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'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

reuters.com

31–40 of 73 posts

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They didn't get a vote when their country were taken by force to install a majority of people acting and voting against their interest.

There isn’t a country on earth that’s wasn’t taken by force by the current majority people.

[flagged]

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#32
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't forget the foundation of genocide and displacement, followed by centuries of subjugation, propaganda, "reeducation", exploitation, economic and political maginalization and racism.

So Australians should solidify their status in to the constitution in perpetuity? How do you square that with basic principle of liberal universalism?

I would assert that giving Aboriginal peoples a voice in government is a "bare minimum decency" sort of thing, rather than some sort of abstract attack on "basic principles of liberal universalism".

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#33

Reconciliation is a concept that I've not been able to wrap my head around, and I'm interested whether anyone here has read books that have swayed them one way or the other that they could recommend, especially with what's happening in Israel and Palestine at the moment. In my eyes, it seems unreasonable for anyone in today's day and age to expect something from someone else based on the actions of their ancestors, o…

I suggest kindness and empathy in dealing with those less fortunate.

Aboriginal people ARE special in Australia.

They were here for 60,000 years until we turned up.

They are deeply disadvantaged and need and deserve every possible assistance to address the terrible social issues their community faces.

Not much was being asked for here except the requirement for parliament to listen to aboriginal take on issues impacting aboriginal people.

Look, if you don’t feel the love that’s fine, but would you mind not blocking other people from trying to lift others up?

People in Australia are so selfish and greedy and grasping and unwilling to let someone else receive some kindness in case they miss out.

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#34
post #29

Reconciliation is a concept that I've not been able to wrap my head around, and I'm interested whether anyone here has read books that have swayed them one way or the other that they could recommend, especially with what's happening in Israel and Palestine at the moment. In my eyes, it seems unreasonable for anyone in today's day and age to expect something from someone else based on the actions of their ancestors, o…

Genetics have nothing to do with it, it's more about culture and identity. These people see themselves as a separate people the same way Americans see themselves as separate from Canadians and Mexicans or how Californians see themselves as distinct from Texans and vice-versa. They want that to be recognised in a similar way to how the Maori were recognised in New Zealand.

Genetics absolutely has something to do with it. If a non-native Australian came along and started self-identifying as an aboriginal they'd be lambasted, and excluded from this advisory body as it's not meant for them.

States and nationalities =/= ethnicities. Someone can be an American by being a citizen of that country, past or present. Someone can be Californian by being a resident of that state, past or present. Someone is Aboriginal Australian by virtue of being born to another Aboriginal Australian. Nation states and ethnic identities are utterly different concepts. When I fill in a government form, I am a UK citizen, and identify as a British person; not as any of the other multiple options available to me. There are two separate boxes. I can become a US citizen, or a Canadian citizen, or a Mexican citizen, and identify with that nationality. I can't decide one day to become an Arab or Gypsy ethnicity, even if I lived on the Arabian peninsula or replaced my car with a horse and trap.

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#35
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So Australians should solidify their status in to the constitution in perpetuity? How do you square that with basic principle of liberal universalism?

I would assert that giving Aboriginal peoples a voice in government is a "bare minimum decency" sort of thing, rather than some sort of abstract attack on "basic principles of liberal universalism".

How do you personally choose whether an indigenous group have a right to be represented? For example, should people in Britain who can trace their ancestors to the Mesolithic gain this right too?

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#36
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would assert that giving Aboriginal peoples a voice in government is a "bare minimum decency" sort of thing, rather than some sort of abstract attack on "basic principles of liberal universalism".

How do you personally choose whether an indigenous group have a right to be represented? For example, should people in Britain who can trace their ancestors to the Mesolithic gain this right too?

Perhaps a referendum would be a good way to do it? The UK has proposed, and even passed, a few of those in recent memory

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#37
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Genetics have nothing to do with it, it's more about culture and identity. These people see themselves as a separate people the same way Americans see themselves as separate from Canadians and Mexicans or how Californians see themselves as distinct from Texans and vice-versa. They want that to be recognised in a similar way to how the Maori were recognised in New Zealand.

Genetics absolutely has something to do with it. If a non-native Australian came along and started self-identifying as an aboriginal they'd be lambasted, and excluded from this advisory body as it's not meant for them. States and nationalities =/= ethnicities. Someone can be an American by being a citizen of that country, past or present. Someone can be Californian by being a resident of that state, past or present.…

I’ll agree with a nitpick. Nationality is also an ethnic concept. A nation is the political manifestation of an ethnic group. Not all states are nations, but we use the term imprecisely. Citizenship is something else entirely.

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#38

Non Australians commenting on this article who want to take a critical view would be encouraged to research outside editorialised media opinion. This referendum was asking for the equivalent of a new representative body in dc comprised of only native Americans and all levels of gov would be required to seek their advice on all policy that effects them which as any of would understand is everything. What are the chanc…

Why is an autonomous state (a grander version of the outstation idea) within the bounds of the Australian constitution not considered?[1] Allot a certain percentage of the federal budget to the state for the next 50/100 years and let them manage their affairs (including internal conflicts)?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outstation_(Aboriginal_communi...

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#39

Reconciliation is a concept that I've not been able to wrap my head around, and I'm interested whether anyone here has read books that have swayed them one way or the other that they could recommend, especially with what's happening in Israel and Palestine at the moment. In my eyes, it seems unreasonable for anyone in today's day and age to expect something from someone else based on the actions of their ancestors, o…

I suggest kindness and empathy in dealing with those less fortunate. Aboriginal people ARE special in Australia. They were here for 60,000 years until we turned up. They are deeply disadvantaged and need and deserve every possible assistance to address the terrible social issues their community faces. Not much was being asked for here except the requirement for parliament to listen to aboriginal take on issues impact…

>People in Australia are so selfish and greedy and grasping and unwilling to let someone else receive some kindness in case they miss out.

That kind of rhetoric likely isn't going to convince anyone who voted No to vote Yes instead. Personally, if I was called anything along those lines I would just vote No harder.

Re: 'Reconciliation is dead': Indigenous Australians vow silence as referendum fails

#40

It's the core concept of democracy. You lose, you are mostly out. You know, democracy.

You can not truly call the practice of killing most indigenous people then saying “Now we vote!” a democracy process.

Got it. Next referendum I'll try to do fewer murders.
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