20th February 2008, 09:53 AM
Well I think the class thing still operates everywhere, look at all the call centre staff or computer inputters, looks like a large old fashioned factories. And I rather suspect that most of the archaeologists I worked with in the UK, none of whome had the power to hier or fire were members of the working class and certainly lower paid workers than the others who worked on the building sites.
The fact that I can write different types of letters (I have never failed to get a letter published in a Newspaper of my choosing, when I chose) for different situations should suggest that I am totally aware of what I am doing with either written or verbal communication.
I am.
As well of having been a Revolutionary and a Trade Unionist, I have also been a Mental Health Nurse for 27 years.
I choose to piss people off and shout at them at times because I find it actually makes people think more than if they first heard the reasonable argument.
Thats because with quiet stuff they can get away with thinking the letter isn't aimed at them, where as hard stuff hits them in their conscience and in their soul.
I have used the same approach on the Australian arch site and it has produced huge debate and demonstrated that many of the Australian archaeologists who have replied 1. Feel that a non Australian born citizen has less rights to talk about their own country than they (the Aussie born)do 2. It turns out that many of theses archaeologists do not feel that West Australia has a problem with racism.
This has now produced an angry response against them and I have had many off line emails of support.
And I believe my aggressive way of getting things going serves a purpose.
Since, the age of 19 and I'm 46 now I have used this tactic whilst involved in politics, it is something that originates from a working class way of doing things and is very removed from a middle class way of friendly discussion!
But it has its usefulness. Have you seen anything of the debate on Aus-arch?
Actually, now at this time in Australia anyone who doesn't support an apology is a racist.
They used to argue that an apology would mean apologising for their ancestors, now after the event (and the PM making clear it did not mean this) they argue it will open the 'flood gates' to millions of $ compensation.
But even the most far fetched claims of possible money would add up two half a new airforce jet or one days Australian costs during the Gulf War or probably 10 minutes worth of government tax proffits from the minerals taken from Aboriginal lands.
The UWA staff are basically only 3 people (1 new proff just starting)Jane and Alistair doing wonderful courses on Indigenous archaeology. jane having excavated Riwi herself and Alistair contact stuff useful when he teaches the historical stuff (and there is also J D in the dept famous for Devils Lair (after his Dad) contiuing his work down south. But they are spread very thin on the ground.
Until recently there was some kind of blockage between the rest of the Uni and arch, but that has now gone.
For example, suddenly it becomes possible to do joint honors.
And just before I finished my studies me and my Indigenous archaeology student friend suggested to the department that they make closer links with the Indigenous department.
And this went down well with them.
I have decided to not now seek work as an archaeologist in WA, partly this has resulted from my experiences with and the politics of a minority (but too many for my liking)of Australian archaeologists and my horror year at UWA (not the fault of the current staff), but mostly because I now realise that since my motivation is working with and doing something to help living Indigenous people I might as well stay as a community psychiatric nurse and use the archaeology in the future as a form of therapy/community archaeology.
Anyway, I'm convinced the Australian mineral boom will soon end (noone else believes this)and I don't think the loads of jobs will last for very long.
Hopefully, I am drawing this too a close now, although of course, I will respond to the usual "you've only been here five minutes" and the "racism??? what in my society..." if they come again.
All the best,
Steve
Arthus
The fact that I can write different types of letters (I have never failed to get a letter published in a Newspaper of my choosing, when I chose) for different situations should suggest that I am totally aware of what I am doing with either written or verbal communication.
I am.
As well of having been a Revolutionary and a Trade Unionist, I have also been a Mental Health Nurse for 27 years.
I choose to piss people off and shout at them at times because I find it actually makes people think more than if they first heard the reasonable argument.
Thats because with quiet stuff they can get away with thinking the letter isn't aimed at them, where as hard stuff hits them in their conscience and in their soul.
I have used the same approach on the Australian arch site and it has produced huge debate and demonstrated that many of the Australian archaeologists who have replied 1. Feel that a non Australian born citizen has less rights to talk about their own country than they (the Aussie born)do 2. It turns out that many of theses archaeologists do not feel that West Australia has a problem with racism.
This has now produced an angry response against them and I have had many off line emails of support.
And I believe my aggressive way of getting things going serves a purpose.
Since, the age of 19 and I'm 46 now I have used this tactic whilst involved in politics, it is something that originates from a working class way of doing things and is very removed from a middle class way of friendly discussion!
But it has its usefulness. Have you seen anything of the debate on Aus-arch?
Actually, now at this time in Australia anyone who doesn't support an apology is a racist.
They used to argue that an apology would mean apologising for their ancestors, now after the event (and the PM making clear it did not mean this) they argue it will open the 'flood gates' to millions of $ compensation.
But even the most far fetched claims of possible money would add up two half a new airforce jet or one days Australian costs during the Gulf War or probably 10 minutes worth of government tax proffits from the minerals taken from Aboriginal lands.
The UWA staff are basically only 3 people (1 new proff just starting)Jane and Alistair doing wonderful courses on Indigenous archaeology. jane having excavated Riwi herself and Alistair contact stuff useful when he teaches the historical stuff (and there is also J D in the dept famous for Devils Lair (after his Dad) contiuing his work down south. But they are spread very thin on the ground.
Until recently there was some kind of blockage between the rest of the Uni and arch, but that has now gone.
For example, suddenly it becomes possible to do joint honors.
And just before I finished my studies me and my Indigenous archaeology student friend suggested to the department that they make closer links with the Indigenous department.
And this went down well with them.
I have decided to not now seek work as an archaeologist in WA, partly this has resulted from my experiences with and the politics of a minority (but too many for my liking)of Australian archaeologists and my horror year at UWA (not the fault of the current staff), but mostly because I now realise that since my motivation is working with and doing something to help living Indigenous people I might as well stay as a community psychiatric nurse and use the archaeology in the future as a form of therapy/community archaeology.
Anyway, I'm convinced the Australian mineral boom will soon end (noone else believes this)and I don't think the loads of jobs will last for very long.
Hopefully, I am drawing this too a close now, although of course, I will respond to the usual "you've only been here five minutes" and the "racism??? what in my society..." if they come again.
All the best,
Steve
Arthus