Time Team Down Under

[Arthus]

More on Australia

Latest Poll Published in The West Australian the local newspaper claims only 2 out of 5 locally born West Australians support tomorrows apology where as a majority of those born in other countries including the UK support it.

Previously on this web some people have condemned me for they see as the extremism of my language when describing the history of and the continuing racist treatment of Aboriginal people in Perth. I wish to reply to these people.

First, I think people unknowingly infected with racist ideas need to be shocked and outraged since then in discussion with others they might (very rarely) begin to realise the error of their ways, whereas too soft an approach will invariably lead them away from personal reflection as they are usually certain that racism could never effect them.

Second, I was truly shocked that some Australian archaeologists feel that none Australian born Australians have less right than an Aussie born non-Indigenous person to comment on the past and present examples of Australia’s longstanding problem with racism.

I think this attitude is a good example of racism and as with all racist ideas lacks any scientific method.
The accompanying assumption that I must believe my country of birth to be better is simplistic and very, very wrong.

They don’t seem to realise that I hate Nationalism, all Nationalism and all racism whether from Cuba, Australia, Britain or anywhere.

Third, it is also interesting that in with all the outrage the facts I outlined are not challenged because they are easily verified.

Fourth in order to demonstrate that my language is actually rather conservative I will give a few example of the language that other people have used in the not very distant past. Some of these quotes I found reprinted in a nasty little racist book ‘Red Over Black’ (Geoff McDonald, 1982) who used the quotes to suggest that Aboriginal activists, Christians and others were controlled by communists intent on taking over Australia! However, I’ve checked a few out and they are accurate quotes. Apart from the man who wanted whites speared, I agree with their words:

Prime Minister of Australia, today: ‘… the failure of previous Australian governments to apologise to the stolen generation has left a stain on Australia’s soul’

Aboriginal activist Father (at the time) Pat Dobson: ‘This nation belongs to Aboriginal, and it has never been handed over or ceded’.

Dr. Moss Cass, Labor’s spokeman on immigration in the The Australian 6/12/79: Attacked the ‘racism’ of some Anglo-Australians and said they were ‘arrogant’.

WA Aboriginal activist Mr. Colbung, at the 150 anniversary of Western Australia’s occupation by colonialists after playing the didgeridoo with Rolf Harris gave the
WA Governor a letter which in part said: ‘Take notice that the Aboriginal people of Western Australia hereby require you to quit and deliver up possession of all that land … called Western Australia … I am given to inform you that, after consultation the people whose forbears have been here for more than 40,000 years, it is our wish to sit down and negotiate with you about the land which was taken from our ancestors.’

Dr Coombs 1979: ‘Australians should feel a sense of guilt and shame at the treatment of Aborigines.’

World Council of Churches reported in 1981: ‘racism is a fact in Australia.’

Best selling author Xavier Herbert: ‘Violence is the only solution to the Aboriginal problem. I cannot understand why an Aborigine has not speared a white man [recently]’.

Land Rights: A Christian Perspective by Derek Carne: ‘… many Australians have basic racist attitudes towards Aboriginal people even though they have never had any contact with them … a racist ideology pervades every major aspect of white Australian culture.’

MP Al Grassby, immigration minister and later Community Relations Officer: ‘… the RSL had been infiltrated by Ku Klux Klan elements’. And another time, ‘… a feature of Australian racists was that they hated nearly everybody … a survey of middle managers, whose average age was 35, revealed a high level of primitive intolerance.’ He went on to say they hated ‘Asians, Japanese, Jews and Trade Unionists of all kinds,’

Deceased Aboriginal activist Charles Perkins talking about events from 60 years ago: ‘The general relationship between Aborigines and whites was that Aborigines were often shot down like dogs, when ever the white pastoralists thought ‘their property’ was in jeopardy … Many of the administrators and so-called ‘protectors of Aborigines’ did little to stop the shooting’.

But of course things move on Rudds apology on behalf of the government this coming Wednesday is so welcome to the majority of Australians. The myth that this would in someway make people responsible from their ancestors actions has last be laid to rest. It is so long overdue as was the huge upsurge these last two days as to the acceptability of Chinese New year celebration.

But just to show that we still have a constant battle with racism, below is a letter which a few days ago appeared in an Australian Newspaper.


"Instead of Kevin Rudd saying sorry to the so-called Stolen Generation, they should say thank you to us. We saved them from a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse and gave them opportunities they would otherwise never have had. The only reason we should say sorry is because we did not “steal” all the children and save them too. David Hickling, Bassendean."

And above is an example of the nasty racist dangerous minority, which as in all countries we have to fight.



Arthus