This morning The Daily Telegraph’s front page read “Whitewash” in big, white, scary letters, accompanied by the line “Exclusive: UNSW rewrites the history books to state Cook ‘invaded’ Australia.”
Firstly, the story is far from an ‘exclusive’. It involved the UNSW undergraduate guidelines, which are pretty much available to anyone who’d like to take a look. (It’s literally right here.)
Secondly, UNSW has not rewritten any history books. They have simply stated that the prevailing language of “settled” and “discovered” is highly offensive to Indigenous Australians, not to mention historically inaccurate.
Every time this subject rears it’s ugly head, I am gobsmacked that in 2016, 228 years after the Europeans arrived on Aboriginal soil, we are still having this conversation.
The history of our first people should not be a political plaything. It is not for Andrew Bolt to evoke because he, as a white man, is sick of talking about race. It is not for Alan Jones to throw around in a careless argument about how Indigenous children “for their own benefit should be taken away.” It was not for John Howard to deny, or for Tony Abbott to minimise in a careless suggestion that Indigenous people should “celebrate this country’s British heritage.”
Australian and Aboriginal history is not a piece of clay that white men (and women) can throw at each other, sculpting whatever shape best suits them.
In Germany, it is against the law to deny that the Holocaust took place. Pseudo-historian David Irving was imprisoned after pleading guilty to the charge of “trivialising, grossly playing down and denying the Holocaust.”
The genocide that occurred on our soil is inconceivably still a matter of opinion. The case of the British massacres perpetrated towards the Indigenous Australians are comfortably and routinely denied by journalists and politicians. Any reputable historian who has studied the case of Torres Strait Islanders considers it an unequivocal case of genocide, is dismissed as leftist whinging.
We need to acknowledge the persecution of our Indigenous population, and afford them the same respect as we do victims of the Holocaust.
I do find it comforting that only four people read The Daily Telegraph. But, unfortunately, the issue is bigger than that.
Kyle Sandilands weighed in, which is very meaningful given his PhD in Australian history. Oh wait…
Sandilands, articulate and sensitive as always, said, “I’m not interested in who was here first and who did what, get over it, it’s 200 years ago.” I wonder if he would have quite as much guts looking into the eyes of an Aboriginal person whose ancestors were part of the Stolen Generation, have a lower life expectancy than any ‘white fella’, and have lost their connection to the oldest culture in world history. I wonder.
Given that Sandilands’ job description would literally read “offend”, one would hope that the public isn’t looking to him for a lesson on history.
Stan Grant’s moving Australia Day speech. Post continues after video…
I am concerned, however, that this way of thinking does not begin with the Telegraph and end with Sandilands. It extends much, much further.
Every time a headline like the one today runs, it does irreparable damage. Every time Sandilands or Bolt or Jones trivialises the atrocities faced by Indigenous people, they are rubbing salt in a gaping wound.
Just as Alex McKinnon said in his brilliant piece published by Junkee this morning, “the thing all these outlets are missing is so obvious it feels almost patronising to point it out.”
Ahem.
If I were to go over to my neighbours house, armed, enter without knocking, accompanied by a “fleet” of people, bring all my things, set them up, sleep in their bed, use their bathroom, before eventually sticking a flag on top and declaring ownership…
I did not ‘settle’ or ‘discover’ my neighbours house.
I straight up invaded it.
It is not semantics, and it certainly isn’t a left/right wing issue. It is a matter of historical fact. And who is better qualified to lecture us on Australian history than a University whose job it is to research and contribute to knowledge.
If only the undergraduate guidelines rolled out by UNSW were extended to journalists.
Top Comments
Every Australian should read the book "Why weren't we told?" by Henry Reynolds.
Then we wouldn't have to argue these facts as notes of contention, every one will just know.
The Daily Telegraph is only fit for lining my rabbits kitty litter.
Growing up in Tasmania we were well educated about the atrocities the British conducted to both aboriginals and convicts.
Only primary school excursions in the 80's we saw the places massacres took place and were well versed in genocide. First time I heard the word was in primary school in relation to Tasmanian history.
If we got in back then in public education in Australia why do we not get it now? Genocides happen due to invasion not playing happy neighbours. The denial is even worse as it reduces people to animals.