sometimes there is more to an issue than small-p politics as played by the major parties.
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There isn’t anyone in the MM office to update. They generally don’t update on weekends.
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“I do not condone violence of any kind, against anybody ,but” ….honestly should there ever be a but at the end of this statement. ?
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Surely what comes after the “but” is important?
For instance: “I don’t condone racism, but I don’t think racist people should be physically attacked or subjected to crude slurs.”
Does adding that “but” imply the person making the statement is supporting racism in any way?
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I agree with the majority of your article Meshel. I do not lump all Aborigines together and judge the collective on the actions of a few. As you said, there are some white Australians who are truly repugnant and I certainly don’t want to be judged by their actions. Having said that, I did not displace any Aboriginal people from their land. I was born here by parents who were born here. I am a fifth generation Australian. I don’t think any native people need to “get over it” but guess what? This is MY country too. I have given birth to Australian citizens and I will be damned if I will sit and listen to a man tell me to piss off out of HIS country. This is as much my country as his. Our government has officially apologised to the Stolen Generation (and before people jump down my throat – I know that doesn’t make it better, but we have recognized that it happened and I think that is the first step to healing our nation), and yes there is more work to be done, but I really don’t think I am accountable for the grief suffered by the Aborigines. Just like the citizens of Germany today are not responsible for the Holocaust, nor every single Muslim for 9/11.
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There is an article by Peggy McIntosh called White Privilege: Unpacking the Knapsack. I think it is time that we all read it again.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=white%20privilege%20unpacking%20the%20invisible%20knapsack&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CFcQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.icc.coop%2Flive%2Fbod%2Fdivcom%2Fdocuments%2FPeggyMcIntosharticle.doc&ei=-UsjT5PTNIrBiQfkvvzVBA&usg=AFQjCNH_cJRlCyrh41fiAQR7lxQBS4UXOg&sig2=HFQaxIZFBNdU4alEkaHeXQ
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That link above is a download.
There is a YouTube version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRnoddGTMTY
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I have said for a long time that Australia Day should be moved to February 13th – the day Kevin Rudd said sorry to the Aboriginal people.
Perhaps it would avoid future protests like these?
Great piece Meshel.
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No- that would set the non appologisers off best find a neutral date
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Can the Elders responsible for this lot please PLEASE rein them in??
I don’t judge aboriginals as one whole group and I know that most of the problems are from a few, rather than the many. I have lived in plenty of places that had a very high aboriginal population, and from the aboriginal friends I have had over the years I know there is a big difference between two distinct groups – the Elders and those just living their lives, and those who have a runaway sense of entitlement (practically always the younger ones who have never actually had to live the hardships of being from the stolen generation – they see an opportunity for a ‘free lunch’ and plan to take it in whatever means possible, even if they don’t deserve it unlike others in their community). There are plenty of intelligent, average people of aboriginal descent who wouldn’t dream of acting like this – think of people like Warren Mundine. It is the yobbo group that gives the whole group a bad name, and I was horrified to just see a picture of this group in Canberra who have now decided to burn an Australian flag there. So they have attacked the recognised leader of the country and are now burning the flag…. and they think this will gain them friends and support?? The Elders in whichever community they belong to (and all of the way more responsible adults) need to pull them into line quick smart. Their behaviour is atrocious, and can’t continue. I have lived in plenty of places where the Elders are just as horrified by the behaviour of these groups as everyone else.
I think part of the solution is giving the people that these groups respect the assistance they need to make themselves heard amongst them loudly and clearly so that they can be told that they are not supported in their actions, and that they need to stop before they do any more damage to the ‘image’ (I don’t want to use that word, but it is the best I can do before breakfast on a Saturday morning sorry!) of the aboriginal people as a whole. It just makes me feel sorry for those who are going to be affected by this who don’t even agree with these actions!
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“One lady, with whom I’d established a great relationship during the Queensland floods last year, was aghast. “You condone the violence too I suppose? Well I’ve lost all respect for them. And you.”” – The true Queensland spirit – racism!!
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What a very smart, intelligent response! Of course, one persons opinion means that the entire state their from is racist! Clever!! This is the exact reason why free speech is dying in this country, people can’t have a different opinion to someone else without them (or their entire state it seems) being branded a racist…….disgraceful
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I am fed up hearing people who are too scared to move on ,in case they loose their victimhood ” yes I mean ..and include “everyone ” who wants to call Australia Day Invasion Day.You morons are invading my space and my intellect with your toxic,outlook and the loads of rubbish you tout.Burning and spitting on an Australian Flag is disgusting …and yet…OMG ..imagine if another Australian Burnt an Indigenous flag.I work in the welfare sector and I see the funding that is allocated per indigenous Health,Indigenous Education,Indigenous Housing and more.The funding is not small nor is it any less proportionally than it is for other Australians.In fact, there are more disadvantaged and marginalised people who are not indigenous in this country.This article refers to white Australians behavior involved in an incident in 1995 that’s 17yrs ago. .move on. ….harbouring and fostering victim feelings per events that one wasn’t ever involved in , and happened 200 yrs before they wer born is insanity….How would the whole world survive if everyone in and on it ..started wanting to be treated “special” because they was atrocities committed against their ancestors ???
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I wish I could have clicked twice the like button. Well said
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You really need to do your homework about Indigenous history and statistics before you make comments like that. You could start by watching this documentary http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/
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Guest, can I suggest you visit the Monash University site ,that publishes the fact that Expenditure per Indigenous Education in rural areas is 18% higher than expenditure per Non Indigenous in Rural areas.Expenditure per health is 18% higher per Indigenous in Rural areas than Non indigenous you can find that fact on the Australian Institute of health and Welfare which is a Govt site.I am deliberately using Rural area facts because that’s where the most disadvanged Indigenous reside.I reiterate expenditure per services to Indigenous people is higher.
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So, *one* Aboriginal person burns a flag = you morons. Riiiight…..
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Reply to Nicki: My comment r Morans was in rlation to anyone who wants to call Australia Day .Invasion Day…and Yes in my opinion anyone who see’s Australia Day as being ” Invasion Day” and most of those who do..want it renamed to reflect that are “Morons” .
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but isnt australia day an invasion day?! whats wrong with this statement? what exactly makes me a moron if I see this? its always a matter of perspective, isnt it?!
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Meshel, I agree with you completely, especially when you say that we don’t own the experiences of others, so how can we decide when they should get over it? Well said. I would love for Australia to get its act together and start treating its original inhabitants with the respect they deserve… not a big ask really.
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My husband and I, just your regular, run of the mill, tree hugging,bleeding heart little lefties have long been proponents of reconciliation. We have talked to our white little middle class children about the Stolen Generation. Sorry Day, land rights, why 26th January is offensive to many Aboriginal people, the appalling social standing of Aboriginal people in the past and the current appalling living conditions of some remote Aboriginal communities. But it was hard for us to put a positive spin on the behaviour we saw yesterday. It sucked, and there was NO excuse for it.
Like many mothers, I spend half my time screeching at my children to stop fighting. Actually using the words “I don’t care WHAT s/he said to you, DO NOT EVER use violence on each other” and particularly to my son “DO NOT EVER put your fists up to a girl (or woman)” I understand that Tony Abbott’s remarks added to a hurt alot deeper than any sibling taunts. A cultural wound deeper than I could ever understand fully. But I do have a special needs child who has had very hurtful things said about him in the school setting by children and parents, because he is different. And nothing cuts like taunts to your own child. But I cannot combat these taunts with violence, Firstly because I am not psychically capable. I am a skinny little housewife and my own dog can knock me over. But also because I look like a LUNATIC and that would not help my son. People do not take screaming, violent, lunatic mothers seriously. I can only combat with words and attempted reasoning.And if it takes longer, so be it because I have no choice. So the message is the same: violence solves nothing. It sets the cause back 50 years and that is the real tragedy. They were 200 hundred angry people out of thousands of Aboriginal people in Australia. Aboriginal people who work just like everyone else and who love their families just like everyone else. I hope that part is not forgotten
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I don’t think you need to put a positive spin on what happened the other day, and nor should it change or undermine any of those things you have taught your children. It just shows that sometimes, *some* people do the wrong thing, even when their cause may be just, or at least understandable.
I think sometimes we (by which I suppose I mean middle-class whitefellas) fall into the trap of thinking of Aboriginal people as a fairly homogenous group. They’re not, and really, why should they be? Just like any other group of people they have different views, perspectives, values and needs, even while they have some issues in common. And just like any other group, there are some who sometimes behave badly. I think, as human beings, we are capable of condemning the behaviour without condemning everyone who shares a heritage. (I’m not suggesting you were doing that, D.R., its just something I’ve been thinking about)
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I wish I could like this twice
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Well done Meshel for getting 304 comments so far…I guess that’s what a blog is all about…..now tell us how you really feel
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Ouch! Bit snarky, or what? Isn’t it a GOOD thing people are discussing this, even if our views are diverse?
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Aboriginal people are not the first Australians. Their Ancestors were. I find it a bit devisive the term to be honest. We are all just Australians of all different races. That is why I think we should move Australia Day to a less contraversial date so everyone can enjoy it without hurt.
A day we can focus on what we have done right. the steps forward we make. To celebrate great achievers and be hopeful as a nation for a more peaceful future.
Things have moved forward for women, the poor and minorities just in my parents life time. What can we achieve in the next 50?
Many aboriginal people out there doing brilliant things( I love that ABC show Message Stick- the one about Sister Kate was especially moving) Let’s celebrate them. Moving forward and becoming leaders to help the next generation rise up and make a difference.
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I absolutely love this article and it articulates a lot of my own feelings that I have not been able to put into words until now about the whole situation.
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I’m curious, who has actually met a full blood aboriginal person with a skin name? I’m so sad that people are quick to judge and raise their fist in anger when they do not have all the facts. I live in central Australia, and my great grandfather was one of the first aboriginal people to own a cattle station. I suggest that people go out and meet indigenous Australians and then get an opinion. I have met beautiful aboriginal people; I have also met some who are atrocious, same with white people. Aboriginal people are extremely shy and do not condone violence, they may speak out, but that is all. I have a lot of respect for Julia Gillard, she came to the school I teach at in Alice Springs and gave us funding so that we could continue teaching. Burning the Australian flag and becoming violent will not close the gap, going out into the community and meeting indigenous people and talking to them will. So many people are quick to judge, it’s so sad. I feel as though some people just enjoy making pain and anger, this is not the way to close the gap; this will just make white Australians angry and aboriginal people further suppressed. There are so many issues, but it will take a long time to find the answer, nothing is simple, but at least we can make some things certain. Please think about it.
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I appreciate your comment Alice Springs as having moved to Darwin 6 months ago. I very much agree with your thoughts.
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Well said. Thanks so much for your article.
I just love it how people are so up in arms about returning her bloody shoe. Kind of symbolic isn’t it. Everyone is worked up about returning Ms Gillards shoe, but Aboriginal people are constantly told to “move on” and “get over it” when it comes to returning the land back to families that were once home to their ancestors. I’ve read “outraged” people saying “its just downright theft, they should give her the shoe back”…yeah, they should shouldn’t they….
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My 4 year old daughter was so happy and proud of Australia day yesterday, she need not know about all this rubbish going on, neither do any young children. I will never mention ‘invasion day’ to her.. She owes nobody anything.. And will be proudly celebrating Australia day in the future with whoever she pleases and very proudly!!
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Wow Den. Way to start a whole new generation of ignorant Australian’s! But don’t worry, I’m sure you child will be much better off for having not been told the whole truth about the REAL meaning of Australia Day
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Maybe you should learn to punctuate properly before you accuse anyone else of being ignorant – Australians does not have an apostrophe.
You have your opinion of Australia Day and Den has hers. My opinion is that to call it invasion day is just silly, it was an era of exploration and discovery, they didn’t set out to invade anyone and to say so is nonsense.
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Who are you to judge what Den tells her children??? Having a different opinion to you does not make her ignorant, you need to get off your high horse and wake up to yourself. Den got it in one when she said her daughter owes nobody anything…we can feel sorry for what people have gone through, doesn’t mean we owe them anything.
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Guys, please stick to the “dinner party” rules for this site. You can disagree but please do not be rude to one another in the process.
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OMG – the thing that disgusts me more than anything is the protest in front of parliament house today! Encouraging children to protest, to cover their faces, to burn the Australian Flag!! How are they any better than terrorists!? Who is racist!? Could you even imagine what would happen if someone burned the aboriginal flag!? The whole debacle is utterly disgusting, the fact that adults can act that way and worse still, encourage a child too!
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It is about time they burned the Australian flag… it does nothing to include the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. If they don’t fight for what they believe in noone else will, so I say good on them. It is bringing all kinds of issues of inequality and racial prejudice into the spotlight… and rightfully so.
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disgraceful attitude – we will never unify if we look backwards, as the past cant be undone. We have acknowledged and moved on from past wrongs though, why cant we all now look forward under the one flag, just as we share the one land. Why must history mean eternal division. Time for us all to move on.
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yeah moving on is prettey good! but there has to be much more done than just saying “im so sorry”. changes in education system andandand. u australians (im from overseas) dont even learn ur history in school(only if u’d like to) I met so many people over there who havnt even heard about the stolen generation. so wtf is that? and we Germans are always the nazis and I was so often asked how we do handle our history and blablabla(isnt the question how do u handle yours?!). I guess the most important part is to be aware of things that happened so u can handle it some time.
and i think it wd be a step further to wd have the choice to learn aboriginal language at school… to show respect!
(I met sooo many people talking in bad ways about aboriginal people. Im not generalizing now! Of course there are others too, but hey, there’s not a lot of respect u r bringing towards them; so I was always asking myself why do u expect them to respect u?!
just open ur eyes!
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I believe that it is attitudes like yours lucinda that only serve to put the indigenous cause back. I think you will find that the Aboriginal leaders in this country do not support your views.
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You say ‘they fight for what they believe in’. I love and respect beings for their soul, no racism here…… But please tell me what do they believe in? That would be a great staring point for reconciliation
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I take offence to this comment, as someone who is married to a military member who serves under that flag I am in utter disbelief that anyone can think its right or moral to burn any flag!! We talk about racism like it never happens if you are a “white” australian! I am Australian, I was born here and I have lived here all my life. My dad only became an Australian citizen 2 years ago – does that make me any less “Australian” – we are a multicultural nation. I have never and will never judge someone based on the colour of their skin, there nationality or their religion… I like people for them, end of story!! Its ridiculous that in this day and age we can’t say that we don’t agree with the behaviour of a minority group without being accused of being racist or heartless.
The saddest thing about all this is that the idiots from yesterday and today have caused more damage than good.
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This ‘serving under the flag’ is an American thing, and a pretty recent import to our culture. Just saying.Your husband is serving us, the Australian people, not just a symbol. And I am very grateful for that by the way.
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they want to be heard. thats what its all about. so didnt they get what they wanted?
oh my god. theyve stolen Julias shoe! what a shame!
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You best do some research on the Australian flag before you go sprouting nonsense like that. Ignorant rants like Aborignals are not part of a flag heritage don’t do you any favours.
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Um, how do you know that anyone encouraged a child to burn a flag, Anon? Do you know something the rest of us don’t?
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I recommend you all google ‘Ancestry.com’, you get a 14 day free trial, start with the info you know, the rest is easy to find within the site. I think 80% of you will be shocked at what you discover xoxo
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Yep. On one side of our family, we can only trace a certain branch of the tree back to a woman without a surname. She’s from Cowra. Wonder what that means, then. Then there’s the convicts….
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I think that rather than us generalise we need to lose our tolerance for those involved in violent protest. I’m all for people having the right to protest and I choose to do so but in a non violent way. If you are protesting and it turns violent then walk away and send a message to those who are violent or destructive that you do not condone the violence or destruction. Lets not create a divide based on race etc let us create a divide between those that choose violence and mayhem because I don’t believe they are genuine in their protest they are looking for an excuse to facilitate destruction.
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When you read the full quote of what Tony Abbott said you see he did NOT call for the tent to be removed. He opined that it may be time for those involved to (of their own volition) move on.
Hence this was just an excuse for unacceptable behaviour. The nature of these people is also shown by their refusal to handback a shoe which is not theirs and where they know the rightful owner.
There are many indigenous Australians who are making something of their lives rather than wanting handouts and blaming everything and everyone for their lot. These are the role models for indigenous Australians.
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Interesting that it was a media adviser in Julia Gillard’s office who tipped the protesters off about the location of Tony Abbott…
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It just beggar’s belief that an issue of such great cultural sensitivity can be used by politicians just to score points.
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Meshel, you say that you lost respect for “all white people” following the violence of the 1996 workplace relations protest, yet urge readers to not lose respect for indigenous people because of yesterdays protest.
When it comes to violent, anti-social behaviour I lose all respect for those involved regardless of race, creed or colour. I would never be so foolish to even consider losing respect for an entire race of people let alone make the statement in writing.
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I was being sarcastic about losing all respect for white people.
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Meshel….your sarcasm was lost on me. Sorry.
If your pride for the Tent Embassy was also sarcasm, then that was also lost on me. I seriously do not know what the embassy has achieved, but after yesterday…..well……
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I agree..The article really does not sit well with me, it kinda feels like….I can’t quiet nail it…… I guess….it feels like the article is written for the majority, for brownie points, for a pat on the back, I can see all the little heads bobbing as they read ….I would like to know the honest opinion…. tell us how you really feel…the part of the article that really stood out as ignorant was ‘ the third world existence of Aboriginal Australians is real’….I’m sorry but what planet are you from.?…..comparing real third world poverty to Aboriginal communities….all our communities have access to water, shelter, food, beach, shops, ice cream…..it’s all there, as Australians we have a choice….prosper or blame.. we can inherit the blame or rise above it……don’t fob it off with third world country crap…..are you reporting on a real issue or is the a sarcastic comedy skit….
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I don’t know how much mainstream media you listen to or read, but I think you’re misreading the views of the “majority” if you think Meshel wrote this for brownie points.
Also “all our communities have access to water, shelter, food, beach, shops, ice cream…” All? Across the country? That’s a pretty big call. Are you sure?
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Ok your right I’ll be more specific the ‘majority’ of us Mamma Mia bloggers…maybe not the wider community….like I said we have a choice, I choose running water…third world countries don’t have that priviledge
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Meshel, there are parts of your article that have me wanting to rip what hair remains on my scalp out by it’s roots.
Let’s just say that when it comes to the act of violent protest, some people do their cause and themselves more harm than good. Absolutely no good came out of yesterday’s violent protest.
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Off topic Bradley, but I’m glad to see you’re back around mm!
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Brad! You’re back
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This is a brilliant piece Meshel.
Yes as your headline says ‘Don’t let these images harden your heart’ because in retrospect what a great image it is of Julia being carried off in a media sense because it represents all those prejudices of long ago that some people still hold dear e.g Black man savage attacking white woman!
It is disheartening to think of the media whirlwind that has followed this Australia Day event as the bigger story is that black Australians have stood back silent for so long and have been told to “move on” by the “lucky country”. How many people have even taken the time to visit the Aboriginal tent embassy and find out from the people there what they are representing?
What I would also add to your piece is that in the days that followed the First fleet arrival and after the celebrations stopped, Aboriginal people began to die in their hundreds due to unknown and incurable diseases brought in by the settlers. These were the silent killers of little children and women. How we can expect people in only a few hundred years to move on from atrocities that are still present in family lineage (we are talking great grandparents here for many Aboriginal Australians) is beyond my comprehension as a human being.
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Meshel Laurie I admire and respect your articles here so much, you are a woman after my own heart.
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I am so over the PC, bleeding hearts! As an Australian who has worked and lived as an expat throughout many 3rd world countries, we are the lucky country. But when I see children burning and spitting on the Australian flag I am outraged and disgusted. I do not continue to blame the English for the horrors that happened to my Irish ancestors, I am responsible for my life, with no hand outs, I worked my butt off to get where I am. There is a thing as reversed racism and it is alive and happening through out the world. Stop dragging up the past, and blaming others, and get on with life, there is no excuse, not in this country, and why are there to be no arrest for any of these protesters? ummm again PC and using kid gloves, I am sure if the Indonsians had settled Australia it would be a lot worse just ask anyone from East Timour.
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The Aboriginal community would gain more respect if they did end the Aboriginal tent embassy and conducted themselves in a more dignified manner.
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Well said Meshel. No fair minded person would support violence. Yet our history is full of mindless and selfish acts of murder, violence towards and enslavement of, Aboriginal people.
Food for thought.
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History is full of violent acts, Phil. But as someone far wiser than I will ever be once said….two wrongs never make a right.
There was nothing right about yesterdays violence. The biggest loser of the day was reconcilliation, and that genuinely makes me feel very sad.
Again the “many” will suffer thanks to the “few”. Now I’m feeling angry.
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One of the head bobbers……violence is such a terribly unnecessary act, my aboriginal ancestors suffered greatly and so did my english convict ancestors unfortunately when I acknowledge the white suffering I do not get the same response….
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Was just on twitter and saw the image of some protesters burning the flag…
http://twitpic.com/8c4u5d
That makes me sad…I know not everyone agrees that should be our flag but right now it is and seeing it burning like that to me is not right!
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If that’s true they should be bloody ashamed of themselves. If that was an aboriginal flag being burned by non aboriginal protesters my god they would be up in arms about it!
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It definitely did happen and yes it’s disgraceful!
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cinnamon
a) why should the rightful owners of australia respect the flag of their illegal invaders?
b) the true disgrace is the genocide inflicted on indigenous people wordwide
as a kiwi i’m embarrassed by the way my ancestors treated the Maori , and yet the treatment of australia’s indigenous people has been much much worse
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The oonly unwanted invaders here thesedays are kiwis, here to sleep on our beaches and collect our dole.
Do you know many 250 year old invaders the flag symbolises. To me, the flag symbolises all of us, our one-ness and unity. How long must we look back for????
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I am not a fan of flag burning but can imagine that if you feel your land is under occupation by a hostile nation you may take action like that. For instance, if Australia was occupied by the Japanese from the 1940s (as most Australian’s feared likely at the time) you could imagine there would be groups today burning the Japanese flag.
But I am with you on the ‘feeling sad’ about it. I do not agree that it’s a disgrace however.
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it’s a disgrace, my God can you imagine what would happen if that was a bunch of white people burning the Aboriginal flag? I think a lot of people posting here today would be very quick to label it a disgrace!
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what upset me most is the encouragment from the adults to the kids with the spitting and burning the flag. I am married to an Aboriginal/SSI man and we were throughly disgusted
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I’m just going to repeat the wise words of Kiwichick:
“why should the rightful owners of australia respect the flag of their illegal invaders?”
How ridiculous that people are up in arms and so indignant about the burning of the flag. Can’t you see why? So the kids got involved – well maybe someone still needs to be angry so that the incendiaries of the future can go on to action REAL change. Can’t kids be angry too?
Some of the attitudes here make me sick – Australia Day is an insult to our indigenous people. I never celebrate it and nor do my children. Australia Day doesn’t teach pride and love for our country, all this bogan claptrap and flying the flag. It’s all bull and an excuse for a drunken holiday.
It’s the day things changed forever for Aboriginal people, no matter how amiably it started, we all know how it ended up and that continues to have horrific ramifications to this very day. There’s nothing to be proud of there. Grow up and get past your infantile minds.
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so what should we do Toggle? all pack up and leave the country?
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Yes, I think kids should get involved in protest and politics. They’ll be the ones making decisions on my pension some day, so let’s get them thinking about these things early.
But flag burning – any flag by any protestor – is a thuggish act and a complete waste of time. No matter how important the cause is.
Just saying.
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With respect, it sounds as if you are trying to justify some pretty appalling behaviour.
You can never justify violence because it just breeds more violence. A never ending cycle, if you like…and I don’t like.
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Hostile Nation ??? are you for real….Please don’t insult the millions of great, hard working Australians who were born and bred in Australia,who are non indigenous in this manner .Not to mention those people among them who have given their life for this country….and all Australians Indigenous included ….
SHAME ON YOU…..
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Anonymous, if Australia had been taken over by another nation in the 1940s, what would your attitude to the ‘new owners’ be, do you think? Genuinely interested to know.
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@Jay
I know your question was directed at ‘Anonymous’, but I’d like to respond to it as someone who broadly agrees with his/her comment.
To be fair, let’s assume that it’s circa 2140 – two hundred years after the 1940 ‘take over’ and the descendents of the newcomers are now the majority culture.
First of all, I would acknowledge that these ‘newcomer’ descendents are not guilty of any crime against me or my people and that their claim on this land is the same as mine.
Secondly, if these ‘newcomer’ descendents showed me and my people the level of deference and respect that white Australia is now showing the Aboriginal community, I’d probably stop thinking of them as ‘racist’ and think of them instead as good people also worthy of respect.
Thirdly, if the ‘newcomer’ descendents acknowledged past misdeeds and spent billions in taxpayer dollars attempting to right some of those wrongs, I’d be saying something one rarely hears from an Aboriginal. I’d be saying, ‘Thank you. Finally, and probably most importantly, I’d quit playing the victim card and start taking advantage of the fact that I live in one of the greatest countries on earth, where I am free to identify positively with my own traditional culture whilst being welcomed with open arms into the majority culture as well.
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Couldn’t agree more!
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I am both aboriginal and english, I see myself equal in both respects., not aboriginal not english… just Australian…..
These half blood aboriginal people are a shame to their true full blood traditional people. I see no full blood Aboriginal people in any of these pictures and dare I say that there will not be, traditional people have dignity.
These people are partial indigenous and partial ‘white’, they seem to focus on the indigenous ancestry and forget to take their English ancestry into account. In my mind alot of this is attention grabbing with an excuse. These are the people who make it harder for the traditional aboriginal people.
In my opinion only full blooded aboriginal people should get any benefit from thier ancestors sufferings!! We should also equally acknowledge the suffering our english pioneers endured establishing our homeland!!
In reality Australia was bound to be discovered and settled, I like to thank God it was my English ancestors and not the Germans, asians or Americans that ‘invaded’ our shores, I acknowledge there was a great deal of suffering for my indigenous people and my English pioneer ancestors…. things could have and should have been handled differently….. but I also acknowledge that it could have been alot worse if any other country ‘invaded’!!
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I’ve often thought this Anonforthisone, that if it wasn’t the British who arrived it would have been someone else, who could well have treated the aborigines far worse. “Invasion” of other countries has been going on since time immemorial and most seem to have got over it, presumably. I find calling Australia Day “Invasion Day” most insulting.
At the risk of being howled down, Government have spent $billions on aboriginal health and welfare over the years for not much result. Why have things not got better? And why is the blame always sheeted home at the authorities and rarely the recipients of all this funding?
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There is evidence to suggest the Dutch arrived here well before the English. Scant evidence, but some evidence nonetheless.
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Not scant evidence. Tis true the Dutch were here before the English. Even wikipedia says so..so it must be true
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Actually the Dutch were here long before the English. They spend most of their time in what is now WA and thought it wasn’t worth their while to stick around. There is a lot of evidence for the Dutch in that there is a lot of Dutch shipwrecks off the coast of WA – in fact it is the result of these shipwrecks that the WA Maritime Museum even exists. Also places like Rottnest Island were named by the Dutch.
The absolute lack of knowledge people have of Australian history worries me.
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Wow.
1) I thought we had moved beyond the ‘full blood’ vs ‘half blood’ or ‘partial’ way of thinking.
2) I hope the Asians, Germans and Americans out there aren’t offended!!
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I’m with you, I dislike half-blood, full-blood stereotypes. Pointless.
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Completely agree, to me it is less to do with blood lines and everything to do with culture. There are people who do not have any aboriginal heritage however refer to themselves as indigenous due to growing up amongst the Aboriginal culture.
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Full blood aboriginal elders dislike the label ‘Indigenous’
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Every living being experiences offence, it’s how we react that defines us….history has recorded how Germany and Asia react…..but I agree don’t want to offend the Germans or Asians…might get ‘invaded’ again!!
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Yes, somewhat offended.
My family have lived in Australia for 100 years (I am second generation). I am technically 1/2 Irish, 1/2 German (no British ancestry), and I grew up in the Outback with an Aboriginal best friend. I have since spent 1/3 of my life living abroad in Asian countries.
There are millions of indigenous people in the Southern Hemisphere and the sub-continent (India, Bangladesh, etc) who would NOT agree that the British were humane colonizers. I just came back from a 4th trip to India. Have you even watched Gandhi people?!?
I have MANY British friends who I absolutely adore. My partner is from London, but jeez, some of you need to read a history book.
I am embarrassed by the lack of empathy in some of the comments on this story.
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Forgive my ignorance, but I would have thought that ‘half blood’ aboriginals have just as much claim to indigenous heritage as ‘full blood’ aboriginals. (I don’t even make distinctions like this and the term seems incredibly insulting.) ‘Half blood’ aboriginals are the direct result of federal and state government policies, which essentially attempted to ‘breed out’ aboriginality. Eugenics.
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Your right I have just as much claim to indigenous heritage as full blooded aboriginals, the difference between myself and the people in this article is that I choose to be an equal everyday Aussie.
Your attitude in regards to the Government breeding out is exactly were alot of this bitterness stems from.
My attitude is; my convict ancestor served his/ perhaps her time met a native Australian,fell in love and created a family. Humans are not animals, so please don’t label it as breeding out even if you are quoting someone else. One human meets another, love, get married have children, simple really.
Forgive my ignorance but I had to google Eugenics
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I think you’ve misunderstood what I was saying – this is not my attitude at all – this was actual policy of the Australian government, particularly the West Australian Government. And I’m not labeling this particular practice as anything other than abhorrent, that (‘breeding out’) was a direct quote from A.O. Neville – Commissioner for Native Affairs from 1936 to 1940.
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And who’s to judge who is and who is not a half-blood Aboriginal person, going simply by their looks? Seriously, some Aboriginal peeps are pretty fair skinned, and if they’re not this or that, then they are kind of side-lined: they have a role according to their passion and good sense as per the person. Speaking “generally” then, it is fairer and more inclusive, to speak generally, that perhaps people with Aborignal blood-lines mixed with another are perfect to bring about reconciliative healing. Perhaps they embody that? Generally speaking, that is…
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The people in this article are Aboriginal blood-lines mixed with another…perhaps they have not Embodied it?….
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for someone with aborginal heritage you have NO IDEA…..it is offensive to use terms ‘half blood’ ‘pure blood’, etc.
My mother is not a ‘full blood’ as you call it but was removed from her family and is part of the stolen generation. She is still getting over the traumas and racism she suffered as a child, and will never have a normal relationship with her biological family because of it.
So I guess she should just get over it given she’s not ‘full blood’ right?
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My apologies I think you misinterpreted my opinion…I believe misinterpretation and assumptions, along with attitude is the majority of the problem, but that is just my opinion.
I am truly sorry for the loss your mother must feel. But I must point out that my opinion written here has not suggested “you should just get over it”. I apologies for my wording ‘Half blood’. All I am suggesting is if we are a portion aboriginal we are also a portion of another culture etc. Why not embrace both?
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I take it that the stolen generation means nothing to you, then?
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On a different but related topic: I often wonder if somewhere there is an Aboriginal person pissing themselves laughing at the knots us white folk are getting tied up in trying to deal with the boat people. Um, wasn’t that us not so long ago? Just saying.
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Meshel, I 100% agree with you
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Beautifully written article. I am a massive fan x
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‘we have an opportunity to be the generation that got it right’.
That is true, but the aboriginal community have to, at the same time, be the generation that also want to help themselves out of their situation too, it has to work both ways.
We have been throwing billions at improving aboriginal life quality, with next to no result. Often it is aboriginal leaders themselves squandering millions.
How about the next generation of aboriginal people change their anger into a genuine desire to work with those that are trying to help them achieve better outcomes. That is the only way, hope the leaders in the aboriginal community take heed.
And re abbotts comments, love him or hate him, there was nothing in it. Anyone else muttering the exact same response would not have raised an eyebrow.
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Those billions of dollars have been misspent. I know of many anthropologists and academics who have worked in Aboriginal communities and have seen stuff handed to them that they didn’t need or want. For whatever reason the government doesn’t seem to be listening to the Aboriginal people or the people who are out there working with them. Many Aboriginal communities want to incorporate their culture into their lives and thrusting money and cars and housing which they can’t use to incorporate their culture is rather insulting. It’s a case of the government trying to help without first asking how they can help. On a related note many many Aboriginals do take initiative to do something to improve their community. Obviously we have a lot of very successful Aboriginals in our country but also in the little towns too. My cousin worked on cattle stations and used to see this a lot in those towns. Someone would come up with a great business idea and put it into place and the government would shut it down and say hey don’t worry we can do that for you. That has got to be extremely disheartening. It’s reverse racism because it’s telling them that the government doesn’t think they are capable. Which is ridiculas because they have proven time and time and time again that they are,
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I am allowed to be disgusted by this behaviour. Just as I am allowed to be disgusted by some of the immature antics of our politicians at Question Time. I am allowed to be disgusted at the behaviour of the white protestors in 1996. My reaction to these protestors doesn’t make me any less sympathetic to the plight of the Aboriginal people as a race. But it does make me saddened to see the small minority blemish what could have been a very poignant and powerful demonstration.
Don’t excuse their behaviour. It was thuggish and wrong – as is all violence.
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…um, she didn’t?
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Well said Meshel – you express yourself so clearly, honestly and calmly. Inspiring. Look forward to more of your writing.
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The main threat to Julia Gillard seemed to be her bodyguard who was dragging her at the time when she stumbled and almost fell to the floor. Shortly after she hit her head on the door jam as he threw her into the car. The policeman with the riot shield in the photo appears to be pushing back the invisible man. News footage showed the police mainly shoving back members of the press. How did they get through the so called ‘crush’ as the newspapers reported it? Yes, footage also showed some threat and there was a degree of violence on display, but the worst of that was after she left. Does anyone else think the reaction and the way they bundled her out was a bit OTT? Is this what her security detail is going to do anytime anyone raises their voice in protest? I saw angry protesters having a go at her in a shopping centre over the carbon tax. They didn’t bundle her out of there on that occasion.
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